How neatly all the seeds are laid
Within the ripening pod;
How carefully the cells are made:
This is the work of God.
The lining is not harsh or rough,
But soft, or polished well;
Each little seed has room enough
Within its tiny cell.
How carefully the sides are closed
Against the winds and rain;
For if He left the seeds exposed,
They would not grow again.
There's no disorder anywhere
In what my Father does;
He condescends to make with care
The smallest flower that grows.
So children who would learn from Him,
Neat habits seek to gain,
Or they will waste much precious time,
And do their work in vain.
Letters.
"Then they that feared the Lord, spake often one to another."
From Bro. Palmer.
BRO. WHITE: As I was reviewing the past, my mind rested on the events which transpired six years ago to-day. Brn. Bates and Waggoner had pitched the tent in Colon a short time previous, and I had attended their lectures, but had not fully decided to obey. I was then a member of the Baptist church, and, with many of its members, attended a Sunday school celebration at Mendon. Immediately in front of the wagon in which I rode, was a wagon filled with children, and on a tall staff was a chart upon which, in large letters, was printed the ten commandments, and as I read and re-read them, the fourth seemed to be more conspicuous than any other. I could only ask myself the questions: Am I this day doing the will of God? Is this the holy Sabbath-day? Is this Sunday school celebration a thing pleasing in his sight?
The day passed away, and to me it was a day of anxious care and perplexing thought. In the evening I hastened to the tent and heard the claims of God's holy law presented with power, and left the tent resolved to do my duty, to forsake the day of man's invention, and instead thereof to keep holy the Sabbath-day.
How often since, have I felt to praise God that Brn. Bates and Waggoner were ever sent with the word of life to Colon; but oh how sad the thought that so many of those who were so dear to me, and who listened to the truth at that time hardened their hearts and rejected it, and are now left without hope and without God in the world! How sad a sight a fallen church destitute of that spirit of kindness, brotherly love, patience, and zeal for God's glory, which make the church the light of the world! How painful the scene enacted a short time after, when a committee appointed by the church waited upon all those who were keeping the commandments of God, to urge them to forsake the law of God, and keep the Sabbath of the man of Sin! And when said committee were asked to show wherein we were doing anything contrary to the will of God, and the Bible was offered them, they refused to consult it, but excused themselves by saying that they were appointed to ask us to walk with the church according to its Articles of Faith, and report answer, which was their whole duty. At the next covenant meeting we were called upon to say why we should not be expelled, or rather, why they should not withdraw from us. The Bible was then presented, and they were asked to show wherein we walked contrary to its teaching. They said we must be tried by the Articles of Faith. I then read to them one of their articles of faith, which says, The Bible is the sole book of appeals by which all human conduct and creeds must be tried. But not so. Prejudice, and hatred to the law of God must prevail; and with exultation we were voted out. Thanks be to God, it served to open our eyes, and showed us where we ourselves were standing before we became enlightened.
Since that time I have often erred from the direct path of duty, but the restraining power of the Lord has ever been manifest to call me back to duty, and to-day I can say with the psalmist, "Thy word is very pure, therefore thy servant loveth it."
I am living where Spiritualism reigns and flourishes, but thank God, his word is a sure support to uphold his people, and a deadly weapon to slay the enemies of Christ. My hope is in God. In him alone do I trust, knowing that he is ever found of them that seek him aright.
My prayer is that the Lord may abundantly keep his servants who minister in holy things, and in due time direct some one this way, to present the truth to a few honest souls in this place.
Yours waiting for the appearing of our Lord.
CHAS. L. PALMER.
Sturgis, Mich., July 3, 1863.
Improve the Talent God Has Given
Bro. J. Larock writes from East Montpellier, Vt. : I am resolved to press my way forward to the kingdom. I know we have a great work to do, but with the Lord's assisting grace we can go through. I feel encouraged to see order and union being restored in the church. Yes, brethren, the Lord's work will prosper; for God hath set some in the church: first, apostles; secondarily, prophets; thirdly, teachers; hut is that all, brethren? Have they all the work to perform? No, praise the Lord! he has placed another gift in the church, and that is, helps. Shall we improve upon the talent God has given us, or shall we dig, and hide it in the earth? Shall we sit down and feast upon the light of this glorious gospel, while our fellow men around us are groping their way in the dark, and feeding upon papal tradition? Shall we sit upon our lees in hope of enjoying so great salvation, which cost the blood of the holy Son of God, and not put forth every effort to save some poor soul from going the broad road to perdition? Oh that we could realize more fully, the time in which we live! We must awake from our slumbers. We need on the whole armor to stand. We must have the kingdom. Christ says, To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
LESLIE PINKERTON
By Leslie Pinkerton
From Bro. Pinkerton.
Bro. White: It is with feelings of gratitude to an overruling Providence that I testify of the goodness of God toward me, his unworthy servant.
Through his lovingkindness I have been permitted to exchange my lonely situation for one where I am permitted to meet with the remnant people of God from Sabbath to Sabbath, and enjoy the privileges of their society; and my heart has been made to rejoice many times in view of the precious privileges which I am permitted to enjoy. The privilege of meeting with brethren and sisters in the bonds of Christian love and union is a great and precious privilege to me. I love the people of God far more than earthly relatives, and I would rather sacrifice all earthly ties, than to be deprived of the love and fellowship of those who are trying to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
I believe that time is short, and trouble such as the world never saw, is just upon us. Satan is stirring up the nations; and they are preparing for war. Soon probation will close, and all restraint will be taken away, and man will be left a prey to the evil angels; and there will be famine in the land; and pestilence and the sword will sweep the earth with the besom of destruction. The dead and dying will be all around us, and men will call upon the name of God only in blasphemy. These will be fearful and troublous times, such as never were since there was a nation. Brothers will imbrue their hands in each other's blood, and weeping and mourning will be heard in every house. The way of the transgressor is hard. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.
Brethren and sisters, how is it with us? Are we all seeking a preparation that we may be hid in the day of the Lord's fierce anger? Are we striving to overcome all our sins, and repenting of them that they may be remembered no more against us? Are we striving to do the whole will of God, regardless of self, careless of what friends or relatives may say to discourage us? Are we, like Moses, willing to suffer affliction with the people of God, rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season? These are dark and gloomy times for the Christian. Fiery trials encompass us on every hand. Soon we shall be called upon to face the storms of persecution. The image of the beast will soon be set up, and, as it was in the days of Nebuchadnezzar, we shall be called upon to fall down and worship it. How many of us will be enabled to endure this trial of our faith, and receive the mark of God, instead of the mark of the beast.
Brethren and sisters, let us get on the whole armor of righteousness, and fight manfully the battles of our blessed Lord. Let us not waste a moment of time in tasting forbidden pleasures. We have a great and mighty work to perform, and but little time allotted for its accomplishment. The night is far spent, and the morning star has arisen, and the Sun of righteousness will soon arise with healing in his beams, for those who love his appearing.
That we may all be enabled to say, Lo, this is our God, we have waited for him, and he will save us, is the prayer of your unworthy brother in Christ.
LESLIE PINKERTON
Lisbon, Iowa.
Note from Bro. Bates.
By Joseph Bates
Bro. White: We have been spending a week with the church in Jackson. Our meetings on the Sabbath were cheering and strengthening, and closed with the solemn ordinances of the Lord's house, with an additional blessing from the heavenly Sanctuary. By request I spend the coming week and Sabbath with the church in Hanover, and the next week and Sabbath with the church in Tompkins.
JosepH Bates.
Jackson, Mich., July 6, 1863.
Note from Bro. Sanborn.
By Isaac Sanborn
As my labors are now closed in Wisconsin for the present, I will give a short sketch of my labors for the past eight months. In that time I have traveled over twenty-four hundred miles, preached one hundred and fifteen times, baptized twenty-eight, organized two churches—one at Mauston, of twenty-seven members, and one at Jonstown Center, of twenty-one members, which is in a flourishing condition. Our S. B. fund for the present year is about $260. There is quite an interest among others who we hope will unite with us soon.
And now, dear brethren, I go to Minnesota. May I ask for your prayers to follow me, that much may be done there to advance this precious cause.
ISAAC SANBORN.
June 15, 1863.
NOTE.—The above communication from Bro. Sanborn should have appeared sooner, but was mislaid.
Note from Bro. Bourdeau.
By A. C. Bourdeau
BRO. WHITE: We pitched the Vt. tent at North Danville, Vt., Thursday, July 2. Our meetings are progressing, and will continue two weeks, or longer. Pray for us.
A. C. BOURDEAU.
North Danville, Vt., July 6, 1863.
Appointments.
I will, providence permitting, meet with the church in Charlotte, Sabbath, July 25, at 10½ o'clock, A. M. At Parkville, Sabbath, Aug. 1st, 10½ o'clock, A. M.
After the above, I design spending several weeks in Northern Michigan, as brethren may desire.
JOHN BYINGTON.
The next monthly meeting for Northern N. Y. will be held at Bucks Bridge, July 26 and 27. We solicit a general attendance.
H. HILLIARD. Clerk.
Providence permitting, I will be at Oneida Center, Mich., July 18 and 19.
J. B. FRISBIE.
Business Department.
By Editor
Business Notes.
Lorana Soule: Give your present address, and we will change your paper. This will be better than to subject us to the miserable task of reading over our list of 3000 names to find your address.
J. F. Carman: On the 10th inst. we received a letter from you, post-marked Charlotte, July 9, 1863, dated Feb. 19, 1863, containing $12,03. This is doubtless the missing letter which we concluded was lost when you were at the Conference. Where it has been for the past four months aud twenty days, you or the Charlotte post-master may be able to figure out.
A letter from Dr. H. S. Lay, containing a remittance, met with a similar delay. We have lost comparatively nothiug through the post-office during the Lincoln administration; but some remittances have been a tedious while getting around.
Sabbath School Lessons and Future Topics
By Editor
The questions in this number, complete the Lessons for Bible Students on the Sabbath questiou. A few weeks will now be given for review, before taking up another subject. The questions so far as published, will immediately be issued in pamphlet form for the convenience of those who may wish to use them in their Bible classes and Sabbath-schools, but have been waiting to get them in a more convenient form than in the paper. If classes consider the lessons too long, they need not be governed by the divisions as published, but take such portions as they can easily master. Above all things we recommend that classes go no faster than they can get a thorough and permanent understanding of the matter which they go over. The subject next to be taken up is the Three Angels' Messages of Rev. xiv, using the published work on that subject as a text book.
Sabbath Readings.
By Editor
TWENTY-FIVE numbers of this work are now ready. Each number is complete in itself. We offer them, twenty-five sixteen-page tracts in one package, postpaid, for 50 cents.
In this form the friends of moral and religious instruction for the precious youth of our country, can with a small sum purchase many rays of heavenly light to scatter, like the leaves of autumn, throughout the circles of their acquaintances.
We put up the twenty-five numbers in five pamphlets, five numbers in each pamphlet, in paper covers, for those who would choose them in this neat form. Price for the five pamphlets, 50 cents, postage 4 cents.
Also, the binder will soon furnish the twenty-five numbers, bound in muslin, with title-page, preface, and index, containing 408 pages. Price, 60 cents, postage 8 cents. Twenty copies or more taken at the Office, or sent by Express or by Railroad, for 50 cents a copy. Twenty per cent. discount on the packages of tracts, and the pamphlets, when twenty full sets or more are taken.
PUBLICATIONS.
The law requires the pre-payment of postage on Bound Books, four cents for the first four ounces, or fractional part thereof, and an additional four cents for the next four ounces, or fractional part thereof, and so on. On pamphlets and tracts, two cents for each four ounces, or fractional part thereof. Orders, to secure attention, must be accompanied with the cash. Address Elder James White, Battle Creek, Michigan.
History of the Sabbath, (in paper covers), . . . 40 10
The Bible from Heaven, . . 25 5
The Three Angels of Rev. xiv, 6, 12, particularly the Third Angel's Message, and the Two-horned Beast, . . 15 4
Sabbath Tracts, numbers one, two, three, and four, . . 15 4
Hope of the Gospel, or Immortality the gift of God, . . 15 4
Which? Moral or Immortal? or an inquiry into the present constitution and future condition of man, . . 15 4
Modern Spiritualism; its Nature and Tendency, . . 15 4
The Kingdom of God; a Refutation of the doctrine called, Age to Come, . . 15 4
Miraculous Powers, . . 15 4
Pauline Theology, or the Christian Doctrine of Future Punishment as taught in the epistles of Paul, . . 15 4
Review of Seymour. His Fifty Questions Answered, . . 10 3
Prophecy of Daniel: The Four Universal Kingdoms, the Sanctuary and Twenty-three Hundred Days, . . 10 3
The Saints' Inheritance. The Immortal Kingdom located on the New Earth, . . 10 3
Signs of the Times, showing that the Second Coming of Christ is at the door, . . 10 8
Law of God. The testimony of both Testaments, showing its origin and perpetuity, . . 10 3
Vindication of the true Sabbath, by J. W. Morton, late Missionary to Hayti, . . 10 3
Review of Springer on the Sabbath, Law of God, and first day of the week, . . 10 3
Facts for the Times. Extracts from the writings of eminent authors, Ancient and Modern, . . 10 8
Miscellany. Seven Tracts in one book on the Second Advent and the Sabbath, . . 10 3
Christian Baptism. Its Nature, Subjects, and Design, . . 10 8
The Seven Trumpets. The Sounding of the seven Trumpets of Revelation viii and ix, . . 10 2
The Fate of the Transgressor, or a short argument on the First and Second Deaths, . . 5 2
Matthew xxiv. A Brief Exposition of the Chapter, . . 5 2
Assistant. The Bible Student's Assistant, or a Compend of Scripture references, . . 5 1
Truth Found. A short argument for the Sabbath, with an Appendix, "The Sabbath not a Type.", . . 5 1
The Two Laws and Two Covenants, . . 5 1
An Appeal for the restoration of the Bible Sabbath in an address to the Baptists, . . 5 1
Review of Crozier on the Institution, Design, and Abolition of the Seventh-day Sabbath, . . 5 1
Review of Fillio. A reply to a series of discourses delivered by him in Battle Creek on the Sabbath question, . . 5 1
Milton on the State of the Dead, . . 5 1
Brown's Experience. Consecration---Second Advent, . . 5 1
Report of General Conference held in Battle Creek, June, 1859, Address on Systematic Benevolence, &c., . . 5 1
Sabbath Poem. False Theories Exposed, . . 5 1
Illustrated Review. A Double Number of the Review and Herald Illustrated, . . 5 1
Nature and Obligation of the Sabbath of the Fourth Commandment. Apostasy and perils of the last days,
In German, . . 5 1
" Holland, . . 5 1
French. A Pamphlet on the Sabbath, . . 5 1
" " " Dan. ii, and vii, . . 5 1
ONE CENT TRACTS. Who Changed the Sabbath?—Unity of the Church—Spiritual Gifts—Law of God, by Wesley—Appeal to men of reason on Immortality—Much in Little—Truth—Death and Burial—Preach the Word—Personality of God—The Seven Seals—The Two Laws.
TWO CENT TRACTS. Dobney on the Law—Infidelity and Spiritualism—Mark of the Beast—War and the Sealing—The Institution of the Sabbath.
Bound Books.
The figures set to the following Bound Books include both the price of the Book and the postage.
The Hymn Book, 464 pages, and 122 pieces of music, . . 80 "
" " " with Sabbath Lute, . . $1.00
" " " Calf Binding, . . 1.00
" " " with Lute, . . 1.20
History of the Sabbath, in one volume, bound
Part I, Bible History Part II, Secular History, . . . 80 "
Spiritual Gifts Vol. I, or the Great Controversy between Christ and his angels, and Satan and his angels, . . 50 "
Spiritual Gifts Vol. II. Experience, Views and Incidents in connection with the Third Message, . . . 50 "
Scripture Doctrine of Future Punishment. By H. H. Dobney, Baptist Minister of England, . . . 75 "
Home Here and Home in Heaven, with other Poems. This work embraces all those sweet and Scriptured poems written by Annie E. Smith, from the time she embraced the third message till she fell asleep in Jesus. Price 25 cents.
The Chart. A Pictorial Illustration of the Visions of Daniel and John, 20 by 25 inches. Price 25 cents. On rollers, post-paid, 75 cts
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Cash Received on Account.
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General Conference Missionary Fund.
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Books Sent By Mail.
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