THE following letters from Elder Andrews and Dr. Ribton have been received by us and read with very great pleasure. We give them for the benefit of the readers of the SIGNS, especially the old friends and supporters of the cause. Here are two men wholly devoted to the work of the last message, and who deserve the prayers, sympathy and support of all true believers. Their sacrifices are great. Their work is vast, and their reward will be correspondingly great. Those who assist them in their work will share with them the final reward of the faithful:—
"VERY DEAR BROTHER WHITE: I have watched the news with respect to your health with deep interest. I do not know just how it is with you, but fear that you are very feeble. I lift my heart to God every day for you. I feel great assurance that God hears my cries to him in your behalf. I pray that you may be able to find relief from the great burdens of care and toil, and that your mind may be quieted and encouraged in God. It has pleased God to make yourself and wife the special instruments in his hand of advancing his work, and of instructing his people. Do not be disheartened if you feel greatly worn in his cause. The Master that you have served is not unrighteous to forget your labor of love in his cause, and eternity is the period which he proposes to employ in showing his love and what he can do for those who are faithful in his cause. Be not sorrowful; your reward is great in heaven. The time will come when the heavy burden will be laid down, and when the cross shall be taken from your arms, and the crown of life with many stars upon it will be placed upon your head. You will be satisfied then.
"I send with this a letter from Dr. Ribton to you. You can see something of his spirit from this letter. I have confidence that the time will come when you will visit Europe, and we shall share your counsel, and that of Sister White. We see progress in the work and our hearts are encouraged. In Christ yours,
J. N. ANDREWS
"DEAR BROTHER WHITE: I have long been desirous of writing to you directly, since I undertook the work of announcing the Advent message in Italy, but great pressure of work between preaching and correspondence on the same work, already extending into Malta and Egypt, has prevented me hitherto. I believe, however, you have seen the reports which I sent to Brother Andrews. We were much grieved to hear of your enfeebled health last fall, but have read with great pleasure and thankfulness the news of your recovery, in the SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
"It would not be possible for me to describe the happiness of mind which the knowledge of the true Sabbath, the advent message and the glorious promises of our Lord to those who keep his commandments, has conferred upon me and my family. From the time of the visit of our dear Brother Andrews to Naples, we date our birth into the family of the 'watchers' of the latter days. What appalling scenes God's Revelation has opened, even now beginning on the world! And what a joy to think that in the midst of them not a hair of our head shall perish! And yet what anguish of heart to those around, with whom one is in daily intercourse, who close their ears to the warning and will not learn what is coming upon them. How dreadful will be their remorse when repentance comes, all too late! Oh! if one had twenty voices, twenty pens, it would be all too little to proclaim the warning—flee from the wrath to come.
"And so the Spirit has urged me to exert all my humble force to raise the trumpet cry in this most unhappy and benighted land. It is no light matter to dare the mystical beast in his own head-quarters, and to proclaim the commandments of God, where they have been trampled upon for more than twelve hundred years. It is no wonder if we have had our place of meeting beset by armed assassins, or if the enemy deludes even those who have light, to become our opponents. But truth is great, and it will prevail; and the few who had the courage in America forty years ago, to raise the standard of truth in the midst of the Babylon of error, have seen it, through the all-conquering power of God's Spirit, overflow and roll eastward, until going round the world, I believe it will arrive at the place of beginning again.
"Our mission here, in the midst of a people, who until some years ago, knew not what the Bible was, and whom Rome purposely encouraged in a slavery to carnal passions, granting pardon to all sins for a sum of money, is a difficult one, as I have explained in my letters to Brother Andrews, and as he has seen for himself. Still in six months I have been able to report some precious fruit, precious stones in the edifice, who I trust will be the means of extending the third angel's message in the land. We have now a fair prospect of so doing if it please the Lord to give us the means that are essential for the extending of the work. An Italian 'Signs of the Times' is become a matter of necessity, and above all things we want to establish a system of colportage. Brother B. who wrote relating his conversion will not be able to remain in the church in which he has been employed, and I think the Lord has given him for our work, for he has all the qualities for it. Could we employ him he could increase our work four-fold by house to house visiting, for with the occupation of preaching and extensive correspondence, I am unable to see half the persons I am called on to visit. I have to do all the translation from English into Italian myself, there being no one who can aid me in this; and, indeed, there is work enough to keep three persons fully occupied. We pray then that the Lord will give us the means to carry out the work which lies open before us, and I trust He will do it.
"We read with great pleasure Sister White's truly Christian book—the Spirit of Prophecy. Our Italian brethren cannot read it, but I endeavor to give them portions of it, orally, in their language. When we have our Italian Journal, we will be able to give them many articles out of it.
"We hope that you and our dear sister in the Lord, your wife, will give yourselves a little rest in your new home in California. It is, indeed, time after so many years of unceasing labor; and praying God to give still more blessing to your work and her's, believe me, sincerely yours in the hope of our Lord's speedy coming.
"H. P. RIBTON."
May God bless our dear missionaries and fellow laborers in Europe. J. W.
The Order of Events in the Judgment.
By John Nevins Andrews
NUMBER SIX.
THE righteous dead are "accounted worthy" of a part in the resurrection to immortal life before they are resurrected from the dead. Luke 20:35, 36; Phil. 3:11; 1 Cor. 15:23; Rev. 20:4-6. They awake with the likeness of Christ. Ps. 17:15. We may be certain, therefore, that the investigation and decision of their cases is an accomplished fact prior to their resurrection; for that event is declarative of their final justification in the judgment.
But Luke 21:36, uses the same expression both in Greek and in English, respecting those that are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, that Luke 20:35, 36, uses respecting those who are asleep. As the latter, before their resurrection, are "accounted worthy" to be made like the angels, so the former are "accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." Luke 21:36. The things that shall come to pass before the deliverance of the saints, are the events of the time of trouble such as never was. Dan. 12:1. And those who are accounted worthy to escape these things, are also worthy to stand before the Son of man at his appearing.
This act of accounting worthy does, therefore, relate to their eternal salvation, and is performed before they enter that great time of trouble at which they are to be delivered; for that does not commence until the standing up of Michael, which is but another term for the coronation of Christ, or the beginning of his reign upon his own throne. But Michael, or Christ, does not take his throne till he has finished his work as priest at the tribunal of his Father. It is at that tribunal that the righteous dead are accounted worthy of the resurrection to immortality, and the righteous living are accounted worthy to escape the anguish of the time of trouble, and to stand before the Son of man. Those only can be accounted worthy of this, whose record in the book of God's remembrance shows them to have been perfect overcomers. The Saviour, while yet high priest, confesses the names of such before his Father and the holy angels, and secures the blotting out of their sins. Those who shall be resurrected to immortality, and those who shall escape the things coming upon the earth and stand before the Son of man, are severally counted worthy of this before the priesthood of Christ is closed. We cannot therefore doubt, that with both these classes the investigation and decision of the judgment is passed before the Saviour takes the throne of his glory and begins the destruction of his enemies.
The righteous dead come first in the order of the investigative judgment; and while their cases are being examined and decided, probation continues to the living.
It is certainly most natural that the cases of the righteous dead should be the first to come up in the investigative judgment, for their names stand first in the book of God's remembrance. Reason would therefore teach us that these cases must earliest come into account before God. But we are not left simply to the reasonableness of this order of events. We have direct proof that probation to the living continues after the judgment hour has actually arrived.
Rev. 14:6-14: "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come; and worship Him that made heaven and earth, and the fountains of waters. And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb; and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever; and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Write, blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them. And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud sat one like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle."
The first angel ushers in the hour of God's judgment by a solemn announcement to all the inhabitants of the earth that it has actually commenced. But the second and third angels, who follow this proclamation, deliver their messages in the judgment hour itself, and address themselves to men still in probation. We have already learned that God the Father sits in judgment, as described in Dan. 7, before the advent of our Lord to this earth. And in Rev. 14, the fact that the hour of God's judgment has come is announced to the inhabitants of the earth by a mighty proclamation. The judgment scene of Dan. 7 is closed by the coronation of Christ. And the judgment hour of Rev. 14 is followed by our Lord's being seen upon the white cloud with a crown upon his head; a proof that his priesthood has then given place to his kingly office. Each of these pertains to the closing events of this dispensation. There can be, therefore, no doubt that the hour of God's judgment announced in Rev. 14, is the time when God the Father sits in judgment, as described in Dan. 7:9-14.
While the judgment hour of Rev. 14 is passing, two solemn proclamations are made to men still in probation. And the judgment scene of Dan. 7 is for the very purpose of closing our Lord's priesthood, and of crowning him King of kings. But the closing work of Christ as priest pertains to the acquittal of his people at his Father's tribunal, the blotting out of their sins, and the decision accounting them worthy of that world and the resurrection to immortality. Our Lord cannot do this for people in a state of probation. His first work must therefore relate to the righteous dead. And while their cases are severally passing under examination101and decision, the living righteous are being prepared for the close of their probation, and for the decision of the investigative judgment by the proclamation of the third angel. This work being accomplished, and the living righteous being counted worthy to escape the things coming upon the earth, and to stand before the Son of man, our Lord is crowned king, and takes his seat upon the white cloud, with a crown of pure gold upon his head.
J. N. A.
Mid-Week.
By R. F. Cottrell
As I was conversing with a German lady on the subject of the Sabbath, she admitted that the commandment requires the seventh day, but raised the question, as is common with others, How can we tell which is the seventh day? I replied that Germans certainly ought to be able to answer that question; for they give names to each day of the week similar to the names we give them in English, so that they have the sun's day, the moon's day, etc., calling each one a day, except Wednesday, which they call, not Woden's day, but mit-woche, equivalent to mid-week. Now if Wednesday is the middle day of a week of seven days, it is not a hard task to count from it back to the first, or forward to the seventh. The Germans have driven a stake here which it is difficult for after considerations and modern inventions to remove.
R. F. Cottrell.
What Means This Agitation?
By R. F. Cottrell
THE world of mankind is not at rest, but seems to be in a state of transition. New departures are the order, or disorder, of the day. The nations seem to be on the eve of a great contest which may produce great changes in national boundaries and dominion. What the result will be, human wisdom cannot divine; but with fearful expectation and boding suspense the crisis is awaited.
And while the nations are angry and restless, the religious world is in agitation and unrest. Antiquated creeds, customs, and traditions are being called in question. The doctrine of an endless state of torment, is being called up for revision, amendment, confirmation, or condemnation. The state of man in death and the doctrine of disembodied human spirits and their powers, have a conspicuous place in the discussions of the day. Questions also relating to Sabbath observance, Sunday laws, etc., are receiving especial attention just now. And after centuries of a quiet and settled observance of the first day of the week as the Christian Sabbath, by the great majority of the Christian world, the question of which day of the week is the Sabbath of God’s law is agitating the minds of the people almost everywhere in this country and nearly every country of Europe.
What means all this marvelous agitation? We answer, The minds of the people are being prepared by it, that all who will may receive the saving truth of the Bible, which has been covered up by human traditions, so that they may be prepared for the close of probation. The harvest of the earth is ripening, and soon the sickle will be thrust in. The anger of the nations is to be followed by the great day of God’s wrath. “The nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead that they should be judged.” Rev. 11:18. These national disturbances and struggles will be followed by “the battle of the great day of God Almighty.”
And what will be the result of these new departures and overstepping of creeds in the religious world? If the eternal hell of torment with which the wicked have been threatened, is to be abolished, of course they will rejoice, and rush on to greater depths of wickedness; and nominal Christians, worldly professors will take license, and feel at greater liberty to be “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” And the mass of those who discard the doctrine of eternal misery will go over to universal restoration, Universalism and Spiritualism. But the true hearted, those who earnestly desire to know what God has revealed, and to do his will, will learn the Bible truth, that, “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 6:23. They will learn that there is no immortality out of Christ; that the doctrine of disembodied human spirits is a delusion of the devil, and Spiritualism the crowning deception of Satan—his closing work.
And the result of the confliction of theories concerning the Sabbath will be, that the truth will be seen that the ancient seventh-day Sabbath is the only weekly Sabbath of the Bible; the people will be tested according to the prophetic message of Rev. 14:9–12, and those who are truly loyal will “keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus,” and be ready at the coming of their Lord to enter in through the gates into the city. Rev. 22:14. Great results will be the fruit of the present agitation. The truth will be opened to all who have ears to hear, and hearts to obey; and they will condemn the world, and become heirs of the righteousness which is of faith. Heb. 11:7.
R. F. COTTRELL.
Why the Change?
By John Norton Loughborough
I HAVE watched with some interest the tactics of the opponents of Seventh-day Adventists upon this coast, since 1868, the time we first commenced to introduce these truths here.
The editor of the Advocate, the organ of the M. E. church on the Pacific slope, after a visit to Healdsburg, in an editorial in his issue of June 24, 1869, speaking of our tent-meeting there, said of us and our work, "No one fears that such teachers will ever effect any permanent organization."
We have lived to see the permanent organization of twenty-two churches of our faith on this coast, a well organized State Conference, a State Missionary Society which is doing effective work in various parts of the world, and the best equipped publishing house of any denomination on the coast.
When these opponents to our faith commenced their attacks, we think some of their utterances were nearer the truth than those latterly made. Knowing that the Sabbath was a vital point of our faith they aimed many blows at that. In the Advocate of September 23, 1869, is a report of a committee appointed by the Methodist Conference to draft a resolution on the Sabbath question. The editor, H. C. Benson, was chairman of that committee. In the report of that committee are some very wholesome things said on the Sabbath question as follows:—
"The decalogue contains the moral law; and though first given in a permanent form, through Moses at Sinai, it is safe to assume that the law as set forth in the ten commandments, was made known to our first parents in their Eden home. The moral law was intended for the race and for all time."
That is good doctrine, Methodist doctrine. It agrees with the sermons of the good old Wesleys, with the Methodist discipline. It is good Seventh-day Adventist doctrine, too. Believing that the moral law of ten commandments was intended for the race, and that the men and women of the nineteenth century are a part of the race, we teach that they are under moral obligations to observe all ten of the commandments, not excepting the fourth. The next paragraph of the report reads:—
"The fourth commandment relates to the Sabbath, is positive in its injunction, and obligatory upon all men. In the Old Testament scriptures the requirement is rigorous, and no example or precept will excuse an individual from its literal observance. In the New Testament the sanctity of the Sabbath is taught with equal force and authority, with this modification, works of necessity are permitted on the Lord's day. It is recorded with peculiar emphasis that, 'The Sabbath was made for man.' Its provisions and its design were merciful. Physical soundness, intellectual vigor and moral purity require the faithful observance of the day of rest. Our bodies and souls imperatively demand the refreshment which the Sabbath affords. Whoever endeavors to prosecute secular business three hundred and sixty-five days in the year, will suffer the penalty for the violation of the laws of his being, in its three-fold character. The body, the intellect and the soul must have the rest of the Sabbath-day, or endure the terrible consequences."
Keeping the Sabbath "literally," as expressed in the fourth commandment, is Seventh-day Adventist doctrine exactly. It seems that the editor of the Advocate has discovered this, and in his late issue gives utterance to language of a very different character, as noticed by Brother Healey in his reply in last week's Signs. There you find the Methodist editor advocating no Sabbath until Sinai. In the gospel dispensation "the letter or outward husk" of the commandments has fallen off, and Christ and his apostles did not teach Sabbath-keeping, nor denounce Sabbath-breaking, etc. I can only conclude that this change of tactics is for the reason that the former teaching leads to seventh-day keeping, and the latter is now taken to avoid the inevitable conclusion of seventh-day-keeping, which would be the result of a literal observance of the fourth commandment, every time.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
To the Friends of the North Pacific Conference.
By I. D. Van Horn
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: We feel it a duty to take this public way to refresh your minds upon matters of much importance for the advancement of the cause of truth in this new Conference. Feeling thankful for past blessings so bountifully bestowed by the Giver of all good, we should let our gratitude for them be known to him and the world, by a more ardent love for the truth for our time, and a more earnest zeal to carry it to the perishing world around us. We must keep pace with the closing message of mercy, and employ our talents and means to help push it forward.
We would therefore call your attention, first, to the following resolution passed at the time of the organization of this Conference.
Resolved, That we feel the need of a new 50-ft. tent in this Conference, and we empower the Conference committee to order one for use next season, and that the funds for the purchase of said tent be raised by an assessment on each one, according to the ratio of their pledges.
The committee have ordered this tent to be made in San Francisco, and it will be shipped here in time to be pitched at our camp-meeting the last of June.
It will therefore be necessary that the assessment be made out and collected during the second quarter of this year that the means may be forth-coming at the time of our camp-meeting to pay for it. Let all the friends begin now to prepare to meet this expense. Raised in the way specified, it will come light on all. But whatever it may be, let all come forward cheerfully and do their part. The amount will be apportioned to the several T. and M. districts, and the officers of these districts and the T. and M. workers will soon perform the work.
It must be done. We must have another tent, and it must be used to gain access to the people that cannot be obtained so well in any other way, or we shall find at last the blood of souls on our garments.
Second, we call your attention to our coming camp-meeting. The following resolution was passed at our first Conference meeting last fall.
Resolved, That we hold a camp-meeting next season near Portland, Oregon, at such time and place as may be appointed by our Conference committee; and we hereby empower said committee to select a camp-meeting committee.
We would here state, that, for several reasons the Conference committee have decided to hold said meeting near Salem, instead of near Portland. We can procure better ground, and get it ready with much less expense. We shall soon publish an appointment for said meeting when we will specify particularly the time and place of the meeting.
Now this Conference has decided to have a camp-meeting the coming summer. The brethren and sisters in the Conference must decide to attend it and come with the determination to make it a success, that it may prove a blessing to the cause in this new field. It is our first attempt in this direction. We must make it a success. Let every one begin now to make preparations to come.
Last fall at the time of our Conference meeting Brother Loughborough proposed to furnish tents for sale or rent to all who desired to attend the meeting. He still holds himself ready to do so. But it is necessary that he should know immediately about how many will be wanted. Let all who will want a tent on the camp-ground report immediately, on seeing this, to me, at Salem, Oregon. Tents will be for sale or rent.
Now let every one begin immediately to prepare to come to our camp-meeting. Make the sacrifice of time and means, and you will be bountifully paid in return by the rich blessing of God.
I would ask all the friends of the cause to read again the doings of the N. P. Conference at the time it was organized, as published in the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Vol. 3, No. 44, of November 15, 1877. There are duties set forth in those resolutions that every one should seek to perform. Let each and every one lay his shoulder under the burdens and lift, and the work will move on steadily and surely in this Conference.
May God bless your efforts and may they be crowned with success. May the T. and M. workers keep up good courage, and continue to scatter the seeds of truth, and the Lord will bless the work and bring in the fruit.
I. D. VAN HORN.
The Promise of Eternal Life
AND God has promised us eternal life.
Reports from the Field.
By Editor
(Condensed from Review and Herald.)
Michigan.
Westphalia.—Elder J. B. Frisbie and B. F. Lewis report as follows: "We commenced meetings in this place February 8. At first we had twelve hearers, but our congregations increased to seventy and averaged about thirty. There are good, substantial people here, but many of them are nonprofessors. The inhabitants of the surrounding country are mostly German Catholics. There is no other society in the neighborhood. About fourteen have consented to sign the covenant, and there are two here who were keeping the Sabbath, making in all, sixteen to keep up meetings. Several others are convinced on the Sabbath, who, we hope, will soon join the number. In the county paper is the following notice of our meetings: 'The S. D. Adventists are doing a noble work at Westphalia. Their sermons are much admired by the people of that vicinity.' We have given in all, about thirty-seven discourses, closing March 10."
Indiana.
Friendship.—Elder S. H. Lane and J. S. Shrock closed their labors at this place, March 3. They report: "The turnout was good from the first, considering the almost impassable condition of the roads. The interest was good on the part of those who could attend. Through the blessing of God some good was accomplished. Nine embraced the truth, and these, with the two who before had learned it by reading, make a company of eleven, the first company ever raised up in the south-eastern part of the State. Established Sabbath meetings, and obtained sixteen subscribers for our periodicals."
Alabama.
Bladen Springs.—Elder O. A. Burrill writes: "We have held meetings at two different points for more than seven weeks. The Lord has blessed our efforts beyond our own expectations. We leave above fifty adults keeping the Sabbath, nearly half of whom have received the truth since we came. Two churches have been organized, known as the first and second S. D. Adventist churches of Bladen Springs, Alabama. These churches have adopted the Bible plan of S. B. and organized a T. and M. society. They have ordered upwards of 70,000 pages of reading matter. This is a good beginning. About thirty subscribers for our periodicals have been obtained, and I have sold more than 13,000 pages of reading matter. Our brethren who contemplate sending us boxes of reading matter will please correspond with us before doing so."
Iowa.
Decatur County.—Brother C. A. Washburn writes: "Meetings continue near Davis City. Between twenty and twenty-five are now keeping the Sabbath. Eighteen have signed the covenant, three of whom were keeping the Sabbath before. Nearly all of these are heads of families."
Belvidere.—Brother Bartlett writes: "I have given a course of lectures in this place. The Lord blessed. Eight commenced to keep the Sabbath. There is a little company of twelve Sabbath-keepers here now."
Kansas.
New Liberty.—Elder C. F. Stevens held meetings here February 22 to 24. He writes: "The little company here are united, and appear to be growing in the knowledge of the truth. We held five meetings, and celebrated the ordinances. They pledged the added one-third for the T. and M. work; and also subscribed for eight copies of the Signs to circulate among their neighbors."
Hymer.—Brother J. Lamont writes: "Our meetings at this place continued nearly a week. Five were added to the church by baptism. T. and M. Society was organized, consisting of six members. Four copies of the Signs are taken. The prejudice, which was very high here a year ago, has perceptibly decreased. The friends feel encouraged, and are settling into the work."
Minnesota.
Union Lakes.—Elders Curtis and Burch report as follows: "We came to this place February 24, and commenced a course of lectures. The weather and roads have been very unfavorable, and our congregations have been small. We found about the usual amount of prejudice existing in the minds of the people; but, through the blessing of God attending our labors, this has been removed from the minds of those who have attended our meetings, and a good interest has been awakened."
THE HOME CIRCLE.
All for Christ.
"Now, girls, I have got news for you!"
The speaker was a showy girl, dressed in the hight of fashion. She was just entering a room where sat several young ladies, her cousins, pursuing various household employments.
"What is it, Ada?" cried one and another.
"You'll never believe it; Lizzy Ashbrook has professed religion!" was the half-serious, half-laughing reply.
"Lizzy Ashbrook!" The girls repeated the name more or less in surprise.
"Lizzy Ashbrook," said the elder cousin, Julia, seriously: "why, she was forever making sport of the subject."
"And such a fashionable girl; why, she would hardly look at a girl who was meanly dressed," remarked another.
"Her father an infidel, too; what will he say?"
"I heard that she turned her out of the house," said Ada.
There was a long silence.
"Well," it was abruptly spoken by the youngest of the family, "we shall see now if there is that reality in religion that Christians talk about. I don't believe there is one single person in any branch of her family who is religious. She will have unusual trials to undergo; I would n't be in her place."
"Trials! pshaw! there's no such thing as persecutions in these days; it would be a rare thing to see a martyr!" This was lightly spoken by Ada, who had been Lizzy's nearest friend, and who felt unusual bitterness springing up in her heart against the young girl who she knew could no longer enjoy her companionship as of yore.
Martyrs are not rare, even in these days! aye, and martyrs to religious persecution, as we shall see.
The cousins made an early call on Lizzy, who received them with her accustomed grace, and a sweeter smile than usual, and there was a purer expression in her beautiful face, yet she appeared like one wearied a little with some struggle in which she was the sufferer. Although she did not speak directly of the new vows she had taken upon her, the new peace she had found, their visitors could see distinctly and clearly the wondrous change in dress, in manner, and even in countenance.
Lizzy was engaged in marriage to a thorough man of the world. George Phillips loved his wine, his parties, his race-course, the theatre, the convivial free-and-easy club. The Sabbath was his day of pleasure, and many a time had Lizzy graced his elegant equipage, radiant in beauty on the holy day, as they swept along. He bore a dashing exterior, was intellectual, a wit, courted, caressed, admired everywhere.
His brow darkened as he heard the news. What? the girl of his choice, the woman he would place at the head of his brilliant household, become a canting Christian! Nonsense, he did n't believe it; he would see for himself. He did n't furnish his parlors for prayer-meetings; he wanted no long-faced ministers, elders or sisters to visit his wife, not he. It was a ridiculous hoax; it must have originated in the club-room. What! the daughter of Henry Ashbrook, the freest of free thinkers? "Ha! a capital joke—a very clever joke—nothing more!"
He called upon her not long after the visit before mentioned. His cold eye scanned her from head to foot—but how sweetly! how gently she met him? Surely the voice that was melting music before was heavenly in its tones now. All the winning grace was there, all the high-bred ease—the merry smile dimpled her cheek—but there was a something, a subtle something, that thrilled him from head to foot with apprehension, because it was unlike her usual self. What could it be?
At length, lightly, laughingly, he referred to the report he had heard. For one moment the frame trembled, the lips refused to speak—but this passed, and something like a flush crossed her face—it lighted the eyes anew, it touched the cheek with rich crimson, as she replied—"George, please don't treat it as a jest, for truly, thank God! I have become a Christian! I have only just begun to live! If you knew—"
The proud man sprang to his feet, almost throwing her hands from him in his impatient movement; and not daring to trust his voice, for an oath was uppermost, he walked swiftly back and forward for a moment. Then he came and stood before her. His forehead was purpled with the veins that passion swelled, his face white, and his voice unsteady as he exclaimed:—
"Do you mean to say that you will really cast your lot among these people, that you will give up all—all?"
"I will give up all for Christ;" the words were very soft and low, and not spoken without reflection.
For one moment he locked his lips together till they looked like steel in their rigidity: then he said, in a full, passionate voice:—
"Lizzy—Miss Ashbrook, if these are your sentiments, these your intentions, we must go different ways."
This was very cruel; it was a terrible test, for the young girl had, as it were, placed her soul in his keeping. Before a higher and purer love was born in her heart, he had made up her human love—an absolute idolatry—and the thought of ever losing him, now caused her cheek to grow ashen, and her eyes dim.
As he saw this, his manner changed to entreaty.
He placed before her the position he would give her; lured her by every argument that might appeal to the womanly heart. And he knew how to win by entreaty, by the subtlest casuistry. His was a masterly eloquence. He could adapt his voice, his language, his very looks, with the most adroit cunning, to the subject and object of his discussion. More than once, the gentle spirit of the young Christian felt as if giving away—that only help direct from the Fountain of Life could sustain her with firmness to resist to the end of the interview.
At last it was a final "All this will I give you if you will fall down and worship me."
It came to this—"Christ or me." There could be no compromise, it was "Christ or me." And standing there clothed with a mantle of a new and heavenly faith, with its light shining in her heart and playing over her pale features, she said, with the firmness of martyrs of old:—
"Christ!"
Though his soul was filled with rage, so that he could have gnashed his teeth, the slight figure standing there with an earnest upward glance—the brow that seemed to have grown white—the attitude so self-possessed, yet so modest, so quiet and yet so eloquent, filled him with a strange, admiring awe. But the hostility toward religion was so strong in his heart, that it bore down all his tenderness, almost crushed his love, and he parted from her, for the first time, coldly, and like a stranger.
The engagement was broken off; but who can tell the struggles it cost.
This was but the first trial; there came another yet, while the blow lay heavy on her heart.
Her father had ever been very loving towards her. He was proud of her; she was the brightest gem of his splendid home. She was beautiful, and gratified his vanity; she was intellectual, and he heard praise lavished upon her mind with a miser's greedy ear, for she was his—part of himself; she belonged to him.
He called her into his study, and required a minute account of the whole matter. He had heard rumors, he said, had seen a surprising and not an agreeable change in her; she had grown mopish, quiet; what was the cause? It was a great trial, with that stern, unbelieving face, full of hard lines, opposite, to stand and testify for Christ. But He who has promised was with her, and she told the story calmly, resolutely, kindly.
"And do you intend to be baptized?"
"Yes, sir,"—a gleam of hope entering her heart; she did not expect his approval, but she could not think he might refuse to sanction this important step.
"You know your aunt Eunice has long wanted you to become an inmate of her home."
"Yes, sir," the gentle voice faltered.
"Well, you can go now. Unless you can give up this absurd idea, and trample it under your feet, I do not wish you to remain with me. Be as you were before, and you shall want for no luxury, no affection; follow this miserable notion, and henceforth I am only your father in name."
And still, though her heart was broken, she said, as she had before:—
"Christ."
She did forsake all for him, but her step became slow, her form wasted, her eye hollow and her cheek sunken. The struggle had been too much for a frame unable to cope with any overwhelming sorrow. Swiftly she went down into the valley, but it was not dark to her. Too late the man who had so sorely tempted her, knelt by her bedside and implored her forgiveness. Too late? No, not too late for his own salvation, for in that hour his eyes were open to the sinfulness of his life, and by her dying pillow, he promised solemnly to give his heart to God. Her father, too, proud infidel that he was, looked on his wasted child, triumphing over death, with wonder and with awe. Such a dying scene it is the privilege of but few to witness. She had given up all, absolutely all for Christ, and in the last hour, like Stephen, she saw heaven open. Her face was angelic, her language rapture, her chamber the gate of heaven. And like one who, but the other day, untied the sandals of life, and moved calmly and trustingly down the one step between earth and heaven, so she said, with a smile inexpressibly sweet—"Sing."
And they sang, "Rock of Ages, cleft for me!"
At its close they heard one word—the last. It was—