THIS is truly a solemn admonition to the man of God; and he must heed it, or he can never stand in the judgment.
1. We should remember that we are all to appear before him in judgment. 2 Cor. v, 10. No living mortal can possibly escape. We should also remember that he knows and understands all about our doings. Every thought of the heart is fully open before him. Our secret sins are all known to him. Not a crime can escape his notice. 2. We must133not only appear before him, but we must give an account to him of all our own deeds and of all the fruits of our doings. He gives to the sinner an opportunity to repent of his sins and do good, but if he neglects this duty and continues in his evil ways, he will be judged accordingly. To the Christian he gives many opportunities for doing good. He is commanded to let his light so shine that others may see his good works and be led to glorify God. Our thoughts, words, and deeds are all fruitful and will produce good or bad fruit. Hence we will be judged accordingly.
Behold the filthy thoughts, the foul words, the ungodly deeds of Tom Paine! Did their fruits or influence cease at his death? No. Nor will they, while there are wicked men and women upon the earth to receive his demoralizing teaching. The unholy fountain that he opened up during his lifetime, still rolls on, in its corrupting and befouling influences. Then he will be judged not only for his words and deeds, but also for their influence upon others. Behold on the other hand a Peter, or a Paul! Witness their holy and godly lives, and conversation! They loved the Lord Jesus so much that they sacrificed their lives rather than to deny his name. See the fruits of their doings. The fruits are to the glory of God in the salvation of many souls. So they with all others of like character will be rewarded in the last day.
Then dear reader, live so that the fruits of your doings may be of such a nature that you may have a crown of glory decked with many bright stars, and that you may be fully prepared to meet your God in judgment.
B. F. SNOOK.
The City of Rebellion.
The Union forces are doing strange things in the city of Charleston, S. C., the cradle and hot-bed of secession—at least strange things for that locality. One of the first movements that would naturally follow the re-establishment of the national authority over that city, what there is left of it, would be the establishment of schools. It is stated that "hitherto no schools for colored people, bond or free, have been permitted in Charleston, excepting as special favors to the wealthier class, and then only under the most onerous surveillance and conditions." The schools are now re-organized under the superintendence of James Redpath, writer of the biography of John Brown, and black children are admitted to them on equal terms with the white. "Some of the secesh teachers," says the correspondent of the N. Y. Tribune, "were courteously informed that a new order of things had come; that the old South, with all its prejudices and aristocracies, was done away with forever; that a large majority of the first families, so-called, of South Carolina had already been reduced to beggary, and that before the war ended there would be very few of them who would not be paupers; that a higher social order would be established here, and an entirely different class of people rule; that the Government could only recognize, in its dealings with citizens, one test—loyalty, and (as they know) inasmuch as the colored people, as a class, had been loyal, and the whites as a class, disloyal, there would certainly be nothing done by it, officially, what should discriminate against those who had been true to it and who welcomed the restoration of its authority."
Sunday, Feb. 22, is reported to have been "a day of jubilee at all the colored churches. Gen. Littlefield and Mr. Redpath of Boston, addressed all the congregations on their positions and duties to their race and country. The colored people say that there have been no such scenes witnessed in these churches during living memory. The speakers made very radical anti-Slavery addresses, and were listened to with the utmost eagerness. Bursts of joy, shouts of thanks to God, laughter, tears—every human emotion seemed to be moved to their depths."
A prophecy uttered by Bishop Capers so long ago as 1851, and published in the Sumter Banner at Sumterville, S. C., is proving true to the very letter. He said:
"It (Secession) must prove ruinous; the general Government will put it down; Charleston and the State will be ruined; all will be sacrificed—the green hills, the verdant plains, the crystal streams, the cypress-shaded graves of moldering patriots, the hearth-stone of the wife, the trysting-tree of the daughter, will be bathed in blood."
Some of the relics of the captured city are to be appropriately disposed of. Thus, the bell of the Charleston slave-mart, destined to be used no more by those who traffic in human flesh and blood, is to be sent to Mr. Wendell Phillips. The door-plate of Richard Yeadon, who offered $10,000 for Ben. Butler's head, is to be sent to General B. as a token that Charleston is ours; and the first secession banner ever unfurled in that city is to be sent to the N. Y. Tribune office. With what infinite grief must Rebellion look upon such a distribution of its memorials.
Hope for the Bondmen.
By Editor
THE work in favor of the poor bondmen seems to be progressing encouragingly. Let it go on at the rate it seems now to be moving, and it will not be long before the door of the truth will be fully open to them. From an article in the N. Y. Independent of March 16, we extract the following paragraph:
"When the Scottish judges decided that slaves could not exist in Scotland, the united colonies of America had just thrown off the British yoke and justified themselves by declaring that all men were created free and equal, while they kept half a million of their fellow-countrymen in hopeless bondage. But the ghastly inconsistency of this declaration with its practical application, will no longer be a reproach to America. The whole system of Slavery, with the evils it has engendered, is disappearing with a startling rapidity that can only be likened to the crumbling to pieces of one of those mighty icebergs which drift out of the polar seas on to our coast, seemingly impervious to heat and the action of the waves, until in a moment they burst asunder and are seen no more for ever. Four years ago, Slavery seemed to be as firmly planted on this continent as the Rocky Mountains, and soon not a vestige of it remains. The President could abolish Slavery by proclamation, as a military necessity, but he could not abolish the prejudices of caste. They had to abolish themselves. Illinois and Indiana have generously obliterated the infamous black laws which disgraced their statute books; Maryland and Missouri have voluntarily purged themselves of the foul institution which had brought them to the verge of rebellion and ruin, and social changes are quietly taking place which are scarcely less important than those which cause public rejoicing. The admission of a black lawyer to practice in the Supreme Court of the United States at Washington, without a word of remonstrance from any member of the bench or the bar, is really one of the most significant events of the past four years. Others of a similar character will continue to astonish the public mind."
Report from Bro. Snook.
By B. F. Snook
BRO. WHITE: I am still on the move, and trying to labor for the good of the cause of God. I left home Feb. 2, and spent from the 3d to the 7th with the brethren of Washington. We held our meetings at the chapel of the colored people, and had from them a very good attendance in the main. They listened with great interest to the truth, and we rejoiced to see that it took effect upon their hearts. The interest of our meeting was very good. The brethren revived up very much. We organized a church of fourteen members, and an s. b. fund of about $35. One young man decided to begin to keep the commandments of God.
From here we went to Mount Pleasant, and after tarrying a short time was most happy to welcome to our aid our well-tried and good Bro. Ingraham, who came according to our earnest requests, to aid in giving lectures in Mt. P. We began on the 14th inst. We had many discouragements to work against. There was rain, snow, and mud from beginning to end, and opposition on the underground system from all the churches. But, nevertheless, we had a good interest, but not so wide as it would have been, if we could have had good weather. Six, at least, decided to keep the Sabbath, and we hope to hear of several others coming out soon, who are now well convinced, but not quite ready to turn.
The lectures there did a good work for the cause. Much prejudice has been removed, and the general conviction outside is, that the theology of the day will not stand before us.
We solicited the best of them to come out and expose our heresies. One Methodist Elder consented to do so. He was willing both to debate and preach against us. He made one effort on the immortality and endless misery question. He was met and faithfully replied to, which cured him of any further desires for debate. He said, "I have concluded to have no more to do with such fellows." The rest of the foxes kept in their dens, and would not even come out to bark. We anticipate, however, that they will have a jubilee, as we have left.
The cause is gradually rising in this city. There is a good interest in and out of the city north and south of it. In the midst of so much opposition, we cannot expect the cause to be established at once. It requires a persevering effort, a long and steady pull. Faithfulness on the part of our brethren there, will be loud and successful preaching.
Owing to missing connections on the trains homeward, we were detained and run up to Crane's Grove, where we spent the Sabbath and Sunday of the 10th and 11th inst., with the good brethren of that neighborhood.
We were happy to form these new and pleasant acquaintances, and to enjoy a good meeting with them. Here I sorrowfully parted from Bro. Ingraham. I felt strongly attached to him, and hope we may be blessed to labor together again. He did us much good during his short stay, and the word he preached was in the Spirit and with power. He leaves here many hearts who desire and pray that he may return to this field the coming season. May the Lord direct us and bless with great success, and at last save us, is the prayer of your brother in hope.
B. F. SNOOK.
Days of Fasting.
By Joseph Clarke
We have met according to appointment in the Review, for four successive days, for the purpose therein mentioned, and tried to keep those days by prayer and fasting to the Lord. It seemed meet and proper to comply with the suggestions of those of experience and authority in the church, not only as a matter of obedience, but of propriety.
Truly there is a cause for fasting and mourning! Long ago a few ships came over the waters and discovered this land, this Western Continent. Then came, in a few years, other ships, and their cabins contained the exile and refugee, fleeing hither to these wilds for religious liberty. Vainly did the tyrants of the old world strive with each other, to possess these lands. God overthrew all their crafty counsels, and gave the exile and refugee the birth-right of liberty in this fair and vast domain. See, said he, here I convey to you a nationality and honorable acknowledgments of this nationality by all the powers that be. I convey to you this vast domain, fertile and fair, stretching from ocean to ocean, and from the lakes to the southern shores of North America.
Take this birth-right of liberty, furnish a home to the oppressed, and observe the golden rule, to do unto others as you would have them do to you.
We will, said the delighted people, and we now ordain that all are born free, and equal; and only give us the time, and slavery in a few years shall only be known in history. These were the conditions of American liberty.
In a few instances the contract was fulfilled; namely, in those States where the climate forbade slavery to prosper; but in the milder regions of America it was found very profitable.
Cotton, and sugar, and tobacco, and Indian corn, and rice, and wheat, and lemons, and oranges, and many delicate fruits, were the products of slave labor. Cities, and towns, and villages, and hamlets, arose by the same agency; and railroads were laid along the southern thoroughfares; and the sweat of the negro watered the cane fields. You might see him in the clearings, in the factory, in the stable; every where, the man of color was the man of all work. And when God, by his agents, remonstrated with this people, then contempt was poured upon those agents, and some were mobbed, and their printing-presses were destroyed. Others were tarred and feathered. Others were pelted with filthy missiles. Others were imprisoned. Others were banished, and their property stolen.
Then arose mighty Statesmen, descendants of the exiles who fled here for liberty, and they ordained that the northern men who had no slaves, should do obeisance to southern men who had slaves, and should do them reverence, and should arrest every slave who in his search for freedom should pass through the northern provinces, where the descendants of the exiles lived. And the descendants of the exiles being prudent, thrifty men, said, Amen, in a whisper, and bound themselves with an oath to return those men, who fled from southern oppression. But most of them did it for peace' sake, and softly to each other they said, we can not keep this oath; for it is a hard oath to keep; and they still vowed to keep it when with southern men, to please them, and thus they became a nation of perjurers, for peace' sake. Then they added new domain to southern slave States; domain not given to this nation for this purpose; and the northern men knew it, and they groaned inwardly; and as they groaned they thought it was virtuous to groan; but not so; it was their double-mindedness which caused them to baffle themselves, and that groan was the groan of a troubled conscience, for three great sins, yea, for four; oppression, perjury, double-dealing, and breach of contract. And now we as a nation, are feeling the consequences.
Now hundreds of thousands are mowed down in battle, and more fall in the pestilence and exposure of the camp, and who laments? Do not the widow and the orphan often deck themselves gaily in the earnings of the poor soldier, whose bones bleach beneath southern suns? Do they not proudly move along all our thoroughfares? Are not our cities and towns frequented by more than a usual number of persons of doubtful character, whose husbands, perchance have fallen, or may yet fall in battle?
Verily our country has fallen. Shall we fast for her? But there is the bondman! How would he rejoice if he knew of these four days of fast! Long has he looked for sympathy, now he sees the Lord at work with an army among the oppressors, and a praying church not far away. Soon will he lift his hands (perchance as white as his master's) to Heaven, in ecstasy and say in a loud voice, "The horse and his rider hath he cast into the sea!" Gloriously hath the Lord triumphed; and now we know God did not smile upon those northern statesmen, who ordained that the slave should not flee through their territory, but verily he has brought them down here against their own will, to fetch us out of our prisons.
Well may we fast and pray, as we view the wrath of God which burns against this wicked oppressive people, who were forgiven many sins, and set at liberty; but who take the African a captive, and oblige him to pay what he never owed, and cast him into prison.
And now hourly and daily will the prayer arise to Heaven, O Lord free the bondman, that he may shake off the chains which have bound him, and may listen to the glorious news of the coming of the Just One, the great Emancipator, who will break the bonds of the oppressed, and will open the prison-house.
Stay the oppression of blood, and hold back the engines of war, when thy noble purposes of justice and benevolence and chastisement are accomplished! Soon, soon may it be. Already many of our fellows lie in the cold embrace of death, and suffering, and woes too awful to have a name, exist in this cruel war, and shall it long exist? God forbid.
Soon shall those who sigh and cry for the abominations134of the land, receive the mark from the man clothed in linen, with the writer's ink horn by his side, and it will then be reported "I have done as thou hast commanded."
Jos. CLARKE.
Report from Bro. Bostwick.
By L. G. Bostwick
Bro. White: The cause of truth is still onward. Since my last report, I have been doing what I could by the help of the Lord, to advance the cause of present truth.
After my meetings closed on West Knapp's Creek, I started for Durand with my own conveyance, and after traveling five days through the cold and storm, most of the way on the ice on the Mississippi River, I arrived at Durand, and commenced meetings there on the 28th of January. As the brethren there were quite anxious that some more meetings should be held there, we continued the meetings till February 27th, and gave in all, thirty-two discourses. These were interesting meetings. Twelve made up their minds at this meeting to obey the truth. I got nine subscribers for the Review, and sold about $65.00 worth of books.
The meetings closed with a good interest. Others, we think, will yet make up their minds to obey the truth there. The last meeting that we held with them the house was crowded.
I would have continued the meetings longer but the snow was fast leaving, and I had to start for home. I arrived home March 6, after an absence of ten weeks.
I would say that I can see that the third angel's message is on the rise. The calls come from every direction, Come and preach these truths to us. It seems to me that ere long the message will go with a loud cry, and my prayer is that God will speed on the time. And may he help his people to arise and believe that their salvation is nearer than when they believed.
I shall start out next week again into new fields. Brethren, pray for me, that the blessing of God may attend my labors.
L. G. Bostwick.
Effects of Obedience and Transgression.
By V. O. Edson
WHILE reflecting upon the present condition of the world, and especially our once peaceful and happy nation, now engaged in the most terrible war recorded in the annals of history, and in consequence, the thousands of desolate families, pinching want, untold suffering and agony, that is to be witnessed on every side, my mind wandered back to the beautiful garden of Eden and the earth as it sprang from the hand of its Creator beautiful and lovely. Blight and decay, were nowhere visible. Death with his ghastly tread, had never entered there, causing sorrow, sadness and desolation. All was happiness, joy, and peace. No sickness or pain, to mar the pleasure and happiness of any of God's creatures.
Oh, what a contrast, what a change from that scene! And very naturally do we inquire, what has wrought this great change? Alas the sad tale is told in one little word. SIN. Do we inquire what is sin? Ans. Sin is the transgression of the law; and the wages of sin is death.
Man made in the image of God, violated his just commands; partook of the forbidden fruit, thereby forfeiting all right to the tree of life, which was designed to perpetuate life and immortality; and in consequence death passed upon the human family. Dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return, was the mandate of Jehovah; and the withering curse was pronounced upon the earth. We are now witnessing its sad effects.
But had God's holy, just, and perfect law, which was given to be the rule of man's life and conduct here, been ever after obeyed, a great difference would be witnessed in the condition of the world from what we now see. Many blessings are promised on conditions of obedience; and fearful judgments in consequence of disobedience. But as we trace down the page of history, both sacred and profane, we find the commands of God have ever been disregarded and set at naught by the mass of mankind. And for this have the righteous judgments of God been visited upon the guilty nations of earth. "The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof, because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinances, and broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth; and them that dwell therein are desolate." Isaiah xxiv, 5, 6.
In what tones of love and pity does God by the mouth of the prophet exclaim, "Oh! that thou hadst hearkened unto my commandments; then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea." Isaiah xlviii, 18.
And after all our transgressions, he has not left us without hope; but has devised a plan by which fallen man can come to God, and find acceptance and pardon for past transgressions, through the atoning merits of a Saviour's blood.
The earth which now groans so heavily beneath the curse, will soon be restored to its pristine beauty, to be the happy abode of the saints of God, who have honored him by keeping his holy law. The wicked who have dishonored him, and rejected his holy word, will be destroyed; then the wickedness of the wicked shall come to a perpetual end, and righteousness will be established in the earth.
No bugle notes will there be heard as the signal for the deadly strife. The peaceful inhabitants will no more be called from their quiet homes to engage in bloody strife. The groans of agony; and cries of the sufferers will no more be borne on the gentle breeze. No sickness, pain nor death, no aching hearts, or burning tears of sorrow, in that joyous free and happy land.
Dear reader, would you be there? Would you gain Heaven with all its attendant glories and joy; and receive a crown of unfading glory, and the gift of immortality and eternal life? Oh then, keep God's commandments. No longer trample upon his just and holy law, which is just as sacred now as when uttered from Sinai. And although the man of sin who thought to change times and laws; in his attempts to exalt himself, hath taken from it the holy Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and substituted in its place an institution of his own, yet there it stands engraven on tables, safely enclosed in the ark of his testimony in Heaven. And now, as the darkness and error of papal superstition is being exposed by the light and glory which is shining upon the sacred pages, we find the mass of mankind, instead of bowing to the mandates of Jehovah, worshiping an institution of human invention.
Says God, "If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord honorable; Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." Isa. lviii, 13-14.
Oh how long will men trifle with the great God of Heaven and earth, by rejecting his holy word, and think by substituting a man-made institution in its place, that he will accept their homage? Says James, "Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." And the testimony of Jesus was; "Till heaven and earth pass, one jot, or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled."
"Then as we would our God obey,
In letter and in spirit too,
Oh let us keep the seventh day,
For it is plainly brought to view."
"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Rev. xxii, 14.
Holy Living.
By J. N. Wilkinson
We are instructed by the apostle Paul, that "without holiness no man shall see the Lord." Heb. xii, 14. And Peter says, "As he that has called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy for I am holy." 1 Pet. i, 15, 16.
We understand that those who are the people of God, will ever be characterized by holiness, or, godly living. Says the Psalmist, "Holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, forever." Ps. xciii, 5. Thus the children of God should ever exercise a holy zeal, and a meek and quiet spirit, and thereby show to those around them, that they have been instructed in the school of divine wisdom.
And again, we have a pattern of holiness and purity. Says Peter, "For even hereunto were ye called; because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow in his steps, who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth." 1 Pet. ii, 21, 22. We are exhorted also, to "let this mind be in us which was in Christ." Phil. ii, 5. Says John, "He that saith he abideth in him, ought himself also to walk even as he walked." 1 John ii, 6. We are informed how he walked, and we are taught to follow in his steps. And again, "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." But how can we tell whether we have "the Spirit of Christ?" By the fruit we bring forth. Paul says, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, against such there is no law; and they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us walk in the Spirit." Gal. v, 22-25.
It is important that the remnant church should live so as to be a light in the world, and an example to their enemies, so that they may have no evil to say in regard to their Christian character, or daily walk.
The following testimony in regard to the Waldenses, and the Albigenses, may be worth our attention. I select from M' Gavin's Protestant, Vol. I, p. 1289:
"The Waldenses and Albigenses were a simple, harmless people; they professed no principles, and were convicted of no practices hostile to the good order of society. Their very enemies bear ample testimony in behalf of their manner of life, as being more moral, than that of those who persecuted them. Even an inquisitor, who wrote against them, says: 'These heretics are known by their manners and conversation: for they are orderly and modest in their behavior, and deportment. They avoid all appearance of pride in their dress. They neither indulge in finery of attire, nor are they remarkable for being mean or ragged. They avoid commerce that they may be free from deceit and falsehood. They get their livelihood by manual industry, as day laborers, or mechanics, and their teachers are weavers or tailors. They are not anxious about amassing riches, but content themselves with the necessaries of life. They are chaste, temperate, and sober. They abstain from anger. Even when they work, they either learn or teach. In like manner also, their women are very modest; avoiding backbiting, foolish jesting, and levity of speech, especially abstaining from lies or swearing, not so much as making use of the common asseverations, 'in truth,' 'for certain' or the like; because they regard these as oaths—contenting themselves with simply answering 'yes' or 'no.'"
Claudius Leisselius, archbishop of Turin, says, that, "their heresy being excepted, they generally lived a purer life than other Christians." "In their lives and morals" says he, "they are perfect, irreprehensible and without reproach among men, addicting themselves with all their might, to the service of God." In the time of a great persecution of the Waldenses of Merindol and Provence, a certain monk was deputed by the Bishop of Cavaillon, to hold a conference with them, that they might be convinced of their errors, and the effusion of blood be prevented. But the monk returned in confusion, owning that in his whole life, he had never known so much of the scriptures, as he had learned during those few days, that he had been conversing with the heretics. The Bishop, however, sent among them a number of doctors—young men, who had lately come from the Sorbonne, which at that135time, was the very center of theological subtlety at Paris. One of these publicly owned, that he understood more of the doctrine of salvation, from the answers of the children in their catechisms, than by all the disputations that he had ever before heard.
Such was the character of those who professed the doctrines of the reformation, long before the reformation took place; and this is the character which their enemies gave them.
Oh, that we as a people might realize the time in which we live, and the importance of bringing ourselves entirely into subjection to the will of God, and of having our words few and well chosen, and our minds stayed on the Lord continually. "Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth." John xvii, 17.
J. N. WILKINSON.
Peterborough, N. H.
An Infidel Silenced.
By Geo. Wright, Jr.
While most of the so-called orthodox denominations of the day, profess to believe in, and teach in their Sunday-schools, the perpetuity, and binding force of God's law of ten commandments, and at the same time living in utter disregard of the requirements of the fourth, they place themselves, to say the least of it, in a very inconsistent position, and put in the hands of infidels, a powerful weapon which they do not fail to use against them.
To illustrate, I will relate an incident that occurred something over a year ago. An acquaintance of ours, from a neighboring village, called on us. Being a confirmed infidel of the Boston Investigator School, and knowing us to be professors of religion, we were soon required to give a reason of our hope. In the course of the conversation, I noticed he was looking intently at the commandment chart, hanging in our room. All at once he took me familiarly by the arm and led me in front of the chart, and interrogated me as follows: You profess to believe in those commandments, do you? Yes, sir. All of them? Yes, sir. Then I would ask, why do you keep the first day of the week as the Sabbath, when that fourth commandment requires you in the most definite manner, to observe the seventh day? Well sir, I replied, I do not, I am happy to inform you that I am trying to keep the Sabbath of the Lord according to that commandment. Indeed! he answered, then I have nothing further to say. I had supposed you to be a Sunday-keeper, and I intended to use your inconsistent position, while professing to believe the Bible and be guided by it, and at the same time violating one of its plainest precepts.
Thus my friend was disarmed and silenced by the power of a consistent faith in harmony with the word of God.
At different times since embracing the truth, I have conversed with infidels (and they are generally well-read, intelligent, men), and they have, invariably acknowledged that, taking the Bible as the guide, our faith was the most consistent of any they had met with.
For one, I thank God for a faith that is in harmony with the law and testimony. And with David I pray, "Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed." Ps. cxix, 80.
Geo. Wright, Jr.
Lapeer, Mich.
Letters.
By Editor
"Then they that feared the Lord, spake often one to another."
This department of the paper is designed for the brethren and sisters to freely and fully communicate with each other respecting their hopes and determinations, conflicts and victories, attainments and desires, in the heavenly journey. Seek first a living experience and then record it, carefully and prayerfully, for the comfort and encouragement of the other members of the household of faith.
From Bro. Rich.
Bro. White: Having a desire to do my whole duty, and remove as far as possible every stain that I have made, and every reproach that I have brought upon the precious cause of God, I beg the privilege of saying through the Review to one and all who have been acquainted with my past life, and especially those with whom I first became acquainted in present truth, that I am heartily sorry that I have come so far short of God's glory, and have been a burden instead of an encouragement to those who have had the weight and interest of the cause resting upon them.
I would also say that I most firmly believe the Testimony of the Spirit, manifested in pointing out my sins, to be of God. But for this, I fear I should never have recovered from the snare of Satan, into which I had fallen. I feel to give God all the glory, and am resolved that my future life shall show a wide contrast with the past. I hope to be forgiven by all I have injured, and by my heavenly Father who has borne so long with me.
My heart longs for freedom in this truth, and while I believe God is working for his people, I would not be indifferent to my eternal interest. May God help his slumbering people to awake and gird on the armor anew, is my prayer.
H. J. Rich.
Battle Creek, Mich.
A Young Woman Finds the Saviour
By Mary E. Lawton
From Sister Lawton.
DEAR BRN. AND SISTERS: Fifteen months have passed by since I sought, and found my Saviour; since I bade adieu to the world and its pleasures; preferring the society of the good and faithful. Nor was this step taken without deep consideration. It had long been the subject of my thoughts, but I remained undecided until Nov. 1863. Bro. and sister White were to hold meetings with this church at Brookfield, N. Y., when the kind and earnest invitation from a mother to attend, I could not refuse. I went; and after listening to some very interesting, and instructive remarks given by Bro. White to the youth, my heart was touched. I could no longer suppress my feelings. I was aroused from the delusive sleep of sin, and expressed a determination (in connection with other young friends present) to take up the cross and follow Jesus. I felt a willingness to give up all, that I might be saved. It was indeed a precious season. Could I regret the step I had taken? Oh no! It was the happiest hour of my life; when I felt a desire to humble myself before the throne of God, and with childlike confidence confess my wrongs, and have the assurance that I was forgiven.
One week from that time, I was buried by baptism; and as I arose from the water to walk anew in life, it seemed as though a change had taken place on all things. The things which a little time before were so fascinating, and seemed so essential to my enjoyment, now had a very small appearance, and I could willingly cast them aside, remembering that our choicest treasure was above; and there should our hearts be.
Since that time I fear I have not been as diligent in the cause of truth as I ought. My life has not been as exemplary to those around me as it should. May the Lord forgive me wherein I have erred; and may my light shine more brightly in the future. There have been times when I have been blessed by God's divine presence. At such times I have renewed energy to press forward with God's people, that with them I may inherit the kingdom. I ask an interest in your prayers that I may ever be found walking in the narrow way.
In hope of life eternal. MARY E. LAWTON.
W. Winfield, N. Y.