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Review and Herald, Vol. 39, No. 20.

The Object of Creation

Review and Herald

Apr 30, 1872

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 30, 1872

The Object of Creation.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

BY ELD. D. M. CANRIGHT.
(Concluded.)
We will now notice a few out of a great number of passages, pointing to the restoration of the earth. Gen. 13:14, 15: “And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art, northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward; for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever.” In other words, Abram was to look in every direction, and all the lands which he could see, God promised to him, and to his seed forever. Again, “And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” Gen. 17:8. Here all this land was again promised to Abram and to his seed for an everlasting possession.
Well, was not this promise fulfilled long ago? Did not the Israelites, Abram’s seed, long possess the land of Canaan, and thus receive the fulfillment of that promise? We will listen to what the martyr Stephen said of Abram, and of this promise. Acts 7:4, 5: “Then came he out of the land of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Charran; and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell. And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on; yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.”
This testimony is too direct to be mistaken. As late as Stephen’s time, the promise had never been fulfilled. Neither Abraham nor his seed had possessed the land, yet God had promised that he should. We all know that he has not had it since that time. Listen to what Paul says concerning this seed of Abraham: “Now to Abraham and to his seed were the promises made.” Gal. 3:16. Well, that is the very thing that we have been reading about. Listen further: “He saith not, And to seeds, as of many;” that is, when he said to Abraham, “to thy seed,” he did not put it in the plural number, seeds, as meaning all the literal descendants of Abraham. This is not what God meant. “But,” continues Paul, “as of one, and to thy seed which is Christ.”
Then that seed which was spoken of is Christ. So when God said of Abraham, “To thee and to thy seed will I give all these countries,” he meant, “to thee and to Christ will I give them.” And Paul further shows that the promise embraces the whole world. Rom. 4:19: “For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.”
In that promise to Abraham every Christian has an interest. Hear Paul still further: “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Gal. 3:29. Reader, are you a Christian? If so, you are Christ’s. Then what follows? Paul says, If you are Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed and heirs according to that promise. So we see that every Christian has an interest in that promise to Abraham concerning the land of Canaan, or rather, of the whole world.
Now we know that neither Abraham, nor Christ, nor Christians have ever possessed that land. Abraham was a pilgrim and stranger in it, Heb. 11:8, 13; and Christ had not where to lay his head, Matt. 8:20; and millions of Christians have had no more. So it must be still future when Abraham, and Christ, and all Christians shall have the promised land for an everlasting possession. Then will be fulfilled Ps. 2:7–9: “I will declare the decree; the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
In harmony with the above scripture is the declaration of the prophet, that to the Messiah should be given the throne of David, and he should rule over his kingdom forever. Isa. 9:7: “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”
The angel, in announcing the birth of Jesus, says of him: “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David; and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” Luke 1:32, 33. Christ, then, is to possess the throne of David and rule over his kingdom forever. We well know that David’s throne was never in Heaven, but was upon the earth. Hence the throne of Christ is to be on this earth, and it is to stay here forever. Hence we read again in Rev. 11:15: “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in Heaven, saying, The kingdoms of the world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever.” The sounding of the seventh angel brings us to the close of time and the setting of the Judgment, as all admit. Right there the kingdoms of this world are given to Christ to reign over them—not simply a thousand years, but forever and ever. Texts almost without number directly teaching this doctrine might be quoted; but we forbear.
That this earth is to become the final abode of the redeemed saints, is taught in the clearest and most emphatic manner. Says Jesus, “Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth.” Matt. 5:5. Says the prophet Daniel: “But the Judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom and dominion and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.” Daniel 7:26, 27. It is a kingdom under the whole heavens, which the saints are to possess. It is to be an everlasting kingdom; there shall be no end to it. This shall be their inheritance.
The reader must bear in mind that the earth which the saints will inherit is not to be in the condition in which we now see it. It is to be a new, or rather, a renewed, earth. Sin shall depart, and the curse be wiped off. The fires of the great day of God will purify this old earth from all its corruptions, and utterly destroy all the corrupt masses of wicked men. Peter makes this subject very plain (2 Pet. 3:5–13). He states how the earth was once cleansed from its pollution and wickedness by the flood of waters: “For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water; whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished.” Verses 5, 6. We know that this was a literal earth, cleansed with literal water, and that the wicked were literally destroyed. Thus it was cleansed once, but it is to be cleansed again—this time in a more thorough manner and more effectually. All wicked men will meet their end in this final destruction. Peter says, “But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of Judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” Verse 7. The other time it was cleansed by water, but the next time, it will be by fire at the day of Judgment. Then he proceeds to explain minutely how this will be done, how the fire will affect the earth: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also, and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” Verses 10–13.
When that burning day shall come, the heavens, that is the atmospheric heavens, the air, will be on fire. The elements and the earth itself will melt with fervent heat. So intense and terrible will that fire be that it will melt and dissolve the solid earth. The granite rocks and solid mountains will melt, and run down like wax. From pole to pole, from one side of the earth to the other, will be nothing but one vast body of liquid fire. In this fire, Peter says, the works that are in the earth will be burned up. These works referred to, we understand to include all wicked men, the physical pollutions of the earth, as thorns and thistles, and every trail of the old serpent. Malachi speaks thus of this burning day: “For 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.” Chap. 4:1. Peter says that the day of the Lord will come, in which the heavens and the earth shall burn. Malachi says, Behold the day cometh which shall burn as an oven. When God shall burn this earth, that will certainly be a day that shall burn like an oven. Peter says that the works in the earth shall be burned up. Malachi says that all the proud, and all that do wickedly, shall be burned up, root and branch, in that fire.
When God shall thus melt this earth, we understand that it will form the lake of fire (Rev. 21:8) into which the wicked are to be cast. This fire will utterly and radically purify this old earth; and from this fire will come forth a glorious new earth, henceforth to be the eternal abode of the saints. After clearly stating this terrible purifying process, Peter says, “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” This new earth is not to be another earth so far as actual material is concerned. It is new only in the sense that a converted man is a new creature, i. e., renewed and purified. Peter says that it is according to his promise. We find this promise very plainly stated in Isa. 65:17–25. “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.” “The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock, and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord.” Verses 17, 18, 25. Thus we see that this promise contemplates an actual earth—a restored earth, wherein will be the same things, animals and all, which God has placed upon the earth.
But, says one, shall we have animals in the new earth? Most certainly; why not? Did not God make them there in the beginning, before the fall? and is there not to be a restoration of all things? If so, will not these be restored? Listen to the prophet again: “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’s den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” Isa. 11:6–9.
What a glorious scene that will be when gentleness, harmony, and peace, shall reign, not only among men, but in the brute creation. These will not be spiritual lions, and wolves, and lambs, and children, who are to thus dwell together in harmony. No; they will be just such real ones as God made in Eden. Neither will man be simply an immaterial, ghostly essence to flit from cloud to cloud, like a butterfly among flowers, without any definite object. No; he will be a real, material man, composed of flesh and bones as actually as was Adam when he came from the hand of God. That this will be so after the resurrection, is easily shown:
1. The earth is man’s proper place in the universe. God made man to occupy this place and no other, and he is every way adapted to it. The new earth will be a material earth, covered with grass, and trees producing delicious fruit, on which man will feed. Hence, man must be a material man to fill such a place.
2. The resurrected saints are to be like Jesus after his resurrection. John says, “When he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” 1 John 3:2. Paul says, “We look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body.” Phil. 3:20, 21.
Now let us see what kind of body Christ had after his resurrection: “And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it and did eat before them.” Luke24:36–43.
Nothing could be plainer than this. Jesus declares that he had flesh and bones, and told his disciples to handle him and see; and to still further convince them, he ate material food before them. Peter says that the apostles “did eat and drink with him after he arose from the dead.” Acts 10:41. But did he go to Heaven with this same body? Paul declares that he did. Eph. 4:9, 10: “Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.” The same body that went into the earth at its burial went to Heaven at its ascension. Peter puts this beyond all dispute when he says “that God had sworn with an oath to him [David] that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne. He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.” Acts 2:30, 31.
The Christ, then, who in the future is to sit on the throne of David must have flesh, must be David’s son according to the flesh. Will, then, the king who reigns have flesh and bones, and all his saints be immaterial spirits around him? No. For both Paul and John say that the saints will be like him. Isaiah says that these very bodies shall be raised to life. “Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust; for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out her dead.” Isa. 26:19. Good old Job believed that he should have flesh, and be as real a man after his resurrection as he was before. Listen to him: “For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God; whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.” Job 19:25–27. This certainly is plain enough. Many texts might be quoted, but we will not weary the reader.
From all this mass of testimony, it seems to us that the final destiny of man and this earth is very plain. God’s original purpose concerning it can readily be seen, and that that purpose will ultimately be accomplished and carried out to a glorious consummation, we think we have plainly shown. These dark days of sin and suffering are only temporary. They will soon pass away. The clouds will be dispersed. The sun will rise again. The glory of God will once more fill this earth. Eden shall bloom here again. The tree of life shall once more yield its immortal fruit. Pollution and death shall vanish away. Even the brute creation, the fowls in the air, the fishes in the sea, the cattle upon a thousand hills, shall again appear with all their original beauty and harmlessness. Then man, tried and proved faithful, resurrected and made immortal, freed from physical and moral deformity, once more crowned with the glory of God, shall tread these beautiful shores with gladness of heart and songs of praise to the great and glorious God.
Dear reader, that day draws on apace. A few more aches and pains, a few more crosses, and conflicts with sin, a few more nights of sorrow, and that glorious day will come. Cheer up, hope in God, be strong for the right, and ever keep the prize in view.

HOLD UP THY LIGHT.

Hold up thy light, O child of grace! Be not afraid to let it shine On all around, but rather fear To hide this precious light divine.
Hold up thy light! Thou canst not tell, However feeble be its ray, But some poor soul may catch its beam, And by it find the narrow way.
Hold up thy light with steady hand Though it be faint! Who does not know, Where darkness reigns, how far and clear Even a little light will show?
Hold up thy light! 'Tis God's command; And till with thee time cease to roll, His voice thou canst not disobey But at the peril of thy soul.
Hold up thy light! 'Tis thus it lives; By shining, grows itself more bright; Thus is the Father glorified: Then, child of grace, HOLD UP THY LIGHT!
—Sel.

Trust in God.

By M. E. Piper

“THE Lord knoweth them that are his, and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.”
This is a comforting thought to the child of God when pressed down by a weight of discouragement that, for a time, seems sufficient to crush him. Is the spirit lifeless, dead? Has hope ceased to inspire, and faith forgotten to work? Surely, Satan would love to have it so. But now is the time to trust, not to yield to despair. Look up, believe, have faith; have it to yourself before God. Have you done all that you could do, and now are you powerless, cast down, because you have encountered some of Satan’s malicious designs? Let this comfort you, “None of them that trust in Him shall be desolate.” Look up, though the heart is crushed, and the terrible weight seems greater than any previous one has ever been, and force yourself to say, whether you feel it or not, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.” Depend upon it, you will not have repeated these words of Job a great many times in your anguish of soul, ere you will find faith is kindling anew in your heart, and doubts will begin to vanish, and unbelief disappear, to make room for the sweet assurance of peace that the Lord has promised to those who put their confidence in him.
Yes, “He knoweth them that are his.” He remembereth our frame, that we are mortal, subject to the infirmities of the flesh; he pities our weakness, he does not deal with us harshly, as we may suppose, but in love for us, probes every wound, discovers every secret sin, and waits to be gracious, to heal with a soothing balm when we are ready to receive it. Oh! shall we lightly esteem the great love of God toward us? Shall we rebel, complain, and lay down our arms, and give the enemy a chance to work? Not so; we will trust and cling to the mighty One, who cannot fail us even in the darkest hour.
And whoever trusted in the living God, that did not receive his blessing? Then how full is the sunshine of his favor! As the springtime comes to gladden our hearts after the long, cold winter is past; so, and much greater, is the rejoicing of that soul who made God his confidence in times of distress. How the heart will swell, the tears burst afresh, and the whole frame quiver, at the remembrance of the narrow escape from the slough of Despond, while the song of thanksgiving arises to give glory and honor and praise unto Him who loved us and redeemed us by his precious blood. As the child safe in its own dear home recounts amid smiles and tears of joy its recent escape from danger, so does the child of God love to praise and magnify the power that has saved him in a perilous hour. Be this my language ever:
“The cross of Christ I’ll cherish, Its crucifixion bear. All hail, reproach, or sorrow, If Jesus leads me there.”
M. E. PIPER.

The Scriptures.

By A. Weeks

How we should prize the Bible, believing, as we do, that it is the word of God! But it seems to be the tendency of mankind not to value highly a thing that is easily obtained; for it is a fact that none are so poor that they cannot obtain a copy of the Bible. It is also a fact that we sometimes find, among Christians (?), the Bible almost wholly neglected.
Did we live in the time of Edward I., when it required the earnings of a common laborer for fifteen years to purchase a copy of the Bible, methinks we would prize that sacred book when once we had secured the privilege of reading it. But it is not so now. The Bible has become a very common book.
During the first fifty years of the existence of the British and Foreign Bible Society, it is reported to have issued upwards of twenty-nine millions of copies of the sacred writings. And of the American Bible Society, it is said that, during the first fifty years of its existence, it issued seventeen millions of Bibles and Testaments. How extensive has been the work of circulating the Scriptures by these two societies alone, to say nothing of the circulation of them by other similar associations and private parties which are numerous.
It is evidently not from a want of Bibles that the Scriptures are not searched, according to the injunction of our Saviour in John 5 : 39.
We understand the word “scripture,” as used by our Saviour, and by Paul in 2 Tim. 3: 16, to mean those books that were at that time considered canonical, that is, the Old Testament books. While from this, we find that the Old Testament, as well as the New, is profitable for doctrine, we go no further than the great religious bodies of the land have done.
Art. 5, of the Methodist Discipline, reads as follows: “The Holy Scriptures contain all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite to salvation. In the name of the Holy Scriptures, we do understand those books of the Old and New Testaments, of whose authority was never any doubt in the church.”
The Bible Dictionary of the American Tract Society says: “The entire Bible is the rule of faith to all Christians, and not the New Testament alone; though this is of special value as unfolding the history and doctrines of our divine Redeemer and of his holy institutions. The fact that God gave the inspired writings to men in the languages most familiar to the mass of the people who received them, proves that he intended they should be read, not by the learned alone, but by all the people, and in their own spoken language.”
Must it not be very offensive in the sight of God to have those who have named the name of Christ neglect the study of that word which is to guide them to Heaven? How can we comply with God’s requirements when we do not know what they are? And how can we receive the reward of the righteous, when we will not learn the conditions of that reward?
May the Lord help us to heed the injunction of our Saviour, as did the noble Bereans (Acts 17 : 11), and search the Scriptures in gratitude to God for the sacred volume.
A. WEEKS.
Smith’s Creek, Mich.

Spiritualism in a Silver Mine.

By Smith Sharp

WHILE at La Cygne to-day, buying lumber, I noticed that the all-absorbing topic of conversation with the men, in and around the lumber yard, was a silver mine that had been found only three miles from La Cygne (the county seat of Lynn Co., Kan.). I learned that a number of buildings had been framed there and sent out to the mine, to be occupied by the miners; also that a quartz mill had been ordered, and was expected in a few days. This subject is occupying the attention of the best and wealthiest men of the place.
On inquiring the direction of the mine, a large mound was pointed out to me as being the place. I was told that the first silver they found was ninety feet below the top of the mound. The thought at once struck me that it was an odd place to commence digging for silver, as this country is full of just such-looking mounds. I was informed that the men that were managing it were spiritualists, and that a noted medium had told them that by digging there, silver in large quantities could be obtained. This was about one year ago, and they have been laboring ever since. I saw a specimen of the ore that had been sent to several places to be treated, and it is stated that it will produce five hundred dollars to the ton.
Many, no doubt, will claim it as evidence of the genuineness of spiritualism, and, from the excitement I saw over it there, I was led to say in my mind, Truly, all but the very elect will yet be deceived by the satanic delusion. To my mind it is evidence that the intelligence was transmitted from some being that must be thoroughly acquainted with the caverns and caves of the earth; and Satan being a fallen angel, but still retaining his knowledge of the creation of the world, why may it not be from him? Truly, he works through signs and wonders to deceive the inhabitants of the earth. How important that we be on our guard lest we be ensnared!
SMITH SHARP.
Centerville, Kan.

The Pure in Heart.

By A. M. L.

“BLESSED are the pure in heart; for they shall see God.” Matt. 5 : 8.
This promise, in the midst of others of a like nature, assures the believer that he shall see God. A pure heart! How different from the natural, depraved heart! One who has a carnal heart, or mind, filled with the lusts of the flesh and the pride of life, cannot see God. The apostle writes: “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which, no man shall see the Lord.”
But how is this fitness to be accomplished, this state of holiness to be attained? Says the apostle, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” 1 John 3 : 2, 3. Paul, in his exhortation to Titus, says, “But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine.” After giving special directions for the aged and the young, he says, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world, looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak and exhort.”
Here we have the grace of God which bringeth salvation well defined; and it is to be accomplished in “this present world.” Moreover, he exhorts and encourages us to look for that “blessed hope.” Then why should we be ashamed of our hope? It is, indeed, a glorious hope; one which all the New Testament writers were familiar with, and looked forward to, as the time of their reward. Those only who fulfill the conditions can have a well-grounded hope. There are many who are hoping and expecting to see their Lord in peace, who will utterly fail of their hopes and expectations.
Many who are placing their dependence upon universal salvation are not striving to lead a pure life. They strongly assert the doctrine, and vaguely hope it may be true. The greater part who hold to it, only follow their leaders, without attempting to examine for themselves. “If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” Poor souls! Could they but get a glimpse of the character of a holy God, his matchless purity, and weigh well his requirement, “Be ye holy, for I am holy,” how would they sink speechless before him! They could not then expect to enter Heaven in all their impurity. Doubtless there are many honest ones who have been driven to this extreme by an equally extreme position in the opposite direction—that of endless misery. But the light is shining, and such will gladly exchange error for truth. How ought we to appreciate God’s plan of saving men, and enter into it with all our hearts as co-workers with him, purifying our souls through obedience to the truth, thus workingout our salvation with fear and trembling, and yet with a confidence that admits of no doubt. A. M. L.
Palermo, N. Y.

A Morning Lesson.

By Jos. Clarke

SOMETIMES parents and guardians have a strong desire to instruct the young daily in the principles of Christianity, yet they are at a loss to find time to attend to this matter properly. Suppose a case: Bro Slack attends meeting pretty regularly, but sometimes is quite late; and although he loves the Bible-class, he seldom has the lesson well studied. He begins to reflect, and finds himself far on the back ground; and when he fails to give correct and full replies to questions in the class, he feels self-condemned. He has been for years a professor of religion in the Advent ranks, yet he can hardly tell what were the seven different forms of the Roman government, or what were the ten kingdoms; at least, he cannot give them in their order, much less teach his children.
He determines on a reform. He hunts up old tracts, all dusty and neglected. His old love for the truth partially revives as he reads the stirring language of prophecy, and he soon polishes up his memory. The points of truth are soon committed to memory; for once, they were more familiar to his mind. At breakfast time, and as he gathers his family around the family altar, he teaches these things to his little ones. But little more time is occupied in this work than is usually occupied in desultory or useless talk. The whole family are edified and strengthened, and cheerfulness and life illuminate each mind and countenance, and work is accomplished quite as effectually, and more pleasantly, than usual.
But Bro. Slack finds more to do; for, of further observation and reflection, he discovers that the rules of propriety are daily violated at the table by his children. Here is a work. He now discontinues the practice of allowing each child to help himself, and to select the choicest of the viands, or to find fault with the coarsest. Seating himself at the head of the table, and acting as master of ceremonies and without anything like meanness or coarseness, he distributes to each with liberality, equality, and moderation, and then, with kind advice and wise instruction, he vetoes opposition, rebukes gluttony, forbids murmuring, and brings the dainty and whimsical child to sober, rational conclusions.
Sometimes the morning lesson is necessarily enforced “by Solomon’s last resort.” But if such a thing does occur, it is seldom, for Bro. Slack has a wonderful prejudice against this means of discipline; but when he does use it, he is not slack in its application.
In fact, if our brother continues his course of morning lessons, he will need to have his name changed to Bro. Thorough; for his business, and his family, and his character, are undergoing a great change for the better; his morning lessons incorporate their spirit into his daily round of business, and he is ever ready with a word in season to his family and associates, and his children are growing in grace and favor with God and man.
JOS. CLARKE.

Trusting.

By H. I. F.

Looking forward, I realize that I am totally ignorant of the character of the work that may be apportioned to me; and know not where, under, the broad, blue canopy, my field of labor may lie. Yet am I enabled to leave this solution to Him whose “ways are past finding out;” and with a calm trust in the same Omnipotence that guides the tiniest creature of the natural world to its proper niche, I shrink not from the work before me. I may toil beneath a stately dome, where many curious and critical eyes are watching. My labor may be among degraded, obscure, and suffering humanity. I may work alone, and silently, waiting long years for sheaves to appear, or the desire of my heart to come. Perhaps my life may be that of the lowly peasant, happily released from galling care and weighty responsibility.
But wherever the work, or whatever its nature, I believe it comes from above, and I receive it as assigned by the wise and loving Master, believing that, however difficult or distasteful it may seem, a sufficiency of wisdom, strength, and patience, will be vouchsafed.
May the shadows which rest upon my soul betimes but aid in the fulfillment of the prophetic words, “He that goeth forth and weepeth bearing precious seed shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”
“I know not if the dark or bright Shall be my lot; If that wherein my hopes delight Be best or not.
“It may be mine to drag, for years, Toil’s heavy chain; Or day and night my meat be tears On bed of pain.
“My bark is wafted to the strand By breath divine, And on the helm, there rests a hand, Other than mine.
“He holds me when the billows smite, I shall not fall. If sharp, ’tis short; if long, ’tis light; He tempers all.
“Safe to the land! safe to the land! The end is this; And then with Him go hand in hand, Far into bliss.”
H. I. F.
Estherville, Iowa, April 6, 1872.

Roll Your Burden Upon God

WHAT an inexhaustible resource we have in the precious Bible! Feeling burdened I read, “Cast your burden upon the Lord;” but the load seemed so heavy, I could not lift it up to “cast” it upon him; and, turning to the margin I found it, “Roll your burden upon God.” It was the word to my weary soul. I could in passive trust let the burden fall, and feel him an all-sufficiency. Thank God, who supplieth all our needs.—Sel.

Homeward Bound.

By A. S. Nason

THE thought is sweetly consoling to the wayworn traveler journeying homeward that he is nearing home; that by-and-by all the storms, and vicissitudes of this life will be over, and the sighs, groans, and tears, arising from sad, stricken hearts, will be exchanged for unutterable joy in the presence of Him who has promised to wipe the tears from off all faces. How often the heart sinks beneath trials and discouragements, and the path we journey seems so rough and thorny, that we almost despair! But as soon as we turn our gaze upward to Jesus, and tell him the woe that oppresses us, he sends his shining angels that excel in strength to our aid, and the enemy is vanquished, the clouds lift above our heads, and the comfort that the Lord alone can bestow, fills our souls. We might well grow discouraged, if we had the battle of life to fight alone. If we could look to no arm but flesh to help us, then, indeed, should we perish. But, thank God, we have One mighty to save, whose eye never slumbers, and whose ear is ever open to the feeblest petition; and when we feel weakest, and most despairing, then is his opportunity to pour us out a blessing so rich and sweet that every care is banished, the burdens that have weighed so heavily upon us roll off, and we hear his voice like richest music, saying, “Peace, be still.”
If the blessings we receive from time to time to encourage us on our lonely way, are a foretaste of Heaven, “What must it be to be there?” Oh! if we could keep this bright picture constantly before our minds, we should never droop in weariness and woe. But it is, no doubt, necessary for our spiritual welfare, that sometimes we should feel that Jesus hides his face from us. It is the storm that makes the sunshine seem so delightful, the absence of the birds through dreary winter, that makes their songs so sweet, as spring-time brings their return. And oh! how unutterably precious are the smiles of Jesus after a long hard struggle with the powers of darkness, when we have felt almost forsaken and it has seemed that we must sink beneath the waves of adversity. How cheering, as we have seemed to hear him speaking, “Thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”
Why are we so easily discouraged, when we have such a strong helper in Jesus? He has trod the rugged path before us, and he knows just how to sympathize with all our sorrows. O, let us strive to check every murmuring thought and word. We have not always to suffer here. The pearly gates of the celestial city will soon roll back to welcome in the faithful, waiting ones. Then let us look up, and lift up our heads and rejoice, for our redemption draweth nigh. He that endureth to the end shall be saved.
“My rest is in Heaven, my rest is not here, Then why should I tremble when trials are near? Be hushed, my sad spirit, the worst that can come But shortens my journey and hastens me home.
A. S. NASON.
Lynn, Mass.

A Jealous God.

By Libbie Thurston

AND is our God such? With all that has fallen under my observation, I am perfectly satisfied that this is the case. And more especially have I observed this, with regard to his holy Sabbath. It is certainly dangerous to our earthly interests to trifle, in the least, with this command, in any of its requirements. And every instance which has come under my notice has proved thus.
I could mention several instances of Sabbath-keepers, who, perhaps thoughtlessly, have suffered their teams to work, or boarded people who did work, on that day, or who did business of other kinds either themselves, or others for them, all of which have experienced loss in earthly affairs.
And all these things, say plainly to me, “There is a God,” and he is a jealous God, and no one can trample upon his holy Sabbath with impunity. Let no Sabbath-keeper dare to do this in any way; for the Lord will not suffer his holy day to be desecrated without terrible consequences. And if one judgment will not suffice to open our eyes, others more terrible may follow. Now God in mercy and love sends all these to warn us of our errors. May we not then thank him, that he has not left us to go our own ways unwarned?
LIBBIE THURSTON.
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