Review and Herald, Vol. 31, No. 21. (5/5/1868)

Review and Herald

May 5, 1868

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 5, 1868

THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES.

By David Arnold

BY DAVID ARNOLD.

TEXT.— “And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.” Rev. xv, 1.

BEFORE investigating this text, a brief introduction relative to its position may not be inappropriate. It appears from the context that John has previously had a view of three beasts, representing or symbolizing three human powers or governments, having connection with, and jurisdiction over, the church, or people of God, from the days of the first advent to the end of probation, and also a view of the true church in its varied and different conditions while living under these powers, down to their final triumph, standing upon Mount Zion, having “gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name.”

He has also had a view of the proclamation of three messages designed to bring out and separate a people from the world and the fallen church, who were worshiping the beast and his image, and receiving his mark, and purify them by “keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus,” thus fitting them for translation, and to stand without fault before the throne of God.” And in the third message, warning is given of the pouring out of the wrath of God on all the worshipers of the beast, &c., without mixture of mercy; and in the two verses preceding our text, John views an angel thrusting in his sickle into the earth, and he gathered “the vine of the earth and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God, . . . and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horses’ bridles.”

This brings us to our text, showing the means God will employ to punish the worshipers of the beast and his image, or those who have his mark, or the number of his name, and also to desolate the earth. None, therefore, who are living in these last days of probation should fail to see the momentous importance of laying aside all prejudice and preconceived opinions, and candidly investigating this all-important subject and its legitimate bearings.

Our text comprises three general divisions:

Seven angels.
Seven last plagues.
The wrath of God.

1. The seven angels. Angel, in this text, may be taken in its most literal sense, as the work committed to them to accomplish is superhuman, but perfectly adapted to angelic agency. Therefore we may safely conclude that this work will be committed to seven of those “angels that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.” Ps. ciii, 20.

2. The seven last plagues. That these plagues are literal, cannot be denied, when we take into consideration their nature and design. That their nature and object is to destroy the happiness and life of man, and desolate or depopulate the earth, is evident when we look at the effect produced upon man and all sustenance for his support. In the seventh chapter, four angels are brought to view, holding the four winds to whom it is given to hurt the earth, sea, and trees. These angels are told to “Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.” From this it appears that the sealing is to intervene between the time of the four angels taking their position on the four corners of the earth for the express purpose of holding the four winds, and the time of loosing the four winds to hurt the earth, sea, and trees. In order to learn what these four winds symbolize, turn to Eze. xiv, 21. “For thus saith the Lord, How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beasts, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast.”

Now let us turn to the pouring out of the plagues, and see if they do not produce all that is here represented by the four sore judgments, and also by hurting the earth, sea, and trees.

But before we examine the effects of the plagues, let us inquire why the earth, sea, and trees, are designated as special objects of God’s wrath. When we consider that man has no source on earth from which to obtain his daily food, save the earth, sea, and trees, we see at once that hurting these produces famine, famine produces sword, and pestilence, and noisome beasts will prey upon man to satiate their hunger, especially when called upon by the great God to the supper he makes for them. See Rev. xix, 17, 18; Eze. xxxix, 17–20. Thus the four sore judgments are produced by hurting the earth, sea, and trees.

The first plague produces a noisome and grievous sore, near kin at least to pestilence. The second causes death to nearly every living thing in the sea, and its waters become as the blood of a dead man, stagnant, putrid. Thus the sea is hurt. The third turns all the rivers and fountains of water into blood, so that man has nothing but blood to drink to quench the raging thirst produced by his pains and sores. See verse 6. The fourth gives the sun power to scorch men with great heat. This of course will hurt the earth and trees, and fulfill the prophecy, Joel i, 10–12. “The field is wasted, the land mourneth, for the corn is wasted; the new wine is dried up, the oil languisheth. Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen, howl, O ye vine-dressers; for the wheat and for the barley, because the harvest of the field is perished. The vine is dried up, and the fig-tree languisheth; the pomegranate-tree, the palm-tree also, and the apple-tree, even all the trees of the field are withered, because joy is withered away from the sons of men.”

Thus we see that the conclusion is inevitable that the four sore judgments, the four winds, and the hurting the earth, sea, and trees, under the plagues, are concurrent events. At that time though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in the land, as I live saith the Lord, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered; but the land shall be desolate. Eze. xiv, 14, 16.

“No longer now can men be sealed, No longer to the gospel yield, They that are sealed will joy obtain, They that are vile will vile remain.”

The fifth plague produces darkness throughout the kingdom of the beast, and they gnaw their tongues for pain, and blaspheme the God of Heaven, because of their pains and their sores.

The two remaining plagues are a preparatory work for, and a filling up of, the wrath of God, and to give unto Babylon the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

This brings us to the third and last division of our text.

3. The wrath of God. The wrath of God, according to Webster, is, “His holy and just indignation against sin; the just punishment of an offense or crime.” Much is said in Scripture of the wrath of God. He is jealous of his holy law, and his righteous indignation is against sin, the transgression of his law.

Here the question naturally arises, Why such a special exhibition of his fierce wrath against men, as is set forth in the seven last plagues, that even the earth, sea, and trees, are hurt, and famine, pestilence, sword, and noisome beasts are called in requisition; and in which, according to Zech. xiv, 12, “their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongues shall consume away in their mouths,” and that in the finishing up of his wrath, voices, and

thunders, and lightnings, and earthquakes, and the fleeing away of islands, and the mountains are not found, and a great hail out of heaven, every stone weighing, according to Dr. A. Clarke’s computation by the balance of the sanctuary, one hundred and twenty-five pounds? Yes, why such a special exhibition of the wrath of Almighty God, against all those who have the mark of the beast, and worship his image?

Before answering this question, we would premise (1.) That this class of men are most unquestionably the last generation to whom probation is granted. (2.) That the third angel’s message, found in chapter xiv, 9–12, draws the distinguishing line between the worshipers of the beast and his image, and those who receive his mark in their foreheads or hands, and those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

Here the point turns on the commandments of God. One class denominated saints, who are sealed with the law (see Isa. viii, 16), and are looking for him (Christ), verse 17, patiently waiting; while the other class, placed in juxtaposition to the worshipers of God, are worshiping the beast, and for so doing are threatened with the unmixed wrath of God.

Now this is evidently the last testing point between the two classes just prior to the close of probation and the coming of Christ to gather his saints (or those who have made a covenant with him to sacrifice, by keeping his law and the faith of Jesus), and the desolation of the earth by the seven last plagues.

“But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” God’s wrath was then manifested upon that wicked and adulterous generation. The seven last plagues are designed to accomplish the same end, the punishment for this wicked and perverse generation, and the desolation of the earth.

Dear hearers, will you not heed the timely warning of the third angel, and keep the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ, and avoid the worship of the beast and his mark, by no longer keeping the day he instituted as a Sabbath? Time lingers but little longer; probation’s sands are almost run; the third angel is hastening his last warning mission of mercy; the four winds will be held but a little longer. Fly, fly, while there is mercy. Grasp the law and the testimony, that you may be hid in the secret of his pavilion and escape the seven last plagues.

RESTING IN GOD.

I rest with thee, Lord! Whither should I go? I feel so blest, within thy home of love! The blessings purchased by thy pain and woe, To thy poor child thou sendest from above. O never let thy grace depart from me; So shall I still abide, my Lord, with thee.

I rest with thee! Eternal life the prize Thou wilt bestow, when faith's good fight is won; What can earth give, but vain regrets and sighs, To the poor heart whose passing bliss is done? For lasting joys, I fleeting ones resign, Since Jesus calls me his, and he is mine.

I rest with thee! No other place of rest Can now attract, no other portion please: The soul, of heavenly treasure once possessed, All earthly glory with indifference sees. Poor world, farewell! thy splendors tempt no more, The power of grace I feel, and thine is o'er.

I rest with thee! With thee whose wondrous love Descends to seek the lost, the fallen raise; Oh! that my whole of future life might prove One hallelujah, one glad song of praise! So shall I sing, as time's last moments flee, Now, and forever, Lord, I rest with thee!

THE APPARITION AT MINNESOTA.

By Editor

As announced last week, we now lay before our readers the account of the wonderful manifestation at the Winslow House, St. Anthony, Minn. On first reading the account, we addressed a note to Prof. McBain, named below, and received over his own signature a corroboration of the statements published, which we append to this article. We, of course, are unacquainted with the parties, but on the evidence we have, insert the account in all good faith as authentic. We have reason to believe that Satan, through the manifestations of what is called Spiritualism, will bring before the living the appearance of the bodily forms of their dead friends; and we know not why this may not be already beginning to take place. If so, it indicates that the climax of the last great deception is about reached.

THE HAUNTED HOTEL.

From the Minneapolis (Minn.) Tribune, March 23.

For some days past much excitement has been created in St. Anthony by reports of the appearance of a genuine ghost at the Winslow House. The apparition was said to be that of the late Dr. Jewel, who died in the building during the month of January, we believe, and who, it was stated, had of late been frequently seen about the house in open daylight, but upon near approach would vanish or disappear. For the purpose of ascertaining what foundation, if any, existed for the many wild and incredible rumors afloat, we visited the Winslow, yesterday, and under the guidance of Prof. F. E. McBain, who resides in the building, visited the apartment in which these strange sights and sounds have been seen and heard, and from him obtained the following statement:

“GO TO ROOM 74, ON THE FOURTH STORY, AND SEE WHAT YOU CAN SEE.”

I am no Spiritualist, neither do I believe in Spiritualism; and yet I am at a loss to account for the following facts: The Winslow House is a very large building, lately run and occupied by the late Dr. Jewel, who died some eight or ten weeks since. In his lifetime the house was used as a water-cure establishment, but since his death it has been closed, and, with the exception of the room occupied by his widow and her family, and those occupied by myself and family, and two other families, the house is tenantless. The doctor, before his death, frequently said he would revisit the house to see how things were getting along; but no attention was paid to those remarks, which were generally made while suffering from excruciating pain. His wife and family, however, cherished the words in their memory, and frequently repeated them to their intimate friends.

He (the Doctor) did not, however, show himself until Saturday, the 14th inst. Mrs. Jewel had advertised for sale by auction all her furniture, bedding, &c., which is to take place on the 24th inst. In the center part of the building, on the ground floor, are cellars, laundry, &c., and in one of these rooms a steam engine which had been used for heating, pumping water, &c., but all the belting has been removed, and the engine out of use for years past. The first thing that attracted the attention of myself and neighbors, was the occasional running of the wheels upon which the belts used to be placed. This seemed strange, but we said little about it, for fear of being laughed at by our neighbors. On Saturday morning, the 14th inst., my daughter, an intelligent girl of fourteen years of age, was returning from the Post Office, (which, by the way is kept in a room on the ground floor, in the southeast corner of the building,) and came through the room in which the engine stands, and there saw a tall, slim man, dressed in a fine suit of broadcloth, with a white night-cap on his head, and a pair of white stockings on his feet.

She passed him without speaking, and came into the house, and made the remark to her mother and myself that a strange looking man was walking through the laundry, dressed as above, and that he must be a fool. This was about 10 o'clock, A. M., and I went out with her to see the man whom she described as looking and acting so strangely. When we went out, nothing was to be seen, and we went and looked through the largest cellar, a dark and bleak apartment forty feet long by about twenty wide—when all at once she exclaimed, “Father, there he is, coming toward us,” and began to draw me back to the door by the hand, and seemed to be very nervous.

I could see nothing, but supposing it was some one who was trying to frighten us, I demanded in an angry voice, “Who is here? What do you want?” I received no reply—and yet the strange appearance passed out of the cellar within two feet of us, as it appeared to her. We came into the house, and myself and Mr. Hubert, my next door neighbor, got a lamp and made a thorough search of all the premises; but neither saw nor heard anything. That evening we again explored the dark and dreary cellars, &c., in company with another man; and at the extremity of the interior cellar, in a dark corner, found a large towel, clean and ironed, as if dropped by some one.

This towel belonged to Mrs. Jewel, and had been washed and laid by about a month ago. We then came to the conclusion that our visitor was flesh and blood, and that his visits were not of an honest character. Under this belief, both Mr. Hubert and myself came to the conclusion that we would bring his ghostship to grief by the application of powder and ball, and for the benefit of all concerned, gave due notice accordingly. Mr. Hubert got his revolver in readiness, and gave my daughter a pistol also; but that night all was still, nothing seen or heard.

On Sunday morning we were congratulating ourselves that our threats of vengeance dire had had the desired effect; but about ten o'clock, A. M., our hopes were dispelled by the loud report of a pistol, and the piercing cry of “O my God!” I had instructed my daughter that in case she should see him again to shoot him instantly if he would not speak, and that I would stand between her and any harm. She went to the laundry door for the broom, having her pistol in her pocket, and just inside of the door stood the man, looking directly at her, in the same garb in which she first saw him. She immediately drew the pistol, presented it at him; but he seemed indifferent to the weapon, and at the distance of six feet she fired at him. He at once bent forward, clasping his hands across his breast, exclaiming, “O my God!” and disappeared into the cellar.

I heard the report of the pistol, and heard the cry of “O my God!” and, under the impression that she had shot herself, I ran to the door, when she exclaimed, “Father, I have shot him; he is in the cellar.” We, in company with Hubert, got a lamp, went into the cellar, and, as we were going in, she said, “Oh! father, I have killed him! What shall I do?” We looked for the man, searched for the traces of blood; but, to our great surprise and consternation, found neither.

On Monday, while placing clothes on the line in the yard, she saw him again. When she asked him who he was, and what he wanted, he looked at her in a very imploring manner, and after having surveyed her attentively, asked, “What is your name?” She replied that her name was A. E. McBain. He then in a clear, shrill voice, said, “Go to No. 74, on the fourth story, and see what you can see!”

She, in company with several others, went to the room indicated, but neither saw nor heard anything. This, be it remembered, was at mid-day, in open daylight, with a clear Minnesota sky, and the sun shining brightly. She did not even know that there was such a number in the house on the fourth story. When I asked why she did not at this interview shoot him, she said that he looked so pitiful that she could not find it in her heart to do so. On Thursday, 10th inst., she saw him again, when she fired at him, but as he was rapidly gliding through the cellar door she missed him, lodging the bullet in the wall. Half an hour later she saw him at the cistern, when he beckoned her to him, and told her to tell Mrs. Jewel “to sit on the west side of the table when she held the next circle,” and then disappeared.

Mrs. Jewel, who is a practising physician, and a highly-educated lady, myself and daughter, went down, but could see or hear nothing. Now, my daughter never saw Dr. Jewel during his life, and, to test the matter, Dr. Thomas W. Deering took the photographs of seventeen different persons, all men, among which, was one of the late Dr. Jewel, and placed them before her, and asked her, “Are any of these like the man whom you saw?” After looking them over carefully, she took Jewel’s likeness, taken shortly before his death, and said, “Oh! here is the man; I know his face, eyes, and beard.”

Dr. Jewel was interred in his wedding suit, and although she did not see him at any time in his life, or know how he was dressed when placed in the coffin, her description was true to the very buttons on his coat.

Several men, on Friday night last, paid a visit to the laundry, but beat a hasty retreat, having to encounter the attacks of a dreadful dog with fiery eyes and savage mien; and they declared that it was really a dog, and thought that he belonged to the house; but there is no dog about the premises. This is a brief outline of the singular story, and incredible as it may seem, it is true in every particular. I might add that I have omitted many incidents of minor importance, but these are the main facts. I will not attempt to explain this mystery, but will, if possible, try and solve it.

(Signed) F. E. McBAIN. St. Anthony, March 22, 1868.

Prof. McBain and Mr. Hubert relate many circumstances quite as unaccountable, and tell us that their statements can be substantiated by others who have been eye-witnesses. Neither Professor McBain nor his daughter, to whom the apparition appeared, are believers in modern Spiritualism. On the contrary, their opinions are very strongly against it, and they are not liable, therefore, to be easily misled or deceived.

The widow of Dr. Jewel is a firm believer in Spiritualism, as are a number of relatives and friends, and at their séances, frequently held, they have received what purported to be a communication from the deceased doctor, stating that he had in reality appeared to Miss McBain, and was often in and about the building.

A still later account says:—

Since the first announcement of ghostly appearances at the Winslow House, hundreds of people have visited the building, and occupants of the house state that the strange sights and sounds have often been repeated. As the manifestations were very similar to those spoken of in our first account, we have not referred to them, but the following statement in reference to occurrences on last Sunday morning, verified by three witnesses, will be read with interest, and furnishes food for reflection. Mrs. Jewel is at present in Northfield, and expects to start for California in a few days. The prophecy made by the apparition in reference to the burning of an ocean steamer, will furnish a test of his ghostship’s reliability:

On Sunday morning last, at about half past eight o’clock, I met a gentleman from Stearns County, by the name of Secord, who came down to see if he could not solve the mystery connected with the “Winslow House Ghost.” He told me his business, and requested me to show him through the haunted portions of the house. He is a strong believer in Spiritualism, and displayed a good deal of enthusiasm in its advocacy, and felt confident that the apparitions which had been previously seen, were from the spirit world. On our way to the engine room, we met Mr. Hubert, who accompanied us. We went through all the cellar rooms and holes in the lower part of the building, and all was silent as the tomb; not a sound was heard nor anything seen until we went into the room on the northwest corner of the building, in which stands a large, heavy table. When we entered this room the door was closed behind us, and owing to the fact that the inside knob was off the lock, I, in a joking manner, remarked that we had closed ourselves in, and would have a poor chance to beat a hasty retreat, if such generalship should, in case of emergency, be required. We were, at this time, about ten feet from the door, and had assumed a half-leaning posture against the table. I had scarcely made the remark about the door being shut on us, when it gently opened back to the wall, and a tall, ghastly-looking man deliberately entered the room. He was clad in a black broadcloth coat and pants, a satin vest, broken and hanging in shreds just above the right hand pocket, showing that it was considerably worn, and his appearance showed what might be called, “shabby gentility.” He was in his stocking feet, which were blue in color, while nearly one-half toward the toes were white. His head was covered by a clean and very white night-cap, with long, broad flaps to it, like a woman’s hood. His beard was long and black, and had a wavy appearance on the chin, while on his upper lip, toward the angles of his mouth, it turned up toward his cheek bones in a long curl. His complexion presented a ghastly and cadaverous appearance, his eyes were large, glassy and rolling, and were deeply sunken in his head, and were shaded by very long, glossy eyelashes. His eyebrows were heavy, but not large, and his forehead was very high and full. When he entered, I must confess that I did not feel quite at ease, and hardly knew where I was; but recovered my thoughts when Mr. Hubert exclaimed, “In the name of God, doctor, what do you want?” I had never seen Dr. Jewel in my life before, and while he was seemingly meditating on his answer to Mr. Hubert’s question, I saw him before me as described above.

His appearance was not in point of materiality like anything earthly. It seemed to lack weight and substance, and more resembled the gravity and movement of a very dense and heavy shadow. His movements were noiseless and graceful, and he seemed to slide rather than walk, and looked like a man on skates with both feet together under very slow motion. After a pause of a few seconds which seemed an age, he said, “I have a message to communicate, and have hitherto failed to get any one to whom I could unbosom my troubles, because they seem to fear me, and in their confusion leave me, or forget to ask me the question which you have done. I am not happy in my present sphere, which is one of the lowest, and places me in too close proximity with earthly friends and things. I am permitted, as all are here, to see all that transpires on earth, and our thoughts, like those of strangers in a strange land, are continually reverting to friends and things we have left behind; but those in the higher spheres are too pure and enwrapt in heavenly enjoyments to be defiled by such contaminating scenes—but my probation here will soon terminate, and then upward, higher, and more delightful will be my course. My troubles are concerning my wife and daughter who are shortly going to California, and unless they take this warning they will both be lost. The steamer that will be waiting for them on the Pacific, after being three days out, will be destroyed by fire, and many lives lost. They must not go on that vessel, but on another of smaller dimensions, which will safely reach its destination. This is my trouble, and now I shall be at rest, and will not be here any more.”

I then asked him why he had told my daughter to go to room 74 on the fourth story. He said that “it was for the purpose of getting her to go there that she might find an old paper in which was the full account of the destruction of one of the Pacific line of steamers a few years ago.” Why did you desire Mrs. Jewel to sit on the west side of the table? “This I thought would arouse her attention, and cause her to inquire about her projected journey, and then I could impart the necessary information.” Why did you not appear to her instead of my daughter? “I have done so frequently; but although she is fully aware of my presence, is incapable of seeing me, and I cannot speak to those who do not behold me.” The most singular part of this affair is, that although Mr. Secord was standing between Mr. Hubert and myself, he saw nothing, although he distinctly heard all that was said. He attempted to elicit some information from him concerning dead relatives, but he seemed not to heed Mr. Secord’s interrogations at all. His voice was subdued, but clear, and his words were articulated with a marked precision that indicated labored effort, and each sentence was followed by a long pause as if he was pondering over the next sentence before uttering it. He then vanished, but did not go out of the door, and it appeared that he had been in the room half an hour; but as to the exact time I cannot tell. We came into the house and talked the matter over, and the above is the exact version upon which we all agreed. We are satisfied that there was no optical delusion, no working of imagination, but that we both saw and heard what is herein stated.

F. E. McBAIN, T. HUBERT, SAMUEL SECORD.

St. Anthony, April 5, 1863.

P. S. For the last twenty years I have combatted both with pen and tongue the manifestations promulgated and placed before the world, as emanating from the spirit land, as mere humbugs; have looked upon Emmanuel Swedenborg’s “Life of Man after Death” as the vagaries of a disordered mind, have pronounced Robert Dale Owen’s “Foot Print” the mere effusions of a visionary; but the painful solemnity of yesterday’s interview is so indelibly stamped upon the tablets of my memory, that it cannot fade while life lasts. Let not the idle jeers of the skeptical be hurled in ridicule on that which is above their reach, or beyond the power of mere man to explain. I am incapable of treating lightly that which my senses of hearing, seeing and feeling incontrovertibly placed before me, and for which science cannot furnish a rational solution, have for days borne the laugh and jeers of many from whom better might have been expected; but all the harm I wish them is, that they had been present at that interview, and beheld the awful solemnity of the scene while listening to the clear, measured tones that came from one whose every appearance clearly indicated that he was not flesh and blood. In the name of reason and charity, respect the feelings of those who are already too much troubled with this unsolicited notoriety, and oblige,

Yours truly, F. E. McBAIN.

We herewith present the letter addressed to us by Prof. McBain:

Sir: Yours of the 15th inst. came duly to hand, and in reply, I beg to state, that I have written those articles over my signature, relative to the “Winslow House Ghost;” and farther state that several others since have had their nerves well tried, and their curiosity satisfied by seeing it also. Whatever it may be is still (to me) a profound mystery; but to others who are Spiritualists, it is, as they assert, nothing new. The sensation is not decreasing by any means, and the appearance of what is supposed to be the ghost of the late Dr. Jewel, is almost of daily occurrence. There is no humbug in the matter whatever, singular as it may appear to the savans of the nineteenth century.

Yours in haste, F. E. McBAIN.

“IT IS GOD THAT GIRDETH ME WITH STRENGTH.”

By F. C. Ross

This scripture came to mind as I went forth from our last Monthly Meeting at Rochester. I felt that it had had its fulfilment in my case. As the eagle beareth aloft her young, so the Lord sometimes bears us, as he speaks words of faith, hope, love, and encouragement to our hearts.

We had had an excellent meeting. Five ministers were present, with a goodly gathering of the brethren and sisters. And while a most earnest appeal was made to some present to turn to the Lord, I was led to think of the love of Christ, beseeching, wooing, intreating, compelling, as it were, to come to his arms and be saved. How can we resist his most earnest appeal? If we yield to him, and trust in him, he will gird us with strength. Young friends, you who there started to seek him, he will gird you with strength, and the mountain that appeared so great, may lose half its size when you are called to surmount it. Greater is He that is on our side, than all those that rise up against us. F. C. Ross.

THE BIBLE THE KEY TO THE HEART.

By Webster

If I had a lock of very complicated construction, and there was only one key that would unlock it, I should feel very sure that key was made by one who understood the construction of that lock. So when I find that, notwithstanding all the windings and mysteries of iniquity in the human heart, the Bible, and the Bible only, is adapted to it throughout, and is able to penetrate its most secret recesses, I am constrained to believe that the Bible was made by him who “alone knoweth the hearts of the children of men.”—Webster.

The Harvest of Good Doctrine

EVERY good doctrine leaves behind it an eternal furrow ready for the planting of seeds which shall bring an abundant harvest.

Satisfaction for Sin

MEN cannot make satisfaction for sin, though they seem to find satisfaction in it.

Three Kinds of Silence

THERE are three kinds of silence—the silence of peace and joy, the silence of submission and resignation, and the silence of desolation and despair. Lovely are they whose delight is in the first; and most wretched and miserable are those who are driven to the last.

SABBATH EVENING MUSINGS.

By A. H. H.

As the Sabbath commenced, a feeling of loneliness stole over me; but I came comforted from prayer with the assurance that I was not alone, having claimed the promise of the Holy Spirit, and asked for the companionship of the holy angels. Surely with these to keep up a communication between my soul and Heaven, I need not be lonely.

As the evening shadows deepen around me, in fancy I go to the homes of Sabbath-keepers. I think of those I know and love, who have taken me into their sympathy, who number me with their little band, and remember me at the throne of grace.

From these my heart goes out to the household of faith scattered like salt all over the land. I see them around their family altars, bringing with glad hearts their tribute of praise to the Author of all good.

Later, I see them gathered at the place of prayer, unitedly presenting at the throne of grace their thank-offerings, and humble, fervent petitions for the Holy Spirit to aid them in their acts of devotion. And they speak one to another of the blessed hope, and the joys that await them in the “city of the holy.” They tell of the wonderful love, and tender, watchful care that has been bestowed upon them as they have come along the narrow, perilous way. They speak loving words of that faithful Friend who has walked beside them, sharing every burden, every care, saying, when dangers pressed them sorely, “Fear not, I am with thee.” They renew their vows of faithfulness to him, and express their determination to press bravely on, through evil and through good, facing the foe, turning a deaf ear to the wily tempters who would lure their feet from the narrow way.

They know that perils thicken around them; that Satan’s hosts, well skilled in strategy, are laying deep plans for their overthrow; and they gird on the whole armor anew. The conflict will be severe, but they expect to conquer. The Lord is their strength, whom should they fear? His angels encamp around them. “The Lord preserveth the faithful.” Oh, love the Lord, all ye his saints.

Again, I think of those who are lonely walking the path that Jesus trod. Some of them are toil-worn and weary, but they are looking calmly upward. Light from the heavenly sanctuary shines upon them, and bright angels minister unto them.

They have learned by a blessed experience, that “all the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, unto such as keep his covenant, and his testimonies.” They have gone forth to him without the camp. Heb. xiii, 13. They have left the gay, thoughtless world behind them. They care not for its love or hatred now. They heed not its scornful laugh, or pitying sigh.

The beautiful city with its pearly gates and its mansions all prepared, lightened with the glory of God, lures them onward. ’Tis but a little time, and with renewed youth, and immortal vigor, they will walk its golden streets. Will they turn aside to seek an easier way, or rest here on the enemy’s battle-field? No! never;

“With a brave heart and steady eye, We onward march to victory.”

Then I think of the faithful messengers of truth, who are sent with the last warning message to a guilty world. In the great coronation day, their crowns will be set with many stars. To-night, perhaps they are sad, as they think of their household jewels far away. Perhaps for many weeks or months they have not clasped them to their hearts. But they are safe with a covenant-keeping God.

Toil on! Your mission is glorious, and soon shall you hear the welcome, Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.

“There, hand in hand, firm linked, at last, And heart to heart enfolded all, We’ll smile upon the troubled past, And wonder why we wept at all.”

A. H. H.

WHAT IS VIRTUE?

A student put this question to the late Dr. Archibald Alexander. His simple and admirable reply was, “Virtue consists in doing our duty, in the several relations that we sustain, in respect to ourselves, to our fellow-men, and to God, as known from reason, conscience and revelation.”

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