SABBATH, June 27, a Grove Meeting was held with the friends of the present truth in Bushnell, according to appointment in REVIEW. Bro. and Sr. White, and Bro. Strong were in attendance. Brethren were present from Montcalm, Ionia, and Gratiot counties, many of them having made an effort to get to the meeting which was truly encouraging. About one hundred and twenty-five were present on Sabbath, and on first-day, people in the vicinity came in sufficient to supply the places of the Sabbath-keepers who returned home after the meetings on the Sabbath, and to raise the number of persons present to one hundred and fifty or more. This was considered remarkably good attendance, considering the newness of the country, and the scattered condition of the brethren in this section. The grove was pleasant, and the weather delightful. Outwardly all things seemed to be as favorable as could be for a good meeting.
Sabbath, A. M., Bro. White spoke on the double-minded man of James i, 8; iv, 7, 8, showing the evils of instability and indecision in religious things; setting forth the cause, which is, living at a distance from God, clinging to cherished idols, and giving the enemy an opportunity to control the mind; and presenting the remedy, namely, to resist the Devil, and he will flee from you; draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you; cleanse your hands, and purify your hearts ye doubleminded. Sr. White followed with a free and stirring exhortation to the people.
The afternoon was spent in social meeting, and the frequent allusion to the forenoon discourse, and the many resolutions expressed in reference thereto, showed that the subject was well-adapted to the wants of those present, and that it had taken good effect upon many hearts. If all who heard will heed the instruction, have only one mind, and that set wholly on serving God, doing his will, and pressing heavenward, cleanse their hands, purify their hearts, keep a great way from the enemy, and very near to God, they will make rapid advancement in the heavenly journey. The Lord help us all so to do.
First-day forenoon Bro. W. took up the subject of the Sabbath. The foundation for this institution was laid broad and sure in Eden before the fall. The design of God in giving the Sabbath was not that man might have a day of rest and worship. These reasons enter in no wise into the law by which it is enforced. If it was designed for either of these objects, any other day of the week would answer the purpose just as well. But the Sabbath is so ordained, that no other day of the week but the one which God set apart, will answer a single object of the institution as presented in the Sabbath law. The Sabbath is Heaven’s great memorial, to keep in the mind of man, so prone to wander from God, the remembrance of the Creator and his work. And though rest and worship are inseparably attendant blessings, they constitute no part of the reasons assigned in the Scriptures for the institution. Adam in Eden needed the Sabbath. After the fall it was tenfold more needful. And the further we come from Eden, the greater the need of the Sabbath. We need it more than any preceding generation. The facts upon which the Sabbath is based, will remain facts forever, and so, even in the new earth, and as long as that state shall continue, the prophet declares that the Sabbath will remain prominent among the ordinances of God, and that on that day all flesh shall come up to worship before him forever and ever.
Sr. W. followed, setting forth the reason why, when the evidences of the truth are brought out with such clearness, people do not embrace it. It is the cross. The Jewish nation furnish a notable illustration of this. They had boasted to the nations to whom they had been brought in subjection, that their Messiah was soon coming, and their captivity would be turned. He was to bring them deliverance, and then, instead of being ruled over, they were to rule, and the nations around were to be in subjection to them. Filled with these proud expectations, and selfish hopes, when the Messiah did appear, without pomp and splendor, in humility, meekness and sorrow, so contrary to what they had looked for, they could not receive him. It was too humiliating and crossing to41them to acknowledge that this was the one for whom they had so long been waiting, and from whom they were expecting so great things. So, in the pride of their hearts, and blindness of their minds, they cried, Away with him, crucify him, crucify him. They took the prophecies which applied to the future immortal state, and applied them to themselves and the first advent of Christ. So prone are mankind to reach forward to the crown without first lifting the cross, and to seek to share in the glory without tasting the suffering that precedes. Let us not shun any cross, however heavy, which the truth presents, nor shrink from the purifying process, however severe, which is to test us, school us, and fit us for an eternal state of exaltation and glory.
At the close of Sr. W.’s remarks, a little incident occurred, which so forcibly exhibits the power and blindness of bigotry and prejudice, that it may be worthy of mention. A woman sprang to her feet, who, in looks, and speech, and gestures, we might well suppose bore a very near resemblance to the one spoken of in Acts xvi, 16-18, only this one did not cry, “These be the servants of the most high God,” but just the reverse, “These remind me of the very Evil One.” “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,” said she, “Christ is the end of the law. I read it in my Bible this morning. We have nothing to do with the law. Christ is the end of it. And I do not want to see people deluded into the idea that they have salvation through the law.” She went on in this strain in a manner that would have been a most interesting study for the anatomist, psychologist, sculptor and painter. With a bold and dauntless face, a fixed and piercing eye, violent gestures, and a shrill voice sustained by a powerful pair of lungs, she misconstrued and then denounced what she had heard; and inclining her head to one side with a ludicrous grimace, she said to Bro. W., “You grin like the Evil One.” All this was freely interlarded with denunciations of eternal fire upon our immortal souls. “You have got to burn in hell forever,” she almost screeched, and to cap the climax, wound up with the assertion, “I love religion;” a very singular assertion, taken in connection with the rest of her remarks. It was a query with many what kind of religion she loved. She exhibited a mixture of brass, impudence, anger, blindness, superstition, prejudice, and bigotry. No description is adequate to the occasion. Now it so happened that Bro. W., in his remarks, had taken special pains to discountenance the idea, or rather to refute the charge so often made against us, that we base our hopes of salvation on keeping the law, and Sr. W. had spoken of the deception under which people labor, in separating the Father and the Son, the Jew, who clung to the Father and rejected Christ, and the Christian, equally, who clings to Christ and rejects the Father. They are one; and the law of the Father, and the gospel of the Son, hold equal place in the plan of salvation. Yet this poor woman could not see this, or did not hear what was said. She had read that morning that Christ was the end of the law, and she had evidently come prepared to enforce that idea, and could not see or think of anything else. So she had her say, and without waiting for any explanation, left the ground, muttering, “these people don’t read their Bibles.” Such exhibitions frequently work for the good of the cause; for people seeing the utter blindness and unreasonableness of prejudice, are led to look favorably on the truth.
Another case should be mentioned to show how unaccountably some persons will misunderstand the arguments for the truth. Bro. W., in his Sabbath arguments, was showing the absurdity of the seventh-part-of-time theory, and took as an illustration the 4th of July. Why not, he asked, consider this only a 365th part of time, and no day in particular? Why not shift about and observe it in one month or another as may be convenient? Why not take the 4th of June or September, or the 22d of December, when we have nothing else to do, and not in the busy season of haying as in this year? Why be so particular about the day? An aged friend present somehow got the idea that Bro. W. was abusing our national independence day; which so stirred the patriotic feelings of his venerable breast, that he left, declaring afterward, as we learned, that he would not listen to a man who would talk like that about the 4th of July!
We were happy to meet at this meeting, very unexpectedly, Bro. E. Goodrich from Erie Co., Pa., and to find him strong in the only consistent view of the Advent movement. That movement is one from its commencement to the present time, and if we give up the past, as the timeists are compelled to do, we might as well give up everything that bears the name of Adventism. We may be sure that the counterfeit movement did not come first, and exhibit tenfold more of the power and Spirit of God, than any time movement which has been claimed to be the genuine movement, since that time. Such a claim is enough to destroy the confidence of any reasonable thinking man, in him who makes it. The readers of the REVIEW, would be glad to hear from Bro. G. more frequently through the paper.
Four came forward for prayers at this meeting. Nine were baptized by Bro. Strong. Those who came the greatest distance seemed well paid for their trouble; and we trust that good will result.—EDITOR.
Quiet and Noisy Religion
THE contrast between quiet and noisy religion was never so beautifully set forth as in the following simple words:
Concerning “hollering” in meeting, Aunt Judy, an old colored woman, said to one of her sisters: “‘Tain’t de rale grace, honey’; ’tain’t de sure glory. You hollers too loud. When you gits de dove in your heart and de lamb in your bosom, you’ll feel as ef you was in dat stable in Beth’lem and de blessed Virgin had lent you de sleepin’ baby to hold.”
Discontent Adds Sting to Trouble
Your own discontent is that which arms your troubles with a sting; you make your burden heavy by struggling under it.
Infidels Despise What They Will Not Study
Sir Isaac Newton said of infidels, that they despise Christianity because they have not studied it, and they will not study it because they despise it.
QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
By J. H. W.
Do we break the second commandment by having our pictures taken? G. W. S.
Not necessarily. The commandment does not prohibit all likenesses or images; for then Moses would have broken it in making the sanctuary; and it would also be broken constantly in carrying on almost every useful art. It relates to false worship, and any picture or image which tends to idolatry or false worship, is strictly forbidden. We may break the law by means of them; as, if our interest in them interferes with our devotion to God and interest in his cause. The motive governs in such cases; but who knows his own heart? Self-examination and carefulness become us.
To S. S. P. On the parable of the prodigal son, Dr. Clarke remarks: “In this parable the younger prodigal son may represent the Gentile world; and the elder son, who so long served his father, v. 29, the Jewish people. The anger of the elder son explains itself at once—it means the indignation evidenced by the Jews at the Gentiles' being received into the favor of God, and made, with them, fellow-heirs of the kingdom of Heaven.” If this be correct, it illustrates a principle, as well as a fact, and therefore shows the willingness of God to receive the penitent sinner, who has ruined himself by his departures from God. Wherever mercy is needed, and penitence manifested, there it may be applied.
To C. R. A. We do not see how the 1335 days of Dan. xii, 12, can be made to reach to the resurrection without taking for them an arbitrary starting point, which would be taking great liberty with the prophecies. As this number is referred to in no other scripture, it is evident that we must look to the immediate connection for its solution; and following so closely the 1290 days of the previous verse, it is very reasonable to give them the same starting point. Indeed, if they do not begin together, we think it is impossible to fix the commencement of the 1335 days. Commencing with the 1290 in 508, they reach to 1843, and so stand closely connected with the termination of the 2300 days. Again, to stand in his lot does not mean to “stand up” in the resurrection, as has been asserted. The original of “lot” means to make decision or determine, and must refer to the judgment for the people of God at the end of the days, when the sanctuary is cleansed. The blessing promised to the waiting people was fulfilled to those who did wait for him to the termination of the prophetic periods. At no time in the whole history of the church was there a greater manifestation of the presence and blessing of God upon his people than in 1843-4. J. H. W.
REPORT FROM BRO. A. C. BOURDEAU.
By A. C. Bourdeau.
Several weeks have elapsed since I reported through the REVIEW; yet this has not been because I have no interest in the great work of spreading the truth. No, no! for never have I felt more confident that God has set his hand to the work, nor felt a greater desire for an entire consecration of myself to God, and in the service of my heavenly Master, than I do at the present time. And since the Lord has deigned of late to give a more signal token of his love and tender care for his people in the special manifestation of his Spirit upon his humble and devoted servant, my heart has been cheered. And though, in the end, this testimony from the Lord may prove to contain a rebuke for me, and to be a reminder of my wrongs in the sight of high Heaven, yet I would feel to say, “Let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil.” “Cleanse thou me from secret faults.”
The last report which appeared in the REVIEW relative to the cause in Roseburgh, Vt., reached to the interesting Sabbath meeting held April 25, 1868, when more of the youth embraced religion, and expressed their determinations to endure faithful unto the end in serving the Lord. It was then announced that the next Sabbath my brother would give his farewell discourse to the church. Accordingly Sabbath, May 2, at half-past 10 A. M., more than one hundred Sabbath-keepers assembled at the house of worship, besides several friends from without; after singing and prayer, my brother read to us the following text: “Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.” 2 Cor. xiii, 11. In the middle of the verse, he paused a few moments, not being able to refrain from weeping. The congregation were all in tears. He spoke for the space of two hours, with clearness and great earnestness, enforcing the principles in the text, and beseeching his dear brethren and sisters to continue steadfast in the faith unto the end, that we might all be saved, and meet in the kingdom. At the close of his remarks, half an hour was profitably spent in hearing testimonies from the brethren and sisters, after which we repaired to the waterside, where seven new converts were buried with their Lord in baptism. Though we felt very solemn because our dear brother and his wife were soon going to leave us, yet we felt that this was a good day to us all.
Our parting scene the next day was solemn. When Bro. Daniel and Sr. Marian started with me to attend the Conference at Battle Creek, Mich., none of us knew that they would go to California; yet we were of the opinion that we would not all meet again in this life.
When we reached the Health Institute, we were greatly rejoiced to find my wife improving healthwise; although we were assured by the physicians that her case would need the closest attention for months, or even years, in the future, in order to release her from the difficulties caused by the enlargement in her side.
During my stay of about two weeks at Battle Creek, I enjoyed many sweet seasons, in hearing lectures on health by Bro. Dr. Kellogg in the Health Institute, and by Dr. R. T. Trail in the S. D. A. meeting-house; in attending the General Conference, which was said by many to be the best they had ever attended, and other yearly meetings which were no less interesting than the Conference; and in hearing rich instructions from the lips of God's servants, especially Bro. and Sr. White whom God in his great goodness has qualified to fill an important place in the cause, and whose labors we all feel to appreciate.
I often look back to this yearly gathering of God's people, with fond remembrance and heartfelt gratitude to God; and I feel that we have reached a very important stage of the work, more so than any we have ever before witnessed.
Dear brethren and sisters, let us try to be at our posts, and always ready for every good word and work, that in the end it may be said unto us, “Well done.”
A. C. BOURDEAU.
Jamaica, Vt., June, 1868.
The Smile of the Hopeless
THERE can not be a pleasant smile upon the face of the hopeless. The blow which crushes the life will shatter the smile.
A CONFESSION.
By W. H. Ball
WITH deep humility would I confess to the readers of the Review my errors and mistakes in opposing what I now regard as the work of God. For more than two years I have been engaged in open warfare against certain positions held by our seventh-day brethren. My object has been to tear down, to dishearten, discourage, and cause doubt and unbelief everywhere (so far as my influence extends,) among this people. I have also put forth my best efforts to prejudice and influence first-day Adventists against this people and their views. I now see my mistake, and deeply feel my wrong course in so doing. Nothing but Satan himself could induce me to engage in such an unholy warfare. I have been blinded by his dark influence, and controlled by his satanic power, while warring against the people of God. All this I frankly and humbly confess. I am guilty before God of a great sin, in uniting my influence and talents with the rebel hosts in opposing God's chosen people, who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. I humbly ask the forgiveness of God and my brethren for the wrongs I have committed while engaged in this rebellious work.
Especially do I feel the wrong done Bro. and Sr. White; and would again ask their forgiveness. I shall ever hold them in grateful remembrance for their plain, cutting, and faithful testimonies to me, during their visit to our place last winter. They were instrumental, by the blessing of God, in rescuing me from the snare of the Devil. I bless God for sending his faithful servants this way, and for his Spirit which attended their faithful labors. The Lord worked with them in power, not only in reclaiming the erring and backslidden, but in the conversion of sinners to God. A great and good work commenced under their faithful labors, and is still going forward. To God be all the praise.
As it regards the testimonies of Sr. White, I became partially convinced, during their visit to our place, that they were from God. Since then my conviction has been widening and deepening, until I can truthfully say that I believe Sr. White is an humble, devoted, godly woman; and that her testimonies are from Heaven. I cannot, yea, I will not doubt, for darkness is sure to follow. It is the united testimony of all who have had any experience in the matter, that the more confidence they have in Sr. White and her testimonies, the more they enjoy the blessing of God. This has been my own experience. Now why is this? Does the Lord bless people more for believing error than truth? If so, the more confidence and faith we can get in the doctrine of modern Spiritualism, or any other satanic delusion, the more of the blessing of Heaven we shall enjoy. What an idea!
Who are the most humble, devoted, self-sacrificing, godly persons to be found among Sabbath-keepers? Do they comprise that class who are doubting, halting, questioning, disbelieving, and fighting the visions? Certainly not. This class are noted for their selfishness, their worldly-mindedness, and their lack of consecration to God and his cause. They are the lukewarm, the half-hearted, the backslidden class, among Sabbath-keepers. This fact alone should teach us that God is in this work, and no weapon raised against it can prosper. My own sad experience has taught me that it is spiritual death to doubt or oppose any part of this work. God's hand is set to the work, and it is destined to triumph, although men and devils may oppose.
I feel very unworthy of a place or name among this people. My life, during the past two years, has been both an injury and a disgrace to the cause of God. I would, in view of my wrongs, deeply humble myself before God, and seek forgiveness for all my sins, while Jesus pleads the merits of his own precious blood in my behalf. I desire, as far as possible, to counteract my wrong influence, and shall labor to this end. I must have the blessing of God; and it matters not what I believe, if God's blessing only comes through that channel. My faith, sympathies, and interests, are now with this people; and I hope never again to turn traitor, but find some humble place among them, where what little influence I may have shall not be to tear down, but to build up. I feel an earnest desire43to enlist all my energies in righting my wrongs. And I hope, dear brethren and sisters, not only to obtain your forgiveness, but to have your prayers, that I may be kept from the deceptive power of Satan in these last days.
From your erring brother.
W. H. BALL.
Washington, N. H.
“CAN’T BE HOLY?”
By D. F. Newton
Who says so? Satan, and your own carnal, unbelieving, unsanctified heart? Be holy! not in your own strength, wisdom, or grace—for of these you have none—“But, is anything too hard for the Lord?” The declarations of the Bible on the subject of entire sanctification, or “holiness to the Lord,” are plain, positive, unmistakable, and yet it is thought to be too hard for God to do it. How this idea has floated around in the church from age to age; been refuted again and again, and yet when you think about the entire sanctification of your soul, up comes the old thought, that it is a hard thing to be done. How is it that this thought is so much in the way of him who would be holy?
It is a suggestion of the Devil. All your thoughts, in opposition to holiness, are furnished you by the devil. Many of them are so cunning and subtle that you could never forge them out, but Satan originates and furnishes them to you free of charge. I have known persons of very ordinary gifts and attainments to present arguments against the immediate sanctification of the soul, that it required somewhat of thought to overthrow; and I wondered how such ordinary minds could present such subtle arguments; but I think I understand it now. These arguments smell of brimstone, they are of satanic origin, and he foists them into your mind so adroitly that you think them your own. Satan says it is “too hard” a thing for the Lord to sanctify your soul just now.
You have tried in your own strength to repress and subdue the unholy risings of passion in your heart, and have failed. You might just as well have tried to hold a lid on the crater of Mount Vesuvius in the time of an eruption. Having failed to cleanse your heart, you are about ready to think it “too hard for the Lord.” You have fed your unbelief in watching others. You have watched those who make profession of holiness; have taken their infirmities and mistakes, and called them sins, and hence inferred that they had not been made perfect in love. Your next step was to consider that inasmuch as those whom you had been watching were not sanctified, that God had not, and so could not, sanctify any. It is “too hard for the Lord.”
Or perhaps you earnestly sought the blessing of the Lord, but you did not make an entire consecration. There was a bow, or a frill, or a flower on your bonnet, or dress, or a costly something about you, a coat, a house, or table, or carriage, or store, or speech, that pride loved to have so, that you did not lay down at the foot of the cross, and yet you sought long and ardently for the blessing of holiness; of course you did not obtain it, became discouraged, you are now willing to say “It is too, hard for the Lord?” But “is anything too hard for the Lord?” When did he undertake a work and fail? David was a man whose passions sometimes burned like furnace fires, but God sanctified him so that he was a man “after his own heart.” Saul headed the gang that with stones murdered the holy Stephen, and yet Jesus’ blood made him a holy man. John Bunyan had a heart that glowed with unholy fire, and a brow that hung black with sin, and yet, through sanctifying grace, he became a lamb of purity, and, for many a year before his death, fed in the green pastures of Beulah’s land. Benjamin Abbott had a rowdy’s spirit, a rowdy’s arm, a rowdy’s fist, and yet God transformed him into a saint, whose face of love it was a blessing to see. Away with such unbelief; get on thy knees, and say with a little girl that tried to quote the text, “There is nothing too hard for the Lord to do.”
D. F. NEWTON.
THE WORD OF GOD.
Message from Heaven! I joy to receive thee;
Word of the Lord, I will ever believe thee;
Star of redemption! I seek for thy ray;
Mandate of mercy, thy words I obey.
Tidings of peace thou hast brought from above,
And thy pages unfold unlimited love.
Thy story and precept, thy promise and song,
Shall live in my heart, and burn on my tongue.
Companion and guide, instructor and friend,
Illumine my pathway till error shall end;
Till thy radiance fade 'mid eternity's blaze,
And thy song shall be lost in the seraphim's praise.
O Spirit of truth! eternal! divine!—
I render thee thanks that this message is mine.
COMFORTING WORDS.
By L. E. Millne
“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.” How precious, how consoling the thought that though our loved ones are fallen asleep in Christ, death, that cruel enemy, shall not always have dominion over them. The cold and silent grave shall hide their beautiful forms from our sight “only a little while longer;” “For the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first.” “Wherefore, comfort one another with these words.” Oh! blessed consolation to the weeping mourner! What a solace to the bleeding heart! Oh! praise the Lord! the glorious resurrection is near. They shall rise from their dusty beds, clothed with immortality. “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so be ever with the Lord.” Oh, hasten, dear Lord, thine appearing! Bring the long-looked for day that shall end our tears and sorrows. Take me to “that blessed home, where it is one bright summer, always bland,” and storms do never come. To that bright land where the inhabitants shall “never say, I am sick.”
“Let faith exalt her joyful voice,
And now in triumph sing,
O grave, where is thy victory,
And where, O death, thy sting.”
L. E. MILLNE.
Shabbona, Ill., June 24.
A CONFESSION.
By M. D. Amadon
MY DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: A sense of duty prompts me at this time, to speak of some traits in my character, which have been very detrimental to those with whom I have been associated.
I feel that I have had a disposition to watch individuals, and especially my young brethren and sisters, for evil. I have, when I have thought I saw wrongs in them, reproved them in a way that did them much harm, and showed a lack of humility on my own part; and in so doing took upon myself burdens that did not belong to me to bear. I deeply regret this, and have heartily repented of it before God, and made confessions to those with whom I have been intimately associated. But fearing there are persons who have been at Battle Creek and gone away, who have felt the influence of this wrong on my part, I feel it a duty, crossing as it may be, to pen these lines for their benefit.
I would humbly ask all such to forgive me, especially those who have felt any of its effects on their own minds. Dark have been the hours of temptation and trial by reason of it, insomuch that to find my way out into sunlight again by way of confession and repentance is a happy privilege to me.
I feel truly that the Lord has suffered me to pass under the rod, to show me the weakness of my nature and the evil of my heart; and the sight has seemed more than I could endure, and thus it would have been, had not grace come to my aid. Oh! how great is God's goodness in this! May I never forget it. He hath not dealt with me after my sins, nor rewarded me according to my iniquities. My humble prayer to him is, As far as the east is from the west, so far may my transgressions be removed from me.
I am thankful to discover these errors in my nature ere it be too late to repent, and then have them fall back upon me with crushing weight when there is no hope of mercy; no Saviour to plead for me; no kind friends to whisper words of hope, and bear me up in their prayers.
Again I ask the forgiveness of any one whose feelings I have ever injured by word or act; and may I never rest till every breach is healed, and I have the precious assurance that an all-merciful Heavenly Father writes pardon against all my sins that have been registered in his book in Heaven.
M. D. AMADON.
Battle Creek.
Clinton, Iowa
By S. M. StCLAIR
From Sr. StClair.
BRO. SMITH: I am again numbered among the lonely ones. Since coming to this place I realize more than ever the necessity of drawing nearer to the Lord, and seeking a daily conversion to him, that I may be enabled to withstand the moral darkness that surrounds me; and not only this, but that I may, by a consistent life and godly conversation, so exemplify the religion of Jesus, that some precious soul in this place, for whom Christ died, may be saved in the great day of God, which is so swiftly hastening on.
I do feel more than ever determined, by the help of my Heavenly Father, to be a perfect overcomer, that I may be permitted then to enjoy such society as my aching heart now yearns for. Remember the lonely ones.
To Seventh-day Adventists passing through Clinton, Iowa, I would be very much pleased to have them call, as our house is open to receive the friends of truth and reform. Residence on Third Avenue, south side, between Second and Third Streets.
Your sister in hope.
S. M. StCLAIR.
Clinton, Iowa
HARRIET WHITE
By Harriet White
From Sr. Harriet White.
BRO. SMITH: I can say as David did: “In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee, for thou wilt answer me. Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works. I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart; and will glorify thy name forevermore.” Ps. lxxxvi, 7, 8, 12.
I can say the way grows brighter; although troubles may arise, Jesus shows his smiling face, which makes us rejoice in tribulation, that we are worthy to suffer for his dear sake, that when he comes we may be accounted worthy to reign with him. “I am a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge. I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more. I will go in the strength of the Lord God. I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.” These words speak the feelings of my heart. Oh, how glad I am the scales fell from my eyes so I could see the glorious truth! My heart rejoices in it. Oh, how I praise his holy name! I want his commandments written on my heart. I can say with David, “Oh, how love I thy law.” Although I have not had the privilege of meetings for eight months, yet my Saviour meets with me. My Bible, my paper, and books, are my preachers; and I feel strengthened for the week to come. There are some investigating here. May the Lord open their eyes to the truth. Pray for me, that I may endure to the end.
HARRIET WHITE
Portage Co., Ohio.
LEWIS AND BETSEY MARTIN
By Lewis Martin; Betsey Martin
From Bro. and Sr. Martin.
BRO. SMITH: We would say, Praise the Lord for all his tender mercy toward us. He has long borne with us, and through his tender mercy, we have been spared while others have been cut down by the cruel hand of Death. We have been called, of late, to pass through some affliction. One of our dear children has been taken from us, and we deeply mourn in consequence. Albert Miller, our dear son, was taken away in the bloom of life. Thus our family circle has, for the first time, been broken. His age was 24 years and 8 months. On the 8th of April, he got his right arm crushed, so that amputation was necessary. Mortification set in, and he died on the morning of the 26th. He manifested much patience, and his courage was wonderful. This was a hard blow. Although we were permitted to share the sympathies of many kind friends, we mourn our loss. He was a kind-hearted boy, and could we have hope that he fell asleep in Jesus, this would greatly relieve our sorrows. We sincerely desire a special interest in the prayers of our dear brethren and sisters, that God in mercy will sanctify this affliction to our eternal good, and also to the good of our surviving children.
We enjoyed a good meeting yesterday, at Peterborough, with our dear brethren and sisters, and we do feel very grateful that the Lord has opened the way for Bro. Canright to come into New Hampshire. May God bless him, and his labors among us. May the Lord bless all his dear people, and prepare them for the time of trouble, and save them to stand on Mt. Zion; and may we be there.
In love and hope.
LEWIS AND BETSEY MARTIN
Bennington, N. H.
A. L. BURROUGHS
By A. L. Burroughs
From Bro. Burroughs.
BRO. SMITH: Permit me to say through the REVIEW, that I am still trying to live out the truth. I rejoice in the light that is now shining upon our pathway. I want the grace of God to assist me, that I may walk in the light even as he is in the light. I want to be a humble, devoted follower of my blessed Saviour. I want to be pure and holy. My prayer is that I may be prepared to meet him, and be saved in his kingdom.
A. L. BURROUGHS
West Charleston, Vt.
E. A. RICHER
By E. A. Richer
From Sr. Richer.
DEAR FRIENDS: While I seat myself to write a few lines for the REVIEW, I feel to say with the Psalmist, “What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits toward me?” I will try and live in obedience to all his holy requirements. I want to have my affections set on heavenly and divine things. I want to live more humbly, and more like my blessed Master, that I may humble myself under the mighty hand of God, that I may be exalted in due time, casting all my care on him that careth for me, for I realize this is not my abiding home. I want to be able to say with the Psalmist, “Yea, though I pass through the valley and shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” I want to meet with all the faithful on Mt. Zion, where I can praise my Saviour face to face, and behold his glories forever.
E. A. RICHER
Deerfield, Mich.
OLIVE S. KNIGHT
By Olive S. Knight
From Sr. Knight.
BRO. SMITH: I am trying to live up to the light of present truth, and praise the Lord for leading me in a way of his own choosing; a way that I knew not of; but I do believe it leads to eternal life. It is a straight and narrow way, but, blessed be God, there is much to cheer and comfort us on our journey. We are not alone; Jesus, our precious Saviour, is with us, and oh, how his love strengthens us. It is more to us than all things else. “'Tis life, and joy, and peace.” Bless the Lord, O my soul, for such a Saviour! To me, he is a satisfying portion.
I am truly thankful for what I have learned of the health reform, and especially for the dress reform; to me it is a great blessing, for which I often feel thankful.
Yours in hope of eternal life.
OLIVE S. KNIGHT
Jamaica, Vt.
Uzziah Sought God
“AND he [Uzziah] sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God; and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper.” 2 Chron. xxvi, 4.
From Sr. Lucas.
By N. J. Lucas
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: My heart is often made to rejoice by reading your cheering testimonies in the REVIEW. Being one of the lonely ones, the Conference Department I prize very highly. It is now about four years since I learned the way of life and salvation through Christ. Since that time I have passed through some severe trials, yet my trust is in the living God. If we would reign with Christ we must suffer with him. Dear brethren and sisters, let us have that self-denying, suffering part of religion. The way to glory is rugged; thorns continually beset our pathway, yet we can cheerfully tread the rough way, knowing that Jesus, the king of glory, once trod it before us.
We sometimes meet with those who talk lightly of the law of God and our blessed hope. Oh! I feel that what I most need is patience. I often feel as though I would like to mingle with those who keep the seventh day, and listen to their voices, face to face; although if it be the will of God that it should be otherwise, I feel that I have much to be thankful for. The REVIEW comes weekly to me, and I am very grateful for it. I desire an interest in the prayers of the brethren and sisters, that I may overcome all my besetments, and finally stand on Mt. Zion with all the redeemed ones.