Review and Herald, Vol. 47, No. 18. (5/4/1876)

Review and Herald

May 4, 1876

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 4, 1876

THE SLEEP OF THE DEAD

By Dudley Marvin Canright

BY ELD. D. M. CANRIGHT.

TEXT: “For the living know that they shall die; but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished.” Eccl. 9:5, 6.

DEAR reader, we have commonly been taught that when the body dies, the real man does not die, but lives right on, thinks, loves, and hates, in Heaven or hell, just as actually as while in the body upon earth. But is this true? Many false doctrines have been taught in the world; may not this be one of them? What proof do you have that a man lives after we have seen him die? Observation teaches us all that this is not so. Every day we see men die.

Did any person ever see anything leave the body at death? No, not in a single case. Has a human soul or spirit, separate from the body, ever been seen by any one? No, never. So far, then, as actual sight and observation go, all the evidence is against this popular doctrine. Reason is against it. How can a man think without brains, walk without feet, see without eyes, hear without ears? It is absurd and contrary to all reason. But does not the Bible teach that the dead are conscious? No, not in a single text; but it everywhere teaches just the reverse, as I will readily show you.

If the dead live right on and go to Heaven or hell as soon as they die, then what sense is there in a future Judgment? Is it reasonable to believe that God would send a man to hell before he was judged, and after he had been there a thousand years in torment, then bring him out and judge him? Would you hang a man and then judge him? Is it not absurd to believe that God would take a man to Heaven for thousands of years, and then bring him down from Heaven and judge him to see if he ought to go there? This is too absurd to be believed.

Again, if the soul or spirit can live just as well out of the body as in the body, or perhaps even better; if it can be like an angel, can fly rapidly from one place to another, can live and think, and act, and be exceedingly happy without the body; and if the body, as many preach, is only a prison-house, a cage and a clog to the soul, then what is the use of a resurrection of this body? Why raise the body and put the soul back into it again? Or, why was the soul ever put into the body at all, if it could do better without it? Yet no doctrine of the Scriptures is plainer than that of the resurrection of the dead at the last day. See 1 Cor. 15.

Then, again, if the saints as soon as they die go up to Heaven where Jesus is, and where they can enjoy all the glory and happiness of Heaven, what will they care for the second coming of Christ? Yet all the Bible writers were constantly wishing for it, longing for it, and praying for it. These fundamental doctrines of the Bible, the Judgment, the resurrection, and the second advent, are all set aside and destroyed by the doctrine of the conscious state of the dead.

The Bible directly asserts that the wicked are reserved unto the day of Judgment to be punished. “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of Judgment to be punished.” 2 Pet. 2:9. See also Job 21:28-32. Rev. 20:12, 13. Now if the wicked are reserved till the Judgment to be punished, then they certainly are not being punished in hell before that time. This is so plain that any child can see it, and so reasonable that everybody ought to believe it.

Another plain fact which clearly shows that the righteous do not go to Heaven when they die, is that they are not to be rewarded till the second advent, the resurrection, and the Judgment. If they went to Heaven at death they would have thousands of years of reward before the Judgment. But now see how plainly this doctrine is everywhere taught that the time of reward is not at death, but at the Judgment. “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” Matt. 16:27. When will every man be rewarded? At the coming of Christ; “for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.” Luke 14:14. When will you be recompensed? At the resurrection. No promise of it before. “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” 1 Pet. 5:4. When will you get your crown? When the great Shepherd comes—not till then.

“And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great.” Rev. 11:18. When will the Lord’s saints, great and small, be rewarded? When the time comes to judge the dead. How plain this doctrine is. Scores of texts all through the Bible might be given, teaching the same thing. But if this be true, then it cannot be true that the righteous go to Heaven when they die.

Well, if men do not go to Heaven or hell at death, where do they go? Let the Bible answer this question, and it will do it in very plain terms.

1. It says that they are dead. Death is thus defined by Webster: “The extinction of life.” Notice the following plain declarations: “For Naboth is not alive, but dead,” 1 Kings 21:15; “your fathers did eat no man in the wilderness, and are dead,” John 6:49; “David . . . is both dead and buried,” Acts 2:29; “the dead in Christ shall rise first,” 1 Thess. 4:16; “he being dead yet speaketh,” Heb. 11:4; “Moses my servant is dead,” Josh. 1:2; “Abraham is dead, and the prophets,” John 8:52; “Lazarus is dead.” John 11:14. How plain these declarations are,—

Moses is dead, David is dead, Lazarus is dead. And death is an extinction of life. Then all these men were dead and not alive.

2. They are in the grave. Nothing is more plainly stated than this. We will quote several scriptures upon this point. The reader will notice that it does not simply say that the body is in the grave, but it says that the man, the person himself, is there. It does not say that a part of man goes there, or that the house that the man lived in goes there, but it says that he himself, the man proper, is there. Notice carefully these scriptures: “Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” Gen. 3:19. Who was to return to dust? The conscious, intelligent, responsible man Adam. To Abraham God said, “And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.” Gen. 15:15. “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” Eccl. 9:10. What is going into the grave? That part of man which is capable of having knowledge, wisdom, devices, &c. “Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise.” Isa. 26:19. Notice it is men who are dead as well as bodies. “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake.” Dan. 12:2. “The hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and that they have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” John 5:28, 29. Who are in the grave? They that have done evil and they that have done good,—the intelligent, responsible man. “And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.” Acts 8:2. Who was buried? The martyr Stephen—not simply Stephen’s body, but Stephen himself. The reader will readily remember scores of texts through the Bible making the same statements.

3. The dead know nothing—have no thoughts. This is an important proposition which we wish the reader to distinctly notice. “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” Ps. 146:3, 4. In the very day a man dies, his thoughts perish. Can a man be in Heaven or hell alive, and have no thoughts? “For the living know that they shall die; but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished.” Eccl. 9:5, 6. What do the dead know? The declaration is positive,—they “know not any thing.” But, says one, This is the body. No, it is not; for the next verse says, “Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished.” Men love and hate with the mind; hence it is the mind of man to which he refers. “The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence.” Ps. 115:17. “For in death there is no remembrance of thee; in the grave who shall give thee thanks?” Ps. 6:5. “Let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave.” Ps. 31:17. “For the grave cannot praise thee; death cannot celebrate thee.” Isa. 38:18. All these scriptures plainly state that after death men have no thoughts, know nothing, are not intelligent anywhere, or in any manner.

4. The dead are asleep. We all know that in perfect, sound sleep there is no thought, not even a dream. We are simply unconscious. It is a well-known fact that the Lord everywhere uses sleep to describe the state of the dead. A person in sound sleep is peacefully, quietly resting, with no

sorrow, no trouble. Carefully read the following scriptures:— “So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David,” 1 Kings 2:10. “And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father.” 1 Kings 11:43. “And Hezekiah slept with his fathers.” 2 Kings 20:21. “For now shall I sleep in the dust.” Job 7:21. “So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.” Job 14:12. “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” Dan. 12:2. “And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.” Mark 5:39. “These things said he; and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. . . . Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.” John 11:11, 14. “After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. . . . Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. . . . But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept. . . . Behold, I shew you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.” 1 Cor. 15:6, 18, 20, 51. “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.” 1 Thess. 4:13-15.

If the saints are dead, they are not alive. If they are in the grave they are not in Heaven. If they have no thoughts, then they are not thinking. If they know nothing, then they are not intelligent. If they are asleep, then they are not awake. If they are to be rewarded at the Judgment, they are not being rewarded now. Dear reader, this is the doctrine which we believe and teach. Is it not the doctrine of the Bible? We invite you to examine this subject further.

The Silent Reproof of a Bible

A good man on board a steamboat was greatly troubled by a company of card-players seated by a table in the cabin, over which hung the only lamp in the room. They were very profane, as is the custom of card players, and he longed to speak a word that would serve as a check to them. At last he took out his Bible, and drawing near the table, politely requested leave to read by their lamp. The sight of the Bible at once stopped their swearing, and after gambling for about ten minutes in silence, they all arose, put up their cards, and went to bed. What a power in the silent reproof of a good man with a Bible in his hand.

BACKSLIDERS

The churches are full of them. There are tenfold more members who lag behind the standard-bearer than march up to duty and privilege like brave soldiers of the cross. Churches, associations, whole denominations, report a decline. Wherefore? What is the cause? Are there no sinners to convert? Is there no material to bring into the kingdom? Loss of divine power is the real trouble. The cause of this loss is lack of consecration and faith. It is a hard thing to say, but truth and faithfulness require the utterance of the fact, that Christians are generally backslidden, and need recovering.

Sickness

SICKNESS is the Dead Sea that swallows up all virtues, and is the self-made sepulchre of a living man.

WATCHMAN, WHAT OF THE NIGHT?

“Say, watchman, what of the night? Do the dews of the morning fall? Have the orient skies a border of light, Like the fringe of a funeral pall?

The night is fast waning on high, And soon shall the darkness flee, And the moon shall spread o'er the blushing [sky, And bright shall its glories be.”

But, watchman, what of the night, When sorrow and pain are mine, And the pleasures of life, so sweet and bright, No longer around me shine?

That night of sorrow, thy soul May surely prepare to meet, But away shall the clouds of thy heaviness [roll, And the morning of joy be sweet.”

But, watchman, what of that night, When the arrow of death is sped, And the grave, which no glimmering star can [light, Shall be my sleeping bed?

That night may be near,—the cheerless tomb May keep thy body in store, But eternity's morn will chase the gloom, And night soon be no more.”

CAMP-MEETING AT EAGLE LAKE.

(Continued.)

Sabbath afternoon, June 26, I had freedom in speaking to the people from Luke 19:41, 42. There was a solemn impression left upon the audience.

We invited those who felt that they were not in favor with God, and those who had never professed our faith, and those who had backslidden from God, to come forward. About one hundred promptly responded to the call. Opportunity was given for all who felt burdened to relieve their feelings by saying a few words to the point.

A sister said she felt that she needed the prayers of God's people. She had prayed the Lord to open the way for her to come to this meeting, that she might here seek God with all her heart. There was a very tender spirit in the congregation.

A brother said he feared that we did not realize the sacred work in which we are engaged, and do not feel the necessity of making sure work for eternal life. The truth never looked brighter than to-day.

A sister said she must have a stronger hold on God. She has led a praying life, but has not felt right. Her life has not been worthy of the name of Christian.

A sister said she had done wrong. Nothing, as she now views it, has been good and right in her life. She wants her heart cleansed. She has been living in doubts and fears, and knows that she cannot honor God by such a life.

A brother said he was laboring to find rest for his soul, but he does not feel free. He said that he had felt an antipathy to a certain brother. He begged his brother to give him his hand and forgive him for his feelings. This confession was well wet down with tears.

A sister said she wanted a consecration to God. She had not devoted time to the study of the Bible and had not given time to the education of her children. There has not been a day that she has not said or done something which she afterwards regretted. She seemed to be overcome, and dropped upon her knees before God, weeping, confessing, and praying for the forgiveness of her sins. She confessed that she had been at times impatient with her family and fault-finding with her brethren and sisters.

A sister said she desired to be a child of God. She sometimes felt thankful to God for his mercies, but she longed to get nearer to God, and wanted to feel more anxiety for her children. She wanted a conversion that would make her love sinners more. She thought if she came forward to ask the prayers of the servants of God, he would cause a deeper work in her heart, and she would receive strength to do the duties that God had left for her to do.

A Danish sister said she had tried to serve the Lord, and wanted more of the Spirit of God.

A brother confessed that he was a sinner, by coming forward to these seats. He wanted a deeper work of God in his heart. He came up to humble himself before God. Unfaithfulness he felt was written on all his works. He felt that he must have a pure conscience; for the pure in heart shall see God.

A brother said it had been only three months since he commenced to serve God and obey his commandments. He wanted to surrender all to God and love him with all his heart.

A brother said he had made a profession of the truth, but he had never felt satisfied with his position. He felt that he must have a deeper work of grace in his heart. He wanted to get right here at this meeting. He must work from the foundation. The foundation must be sound. He must dig deep and lay it firmly upon the Rock. Unless the law of God was written in his heart he felt that he could never be saved, and hear from the lips of Christ, “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”

A brother had loved Christ one year, and he felt that the commandments of the Father are holy, just, and good. He felt that he was a most sinful being. He had much to hinder him. He wanted to give up all his sins. For the past few weeks he had had a deep conviction of sin. He felt with the brother who had spoken just before him that he must dig deep, get down to the very bottom of his iniquity, and root out every evil. He knew it was a trying time and a turning point in his life and experience. The law of God is exceedingly broad. The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. This conversion must be an experience in his life.

A Dane spoke in his own tongue. Bro. Nelson interpreted his words. The brother said he had done many wrong things in his life, for which he was heartily sorry. He repented of his sins, and wanted to love Jesus with undivided affections and obey the commandments of God.

A sister said she had been many years a professed Christian, but she was convinced from what she had heard at this meeting, that she must have a deeper work of grace in her heart. She came here, that she might have her strength renewed. She made a confession to her brethren and sisters of her neglect of duty. She wanted to be a whole-hearted, daily Christian. She wanted a thorough work of grace in her heart, that she might be a blessing to others.

A sister said she came to this meeting to obtain the blessing of God. She was convicted of sin, and convinced that she had lived at a great distance from God. She has feared the cross of Christ. She loved the Lord's people and these truths. From a child she has had a love for the truth. The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus are precious to her. She wants to be a whole-hearted Christian and honor her Redeemer.

A brother said he realized that he was in the presence of the all-seeing God. He knoweth all things. He knoweth our hearts better than we can know them ourselves. If he should deceive men he knew that it was impossible for him to deceive God. He had not knowingly wronged his neighbor. He wanted to realize the claims of God upon him, and to love God with all his heart, and his neighbor as himself. He was thankful that he came to this meeting. If he did not hear another word spoken, he could say that he was fully paid. He said he was determined to live more consecrated to God.

A sister requested the prayers of God's servants for her husband. He came to the meeting, but because of dampness and wet, had to leave. He was a great sufferer from neuralgia. She felt that she must give herself anew to God, and hope continually in his salvation.

A brother said he had for two years professed to keep the commandments of God. He confessed he had not fully lived out his holy profession. His friends said he was foolish to believe these things. He had come to the meeting to see what there was here. He thanked God for what he had felt. He wanted God and the leaders in this work to forgive him for his unbelief. He wanted to dig deep around his own heart. He wanted his life spared a little longer, that he might get right. He hoped all his friends would forgive him his wrong-doing. Oh! said he, how shall we feel when professedly keeping the commandments of God to find out that we are transgressors of the law? He said that he was convinced by the law of God that he was a sinner.

A sister said that she had received some tokens from God that she is indeed a child of his.

A brother said he came forward to confess his sins. He was convinced that he was a transgressor of the commandments. He feels that he must without delay identify himself with God's commandment-keeping people. His friends are astonished to think he has commenced to keep the Sabbath. He feels thankful for the publication of tracts and especially for the Voice of Truth.

A brother felt guilty that he had not lived up to the light, and will try to walk in the light henceforth as Christ is in the light.

A brother thinks that some may look upon this movement of his in coming forward, as a strange thing after professing to be a Christian for forty years. But he has promised to crucify the old man with his deeds. His children had come to accountability, and he felt to repent before God that he had not set the example before them that he should. He wanted to know from day to day that he is doing the will of God, and to so live before his family and the world that they may know that he is one of the family of God.

A sister said she once enjoyed the blessing of God, but she had got into a fretful way with her family. She wanted to do her duty to her little boys, that they might see that their mother had true love for them. She wanted to be strengthened of God, that she might do her duty to her family and the world. Time is short, and she felt that we must get deep at the root of the work. She asked forgiveness of her friends, that she had not given them a better example in her life. She prayed God to forgive her for her lack of love to him.

A sister said she wanted to get nearer to God. She did not want to be found following the fashions of this world.

A Danish sister said there were many things which must be done away with in her heart. She did not want to profess the truth and deny it in her life. She asked forgiveness, that she had sinned by her coldness. She wanted to feel the Spirit of God uniting with her spirit, that she could daily have the evidence that she was indeed a child of God. She did not feel that she could say to-day that she was a child of God.

A brother said he wanted to be deeply interested in the work of salvation. The present truth had searched his heart. He felt that he must have the grace of God in his heart. He had been a Methodist for forty years. About one year ago, when he began to keep the commandments of God, charges were made against him, and he was turned out of the church. He felt that he wanted to be a thoroughly converted man. He knew not how soon his case might be brought in review before God. He must have a blameless life, a faultless character.

A brother said he had been keeping the commandments of God for six months. He felt that he needed a deeper work of grace in his heart. The truth is indeed precious to him; he had never realized the sinfulness of sin until he had seen the light in regard to the law of God.

A Norwegian sister said she had just come out to keep the commandments of God. A few obey the truth. They have meetings, and the Lord meets with them. She wanted more of the grace of God—to be brought into greater nearness to him and to be humble. If she had grieved any of her brethren because of her course, she asked forgiveness. She did not want to be merely half right, but just right.

A brother one year and a half ago was on the wrong track. He was ashamed to say he was a Sabbath-breaker, but now he wanted to be a Christian commandment-keeper.

A brother said he was not satisfied with his condition. To be a Christian is to be Christ-like. We must be all right, sanctified through the truth. A Christian will bear the fruits of the Spirit, love, joy, and peace. He was frequently overcome by an impatient spirit. He felt that he must overcome this; for he did not believe a fretful Christian would get into Heaven. He had made solemn vows to God before he came on the ground. He felt that he must pray much. We are too near the end to be trifling with eternal interests. The pure in heart alone shall see God. He must be a Bible Christian.

A brother said he wanted to get all right. He felt that this was the day and the hour of salvation. He has been for twenty years keeping the Sabbath, yet he is not satisfied with his present attainments. He wanted complete victory over every sin and over everything that offends the Lord.

A little child said she wanted to be good and go to Heaven.

A sister confessed that it is very humbling to acknowledge that while she has been trying to live a Christian life she has not walked before her family as she ought. She has at times been impatient, and feared that this sin would keep her out of Heaven. She wanted to be an overcomer. She knew her besetting sin to be impatience. This grieves the Spirit of God and brings darkness to her soul.

A brother said he resolved a few weeks ago to keep all of God's commandments. He wanted to take hold of the work anew and commence at the foundation. If he had wronged any one he asked to be forgiven.

A brother had been striving to keep the commandments of God one year. He wanted to be a perfect overcomer.

A brother said he felt that he needed a deeper work of grace, that he might perfect a Christian character and walk before his family and before God with acceptance.

A brother said he had followed the Lord for one year. He wanted from this time to strive more earnestly for eternal life.

A sister said it had been only five months since she commenced to keep all of God's commandments. She thanked God that she had the help and example of a good mother.

A brother said he belongs to the church at Grove Lake. The truth found him steeped in tobacco. He had at times used a little when his brethren did not know it. He kept it secret from them, but he could not carry this burden any longer. He confessed that he had indulged his appetite to its injury; he is decided now to put it entirely away, and forever.

A brother wanted a deeper work of grace in his heart. He had professed to serve God, and came out in the truth about a year ago, but he was not willing to yield. He wanted to make an entire surrender to God on this camp-ground.

A brother said he was naturally irritable and he had been thus in his family. He wanted to set a better example before his family, that they might be brought into the truth.

A sister said she thought if we would set a right example before our children, they would grow up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

A sister said she felt herself to be a great sinner. She had not had patience with her children. She felt that great responsibilities rest upon parents. The blood of our children will be required at our hands, unless we are more faithful to do our duty to them.

A brother said he was not a member of our denomination. He has not been a member of any denomination. For the twenty years he had been floating, and feeling perfectly safe until three months ago. He had been reading our publications, and investigating. He never heard a sermon until yesterday. He was searching for himself. Since being at this meeting he saw things in a different light. He wanted the truth. He thought he had a right to know something for himself. He came seventy-five miles to become acquainted with this people. He wanted to know what the truth is, and what he must be in order to be saved. He should not have come seventy-five miles if he had not had an interest to obtain the truth. He believed that he had found the truth, and he would take hold upon it and walk in its light.

A brother said his course was only begun. He wanted to enjoy the presence of God. He wanted to get in a position to work, and had been cheered up a little since he came to this meeting. He found there were Sabbath-keepers within five miles of him who had been keeping the Sabbath two months. He was one year ahead of them. He wanted to see brighter days.

A sister said she had five children in the grave. She wanted to live a consecrated life before God, and gain Heaven.

A brother said he loved Jesus, he loved the blessed truth. He had been greatly blessed since he came to the camp-meeting.

A brother said he was ashamed to occupy the seat as a sinner after professing to follow Jesus twenty-six years. He ought to be telling of victories and triumphs. He came to the camp-meeting determined to seek God with all his heart. He had for a time been drifting away from God, and he had not had the assurance of his acceptance with God. He had been blessed since he came upon the ground.

A brother thanked God for the privilege he had of attending this meeting. He would strive to live near to God. He had not been satisfied with himself at all. He must draw near to God and have more of his heart.

A brother said he had been practicing self-denial. He had wanted to speak, but felt great disinclination. He thought he ought to love his neighbor as himself, and was a member of the Methodist church four years. He had been a believer in Advent faith ten years, and had been keeping the Sabbath one year. He had a desire to keep all the commandments of God. He could not say that his life had been acceptable with God. He did not feel discouraged, and had tried to give himself wholly to God to-day, trusting in his mercy. In 1844 he had not felt that the last day was far distant, as many of the church had done. In his youth the Methodists used to preach the near coming of Christ, but those days are past in the popular churches. The message has gone forth, “Be ye also ready.” It was not the wise or great men of earth whom Jesus called to be co-workers with him, but poor fishermen. He hideth these things from the wise and prudent and revealeth them unto babes. He wanted the prayers of the servants of God for his family. They did not oppose him, but they had not embraced the truth. He would be glad to meet them in the kingdom.

A brother felt that he was drifting away from the Lord. He wanted to get where the Lord desired him to be, and where he could have pleasure in daily communion with him.

A sister, six years ago, started to keep the Sabbath; has no family or acquaintance in the truth. She has felt the blessing

but for some reason a season of darkness has come over her, and she scarcely knows which way to turn. She knows that the love of God is in her heart, and wants to realize his love again.

A brother wants to signify his willingness to have God's people pray for him. Sickness has come over him and he feels that he is sick on his own account. He must have the darkness driven away. His sins are great, and he has gone as far as it is possible for him to go. He wants to realize the blessed hope that has been pictured out before him to-day. He wants to be an overcomer.

A brother promised if the Lord would help him he would live a better Christian life. He feels that he must take up the cross. He asks his brethren to watch and see if he keeps his promise, and to pray for him that he may have strength to do his duty.

A brother says he praises the name of the Lord that he has been blessed on the camp-ground.

A Swedish sister wants to press forward. She wants to have her sins forgiven. She needs the grace of God, to live a holy life hereafter.

A brother says he has neglected prayer because of discouragement. He has neglected duty and lacked faith in God. As he has moved forward the cloud has been removed and he feels the necessity of his heart being made pure and clean before God. He feels like beginning anew to serve God.

A brother has been one year and a half keeping the commandments of God. He found it good to obey the Lord. “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.” He means never to turn back. He says that there is a great chance for improvement. He must have the grace of God in his heart, and resist lukewarmness which presses upon him.

A sister, weeping bitterly, says she wants to have her sins forgiven.

A Swedish sister says the Lord has been good to her. She loves Jesus. She loves the law of God; in keeping his commandments she has found great peace.

A brother had been twelve years in the Baptist church. Three years ago he began to read his Bible and study it, and God gave him light. He saw the Sabbath in the word of God, and commenced keeping it, and found rest and peace in the love of Christ in obedience to the law of God.

A husband then spoke a few words to those who were seeking the Lord. He said many had been very much discouraged by the wrong views taken of God. They had filled them with doubt and fear. Their hearts murmur, “I am not sure that he will forgive me.” They look upon God the Father as being of stern majesty and of justice, devoid of sympathy and love. “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not, with him, freely give us all things?” “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Is not the gift of Christ a pledge of the Father's love for sinners? I would say to you who have come forward here, The Father loves you.

In the popular churches, we hear but little about, “Do you love Jesus?” The love of the Father is scarcely mentioned; it is only Christ. God the Father has given man the greatest gift that Heaven could bestow. “Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.” I believe that the heart of the great God is touched and moved by the condition of sinners to-day, as when he gave his Son to die for the sins of the world. Christ says, “I and my Father are one.” Sinners and backsliders, it is your duty to believe that God loves you this day, and that Christ died for you. The Redeemer of the world made a great sacrifice to purchase for you everlasting life. Can you now say, “Here on my heart the burden lies, And past offences pain my eyes?”

The Father has given a pledge to sinners, that he withheld not his dearly beloved Son, but gave him a sacrifice for them. Christ has given the pledge of his love to sinners, in that he gave his life to save them. If the Father has manifested his love for sinners by giving his only Son, will he not freely give every mercy and blessing? On account of disease, or surrounding discouragements, some drift into despair, and gloom overshadows them; but in this they may find entire freedom, and again become hopeful and expectant to overcome. The thought that Jesus loves them, pure angels love them, and our gracious Heavenly Father loves, pities and wants to save them, should inspire them with faith and confidence in God.

The Father takes no pleasure in the death of the sinner, but he wants him to repent of his sins and turn to righteousness and be saved. When the sinner desires the approval of the Lord more than any thing else, and is willing to make any and every sacrifice for the love of Jesus, he may settle it in his mind as a fact that, if he perseveres, he will stand finally in the city of God upon the gold-paved streets.

Go forward in faith, you that have taken your position upon these front seats, and thereby acknowledged your desire to serve your Heavenly Father. Expect that you will be saved, if you comply with the conditions laid down in the word of God. Take advance steps in faith. Make efforts in and through Jesus, relying upon the merits of his blood. You must have repentance toward God, because it is the Father's law which you have transgressed; and you must exercise faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ as the sinner's advocate, to plead in his behalf. Come, sinner, to the Father and the Son! All Heaven invites you to come and gain eternal life.

Jesus wants you to come. If you stumble once and again, do not give up in despair. If you are brought into trial, if you are overcome and do wrong, repent sincerely before God, but do not despair. Try again, laying hold more firmly of the merits and strength of Christ. When sinful man has no righteousness of his own to rely upon, Christ becomes his righteousness. When he feels that he has no strength, Jesus offers to put his arm beneath him. The sinner may then indeed say, Christ died for me, and his blood cleanseth me from all sin. I know in whom I have believed; from him I derive strength for the daily toils and trials of life and to resist the strong temptations of Satan.

When our son Henry was dying he seemed as if inspired. He had a word for all just appropriate for each case. With the Spirit of God resting upon him, he said to his next younger brother, “Don't give up, try to do right.” How many will sink down because they make some mistakes. They should never be discouraged, but try again. Under trials and discouragements many lose their faith. Jesus wants to save them. His arms are extended to receive them, and all their burdens if they will come. We hope your hearts will go out to Jesus in loving trust. He will then unite your heart to his by mysterious hidden links joining your soul to his. “He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit.”

We then united in earnest supplication to God for his Spirit and his pardoning love to be manifested upon that occasion. We had the assurance that our prayers were heard. The sweet peace of Heaven rested upon those present, and many were rejoicing in the evidence that Jesus had indeed spoken peace to their hearts.

(Concluded next week.)

Continue reading: THE SABBATH AT CREATION