“THE SEVENTH-DAY SABBATH—IS ITS OBSERVANCE BINDING?”
By W. C. G.
(Continued.)
As if conscious that he has a task to dispose of the Sabbath in the new earth, Mr. B. makes still another effort to abolish the succession of day and night, as follows:
“But if there is day and night in the new earth, or if it is eternal, then we will present our friends a dilemma, and let them take which horn they please. John says of the worshipers of the beast, ‘And the smoke of their torment ascended up forever and ever; and they have no rest day nor night,’ &c. So we find their unrest continues as long as day and night last; so they must either give up the Sabbath with the ending of day and night; or hold to the continuance of day and night with the Sabbath and endless torment, in the world to come.”
Perhaps his construction of this text may prove as incorrect as some others we have had occasion to notice. It does not declare that the worshipers of the beast have no rest as long as day and night last, as Mr. B. asserts, nor is this its evident meaning, but that their unrest continues, day and night, as long as they themselves last, as they are destructible, but day and night are not.
But, reasoning from his stand-point, we will present Mr. B. a dilemma. The text says, “they have no rest day nor night,” not day and night, hence their unrest must continue as long as either day or night continues, and, according to Mr. B., day will continue to all eternity, and therefore the wicked will so continue. We thus see the fallacy of the reasoning which would make day and night the subject of continuance instead of the wicked themselves.
A powerful argument for the perpetuity of the Sabbath, is found in Luke xxiii, 56, where it is stated that the holy women returned from the sepulchre, “and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the Sabbath-day according to the commandment.” Realizing in some degree the force of this circumstance, Mr. B. endeavors to meet it as follows:
“In Luke xxiii, 56, we find a prominent text used in support of the idea that the seventh day was observed this side of the cross. If it can be proved that this day was the seventh-day Sabbath, then its advocates have gained something. ‘And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the Sabbath-day according to the commandment.’ Christ is said to be ‘our passover.’ Hence he must have fulfilled the law relating to the passover in his death. That this Sabbath was the next day, we learn from v. 54. ‘And that day was the preparation, and the Sabbath drew on.’ Hence this was the day that they kept ‘according to the commandment.’”
He then goes on to prove that Christ was crucified on Thursday, that Friday was a ceremonial Sabbath, and the one on which the women rested, &c., &c. Admitting, for the sake of argument all that he claims; what has he gained? He would have us believe that the women strictly observed the ceremonial law, which all will admit was nailed to the cross, and which he himself declares the Jews almost totally disregarded on this occasion, and yet did not observe the weekly Sabbath, which all were taught to regard with the utmost rigor. If they rested on Friday, as he asserts, why did they not immediately proceed on the next day to embalm the body of their Lord, instead of waiting until the first-day of the week, or until the weekly Sabbath was past?
Is it not more reasonable to suppose, even upon the hypothesis that the sixth-day was a ceremonial Sabbath, that on this day the women prepared the spices and ointments, which in itself involved no small amount of labor, and then rested on the seventh day “according to the commandment,” rather than violate the sacredness of the holy day, even by embalming the body of their Lord and Master?
Passing over some points which are too puerile to notice or dignify by the name of arguments, we next notice his attempt to disprove the immutability of the law:
“The law of the ten commandments is said to be an immutable and eternal law. It is said to reach from Paradise lost to Paradise restored. We have followed it into the latter and found it could not be located there, for the reason that there was no day and night there, or ‘evening-mornings:’ hence no seventh evening-morning could be found. [?]
“Let us now trace it back to the former, and see if it can be applied there. God would not command anything unreasonable or foolish; and if we find one or two links wanting or weak, the chain is spoiled. Let us suppose God talking with Adam, and giving him the law of ten commandments while yet in Eden, before sin entered. If it was given to him it must be for him as an individual, and he must be capable of obeying it. ‘And God spoke all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee [Adam] out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Honor thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.’ How could he honor his father and mother when he had none? It is a self-evident fact that the command locates itself this side of the promise of the land, being even to those who were alive that day, and not 2,000 years before. ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery.’ That were impossible. ‘Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife.’ Another impossibility—for he had no neighbor’s wife to covet. All the law Adam ever did have in Eden for his government while there, is recorded in Genesis ii, 16, 17.”
The foregoing contains three false assumptions which will claim our attention.
1. That the words, “I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the land of Egypt,” &c., were a part of the ten commandments.
2. That a law, in order to be binding on any individual, must be applicable to him in all its particulars.
3. That all the law Adam ever had while in Eden was the prohibition to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
Perhaps the falsity of these assumptions may be apparent to most of our readers without any argument, but as these positions may at first sight have a show of plausibility, we deem them worthy of a brief notice.
1. It is not claimed that the exact wording of the ten commandments as given to Moses, was also given to Adam, but that the principles which they contain are moral and immutable, and hence binding on all mankind. All the sins which are forbidden by them were sins from the foundation of the world, and as “sin is not imputed where there is no law,” as declared by the apostle, those sins must have been forbidden by law. Sabbath-breaking, murder, theft, and adultery, were sins from Adam to Moses, by virtue of a law which forbade those crimes.
Nor were the words quoted by Mr. B., a part of the ten commandments, being only a prelude to them, as a reason why they should be observed by the children of Israel.
2. The assumption that the law could not have been for Adam because it did not have a direct application to him in all its particulars, is the merest sophistry, as will be apparent upon a moment’s consideration. When a law is framed for individuals or communities, it is intended to apply to them just as soon as they are placed by circumstances in a position to obey or violate that law. Now although Adam was not in a position to have each of the commandments apply to him as an individual, yet his immediate descendants would be placed where they must obey all of them.
His argument stated in brief is that none of the commandments were binding on Adam because each and every one of them was not. Let us carry out this principle and see how it will apply in other cases. Suppose that during the period when all admit the ten commandments were binding, there had been a man who was an orphan. He could not possibly have obeyed the fifth commandment, “Honor thy father and thy mother;” hence the law could not have been binding upon him! Or suppose that a man was dumb. He could not possibly take the name of God in vain, nor bear false witness against his neighbor. Now, as217he never could violate the third and ninth commandments, of course the law could not be binding upon him! The fallacy of such reasoning will be seen at once without further argument.
3. That Adam had no other law to govern him while in Eden but the prohibition contained in Gen. ii, 17, is a proposition absurd in the extreme. It admits that Adam had a right to worship idols, take God’s name in vain, violate the Sabbath, make graven images, &c., for ‘where there is no law there is no transgression,’ and these would not have been sin had there been no law forbidding them.
Should it be argued that Adam had no disposition to commit these sins, we might reply, neither have the angels, yet it is recorded of them that they “do his commandments.” Ps. ciii, 20. We are therefore bound to believe that Adam had some other law for his government besides this simple prohibition.
It should be remembered, also, that Adam did not long remain in Eden. What governed him after the fall? The reasoning of Mr. B. would make it appear that the whole human family, from Adam to Moses, were without law, but when we find that every sin forbidden in the decalogue is recorded as sin before the giving of the law on Sinai, we are compelled to the conclusion that the law, as a whole, must have been binding.
W. C. G.
(Concluded next week.)
THE PAST YEAR.
By C. O. TAYLOR
“To you that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.”
We shall soon reach the time of our yearly gathering. Then another year of precious time will have passed away. Its deeds of good and evil will all be recorded on high. They will be referred to again in the Judgment hour of our individual cases. It is well for us to inquire, whether we have made a good use of the twelve months given to us; whether we are better prepared to meet our Saviour or not; whether we are more given up to his will and service; whether we are better members of his body; whether we are better ministers, better husbands, better wives, better children, better neighbors. As we reach the end of the twelve months just past, does it find us an overcomer of those faults and wrongs that have been a snare to us all our days, a breach in our wall that has let in the enemy? Have we gained victories in the battle for life eternal? Have we said to vanity and trifling, Be gone? Have we put from us that worldly spirit that is drowning its thousands in perdition? Have we resisted the Devil in all the forms he has come to us, when we have known him, not including the many times we have not known him, on account of our blindness? Has each of the twelve months added one twelfth to our stock of knowledge and wisdom? Has the same amount been added to our faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, charity or love?
We see no end to the inquiry. Each and all are full of interest to us. Alas! for the one that cannot say, I have gained some, that I am a better Bible Christian than I was one year ago.
I suppose you are coming to the Conference. If the Lord will, I hope to meet you there. All the Adams’ Center church will be happy to greet you once more. They have formed a very happy and tender acquaintance with many of you. They wish to renew it. They wish to get acquainted with others that are at present strangers in the flesh, but one in the Lord. Come yourself. Bring your inquiring friend that wants the truth. Let your motive be good in coming, not selfish; therefore don’t come to get a happy flight of feeling which is only for a day. Don’t come to have a visit or a good social time. Don’t come, only to be blessed that you may be happy. Come to toil, to labor, to sacrifice, to fill the gaps, to make up the hedge. Come with a fixed, settled determination to be more holy and righteous before God.
A few weeks ago, in reading a call for a meeting, one east, the other west, it was said that the object was to obtain more holiness, more righteousness. Thought I, a step in the right direction. The Lord has blessed us with a bountiful harvest, and while we promise you nothing that will gratify or pamper the appetite, we pledge you enough that is gloriously good for health and Christianity. Do not bring a worldly-minded spirit with you. Leave your home business at home. Don’t bring a fault-finding spirit. Saying nothing about others, we, as a church, are not perfect, yet we are trying to leave the things that are behind, &c. Bring a large measure of the spirit and truth of the gospel of the Son of God. Come filled with it. Come blessed; and may the God of peace sanctify you wholly.
C. O. TAYLOR.
Rousse’s Point, Sept. 5, 1867.
REPORT FROM BRO. WHITE.
By James White
MONDAY, Sept. 2, in company with brother and sister Amadon we drove from Wright to Bro. Hilliard’s in Otsego, the distance of sixty miles without wearying ourselves or our team. The next day we parted with brother and sister Amadon, they returning to Battle Creek, while we went to our friends in Allegan and Monterey. Our good, long visit with those, who have in the past been members of our family, was pleasant, and we trust profitable.
At Monterey we made our home with Bro. John Day and family who gave us a retired room for writing, and copying for Testimony No. 12, and they and the brethren were anxious to do all that could add to our comfort.
Here we met Bro. Longborough who had been laboring with the church and people. And although he seemed somewhat bowed down with care and toil, and his bereavement, yet we found him the same good man, ardently desiring to know and do the will of God. He spoke to the people several evenings, and Mrs. W. and self occupied the time Sabbath and first-day. The attendance was good both days, and the meetings we trust profitable. Bro. Bates was also with us in good health and spirits. We enjoyed several interviews with him at his home.
First-day evening we took Bro. Longborough in our carriage and came to Bro. Hilliard’s where we tarried for the night. Next morning we learned that our faithful sister Leighton who has for many years suffered with cancerous humors and swellings, was dying. In a few moments the word came, “She sleeps.” “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord,” was the response of every believing one, who knew her. In a few moments we were on our way to Battle Creek. We enjoyed the visit with Bro. Longborough as we rode and conversed. Our head-quarters are at Bro. Amadon’s, and our time has been occupied reading proof-sheet for No. 12, visiting, writing letters, and mailing books. Last night at 12, we were wakened by Bro. Maynard, Fargo and Olmstead, who are to join us in our trip to Wisconsin and Iowa.
By invitation from Bro. Dr. Lay, I spoke this morning to the patients and many others at the Health Institute, giving my own experience. I spoke mainly upon the evil results of inactivity during the first part of my sickness, and of the beneficial results of active life as experienced by myself.
FIRST-DAY MORNING.—
Our meetings here have been profitable. Sabbath evening I met the brethren and spoke to them nearly an hour, the first evening meeting I have attended for twenty months. The house was filled next morning with Sabbath-keepers. Our testimony was very pointed, yet well received. Many excellent testimonies were given by those at the head of the work, and by others. The melting, weeping spirit was all through the congregation. With trembling we came to the place to bear our testimony. But we find that plain preaching has the same good results in this church as in our younger churches. How precious the season yesterday afternoon as we wept and rejoiced together. An elder of a church in Tuscola county arose and stated that he had come two hundred miles to hear brother and sister White. The brethren from the nearest churches were present and manifested increasing interest. The testimonies of Elders Longborough, Byington, Hutchins and Steward were all in favor of faithful testimony, and a speedy return to that humility and consecration which characterized us as a people in former days. We speak to-day at 9 A. M., and at 7 this evening. May the Lord help.
JAMES WHITE.
Battle Creek, Sept. 15, 1867.
REPORT FROM BRO. LOUGHBOROUGH.
By John Norton Loughborough
On my way to Monterey, August 28th, I stopped over night at the Kalamazoo House in Kalamazoo. I had been there but a few minutes, before a man came in to stop over night who had once kept the Sabbath, and in discouragement, had given it up. We had opportunity for considerable conversation. I tried to persuade him to take hold, again, of the service of the Lord. We retired in the same room where after continuing the conversation for a time we bowed before the Lord together, calling upon the Lord to bless the effort which had been made in his behalf, commending him to the grace of God. May the Lord help him to carry out his convictions of duty.
I commenced meetings in Monterey with the Sabbath, Aug. 30. Although the weather was bad,—rainy, a good number assembled from Monterey and the surrounding towns to hear. The Lord gave me liberty in trying to show the people the false hope of those who seek their interest in this world, Matt. xvi, 26, and the sure provision the Lord will make for those who make the kingdom of God of more consequences than every earthly benefit. Matt. vi, 33. On first-day we tried to show them the importance of overcoming, fully, entirely. Rev. iii, 21.
During the following week I visited from house to house inquiring into the spiritual condition of the brethren and sisters, which effort we believe was not altogether in vain.
I also tried to speak to them on the evening of their weekly prayer meeting, on the times in which we live, and the willingness of the Lord to help those who will agonize with him and earnestly strive to gain the victory over the darkness and flood of unbelief the enemy would throw upon us. In the former part of the week, we were cheered by the arrival of Bro. and sister White, who came in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel to speak the words of life to the people of God in Monterey. On Sabbath and first-day, the 7th and 8th, they had good liberty in addressing the people. Their effort was to show us the importance of returning to primitive simplicity and humility, if we would have the blessing of the Lord as enjoyed among us even in former days. The effect of the plain truth, spoken in power and in love, was good. The tearful eyes evinced melting hearts, and were a witness to us that the truth was finding its way into the church. May the good work still go on deep and thorough in Monterey.
At the earnest solicitation of Bro. White, and deeming that duty demanded it, I have accompanied them to Battle Creek, where their help is needed, and where we hope the Lord will give them freedom to speak the word.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
Battle Creek, Mich., Sept. 12, 1867.
MIND what you run after. Never be content with a bubble that will burst, or a fire-work that will end in smoke and darkness. Get that which you can keep, and which is worth keeping—
“Something sterling, that will stay
When gold and silver fly away.”
When we are alone, we have our thoughts to watch; in our families, our tempers; and in society, our tongues.
When a man—no matter how slight the perception is; no matter how small the feeling is—can bring himself to say, “Lord, I do love thee, and I am determined to obey thee,” if he instantly begins to do what he promises, and goes right off into a course of Christian conduct, he has a right to say, “I have begun to be a Christian.”
LIGHT ON OUR PATHWAY.
By GEO. W. PARKER.
“The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”
“The light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eye to behold the sun.”
The first step taken in the formation of the character of the just, is to become sensible of the wrongs and injuries they have done to God by their past transgressions of his holy law. And with the light shining upon the great original of that law which is declared to be a perfect law, and with this light from the sanctuary shining upon their heretofore darkened understanding, they see that all attempts to make restitution are unavailing, and that if they should ever afterward keep the whole law, it would but be their reasonable service, and as such, would be no atonement for their past transgression. Hence, they must renounce all their dependence upon self. Their dependence, their all, is then centered upon Christ. “The captain of our salvation” has pointed out and led the way; and by faith we can now enter into the Holiest. He hath marked the path in which the just are to tread. They are not to walk at random or pursue their own foolish inventions. It is a plain path, therefore let us not turn aside. It is also a safe path. To prevent wandering, the traveler has a map of the country put into his hand. He has also guardian angels who whisper kind admonitions in the hour of danger; and happy are they who give heed to their warnings.
There are proper stages along the path of the just for the weary travelers to refresh themselves. “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;” and those who tread the path, are going forward to a “city of habitations.”
It is encouraging to the young to know that those who take the morning of life and set out early, generally have the most pleasant journey. The progress of the just may well be compared to the morning light which shineth more and more unto the perfect day. There was a time when God's children were under clouds of darkness and disappointment. But God said “let there be light, and there was light.” John saw it in vision on the isle of Patmos; and God's faithful remnant saw it when the door of the sanctuary in Heaven was opened and its light began to shine forth and illuminate the sure word of prophecy. The clouds gave way. The disappointment proved a blessing, and the light is growing brighter. As the morning light increases until the noon day, in the same manner will the light of the sanctuary increase; and if we walk in this light it will cause our good works to shine forth.
But there are many differences between the natural daylight and this light which is shining upon the path of the just. In the natural world the sun sets and darkness reigns. But the light of the sanctuary terminates only in everlasting day. “Their sun shall no more go down.” Thus the just have a path prescribed for them to walk in. But all who are living to themselves are wanderers from this path, and transgressors of the law of God, walking in darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil. Now if the path of the just be as a shining light, let us who profess to be walking in it enquire of ourselves, whether we are advancing. “Forgetting the things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, let us press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
GEO. W. PARKER.
Chicago, Ill.
From Bro. Hill.
By Wm. Hill.
BRO. SMITH: It seems strange for me to address as a brother in Christ, one whom I have never seen, and whose doctrine a short time ago I thought was anything but good and wholesome. I believed the Adventists were deluded, having no right conception of the way of life and salvation. But I rejoice it is not so now. I am thankful that the light of present truth has shone through the thick darkness of my spiritual understanding, obscured by the mists of modern orthodoxy and the traditions and commandments of men.
When the truth was first presented to my mind, I would not receive it, but fought against it with all my might, thinking in truth that I ought to do many things contrary to this doctrine. But as I kept on reading and thinking about these things, my eyes were opened, and I began to see things in a new light. My prejudices against the truth became weaker, and I became willing to follow wherever the word of truth might lead.
About this time, I had placed in my hands a copy of Spiritual Gifts, which I read with deep interest. As I read, it carried conviction to my mind. I felt sure that a book which breathed such a pure and holy spirit must come from a pure and holy source; for219an impure fountain cannot send forth pure water. I knew that Satan could transform himself into an angel of light, that he might more effectually work the ruin of souls; but he never comes as an angel of mercy and love to warn us of our danger and make plain the way of escape, to show us our sins and open to our view the iniquity of our own hearts, and to entreat of us to forsake all sin and come and wash in the fountain opened in the house of David for sin and uncleanness, that we may be pure and clean in the Lord's sight, and be ready for translation at his appearing and kingdom. Oh, no! that would be working against himself; and if Satan be divided against himself, how, then, shall his kingdom stand?
The more I read, and think, and pray, the more I am convinced of the truth, and am resolved by the grace of God to try to live it out. But no sooner had I attempted to put this resolution into practice than I learned from experience that “they who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution,” even from those who I thought were brethren in Christ. I was superintendent of the Sunday School in this place; but I was not long permitted to remain in this office after I became an Adventist. They did not wait to see whether I would teach Advent doctrine or not, but as the Jews of old stirred up the Gentiles and raised persecution against Paul and Silas, even so my brethren stirred up the world's people against me; and uniting their forces, they cast me out, and I went away thinking of the apostles when they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
The Adventists here I believe are striving to go onward with God's people. Our numbers are small, but we have now a Sabbath School and prayer-meeting every Sabbath day. Prejudices against us seem slowly to be giving way, and some manifest an interest in searching after truth; and we hope there will yet be a goodly number that will go with us to Mount Zion.
WM. HILL.
Faribault Co., Minn.
THE HEAVENLY TRAIN.
By H. M. Kilgore
The train for Heaven is “making up,”
’Tis almost ready now to start,
’Tis time that we were waking up,
Lest ere we reach her she depart.
What is this baggage you have got,
That causes you such toil and pain?
I fear you’ll have to leave the lot
Or you will never reach the train.
A bundle here you well can spare,
For ’tis composed of foolish pride.
Let selfishness the same fate share,
Impatience also lay aside.
These little bundles, too, of hate,
That cause you often to complain,
’Tis best to leave before too late,
Or you will never reach the train.
I find a curious bundle here,
With “borrowed articles” ’tis fraught;
They’re damaged so I greatly fear
That you the “golden rule” forgot.
They’ll never take such baggage there;
To carry it will be in vain.
You must of all such weights beware,
Or you will never reach the train.
Here, broken promises I see;
They must weigh down your heavy load;
Then why not do as you agree,
And leave this bundle on the road?
There is no time now for delay,
If you a home in Heaven would gain,
You must keep in the “narrow way,”
Or you will never reach the train.
We’ve heard the warning whistle blow,
And loud the bell has echoed back—
The “switch”’s arranged,”—and long ago
Two “section hands” passed o’er the track.
Ye halting ones, make earnest haste
If you would there a seat obtain,
The precious time you must not waste,
Or you will never reach the train.
The train is only waiting till
The highways all shall be explored;
Soon will resound from hill to hill,
The last loud cry of “all aboard.”
No longer in your sins abide,
If you eternal life would gain,
To keep the “law of God” decide,
Or you will never reach the train.
H. M. KILGORE.
South Norridgewock, Me.
SECURITY AD COMMUNION OF THE SAINTS.
By F. W. Morse
“Your adversary, the Devil, as a roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour; whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” 1 Pet. v, 9.
Though we have to combat a dreadful monster, a cruel and remorseless foe, yet we are not alone; our brethren are fellow soldiers in the same holy warfare. Multitudes of Christian warriors have lived before us, and fought their way to eminence and distinction. The army roll-call of the Lord’s host will summon them forth to receive crowns, loaded down with fadeless gems and glittering stars; they will be arrayed in shining brightness, abiding forever and ever in that “far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,” the magnitude of which, is only computed upon the scale of endless ages to come. Vast numbers of these my fellow-witnesses compass me about, in the records of the past, and the virtuous examples of the living present, while the great Prince of the Lord’s host comes to me and says, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world,” and even at this moment he pleads to the Father, “Spare the struggling one.” Blessed be God! “Though our enemies are strong, we’ll go on.” Yes, many are with me, vast multitudes are for me, and though the lion-like enemy may rage and lash in fury, yet if I am a follower of that which is good, who is he that shall harm me?
F. W. MORSE.
Steel Co., Minn.
RISE early, and be an economist of time.
THE WRONG NAME.
By Jos. Clarke
When a person takes that which belongs to another, and applies it to his own use, without the owner's liberty, the act is called theft. When a book is written, and copyrighted by a person, the man who infringes upon his rights by publishing said book in his own name, is said to be guilty of piracy. When a spurious coin or bank note is issued, the offender is said to be guilty of counterfeiting. When another's name is appended to a note without his knowledge, the offender is held for forgery.
These thoughts occurred to the mind of the writer of this, on seeing the name Sabbath used quite freely upon the standards of a certain Sunday School, as they proceeded to attend a collection of schools, and hold a festive day, picnic, &c.
As they passed, you were impressed with the idea that this was a Sabbath School; for the title Sabbath School was prominent upon the standards in large letters.
A feeling of deep sadness came over me, for I knew the effect upon the mind of the young was delusive. I felt that here was a forgery in calling the first day of the week the Sabbath; here was theft in taking this sacred name and applying it to a common day without the consent of the author of the Sabbath: a piracy in infringing upon the copyright of the fourth commandment; a counterfeit in passing off as the genuine Sabbath of the fourth commandment the first day of the week. And what is more lamentable than to know that all the actors on this occasion are so deceived that they are wholly unaware of the crimes alleged.
Jos. CLARKE.
Conference Department.
By L. Bartholomew
Exhorting one another, and so much the more as ye see the day approaching. Heb. x, 25.
This Department is designed to fill the same place in the paper that the Conference or Social Meeting does in the worship of God. Speak often one to another to comfort, edify and aid each other in the way of holiness and true Christian experience.
From Bro. Bartholomew.
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: I feel so much blessed in body and mind in living out the Health Reform that I greatly desire to again add my testimony in its favor, hoping it may encourage some to try it. Over five weeks have now elapsed since we commenced haying, which was followed immediately by harvesting, and I do not think I have done so much work in any five weeks for several years. My mind has been happy and cheerful, and I have never felt better nor suffered less from fatigue, and what probably will seem the most strange to those that never tried the Reform is that I eat only two meals per day, and have felt no want for any more. And now dear brethren and sisters, if I should tell all the blessings I have received in following the light on the Health Reform it would take page upon page, but I do feel that I can safely and truly say that after practicing the way to live as advocated in the publications from the Review Office, I believe it to be the right way. Those who have any doubts will find that the best way to remove them is to give the system a fair trial. I have never yet known any person to have any desire to turn back to the old mode of living, after giving this a fair trial.
Your unworthy brother, striving to be found without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, when Jesus comes,
L. BARTHOLOMEW.
Pleasant Grove, Minn.
BRO. J. F. HAMMOND writes from Providence, R. I.: Says John, “If we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” Where is there another class of people among whom so good fellowship exists as among those who have received the first, second, and third angel’s messages, as given in Rev. xiv, and believe in keeping all the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus, and are striving to live it out? May the light of truth illuminate the path of the faithful few till Jesus comes.
From Bro. Green.
By Calvin Green
BRO. SMITH: As I have not yet acknowledged, through the Review, the goodness and mercy of God in restoring me to the faith I once lost, I would now seek to discharge that duty in humility. It may encourage some poor wanderer to return. Long and fearful has been my struggle; a word often would sink me into discouragement, and again another would renew my courage and cause me to begin the battle again. How often have the prayers of those whom I often call to mind with the fondest feelings of love, ascended to God in my behalf. My heart is now melted, in remembrance of their kind acts and words to me. May God in his infinite love keep them, is my prayer. The Lord has been good to me. He has heard my cry to save me from falling in the way I once walked. He has brought me here to share the burdens of his dear people—the place my heart was drawn out toward, while yet in a great measure under the power of darkness. How good he is! I often say, and yet I mourn to see how poorly I requite him for what he has done for me. And to those who are struggling alone, deprived of the society of those of like precious faith, You are remembered. The faithful of the church remember you; others in a like situation remember you; and, above all, a kind and compassionate Saviour remembers you. Heed his admonition to “watch and pray,” and all will be well. What if dark clouds envelop you? They also do others. What if your hearts at times seem turned to stone? God’s grace is sufficient for you. What if your prayers seem to ascend no higher than your heads? Oh! when all this comes upon us, how much more need we have to gird the armor closer and watch. Now is my time to watch, I often say when trials thicken, and pray when prayer seems of no avail. Jesus has said, “Men ought always to pray and not to faint.” The last word implies that we may come to almost a fainting condition, and yet the admonition, if heeded, assures that we shall be heard.
To those wandering ones who still desire to return to a kind Father’s home, I would say, Come back. Oh! how he yearns to fall upon your neck and kiss you; to put a gold ring upon your finger, and call you his own once more. Are you afraid? Our sins are what make us afraid. We may well tremble to retain them; but he says, “he that confesseth and forsaketh his sins shall find mercy.” Take the Lord at his word, and taste that he is good. You will have to struggle, but that need not discourage you. He has promised in every time of need to help us. Read of the glories of eternity. Con over in your mind his precious promises, lay hold of them as your own, get a principle in your heart to obey him henceforth, let come what will come. And to add still more for your encouragement, read the last two chapters in Revelation; and when you come to the 17th verse of chap. xxii, stop and inquire, Are all these promises for me? and if the desire to drink of the waters of life is in your hearts, God has put it there, and invites you to come; and after you have tasted, prove faithful, and “thou shalt see the King in his beauty.”
CALVIN GREEN.
Battle Creek, Mich.
SISTER L. A. WILTSIE writes from Minnesota: For the first time, I give in my testimony with the rest of the believers in present truth. I bless God that I am counted worthy to bear the name of an Adventist. I praise his name that he is leading his people in the way that he has marked out for them. When I look around and see the fields all ripe for harvest, and see so few who are willing to work in the vineyard of the Lord, I feel like praying, Lord, send laborers into the field. There is a great work for us as a people to do, and but a very short time to do it in; and it is my daily prayer that God will make us feel the responsibility that is resting upon us, that we may come out and be separate from the world, and work for our Lord and Master who has done so much for us. I want to be an overcomer. I want to have on the wedding garment, and have my lamp trimmed and burning, that when the Lord comes, I shall be able to enter in to the marriage supper of the Lamb.
SISTER N. J. LUCAS writes from Oxford Co., Maine: I have received a copy of your paper, the Advent Review, and after giving it a careful investigation, have made up my mind that it is just the paper that I want. I have been reading a book called the Sanctuary and Twenty-three hundred days of Daniel viii, 14, and was much interested in it. Have been studying my Bible considerably of late, and can find no day to be the Sabbath of the Lord except the seventh; and I feel confident that it is the one to be observed as a day of rest. But I cannot consistently believe it to be the holy Sabbath, and not keep it. Hence, by the help of the Lord, I shall try to keep it as the Lord has commanded. I have felt greatly blessed thus far in so doing. Oh! how blessed it is to have a heart willing to obey the Lord. After keeping the Sabbath I can retire with the joy and peace which springs from the assurance of having obeyed the Lord. I not only want to live out a part of God's commandments, but I want to live them all out. To me it is joy unspeakable and full of glory to believe God's word and keep his commandments. I stand alone here, there being no Sabbath-keepers very near me; and I expect much opposition, yet I can trust in that All-wise Being that said, “I will never leave nor forsake thee.” And while we are fast nearing the haven of eternal rest, let us have on the whole armor of the gospel, that we may be able to battle against the wiles of the enemy. Eph. vi, 11. Be ye also patient, establish your hearts for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. James v, 8. Let us not be weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Gal. vi, 9.