Review and Herald, Vol. 44, No. 24. (12/8/1874)

Review and Herald

Dec 8, 1874

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 8, 1874

LETTER TO A MOTHER.

[I was much interested in the following letter written by an intelligent young man who has just embraced the truth, to his mother, answering various objections which she raised to his “new doctrine.” By permission, I send it for publication. D. M. CANRIGHT.]

SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., Nov. 23, 1874.

MY DEAR MOTHER:—Yours of the 15th inst. is just received. We are very sorry that you are so exercised in regard to the doctrines which we have come to hold. But, as I have said before, we, in believing them, are not led to disbelieve the Bible, nor to lean upon our own strength, nor to cease striving to work out our own salvation. On the contrary, they strengthen our faith in the Bible; they show the complete harmony of its various parts; they show us that the Bible itself claims to be for us to understand (Rom. 15:4; 2 Pet. 1:19; Matt. 24:15; Rev. 1:3); that it is not a deep and unsearchable mystery, which was never intended to be understood; they beget a warmer love in our hearts for this sacred volume, and a stronger desire to search its precious pages; thereby we are shown that in Jesus is our strength, and that we must strive earnestly and prayerfully, through his aid and by means of his blood, to work out our own salvation. Now I cannot see anything so terrible in a doctrine which bears such fruit as this.

But, say you, That’s all well enough, if it would only stop there. But it teaches that the world is soon coming to an end, that Christ will soon come back to his followers, and that the everlasting kingdom will shortly be set up. Well, now, I don’t see why we should hate to believe that the wickedness and misery which stares us in the face all around, everywhere, is soon to cease. I don’t see why we should be reluctant to believe that our blessed Redeemer is coming so soon to receive us to himself and set up an everlasting kingdom, where we will never see sorrow, or pain, or sickness, or death, or sin. I see nothing repugnant in such a belief as that—especially if we have Bible authority for it. I should think we ought to hail the news with delight. Still I felt just as you do when I first learned that Frank was “being led astray by the Millerites,” and so I don’t blame you at all. I can only beg of you to hear our reasons for the faith that is in us, before you decide that we are wrong. *

You say you “fear these men are more for money than for the good of souls.” You are entirely mistaken here. There’s not one of them but could make treble as much in other ways with less work. The people often urge upon them to take more than they do; but they will not. The highest salary that any of them gets is $12 per week. And nearly half of that, some of them put back into the cause. The price list you speak of is for the benefit of those who are able to pay for the tracts. Many thousands are being distributed free, all over the world. But you must know that these cost something, and somebody must pay or the work must stop. Hence the actual cost (without counting interest) is put down, and when persons are able to pay it, well and good. Do you object to paying for a discipline, or a hymnbook, or a religious paper? Whatever money is received for tracts, books, &c., goes (not to the preacher, but) to pay for printing more and sending them to all parts of the world. The Lord said, “Without money and without price,” but he also said, “The laborer is worthy of his hire.”

You say the “falling stars” of ’33 were only meteors. Very well; do you suppose the stars spoken of in Matt. 24 are to be, or were, actual planets, or suns? If one of the real stars should fall to the earth, where do you suppose we would find ourselves? If multitudes of them should fall to the earth, do you think we would have much time to prepare for his coming? Do you think that would be much of a sign? Would it not rather destroy us?

Again, we read that a star went before the wise men and stood over where the young child was. Do you suppose that was one of the planets, or fixed stars? No, it could not have been. All commentators agree that it was a meteor. And, do you know, the word that is there translated star is the same that is used in Matt. 24 and translated stars? You say the sun was darkened at Christ’s crucifixion. Very true; but that was not the darkening spoken of as a sign of his second coming. Why? In Rev. 6 (written many years after Christ’s crucifixion,) we find it still prophesied as a sign of his second coming. And in the first of Revelation, we see that the things prophesied in that book were yet to come. Hence the darkening of the sun at Christ’s death was not the sign. Again, the moon was not darkened then. No stars fell. No, mother, that was the token of the horror with which all nature shuddered, and hid her face from the terrible spectacle.

You refer me to Mark 9. In the first verse he says, “There be some of them that stand here which shall not taste death till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.” And right away, in the next verse, he related the transfiguration which was an earnest or miniature of the kingdom. There was Elias, or Elijah (who was translated) as the representative of those who should not taste death, but be changed in the twinkling of an eye; there was Moses as the representative of those who died and shall be resurrected at the last day; and there was Jesus clothed in his kingly garments and appearing as he shall appear when he is crowned King of kings. And Peter thought they had come into the kingdom; for he wanted to build tabernacles and stay there. And that he believed, afterwards, that that was an illustration of the kingdom yet to come. See what he says about it in 2 Pet. 1:16–18. Also read the 3rd chapter of the same epistle, and you will see that he still looked forward to his coming as a future event.

Dear mother, you know that God always blesses his children for doing what they believe to be right, in the light they have. And if they die so doing they will be saved. But does the fact of God’s blessing them prove that they have all the truth, all the light? Martin Luther was blessed, and yet he left much truth to be discovered by Wesley. Luther was right in many things, and God blessed him. Wesley was right in many things, and God blessed him also. But as Luther left truths for Wesley to discover, may not Wesley have left some for others to discover? (And even Wesley expected that the world would come to an end somewhere near 1866.) And the wise man says, “The path of the just is as a shining light, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” Again, Baptists, Presbyterians, and others, feel the same as you do, in regard to having lived the best they know how. They have been blessed too. Yet all cannot be right in all points, when they are so contradictory in many. True, they all believe in Jesus, and try to obey and serve the Lord; and all the faithful will be saved; but do we not believe the same?

You speak of the Millerites dressing in ascension robes, ready to go thirty years or more ago. Did you see them do so, mother? Did you see anybody that did see it? I too thought that was so until lately. But a reward of $500 has been offered everywhere to any one who could produce a single eye-witness of that event, and no one has yet been found. But even if they did, what has that to do with the doctrine of Christ’s soon coming? The Millerites were, indeed, disappointed (though they never dressed in robes to meet Christ); but does that prove the doctrine false? Christ’s disciples were sorely disappointed when they saw the one whom they expected to crown as king crucified on the cross; but did that prove Christianity a humbug? No, indeed, Jesus himself afterward showed them that all this was only a fulfillment of prophecy. See Luke 24.

Now, I will show you, I think, that in like manner, the disappointment of the Millerites was the fulfillment of prophecy. When John took the little book from which the angel prophesied that time should be no longer, it was first sweet and then bitter, and immediately he was told that he should prophesy again. See Rev. 10. Now what little book do we find that should be opened in the time of the end? See Dan. 12:4. Do you wonder then, that it was not understood before? Was it not sweet to them while proclaiming it to the world? Was it not bitter afterwards? Are they not prophesying again to many peoples, &c.? But the very fact that John was commanded to prophesy again shows that time (day and year time) did not end with the angel’s message. Also, by reading Rev. 14:6–16, you will find that time elapses after the announcement that the Judgment is come, and before Christ appears in the clouds.

But, perhaps, you say, The angel does not lie. Very well, we say the same. Then what time does end at the sounding of the angel’s message? Prophetic time. He was talking of prophets and their prophecies, and it is nothing but natural to suppose this announcement was in regard to prophetic time. In fact it is almost directly stated so in the next verse. Rev. 10:7.

I have just read the 19th of Matt. (as you told me), and find that it accords with our views in regard to the matter. But because the young man was commanded to sell all he had and give to the poor and follow Jesus, we do not think we all have to sell all we have before we can follow him. The young man’s keeping the commandments was not sufficient, nor could he follow Jesus rightly until he divested his heart of the affections it held for something else, viz. (in his case), wealth. Now I think we all are apt to have something of which we must divest ourselves, in order to follow Jesus properly. Let us ask him to strengthen our faith, as you say.

No, mother, I know you are not angry with us. I know just how you feel. I felt miserably when I first heard it. But I prayed long and earnestly for guidance from above. It was with prayers mingled with tears that I “searched the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so.” Acts 17:11.

You ask, “Are we not to serve God every day alike?” Do you mean that there is no day above others which we should keep sacred to the Lord? Is there no day which is the Sabbath day?

We don’t condemn the other denominations. We simply proclaim what the Bible teaches. We can’t help it if the shoe fits some of the churches of to-day.

Yes, Christ would rather all should “repent, believe, and live,” and hence he has always raised up men to proclaim his truths at proper times, that men should not be left in darkness, if they would only choose the light. Before the flood he sent Noah; before he came the first time he sent John the Baptist; and he promised to warn the world before he should come again. When his disciples asked him for signs of his coming he did not rebuke them, but gave them instruction as to when they might know he was near,—even at the doors. *

You seem to think it is all in California. This is a new mission, scarcely in working order. The headquarters in the U. S. is at Battle Creek, Michigan. There are organizations in Maine, New Hampshire, Vt., Mass., Conn., R. I., Md., N. Y., Penn., O., Ind., Mich., Ill., Tenn., Ky., Wis., Minn., Neb., Ia., Mo., Kan., Cal., Or., Wash. Ter., Canada, and Switzerland; and it is preached, besides, in many other places. Plans are being laid to spread it far and wide, all over the world. *

Please continue to read and think on these subjects and be free to urge any and all objections. *

But I must close. Our love to all. Hoping to hear from you very soon, I remain as ever, your loving son.

The Third Angel’s Message

By W. H. Blaisdell

Prophecy.—No. 13.

(Concluded.)

The Third Angel’s Message

“And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone, in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

This message contains the last, solemn note of warning which is to fall upon the ears of the human family. It is this message which ripens the harvest of the earth. When its work has been accomplished, the Son of man is then seen on the great white cloud, “having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.” Verse 15. The work of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary is then finished. He has laid aside

his priestly garments and comes forth with his kingly crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle, to reap the harvest of the earth which has been ripened by the message of the third angel. Thus it is evident that Christ’s intercession for sinners and the time of their probation close with the work of the third message.

While Christ is thus upon the white cloud, another angel comes out of the temple crying, “Thrust in thy sickle, and reap; for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” Verse 15.

It will be seen that this angel raises no prayer for the salvation of sinners, and utters no note of warning in their behalf; but the petition is,—“Thrust in thy sickle,” &c. This angel is a representation of the people of God, after their labors for the salvation of those around them are all ended. As human probation is brought to a close, and the burden and anxiety of God’s people in behalf of sinners is taken away, then will they raise one urgent, united prayer to the Son of man to thrust in his sickle and reap the harvest of the earth.

As we have shown that the first and second messages have been fulfilled in the present generation, and that the third message is that which ripens the harvest of the earth and reaches to the close of human probation, and have also shown in previous articles that we are now in close proximity to the second coming of Christ, it is very evident that we are now living in the very period of time to which the third angel’s message applies, and when, according to the prophecy, its fulfillment should be going forward in the world.

Is this so? Is there any class of people that are now giving the third angel’s message, and are engaged in the very work necessary to a perfect fulfillment of the prophecy? Let us see!

How were the first and second messages fulfilled? It was done by a class of people who went forth teaching and proclaiming to the world, orally and by publications, the very language and ideas contained in those messages. The first message was fulfilled by a class of people who taught that the hour of God’s judgment was at hand, and who showed, from Scripture and facts, that such must be the case. The second message was fulfilled by a class of people who showed from the Scriptures to what Babylon applied, and they proclaimed and showed that Babylon had fallen. How, then, shall we expect that the third message will be fulfilled? Of course it must be done by a class of people who will preach and publish to the world the ideas, facts, and language contained in that message.

The third message is the last one to be given before probation closes. It contains a solemn warning against the worshiping of the beast and his image, and the receiving of his mark, verse 9—the very sins which the two-horned beast of chapter 13:11–18 is to undertake to enforce. It portrays before our minds the unmingled wine of the wrath of God, as it is to be poured out without mixture of mercy upon those who do not heed the warning contained in the message. Verses 10, 11. It also contains “the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus,” and brings to view a class called the saints, who keep them, thereby showing that those who do not heed the warning contained in the message, and become keepers of the commandments of God and of the faith of Jesus before the message closes, will be found among the class that worship the beast or his image, or receive his mark.

Therefore we can see that those who give the third angel’s message must show by the prophecies that the end is very near, and that this message is the last one to be given before probation closes; they must show what government is symbolized by the two-horned beast, which is to make an image to the papal beast, and what will constitute the worship of the beast and his image, and the reception of his mark. They must arraign the minds of men before the terrors of the day of God’s wrath, and show from the Scriptures how that wrath will be poured out; they must keep the commandments of God (the Father) and the faith of Jesus (his Son), while they also must make it a special object to preach to the world the same commandments and faith which they themselves keep as the only safeguard against the worship of the beast and his image, and the reception of his mark.

Is there a class of people in the world engaged in such a work? If so, that must be the class that are giving the third angel’s message. There is one such class, and only one—and that is the class known as Seventh-day Adventists.

For more than twenty years they have been engaged in this very work. They earnestly set forth and promulgate the truths which grow out of, and are connected with, the message of the third angel.

They show from the prophecies that the second coming of Christ will take place in the present generation; they make it an important object to show what government is symbolized by the two-horned beast (which is to make an image to the papal beast and enforce his mark) against whose work the third angel utters a special voice of warning; they show what will constitute the worship of the beast and his image, and the reception of his mark. In doing this they give an appropriate and necessary warning that all may be prepared to shun and avoid those sins when the time (which is not far distant) comes that they are to be enforced. They show how the wrath of God—the penalty for not obeying the voice of warning contained in the message—is to be poured out. Rev. 15:1, 2, 8; 16:1–21; Isa. 24:1–6; 28:17, 22; 29:6; 30:30; Jer. 4:23–29; Zeph. 1:2, 3, 14–18. They keep not only the faith of Jesus, but also the law of God, as set forth in the ten commandments which were proclaimed by the voice of Jehovah amid the thunders and lightnings of Mount Sinai, and written by his own finger on tables of stone. Exodus, chapters 19 and 20; 31:18; Deut. 4:13.

It is by the commandments of God that they have been led to become observers of the seventh day, the Sabbath which the fourth commandment plainly enjoins, and which is the only weekly Sabbath anywhere recognized in the Bible.

They make it a special object to preach and teach the commandments of God in connection with the faith of Jesus. While they show that one of the commandments of God requires the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath, they also show that the establishment of the first-day (Sunday) Sabbath in the Christian church was the work of the Catholic church which is called by Paul the man of sin, 2 Thess. 2:3, 4, and which we have shown to be the power symbolized by the leopard beast of Rev. 13, and to which an image is to be made in our own country.

They hold forth to the world the ten commandments of God’s law as the standard by which we must be judged, and as the only perfect rule of justice and morality ever given to man. Deut. 4:13; Ps. 19:7; 111:7–10; 119:172; Eccl. 12:13, 14; Matt. 5:17–19; James 2:12; Rev. 22:14.

All that have ever heard their lectures, or read their publications to any considerable degree, must admit that they do have much to say about the very ideas here referred to, all of which are found in, and connected with, the third angel’s message; and in fact this message might truly be said to form a text and basis for the burden of their work and labor. Thus it is evident that they are giving the third angel’s message, and that they are the only class on earth that are giving that message.

For a more extended view of the subject contained in this article, and also for further proof that Seventh-day Adventists are giving the third angel’s message, we invite attention to the following publications, issued at the REVIEW AND HERALD Office, Battle Creek, Mich., and also to many other works mentioned in the publication list found from time to time in the columns of this paper.

“The Three Messages of Rev. 14 and the Two-Horned Beast;” “The Sanctuary and Twenty-three Hundred Days;” “Our Faith and Hope;” “Thoughts on Daniel;” “Thoughts on the Revelation;” “The Signs of the Times;” “The United States in Prophecy;” “The Mark of the Beast;” “The Perfection of the Ten Commandments;” “The Ten Commandments not Abolished;” “The History of the Sabbath and First Day of the Week;” “The Prophetic and Law of God Charts.”

We now inquire where we are living in the history of this line of prophecy, as brought to view in the three angels’ messages? The answer is easily given. We are even now far along in the history of the third and last message. Yes! about a quarter of a century has passed since this message began to be very distinctly heard in the world, and now we are so near to its close that we can already witness the rapid progress of a movement which is to result in the rigid enforcement in our own country of those sins against which the third angel has been, and is now, giving his warning proclamation.

Thus does the light of the sure word of prophecy show us where in this world’s history we are living, and point out like a light which shineth in a dark place, the dangers which still lie in our future pathway.

Many are the lines of prophecy and various the predictions, not examined in these articles, which point out with equal certainty the solemn and important fact that the close of human probation and the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ are just at hand!

But though the evidences are so many and so clear, yet the minds of the great mass of mankind are still shrouded in darkness on the subject. They do not give heed to the sure word of prophecy. The flood-gates of crime and wickedness are wide open, iniquity prevails on every hand, and the love of worldly honor, pleasure, and gain, still engages the attention of both the worldling and the proud and popular professor of Christianity.

Solemn indeed are the times in which we live; fearful are the responsibilities now resting upon the people of God; terrible will be the time of trouble and day of wrath which are just ahead; Dan. 12:1, 2; Zeph. 1:2, 3, 14–18; but joyous will be the deliverance of the saints, and bright the crown of glory which will soon be given to all the people of God.

“The storm cloud of vengeance is gathering fast, The harvest is ripening and soon will be past; The last final conflict of earth soon will come, And the warfare be ended the victory be won.”

W. H. BLAISDELL.

RAISED IN GLORY.

By S. H. B.

A seed found in the hand of a mummy two thousand years old, when planted, bloomed into a beautiful flower.

Two thousand years ago, a flower Bloomed brightly in a far-off land; Two thousand years ago its seed Was placed within a dead man’s hand.

Before the Saviour came to earth, That man had lived and toiled and died; And even in that far-off time That flower had shed its perfume wide.

Suns rose and set, years came and went; The dead had kept its treasure well. Nations were born and turned to dust, While life was hidden in that shell.

The senseless hand is robbed at last; The seed is buried in the earth; When lo! the life long sleeping there Into a lovely flower bursts forth.

Just such a plant as that which grew, From such a seed when buried low— Just such a flower in Egypt bloomed, And died two thousand years ago.

And will not he who watched the seed, And kept the life within the shell, When those he loves are laid to rest, Watch o’er his buried saints as well?

And will he not from ’neath the sod Cause something glorious to arise? Aye, though it sleeps two thousand years, Yet all that sleeping dust shall rise.

Just such a face as greets you now, Just such a form as here we wear, But yet more glorious far, will rise To meet the Saviour in the air.

Then will I lay me down in peace, When called to leave this vale of tears; For “in my flesh I shall see God,” E’en though I sleep two thousand years.

—S. H. B. in Am. Messenger.

The Scout.

By R. M. Kilgore

In military circles, the office of a scout is well understood. He is one sent to observe an enemy in advance of the army. He must possess bravery, activity, and shrewdness. He must have the ability to make a clear statement of his discoveries, of the strength of the enemy, and the positions they occupy. To obtain this knowledge he must often rush into danger, even at the risk of forfeiting his life. His calling, therefore, is a perilous one; but it is better to hazard the life of one than to endanger many by encountering an enemy without a knowledge of his strength.

The Master says: “The children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.” This is manifested by the manner in which we, in our aggressive work, wage a warfare against the enemy of all righteousness.

It has long been the office of our evangelists, in entering new fields where the truth is not known, to act the part of the attacking, and also the reserve, force, without having the advantage gained by the scout and advance guard; and, as a consequence, his strength is much weakened, and his efforts less fruitful. God is a host; but he works through means, and he has placed some of these in the hands of his servant for them to use. Their duty has been to break up the ground, plant the seed, and gather a few souls together upon the principles of the clearest and most convincing truths that were ever presented to the world, and which, in their simplicity, will find a response in the hearts of some at every place where they are taught.

But it has been found to be true, in almost every case, where this work is begun, that Satan also begins to work. He stirs up his emissaries, and the cry, “He's an Advent!” “a Millerite!” “an annihilationist!” is raised; while other false reports are circulated until the people are alarmed, their fears are aroused, and their ears are closed against that which the minister has to say, and their doors are barred against his entrance into their homes, in which he might get access to them socially; so that, for several days, his labor is practically lost on the curious. He must batter down blind prejudice, gain the confidence of the people, and raise a good, healthy interest, if he obtains possession of the field at all.

Then, is there no better way to proceed than this? Is there no way that the enemy can be successfully out-general-ed? a flank movement be made, so that we can get possession of the field, and be able to hold it? Is not the late organization of the army, into a tract and missionary society, the means by which this may be accomplished? Yes; if each soldier, as well as the officers, will do his duty, and move en masse, in solid column to the front. The cases referred to in the article on Bread Found, and the many that are coming to light all over the field, fully confirm this; and the plan upon which the T. and M. Society is organized, is designed to accomplish this very end.

Through it, books, pamphlets, periodicals, and tracts can be obtained at a nominal and trifling expense. Then let the private soldiers take these silent messengers, and judiciously sow them; and let them not be confined to their own village or neighborhood where the truth has been proclaimed; but let them select some of their number, of good report among themselves and those without, endowed with the attributes of the scout, who shall go forth as such, a colporteur, bearing precious seed, into new fields where the people have not yet so much as heard of S. D. Adventists. It would not be necessary for such to send an embassage in advance of them, herald their approach through the papers, or sound the trumpet to let the people know that they are coming; but let them enter the place modestly, and with true Christian deportment, pass through the field as rapidly as possible, remembering the words of our great Captain: “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Matt. 10:16.

It would not be their duty to go preaching, except they be called, or with a spirit of debate; but their words should be few, well chosen, and “like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” Then if they should retire from the field, unobserved and unknown, the result would doubtless prove satisfactory.

Some make a mistake, thinking that they have to speak to every one they meet, upon the subject of religion, or pray with every family, and each must be furnished with a package of tracts. This certainly is not wisdom; for instead of exciting a spirit of inquiry and investigation, it would glut the market, and the very ones they seek to benefit are disgusted, and their ears forever closed. They have thought the responsibility of enlightening the people rested upon their individual efforts; whereas the ammunition furnished by the T. and M. Society, the silent messengers, like shot and shell when well spent, and with well-directed aim, are the mighty engines, backed up by the Spirit of God, with which this work is achieved. It is much easier to blockade than to clear the King's high-way, and the prompt action of one discreet and active scout may secure the complete route of an opposing army.

Thus saith the Lord: “Behold, I send an angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions; for my name is in him. But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries. For mine angel shall go before thee,” &c. Ex. 23:20-23. Previous to their entering the promised land, again, “the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel; of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them.” Num. 13:1, 2. Twelve men were chosen, each a “ruler,” and “all these men were heads of the children of Israel” whom Moses sent “to spy out the land.” This was the scheme adopted anciently; may it not be so now in connection with the onward march of this glorious message of the third angel? and while the angels of God are sent before his servants, to soften and prepare hearts to receive the truth, where are the Calebs and Joshuas, to go through the land as spies, and to bring again a faithful report? Should this be done, with their spirit, I am persuaded that the battle is half fought and the victory often greater for the truth.

R. M. KILGORE.

Hancock, N. H.

Quite Immaterial.

WHEN popular theology has reduced the essential man to nonentity, and, having made him immaterial, consigns him to a home outside the universe of matter, it is really quite immaterial what his condition may be otherwise. In fact, such a condition could only be absolute nothingness. And this fact many humble folks have always been quick to recognize.

Dr. Chambers, in some of his writings, relates a somewhat amusing account of the way in which a young preacher failed to be invited to the pastorate of a certain church.

By arrangement he preached as a candidate. The discourse which he delivered had been carefully prepared, and the subject of it was the “Immateriality of the Soul.” He was satisfied with his work, being sure that he had proved conclusively that the soul is not composed of matter, but is immaterial. But his logic and its conclusions, both so satisfactory to his mind, were nevertheless fatal to his prospects. The congregation argued, that to say the soul is immaterial is about equal to saying that it is immaterial whether people have souls or not. The church concluded that it was not in need of a pastor who believed in immaterial souls. We think we could find a few churches nowadays that might wisely reach the same or a similar conclusion.—Herald of Life.

“Exceeding Abundantly.”

By Merle D’Aubigne

WE were studying the Epistle to the Ephesians, and had got to the end of the third chapter. When we read the last two verses, “Now unto him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory, throughout all ages,” this expression fell upon my soul like a revelation from God. He can do by his power, I said to myself, above all even that we can think—nay, exceeding abundantly above all! A full trust in Christ for the work to be done within my poor heart now filled my soul. We all three knelt down, and, although I had never fully confided my inward struggle to my friends, the prayer of Rieu was filled with such admirable faith as he would have uttered had he known all my wants. When I arose in that inn room at Kiel, I felt as if my wings were renewed as the wings of eagles. From that time forward I comprehended that my own efforts were of no avail; that Christ is able to do all by his power that worketh in us; and the habitual attitude of my soul was to lie at the foot of the cross, crying to him, “Here I am, bound hand and foot, unable to move, unable to do the least thing to get away from the enemy, who opposes me. Do all thyself. I know thou wilt do it. Thou wilt even do exceeding abundantly above all I ask.” I was not disappointed; all my doubts were removed, my anguish quelled, and the Lord extended to me peace as a river. Then I could comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height, and know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge. Then was I able to say, “Return unto thy rest, O my soul, for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee.”—Merle D’Aubigne.

Moths in the Candle.

By Dr. J. G. Holland

EVERY moth learns for itself that the candle burns. Every night, while the candle lasts, the slaughter goes on, and leaves its wingless and dead around it. The light is beautiful, and warm, and attractive; and, unscared by the dead, the foolish creatures rush into the flames, and drop, hopelessly singed, their little lives despoiled.

It has been supposed that men have reason and a moral sense. It has been supposed that they observe, draw conclusions, and learn by experience. Indeed, they have been in the habit of looking down upon the animal world as a group of inferior beings, and as subjects of commiseration on account of their defenselessness; yet there is a large class of men, reproduced by every passing generation, that do exactly what the moths do, and die exactly as the moths die. They learn nothing by observation or experience. They draw no conclusions, save those which are fatal to themselves. Around a certain class of brilliant temptations they gather, night after night, and with singed wings or lifeless bodies, they strew the ground around them. No instructions, no expostulations, no observation of ruin, no sense of duty, no remonstrances of conscience, have any effect upon them. If they were moths, in fact, they could not be sillier or more obtuse. They are, indeed, so far under the domination of their animal natures that they act like animals, and sacrifice themselves in flames that the world's experience has shown to be fatal.

A single passion, which need not be named—further than to say that when hallowed by love and a legitimate gift of life to life, it is as pure as any passion of the soul—is one of the candles around which the human moths lie in myriads of disgusting deaths. If anything has been proved by the observation and experience of the world, it is that licentiousness, and all illicit gratifications of the passions involved in it, are killing sins against a man's own nature; that by it the wings are singed not only, but body and soul are degraded and spoiled. Out of all illicit indulgence come weakness, a perverted moral nature, degradation of character, gross beastliness, benumbed sensibilities, a disgusting life, and a disgraceful death. Before its baleful fire the sanctity of womanhood fades away, the romance of life dies, and the beautiful world loses all its charms. The lives wrecked upon the rock of sensuality are strewn in every direction. Again and again, with endless repetition, young men yield to the song of the siren that beguiles them to their death. They learn nothing, they see nothing, they know nothing, but their wild desire, and on they go to destruction and the devil.

Every young man who reads this article has two lives before him. He may choose either. He may throw himself away on a few illegitimate delights, which cover his brow with shame in the presence of his mother, and become an old man before his time, with all the wine drained out of his life; or he may grow up in a pure, strong manhood, held in healthy relation to all the joys that pertain to that estate. He may be a beast in his heart, or he may have a wife whom he worships, children whom he delights in, a self-respect which enables him to meet unabashed the noblest woman, and an undisputed place in good society. He may have a dirty imagination, or one that hates and spurns all impurity as both disgusting and poisonous. In brief, he may be a man, with a man's powers and immunities, or the sham of a man—a whited sepulcher—conscious that he carries with him his own dead bones, and all uncleanness. It is a matter entirely of choice. He knows what one life is, and where it ends. He knows the essential quality and certain destiny of the other. The man who says he cannot control himself not only lies, but places his Maker in blame. He can control himself, and, if he does not, he is both a fool and a beast. The sense of security, and purity, and self-respect that come of continence, entertained for a single day, is worth more than the illicit pleasures of a world for all time. The pure in heart see God in everything, and see him everywhere, and they are supremely blest.—Dr. J. G. Holland; Scribner's for October.

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