"And in the morning rising up a great while before day he went out and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed."Mark i, 35.
All nature now in silence hush'd,
For morn approaching waiting stood,
No voice was heard save winds that rush'd,
Amidst the foliage of the wood.
Earth never heard so sweet a sound,
Or angels sung so soft a lay,
As those that broke, while on the ground,
Our Saviour gently bow'd to pray.
He prays—how sweet the accents are—
Bright seraphs listen with surprise!
His voice perfumes the midnight air;
No strains like these before did rise.
He prays—all heaven astonish'd stands!
Th' effulgent orbs with wonder nod;
Amazement fills these unknown lands,
While prostrate bows the Son of God.
He prays—all o'or the mighty deep
Methinks the waters cease to roll;
Yet thoughtless man is wrapped in sleep,
While sins press heavy on his soul.
He prays—O, may I ever tread
The way our Saviour meekly trod,
In every path of peace he led,
With zeal that mark'd the Lamb of God.
PUBLICATIONS.
By Editor
THE plan of selling Tracts, at our present low prices, meets the unanimous approval of the friends of the cause; yet we think the present method of spreading the light before our fellow-men can be somewhat improved.
Preaching brethren are frequently entering new fields, where they can expect to receive but little towards a support, and where, at first, but few are ready to purchase Tracts. It is sometimes necessary to give away a portion of the Publications circulated among the people. This is quite a tax on the preacher who purchases them, bears his own expenses, and receives little or nothing for a week's labor in a new place.
But what can be done? What improvement can be made on our present mode of circulating Publications? We answer, Let donations be made to the small Tract fund now on hand, ($211,) and let the whole matter be placed in the hands of the Publishing Committee, whose duty it shall be to see that the means received is judiciously used in purchasing Tracts and distributing them to Preaching brethren as each has need, to assist them in entering new fields of labor. We have consulted with the Committee on this subject, and they approve of the plan here stated.
Bro. Cottrell writes:—"Your proposed improvement on our plan of circulating books meets my mind. I was out last week in a new place some fifteen miles south, visited a number of families and held one meeting—some ears to hear. I sold a few books and gave away a few more; and I was thinking on my way home that there ought to have been a few more given away. But I could hardly afford it. I went on foot to save expense of a horse, and I was thinking that brethren ought to furnish Publications to give away in such cases.
"I can spend most of my time in the field, and my family can support themselves; but they cannot support me in traveling, and much less pay for publications to give away. And my mind is to go out into the highways and hedges—in new places."
The friends of Bible truth are all solicited to contribute for this worthy object, as the Lord hath prospered them. Send your liberalities to this Office, and they shall be receipted in the Review, and placed in the hands of the Committee. Several hundred dollars should be added to our small fund immediately.
In No. 6, a call was made for $100, to pay for Tracts to send to Wisconsin. But few have responded. See receipts in No. 8. We have hoped to see a united and vigorous action on the part of those who profess love for the present truth, and we shall not be disappointed. Those who have the truth at heart will be prompt to help carry forward all judicious enterprises for the spread of Bible truth.
A Cloud of Witnesses.
"WHEREFORE, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children. My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him; for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth." Heb. xii, 1-6.
Faith is the subject of the Apostle's remarks in the last verses of the tenth, and in the eleventh chapter of his epistle to the Hebrews. He speaks of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Sarah, Joseph, Moses, and others, and what they did by faith. In this chapter is introduced a cloud of devoted witnesses of God's faithfulness to his trusting people.
"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country." Chap. xi, 13, 14.
"And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." Verses 39, 40.
These worthies compose the cloud of witnesses of which the Apostle speaks. In them was found proper samples of true faith, and patience in suffering. They were in their day safe examples for all coming time. In their day the true worship of God was exceedingly unpopular. It is now. The brightest pages of their history tell of sacrifice and suffering. They died in hope of immortal life at the resurrection of the just. The history of those who share with them the same "blessed hope" will be similar. Those worthies will reign with Christ; and all who enjoy that reign must suffer with him here.
As the Christian beholds this cloud of witnesses, and contrasts their afflictions which were but "for a moment," with the "far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" that awaits them, he is induced to "lay aside every weight," and "run with patience" the heavenly race.
To be freed from every weight is more than some suppose. Sin in all its forms is indeed heavy. And these weights must be put off, before the heavenly race can be run successfully. The Bible points them out. Hear Paul:—
"But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and be not bitter against them. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well-pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged." Col. iii. 8-21.
"That ye put off, concerning the former conversation, the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." Eph. iv 22-24.
Hear Peter: "Wherefore, laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil-speaking, as new-born babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby, if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious." 1 Pet. ii, 1-3.
"The sin which doth so easily beset," is evidently some definite sin with which all are more or less tempted. What is this sin? Faith is the subject of the Apostle's remarks. And does not this sin hold an opposite position in his subject? If so, then it is unbelief. There is but little faith among men in the plain testimony of God's word. The traditions of the Elders are preferred by the mass. "When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" Matt. xviii, 8.
"Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while and he that shall come, will come and will not tarry.
Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul." Heb. x, 33-39.
Not only are the worthies, the cloud of witnesses who died in faith of the "better resurrection," set before the Christian as examples; but the Apostle says: "Looking unto Jesus." He is the author and finisher of his faith. He is a perfect example of benevolence and holiness. Guile was not in his mouth. And not a selfish act can be found in his mission and ministry. "Looking unto Jesus." What a mark to which the Christian may look, and ever learn. "Scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom. v, 7, 8. Christ says: "love one another, as I have loved you." John xiii, 34.
"For the joy that was set before him." What was that joy set before Christ which induced him to endure the cross, despise the shame &c.? Certainly, it was not joy realized in this world; neither while an advocate, or minister of the heavenly Sanctuary, sympathizing with the church on earth, sharing their woes. By faith we look to the bright future, beyond the resurrection of all the Just, and we see that joy. There the blood-washed throng will be gathered home to the great Jubilee, from every nation, tongue and people. With immortal beauty, crowned with eternal glory, they will stand around the throne, and adore Him who was slain to redeem them to God. This is the joy set before the Son of God. Then will he "see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied," for all his sufferings to save man. And if the Saviour shall feel thus, what must be the emotions of the saved? We may get a faint idea of their gratitude and joy, by their song.
"And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people and nation: and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."
And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels78round about the throne, and the beasts, and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.
And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever." Rev. v, 9-13.
The Christian should not wait till he reaches the other shore before learning the song, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain." What wondrous love? "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
"For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." Christ bore the sin of the world, in the garden and on the cross. He endured the contradiction of sinners during his life of sorrow, and even in his agony on Calvary. All this the man of sorrows meekly suffered while on his mission of benevolence to save lost sinners.
Christian brother, are you getting weary, and are you fainting by the way, because the hardened sinner scoffs, and the proud professor frowns, as you run the heavenly race? Do consider Jesus. Follow him from Bethlehem's manger throughout his entire life. He was a man of sorrows. See him weeping at the grave of Lazarus, then in the mountain, all night in prayer. In the garden his soul was "exceeding sorrowful, even unto death," and "his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." Have you felt the weight and grief of your own, or others' sins? Then consider Jesus while bearing the sins of the whole world.
Behold him before the deriding priests and elders who sought false witness against him. "But Jesus held his peace." "Then did they spit in his face, and buffet him: and others smote him with the palms of their hands." In the common hall they took from him his seamless garment, and, in shameful mockery, dressed the innocent Christ in a scarlet robe. They placed a crown of thorns upon his head and a reed in his hand, and bowed the knee, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" On Calvary "his soul, was made an offering for sin," while he died the shameful death of the cross.
Dear brother, Jesus suffered all this for you. He left his Father's glory, and the society of holy angels, to fulfill his mission of mercy and benevolence, that sinners might be saved, and be exalted to his throne. "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne," Rev. iii, 21. Weary brother, look to Jesus and be refreshed. Fainting, lonely soul, look up. Heaven will impart strength that you may bend your footsteps to Mount Zion with quicker pace.
"Don't talk about trials here below,
But talk about loving Jesus."
"Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin." No, no. Very many who talk of bearing the cross and suffering for Christ, are ignorant of what they say. Woe to the professed church of Christ that her religion is popular. Where is the rebuke of sin by her ministry, and the resisting of it by her membership? It cannot be found. She is black with the sins of the age. And should He who was holy, harmless and separate from sinners, preach in her assemblies, and rebuke sin as he did eighteen centuries since, Crucify him! Crucify him! would be heard from the professedly pious crowd.
The true Christian will stand out boldly but meekly, against sin in all its forms, and it is not for him to faint, or repine, even if he is called to resist unto blood. Christians are no better now than Paul's cloud of witnesses who suffered, or the millions of martyrs for "the witness of Jesus and the word of God."
God has never been able to make anything very good or great of man. In the days of Noah, men had corrupted the earth with their wickedness, and the Almighty poured the flood around the world to wash it of its pollutions. Only eight souls were saved. In less than 500 years from the flood, two angels were sent to hasten righteous Lot to the mountain, while fire and brimstone were rained from heaven, which destroyed the vile inhabitants of the cities of the plain. And as God was about to establish with his people the system of religion of the first covenant, a series of events in his plan must occur calculated to humble them, and prepare them to receive the law, and build the Sanctuary of the Lord. Joseph must be sold into Egypt, there must be a famine in all the land, and Jacob and his children must go down into Egypt there to become bond-men. With a mighty hand, God delivers the children of Israel from the house of bondage. But mark, how soon they rebel! They murmur, they make the golden calf and worship it, they are a stiff-necked people still, notwithstanding all the means employed to humble them, and lead them to the worship of the living God. On almost every page of their history is written rebellion, and departure from the true worship of God, till you come down to Christ's first advent, and there they crucify the Lord of life and glory.
Read the acts of the Apostles, and learn their humility and plainness of speech, as they went forth, imbued with the Spirit of their Master, to preach the gospel in its purity. They sacrificed and suffered for what was then the despised present truth, and, all excepting John, were slain for the witness of Jesus. As we pass on down through the history of the true church, we see her persecuted and afflicted. More than fifty millions of the saints have lost their lives in resisting Papal heresies.
But many suppose this to be a favored age, the dawn of the temporal millennium, when men may join the world in all its pride, luxury and wealth, yet with a profession of religion pass to the eternal reward of the righteous, to share with those who have suffered. O! what a delusive dream. Why! should they reach the home of the saints, who will have "come out of great tribulation," it would be no home for them. Shame would cover them, and they would wish to come back and suffer with Christ. We repeat it, Woe to the professed church of Christ that her religion has become popular. The damning sins of pride, love of this world, and its treasures, have found their way into all her temples. She has left her true Spouse, and walks arm in arm with a lost world sunken in lewdness. How can it be expected that she would love the news of her true Lord's return? "Behold the day cometh that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch." Mal. iv, 1.
Dear reader, we have not only the cloud of witnesses of which the Apostle speaks, as examples of true faith, and patience in suffering; but we have also the Apostles and martyrs who died for the word of God and the witness of Jesus. In every age God's true church has been separate from sinners, has been persecuted and afflicted.
And now, as the "remnant" church leaves the beaten path of Sunday-keeping, and keeps all the commandments of God, most certainly she may expect to see the dragon's ire stirred, and feel his wrath. But let us run with patience the short race set before us. We have all to induce us to toil on, and suffer for the word of God, that others before us had; and as we draw nearer home, the glory to which they looked brightens.
THREE WEEKS SINCE WE STATED THAT.
"In order to meet the expenses of the season, and pay for our Winter's stock, we must receive $800, within four weeks. We are aware of the difficulties in raising money at this time, and would not overurge any; but it seems indispensably necessary that our readers should immediately forward to us the small sum of $1, for the REVIEW one year."
Within the three weeks we have received about one eighth part of the sum necessary to be raised in four weeks. We need $200 this morning to pay debts that are due, and a debt of $360 will be due in two weeks. When it was stated that the terms of the REVIEW were $1 a year, in advance, we did expect that our friends would be prompt, and that by the influence of Preachers, Agents and leading brethren, we should immediately receive from one to two thousand dollars. But we have been greatly disappointed. Only about one fifth of our subscribers have paid in advance. Therefore we have been obliged to give up the publication of the Hymn Book for the present, at least, and get out very small editions of Brn. Hall's and Stephenson's works. We abhor duns in an Advent paper; but this plain statement of facts relative to the condition of the Office seems necessary.
The object in setting a price to the REVIEW, was not that it might be better sustained, for it was freely and fully supported by the liberal portion of its readers: but the small sum of $1 was stated that all its readers might be encouraged to pay for their own paper, and that it might be widely circulated.
The REVIEW is extremely low at $1 a year. We use better stock than most publishers, which is an additional expense. We insert no advertisements, on which most papers rely for a large portion of their support. And the matter is mostly original, which requires more labor than selections from other papers and works. When it was decided that the price of the REVIEW should be $1 a year, we were aware that a sacrifice must be made on the part of all connected with it, of at least one-third common wages. But this sacrifice is cheerfully made, to advance the cause of truth. In such an enterprise, under such circumstances we had reason to expect the prompt co-operation of all our friends.
We now want a great increase of subscribers, which would add but little to our expenses. We want those of our subscribers, who have not, and think it is just, to send to the Office, at their earliest convenience, the small sum of $1 for the REVIEW one year. And we want the friends of the cause to send in their donations to the Tract fund, and to send the REVIEW to the Lord's poor, that the Office may be released from embarrassment immediately.
Let the Review be Circulated.
By Editor
It was not designed, in setting the small price to the REVIEW, to deprive any person who desired it, the privilege of reading it. The Lord's poor should have it free. And it is often the case that persons who may wish to subscribe for the REVIEW have not the means on hand to pay. Let such have the REVIEW, and pay at their earliest convenience.
THE ANSWER
FROM THE FRIEND.
"And now to show the seventh-day command
Was never meant for all in every land,
I'll call the mind into the Polar ray,
Where six long months describe the nat'ral day,
Each night the same; how then's the Sabbath there?
Or how'll their time with Moses' law compare?
A day and night there constitute a year,
Which doth include above three hundred here;
Then if some sacred parts of time there are,
Which days here in the milder zone declare,
How can they properly define them there?
And still some other reasons will arise,
And show how time revolves around the skies;
That if a man should take a western route,
And fully circumvolve the earth about,
Then his account with ours would not agree,
His seventh day, to us would sixth day be.
But if an eastern course one traverse round
This globe of Earth, it clearly will be found79When he returns, if he return at all,
His seventh day will on our first day fall:
So that in foreign lands it doth appear,
Part of their seventh day is first day here;
Therefore no certain space can be defined,
A universal rest for all mankind.
Hence, clear it is, the Israelite commands,
Which were of old dispensed by Moses' hands,
Were local precepts to a certain race,
And not enjoined on man in ev'ry place."
THE ANSWER.
"Now what you say respecting Polar clime
Appears to me but a delusive rhyme;
You call us off into a certain place,
Which is no dwelling for the human race.
Of consequence, we this conclusion draw,
That where no people is, there needs no law;
Yet were men there, did they but understand
The thing that's meant when God doth give command,
'Twould be their duty strictly to obey,
Whether 'twas always night or always day.
Now when this Earth did first begin to run,
Shifting its sides towards the radiant Sun,
One side was dark, the other side was light,
The light God called the day, the darkness night.
So when it had quite round its center run,
One day and night was out, the next begun:
Hence, clear it is, the space of time he meant,
Was while this Earth once round its axis went.
Then if so be that people could be there
And could endure that frigid state of air,
By certain land-marks they might well compute
Such parts of time as with God's law would suit.
But since no mortal ever could arrive
Unto the Polar point, and there survive,
Then sure 'tis wrong the Scriptures thus to twist,
Under pretence of things that can't exist;
Compassing land and sea from equinox to pole,
To make one proselyte, deluded soul,
When done, more vile, perhaps, by seven fold,
As was one wretched proselyte of old;
For, being taught one holy law to break,
To break nine more the liberty he'll take;
And thus go on, and well enough he may,
If true it is these laws are done away.
Excuse me if you think I speak too rash,
I do not mean so much to use the lash,
But with plain language strive with all my might,
On darkened minds to cast a gleam of light.
The great Apostle bids us all beware,
Lest we are spoiled through philosophic snare,
And vain deceit, which we may often find,
Where wrong tradition veils the fleeting mind.
And now to trace you round this rolling world,
An eastern and a western route you've twirled,
And made not nothing by this spacious travel,
But what I call a wretched, foolish cavil.
'Tis by the use of reason man has found
That one this spacious earth may traverse round
By that same reason 'tis as clearly plain
That by the route one day he'll lose or gain.
When he returns, his day he must correct
'Tis what we know and what we must expect;
But for a man to bring this as a plea,
That round this earth no Sabbath there can be,
Appears too weak for men of sense to bring
Against the laws of our almighty King.
And now, to make you clearly understand
That Sabbath days can be in every land,
At least those parts where mortals may reside,
And nowhere else can precepts be applied.
There was a place where first the orb of light
Appear'd to rise and westward take its flight;
That moment in that place the day began,
And as he in his circuit westward ran,
Or, rather, as the earth did eastward spin,
To parts more westward daylight did begin;
And thus, at different times, from place to place,
First day began it clearly was the case;
And I should think a man must be a dunce
To think the day began all round at once;
So that in foreign lands it doth appear
There was a first day there as well as here,
And if there was a first the earth around,
As sure as fate the seventh might be found.
And thus you see it matters not a whit
To which meridian of earth we get,
Since each distinctly had its dawn of light,
And ever since, successive day and night;
Thus, while our antipodes in darkness sleep,
We here the true primeval Sabbath keep."
SABBATH CONTROVERSY.
By E. M. L. Cory
Brother White:—I would be pleased to see the following poetic extract from a Sabbath controversy in Rhode Island between a Friend, and a Seventh-day Baptist, appear in the columns of the Review and Herald; originally from the Protestant Sentinel, Vol. V, New series, No. 16. Directly from The Christian Palladium, Vol. VI, No. 19.
E. M. L. CORY.
Meridian, Ing. Co., Mich.
The Peacemakers' Blessing
Blessed are the peace-makers: for they shall be called God's children.
Loving Christ
By John Mason
They that love Christ, love to think of him, love to read of him, love to hear of him, love to speak of him, for him, to him. They love his presence, his yoke and his name. His will is their will, his dishonor is their affliction, his cause is their care, his people are their companions, his day is their delight, his word is their guide, his glory is their end. They had rather ten thousand times suffer for Christ than that he should suffer by them. [MASON.
COMMUNICATIONS.
By Sarah J. Grant
From Sister Grant.
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—Excuse the liberty I take in presuming to address a few lines to the public through the Review; being a stranger, and having but recently embraced the truth, the deep interest I feel for the cause of God, and the spreading of the truth, must be my only apology. I am young, and I would say a few words to the young who have heard the truth and are undecided. I have not come out from any church and embraced the Advent doctrine, but I have turned from what is termed the world. The pleasures of the ball-room were a temptation to me: perhaps they are to you. The fear of ridicule held me back: perhaps it does you. If so, I ask, I beg of you, to stop and consider before it is too late. You have the word of God: read and obey it.
The time is fast approaching when you will need something more substantial than the follies of this world to bear you up. Nothing short of the all-powerful arm of God can sustain you in that day when the vials of his wrath shall be poured out upon the earth. Then flee to Jesus while there yet is mercy. Call upon him while it is to-day; for to-morrow you may never see. Seek him while he is near; for soon will the cry be heard, "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and I am not saved." How awful will your condition then be. Turn, then, my young friends, turn with me. Let us keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Let us be of that number of whom it will be said, "These are they which came out of great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." That God may sink the truth of the third angel's message deep in the heart of every person, is the prayer of your unworthy sister.
SARAH J. GRANT.
Rush Lake, Fond du Lac Co., Wis.
REASONS FOR BEING HOLY.
By Albert Barnes
A man who has been redeemed by the blood of the Son of God should be pure. He who is an heir of life should be holy. He who is attended by celestial beings, and who is soon—he knows not how soon—to be translated to heaven, should be holy. Are angels my attendants? Then I should walk worthy of my companionship. Am I soon to go and dwell with angels? Then I should be pure. Are these feet soon to tread the courts of heaven? Is this tongue soon to unite with heavenly beings in praising God? Are these eyes of mine soon to look on the throne of eternal glory, and on the ascended Redeemer? Then these feet and these eyes and these lips should be pure and holy; and I should be dead to the world and live for heaven.
[ALBERT BARNES.
All Sorts of Preaching
By John Angell James
It is my sad and serious belief that, if the evangelical pulpit is losing its power, it is just because it is losing sight of its object and aim. The cultivation of the intellect and the advancement of knowledge in the present day, are lifting both preachers and hearers above the plain simple Gospel of Christ. Sermons are with many persons no longer heard as the word of God, but as the word of man; not as the means and aids of salvation, but an intellectual exercise on religious topics, for the gratification of the taste, intellect, and imagination, on Sunday. And it must be confessed that the preachers of them are, by their artificial and excessive elaboration, and the introduction of new topics, teaching their hearers so to regard them, and are training them thus to be a kind of amateur hearers of sermons. [J. Angell James]
RESURRECTION.
By Beattie
Shall I be left abandoned in the dust,
When fate, relenting, lets the flower revive?
Shall Nature's voice, to man alone unjust,
Deny him, doomed to perish, hope to live?
It is for this fair virtue oft must strive
With disappointment, penury and pain?
No; heaven's immortal spring shall yet arrive,
And man's majestic beauty bloom again,
Bright through the eternal year of love's triumphant reign. | Beattie.
Brief Extracts.
By Aleph
"To put on the name of Christ, and not to walk in the ways of Christ, what is it else than to prevaricate with the Divine name?" Titus i, 16.
"In vain do men pretend to religion while ungodly company is their choice." Prov. xiii, 20; Ps. cxix, 63.
"One only gift can justify
The boasting soul that knows his God—
When Jesus doth his blood apply,
I glory in his sprinkled blood!"
"In the name of Jesus, the whole Gospel lies hid: this name is the light, food, and medicine of the soul." Song i, 3.
"Live not so much upon the comforts of God as upon the God of comforts." Ps. lxiii, 3.
"He is too covetous whom God cannot suffice: he hath all things that hath Him that hath all things." Rom. viii, 32.
Reader! think of these things, and seek for present holiness.
"He is no true believer to whom sin is not the greatest burden, sorrow, and trouble." Rom. vii, 24.
"He that loves Jesus Christ most, is most like unto God." John xvi, 27.
"All our present glory consists in our preparation for future glory." Col. i, 12.
Testimony of a Tent-Meeting Convert
By Emily Richardson
From Sister Richardson.
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—I feel a desire to let it be known what the Lord has done for such a poor unworthy child as I am. I went forty miles to attend a tent-meeting at Stoddard, N. H., Sept. 29th, and there for the first time I have heard the truth proclaimed by the Advent brethren. I thank the Lord and praise his holy name for the blessing I received by attending this meeting. I feel the love of God shed abroad in my heart. Let us be faithful. The Lord will help us if we try to be faithful. I mean to live up to the requirements of the holy word of God. I long for the appearing of our dear Saviour, and need patience to wait for him. I know there is much to be done, and but little time to do it in, and for that reason, I feel as though it is high time for us all to arise and put on the whole armor of God, and come up to the work of the Lord. I believe there are jewels in this place, to be gathered into the fold of God. I feel that it is my duty to let my light shine before others, that I may not be a stumbling block in their way.
Your sister, waiting for the soon coming of our Lord.
EMILY RICHARDSON.
Proctorville, N. H., Oct. 1854.
AN OLD SOLDIER
By An Old Soldier
From An Old Soldier.
BELOVED BRO. WHITE:—Believe me when I tell you that the Review, which you have so kindly sent to a poor pilgrim, has been a welcome messenger, as I have lived here three years alone, despised by professors, hated by the world, and shunned by my neighbors. I have been a lone man for twenty years, although I have been a Sabbath-keeper for more than thirty. I have differed in some points from all the churches, and have felt many times as though I wanted christian fellowship; but one cried, Lo here! and another, Lo there! and the Book that I read, says, Go not after them.
I see by the paper that there are many brethren scattered abroad. I read their letters and often the tear runs down the furrowed cheek. I think I know how to feel with them.
I would say to the dear lambs of Jesus, Fear not, wait a little while, and you will come off conquerors. I wish the brethren would write often.
AN OLD SOLDIER
Dane Co., Wis., Oct., 1854.
OBITUARY.
By E. Everts
The Companion of Bro. R. Ralph, of Berlin, Ct., fell asleep, Oct. 6th, of a few weeks illness; calmly she closed her earthly toils, in full hope of putting on immortality in the Resurrection morning, leaving a deeply afflicted companion and six children to mourn her absence, yet, not as those without hope. I preached the funeral discourse from Rev. xiv, 13, to a candid congregation. E. EVERTS.
FORGIVE.
By A. R. S.
A SUPPLIANT, begging for pardon, came
To confess his faults, and his errors name;
And tears of contrition rolled down his face,
As he sought his wayward steps to retrace;
But the injured viewed with unfeeling eye,
And spurned, unrelenting, the penitent's cry,
Nor thought of the debt he owed to Heaven,
For snares escaped, and for sins forgiven!
Ere long, at Mercy's shrine, one knelt,
Who the stings of conscience keenly felt;
For guilt, as heinous, his course unfolds
To Him who the balances evenly holds;
And this was the prayer that I heard him make,
O Father, forgive, for Jesus' sake!
With the measure ye mete, lest thy heart be riven,
Forgive, as thou hop'st to be forgiven! A. R. S.
E. E
By E. Everts
P. S. At the last evening's discourse to the great, attentive congregation, while the unconscious state of the dead was dwelt on, a Baptist minister (formerly) broke in upon Bro. Wheeler and determined to talk, which disturbed the interested audience, and refused to desist by Bro. Wheeler's requests, until the indignation of the candid and respectable, silenced him by telling him that if he did not like to hear, he might go out ; and at the close, the rabble hunched and jammed him, and pounced upon the poor man, till they drove him from the ground; which bespoke the interest that was taken in the truths presented.
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