Review and Herald, Vol. 32, No. 14.
THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES, AND THE TIME WHEN THEY ARE POURED OUTPage 1
Earlier text: THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES, AND THE TIME WHEN THEY ARE POURED OUTDISTRIBUTION OF TRACTS.
By Adolphus Smith
I was traveling in the cars. I had a package each of “God’s Memorial,” and “Law and the Gospel.” “It is tedious, traveling in the night,” said I, to two young men who sat behind me. To this they responded in a very gentlemanly manner; when I asked if they were fond of religious literature. Receiving an answer in the affirmative, I gave them each a tract, and received a promise that they would read them carefully, at their leisure, and then give them to some other persons who had not read them. I made it a point to converse with as many as I could before giving a tract, obtaining a promise, generally cheerfully, but sometimes reluctantly given, that they would carefully read them, and hand them to a friend. To the latter I would remark, that I did not wish to give a tract to one who would not read it, as I thought it would do no good, but that I believed every man a gentleman, and that if he promised to read it I felt sure he would do it; the promise was most always cheerfully made. Some read constantly by the dim light of the lamps, rendered still more difficult by the incessant motion of the train, until the loud voice of the brakeman announced the several stations where they left the cars, to be seen or heard of by me no more, probably, till the resurrection of the great day; but the good seed, perhaps, was taking root. May God give an abundant increase. A young lady read attentively in the cars, and when she left I saw her walk away with the tract open in her hand. One whom I knew by his physiognomy to be a Jew, took his seat beside me. I knew he would be a hard case to manage. After vainly trying to draw him into conversation, to all my advances receiving only monosyllables in reply, I asked, Do you not belong to the Israelitish people? He replied in the affirmative. You then keep the Sabbath, said I. We pretend to, said he. I keep the Sabbath, too, said I, because God so commanded in the law he gave to Moses. He seemed a little interested. After some reflection I said, I have some tracts here, treating upon this Sabbath question; if you would be so kind as to take one of them, and cause it to be sent, or deliver yourself, for me, to the Methodist minister in the village where you live, you will do me a favor. You may read it yourself before delivering, if you choose. To this he assented cheerfully; and when he left the cars politely bowed, and bade me good night. “Yes,” said one to whom I gave “Destiny of Man,” “I will read that, for I want to know what is to become of me.”189 One large family to whom I gave a tract last winter, are now taking the REVIEW, and Instructor, and they will, I believe, ere long keep the Sabbath. Some would not read the tract at all, and others would read and return them, refusing positively to read any more. But whether men will read or forbear when these silent messengers are within their reach, they are doing their work faithfully and surely, and the mighty result will be known only in the great day of the Lord. “In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand, for thou knowest not whether shall prosper either this or that, or whether they both alike shall be good.” ADOLPHUS SMITH. REMARKABLE FULFILLMENTS OF THE VISIONS.
There have occurred within the cognizance of those who have been acquainted with the visions from the commencement, many remarkable fulfillments of their predictions, and striking instances of their supernatural foresight and knowledge. Vol. ii, of Spiritual Gifts, which gives the “Christian Experience, Views, and Labors” of the author, “in connection with the rise and progress of the Third Angel’s Message,” gives many such instances. In addition to these we refer to the remarkable instances given in REVIEW, Vol. 29, pp. 32, 62, 104. The following lame effort to nullify the overwhelming force of the facts as there presented, betrays some trepidation on the part of the objector in view of them, and a conscious inability to account for them. He says: “It is nothing remarkable for clairvoyants to correctly tell things that have transpired, or to discover the state of a person’s mind; and since this is a well-known fact, something more than such items should be adduced to prove the visions of divine origin. . . . My hand is now upon a work by A. J. Davis, the celebrated clairvoyant; but shall I conclude that he is one of Heaven’s seers because he has told some things correctly that were not within the range of his natural vision? When the mesmerized man correctly tells the situation of a family one thousand miles away, how many are sick, and what the well ones are doing, can I ignore the fact that the same principle can exhibit itself in a clairvoyant of a religious order? We say, ‘To the law and to the testimony;’ if they contradict this, they are to be repudiated, even if they can tell a few such things as other clairvoyants tell.”
But this writer knows, or might know, that there is nothing in common between the things seen by a clairvoyant, and the things shown in the visions. Matters are not shown to Sr. White simply as a test that she sees things “not within the range of the natural vision.” “The situation of a family a thousand miles away, how many are sick, and what the well ones are doing,” which he says the mesmerized man can correctly tell, are not matters in which the visions deal at all. Their testimony is to reprove sin and correct wrong; and by their fruits, says the Saviour, we shall know them. This writer has such miraculous discernment that he can even see facts which do not exist; but this plain principle he could not possibly perceive. Now we have yet to learn of the first instance in which a mesmerized subject, even once, much less uniformly, as in the case of the visions, has brought to light hidden iniquity, and exposed sin and wrong. This would be Satan against himself, which is not the policy he pursues. This is just the difference between the two manifestations; and the trouble with those who find trouble with the visions here is that they are not able to discern between the true and the false. Ever bear in mind that the work of the visions is to correct errors, restrain from sin, expose hidden evils, and tear self-deception from the sinner and the careless professor, and then say if you can that they are the work of mesmerism, or of demons. In this case, again we say, it is Satan divided against himself; which we can assure our friends, on the authority of Christ’s own words, is something which never has been, and never will be. A better illustration of the final exposure of the hypocrite, we think we have never seen than in the following anecdote: “The hypocrite by long acting the part of piety, may at last believe himself such a one whom at first he did but counterfeit; deceiving even himself, he may be so infatuated as to conceive himself no dissembler, but a sincere saint. But he cannot escape exposure. God here knows, and hereafter will make hypocrites known to the whole world. Ottocar, king of Bohemia, refused to do homage to Rodolphus the First, emperor, till at last, chastised by war, he was content to do him homage privately in a tent; which tent was so contrived by the emperor’s servants that, by drawing one cord, it was all taken away, and so Ottocar presented on his knees doing his homage to the view of three armies in presence. Thus God at last shall uncase the closest dissembler to the sight of men, angels, and devils, having removed all veils and pretenses of piety; no goat in a sheepskin shall steal on his right hand at the last day of Judgment.” WHICH IS THE TRUE VIEW ?
By R. F. Cottrell
The following extracts are from different articles in the same paper: “It [the Bible] does not treat sin as a venial offense, a constitutional infirmity, or a physical, and therefore excusable, necessity; but as a wanton and appalling criminality involving all the elements of guilt and personal ill-desert.” “It is furthermore an earnest that hereafter vice is to be regarded a misfortune deserving sympathy, rather than a fault deserving punishment. When we have become sufficiently wise to make a similar application of the broad, general law, herein suggested rather than written, to all that society now calls crime, our prisons will be transformed into industrial schools; criminals will be treated as persons intellectually deformed; and the much-wished-for social millennium will not then be far distant.” These two extracts seem to view sin in a widely different light. Which is the true one? Bible students will hardly be prepared to dispute that the writer of the first has stated the Bible view as it is. Crime is a crime in the sight of God, and deserving of punishment. Still God is merciful; he pities the sinner, and would have him turn from his evil ways, and live; but if he will not turn, if he persist in his rebellion, retributive wrath will inflict deserved punishment. How should we view sin? In the same light in which God views it. We should view it as a crime justly deserving punishment; but, like God, we should pity the sinner, and greatly desire his salvation, in the way God proposes to save him; but if he prove incorrigible, we should acquiesce in the just judgment of God against him. But another question arises. How should we treat criminals? as God does? We are not prepared to do this. “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him.” We should not, because God threatens to burn up the wicked, anticipate his judgment, and set about the work of burning up those we esteem to be his foes, as persecutors have done in the past. There is another consideration which ought to incline “the powers that be,” to leniency toward the criminal, and that is, that all have sinned, and God might justly consign all to death. It, certainly, becomes those who would obtain mercy, to show mercy to their fellow-sinners. “Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy.” “Let him that is without sin, cast the first stone.” It may be well to treat criminals something in the spirit of the second extract; not, however, because sin is a misfortune for which we are not to blame, but because it becomes those who are under like condemnation, to be merciful to others, perhaps no worse in the sight of God than themselves. It does not become sinners to cast out, and consign to vengeance, their fellows. But shall we, because when we condemn sin, we condemn ourselves, take the position that vice is a misfortune and not a crime? in other words, that sin is not sin? Is “the much-wished-for social millennium” to be founded on the idea that man is “intellectually deformed,” and, therefore, not responsible for his actions? Deliver us from such a millennium! We had thought that those who hold the doctrine of a temporal millennium, expected the conversion of mankind to the high and holy standard of the law of God, and have wondered how they could, amid the abounding iniquity of our times, see any signs of the approach of that day. But if in that millennium, sin is to be tolerated, palliated, excused, as an infirmity for which no one is to blame, and the distinction of right and wrong in human actions is to be obliterated, we shall no longer deny that the signs and “progression” of this age indicate that it is near at hand. Is this the much-wished-for millennium? “IT IS COURT WEEK.”
By JOS. CLARKE
At the camp-meeting at Wright we heard many excellent ideas, all leading us to repentance, to consecration, and zeal, in our endeavors for everlasting life. One idea was this: Bro. White, in enforcing and illustrating the fact that probation is near its close, that the living are soon to have their cases come up in review before God, that our cases, as individuals, are soon to be decided, made this illustration. You have a case in court. It is to come on during a certain week called court week. You summon your witnesses, and employ your attorney. You are on the ground, all prepared, on Monday morning; for you do not know but your case may be tried on Monday; you may have to wait day after day. You wait with expectation, and perhaps you wait till the last of the week. But wait you must until your turn arrives, when perhaps toward the close of the week your trial comes on. It is court week with us. We have a case in court, in the court of Heaven. It is court week. Who realizes this? that a dread account is to be settled with each of us soon? Alas! how many are sleeping! Who will awake and attend to his case? Brother, are you covered up with the dust and filth of earth? Arise, and see to your case. Jesus is noticing you. He pleads to be heard. He is pleading for you. He cannot now wait. See, he looks upon you. Will you awake, and attend to your case? Be zealous, and repent. Consecrate all. I wish I could write as it was proclaimed there. It is court week! ROMANISM IN THE UNITED STATES.
By Hatfield
It is an encouraging fact that large numbers of good and thoughtful men are giving increased attention to the assumptions and aggressions of Romanism in our country. When the conclusion is reached that something must be done to check and crush this arrogant power, a great point will be gained. We shall then be in a condition to consider what our resources are, and how they may be used to the best advantage. The condition of the European nations, and the state of affairs in our own country, indicate that the next great battle for liberty of conscience, and for civil and religious freedom, is to be fought on American soil. Slavery, in its worst form, is hardly a more malignant and dangerous enemy to human progress and the rights of men than is the Romanism of to-day, as it exists in the United States. And the emissaries of the Pope are thoroughly united and determined in their efforts to perpetuate and extend the power of the church to which they have sworn allegiance. Confronted as we are by these facts, a class of amiable and excellent persons see in the signs of the times only a call to modest stillness, or to the greatest tenderness, in dealing with Romanism. According to their theory, we must abandon all “less direct hostility” to this system of arrogance and oppression. By kind and loving endeavors, we must lead the members of this apostate church to Christ, and to a better life. We are told that when this is done the Catholics will give us no further trouble. One writer of marked ability insists that in this work we must begin with the priests; and that we can hope to accomplish but little until we have gained the ear and heart of the spiritual guides of the Romanists. This goodish kind of talk is exactly of a piece with what South-side conservatives said about slavery twenty-five years ago. When pointed to the abominations of slavery, and the aggressions of the slavery-power, their ready reply was: There is but one way of dealing with this question. All agitation must be avoided; nothing must be done to irritate the slaveholder. Send ministers, and Bibles, and the good books published by the American Tract Society, to the South, and all will be well. And these good men dozed, and dreamed, and uttered their pious platitudes, until the thunder of rebel artillery compelled them to open their eyes. Then, for the first time, they saw that slaveholding church-members and ministers were ready to deluge the land in blood, rather than lift their heel from the neck of the bondman. The slaveholder cared nothing for gentle words or missionary efforts, so long as he grew rich by oppression, and was permitted to mature his plans for the overthrow of our government. And Romanism laughs to scorn the efforts that are made to convert her priests and bishops, while she moves steadily toward the political control of our country. It is not with popery as an ecclesiastical system that we have chiefly to do. Efforts for the moral and spiritual improvement of the members of the church of Rome cannot be too highly190commended. But these evangelistic efforts do not cover the whole field of duty. If all the immoral and vicious persons in the country could be converted into intelligent and consistent Christians, we should have little need of prisons or officers of justice. Sunday-school teachers and ministers of the Gospel are doing a better work than sheriffs and jailors. But it does not follow from this that we are to do nothing to restrain crime, or protect ourselves against the reprobates who trample the Gospel under their feet. We are called just now not only to labor for the benefit of Romanists, but also to efforts to save ourselves and our country from the machinations of the false and persecuting church to which they belong. When the “friends” of Horatio Seymour swept like a whirlwind through the streets of New York, leaving behind them a track of fire and blood, the first question with every good citizen was not, How may these cut-throats be conciliated and converted? but, How may this mob be dispersed, and life and property be protected? Rome aspires to the political control of our country, and will secure it unless her efforts in that direction are counteracted. Her most devout and spiritual members regard themselves as doing her service while engaged in efforts to destroy any institution that stands in the way of the aggrandizement of holy Mother Church. The Pope claims to be not only head over the church, but to be the king of kings, and supreme over all rulers. He has never renounced the right to depose potentates, and to release subjects from their allegiance, at his pleasure. His last allocution makes a noise more like the bleating of a calf than the roar of a bull; but is of the same breed with the bovines that have been wont to push with their horns in time past. Rome is just as ambitious, tyrannical, and unprincipled as she was five hundred years ago. It is hardly more than twenty-five years since she struggled hard to revive the horrors of the Inquisition in Spain; and recent events show that she would establish the institution, or its equivalent, in the United States, if she had the power to do so. However tolerant she may be, from the force of circumstances or as a matter of policy, give her the way, and she has still the will to lay a heavy hand upon schismatics and heretics. She knows how to prate of “charity” and “freedom” in words that are “smoother than butter” and “softer than oil,” while she reads once a year in all her churches the following anathema against all who refuse to bow to her authority: “We place under ban, and pronounce accursed, on behalf of God the Almighty, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and by virtue of the authority delegated to the sainted apostles, Peter and Paul, as well as to ourselves, all Hussites, Wickliffites, Lutherans, Zwinglians, Calvinists, Huguenots, etc., as well as all other heretics.” It is passing strange that intelligent Protestants do not see with what adroitness—and success, too—she is now manipulating the political affairs of our nation. She aspires to rule the country by securing a controlling influence in the great cities and chief centers of power. Look at what she has already accomplished in Baltimore, St. Louis, and New York. It is not often, Mr. Editor, that I have occasion to quote from your columns in my communications to The Independent. But a recent article of yours contains some truth on this subject that should be repeated and reiterated until it reaches the ear and heart of every Protestant in the country. You say, in speaking of the Empire City: “No man can hold any office in this city unless he at least professes to be in favor of slavery; but he must in addition be an Irishman, and a Roman Catholic. . . . New York is governed by an Irish-Roman-Catholic-Democratic pro-slavery majority, which will permit no one who does not either belong to its ranks or subscribe to its doctrines to hold any office whatever, either in the county or the corporation. New York is, in reality, a foreign city on American soil. The majority of all the city officers are Irish Romanists. The sheriff is an Irishman, the comptroller is an Irishman, the county clerk is an Irishman, the city chamberlain is an Irishman, and all the judges are either Irishmen or in the interest of the Irish party. There is one part of New York that has an American look; it is orderly, elegant, economically administered, and is the boast of all New Yorkers as well as the admiration of all strangers. It forms the strongest possible contrast to all other parts of the city. It has never been under the domination of the Democratic party, nor of the Irish Roman Catholics. It is called the Central Park; and what that is all the rest of the city might be, but for the remorseless rule of the party which Mr. O’Gorman represents.”
We are reminded on reading these words, of the threatening of Jehovah: “Behold, I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah that whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle.” And for the removal of this evil something more is needed than efforts for the conversion of Romanists. I yield to no man in my veneration for God’s word, or in my confidence in the truth and power of the gospel. But, if a wheat-field is to be harvested, one of Marsh’s reapers is better for that purpose than a shipload of Bibles. It is no disparagement of the gospel to say that it is no substitute for broad-axes in hewing ship-timber. Here we have among us a politico-ecclesiastical organization banded together and bound by oaths and obligations, such as are known in no other sect or society. With the precision of trained battalions, they are moving right onward to the subversion of our liberties. The great mass of them are almost impervious to any moral influence we can bring to bear upon them—far more so than the heathen of India or Japan. Shall we sit supinely until Rome is in a condition to treat us as she has treated Spain and Mexico? “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.” Whatever trading politicians, or Rip Van Winkle conservatives may say, the aggressions of this formidable power must be confronted and repelled. And God in his mercy will, I am confident, prepare his people for this work, and make them successful in it. He is against the false prophets who see only visions of peace, and who “sew pillows to all arm-holes.”—Hatfield, in N. Y. Independent. REPORT FROM BRO. MATTESON.
By John Matteson
With our dear brethren in Battle Creek I found a friendly home while I rested a couple of weeks before the camp-meeting. God is still with his people in this place; not to make them great before the world, as perhaps some would like, but to chastise, instruct, warn, and lead them in the way of holiness. Now, brethren, we must receive this as a fixed principle: If we follow wholly after the Lord, we shall be counted fools by the world. But those who court the friendship of the world, will be enemies to God. We had a pleasant journey of two days with the brethren from Battle Creek to the camp-meeting. The intervening night they pitched their tents and lodged in the woods. I am thankful for the privilege I had of sharing their hospitality and company. The camp-meeting was a perfect success in point of order, decency, and regulations. We did also receive the blessings of God's Holy Spirit in a great measure. A good work was done for many brethren, who will long remember the vows they made, and obtain meekness enough to faithfully carry out their determinations. I will strive to do so for one. And I want especially to remember one sentence out of all that I heard: “It is a terrible thing for a man to have his own way.” Yet that is what most everybody wants. And yet they expect to be saved. What consummate folly! Our only chances stand thus: Submit to God, and live; or, refuse, and be condemned. Brethren, we must receive salvation on God's own terms, or else give up, and perish. Who does not know this? Yet, how many act accordingly? Few, very few. I think it was made plain at this meeting that we are living in the last watch. It is the last hour before day. There is much weariness on account of the long waiting and watching. A terrible drowsiness has fallen upon the people of God. Now it is time to awake, or never. If we wait a little longer we will be too late for the kingdom. We will awake, to be sure, by the shaking of the visible things; but only to lament and weep bitterly, when the summer is past, and the harvest is ended. The Spirit of the Lord is directing Bro. and Sr. White to labor with God's people now, that we may sell, and give alms, and lay up a treasure in Heaven. Our present duty on this point, I have summed up for myself in the following way: It shall be my plan to study how little property I can hold in this world, and yet fulfill my duty toward God, my family, and fellow-men. If I can live economically, and save something, I have no trouble in finding places where it will do good. I have, generally, four or five places on hand before I get means. “For the poor always ye have with you.” What say you, brethren? Is it not time now to study how we can begin wisely and consistently to reduce our property, and continue so to do, until all of it shall be transferred to Heaven? The coming of the Lord is nearer than we are aware. Cut loose from the world. Get ready for translation. I am now with Bro. Maynard, Fairplains, where I find a good home for a weary pilgrim. Next week, the Lord willing, I will begin to labor among our Danish friends in this county. Pray for us, that the Lord may work with us for his own glory, and the salvation of precious souls. My address is Greenville, Montcalm Co., Mich. C. M. SHEPARD
By C. M. Shepard
BRO. SMITH: I wish to say a few words to the praise of the Lord for what he has done for me. The point of which I wish to speak more particularly is the reform dress. Being a teacher in a public school in the city, I had fears of losing my situation if I adopted a style of dress so peculiar and unpopular, and in case I lost it I did not know but my family might suffer want. Then I reflected on the dealings of God with me in the past. When I have fearlessly walked191out by faith to do what I knew was right, the Lord has always been with me, and not forsaken me; but when the fear of man has governed me, my course has been unsteady, and disastrous consequences have followed. The health reform is a part of the third angel's message, and the reform dress is an important part of the health reform. Being satisfied of this, and knowing that the Lord is no respecter of persons, I concluded that he was just as willing that I should enjoy its blessings as that his other daughters should. So faith took the place of fear. With satisfaction I lift the cross, following Jesus, and I feel that as I lift the cross the cross lifts me. Yes, my sisters, ours is a high and holy calling. Can we not all choose to wear a style of dress approved of Heaven, and be very thankful for it? Oh! how good the Lord is. I believe he is leading us as much as if I could see the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night. This work can be no other but the work of God. Step by step, higher and higher he is leading us. I will not, dare not, falter; I must go through. I must see the heavenly Canaan, and dwell there. But we have many precious promises for this life, all on conditions of obedience; if we seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness. My neighbors and friends were displeased and sorry to see me wearing this dress, and were sure that I should not get the school again. But the Board of Education voted me the school again for the coming year. To the Lord be all the praise. I know that it is because he rules that I am permitted to live here as I do. I hope he will enable me to walk humbly before him. I want my brethren and sisters to pray for me and my children, that we may not be overcome of evil, but be overcomers continually. To the S. B. Treasurers within the Maine State Conference.
By H. C. Winslow
DEAR BRETHREN: Again we are compelled to call your attention to the duty of making quarterly reports. You have seen, through the REVIEW, that our next annual meeting is already appointed to be held Oct. 8. It will be necessary then for us to ascertain our financial standing. But this will be a very difficult task unless you forward us immediately the statistics of your S. B. accounts for each quarter of the present year. I presume you are all furnished with blanks, and certainly it is but a small job to fill them out as required by our constitution. As this is undoubtedly a new business with many, I will state that our conference year commenced Nov. 1st, 1867. The 1st quarter ended Jan. 31st, 1868. The 2nd ended April 30th. The 3d quarter ended July 31st, and the 4th will end Oct. 31st, 1868. This is the order in which the money should be paid and reports made. Then state the different items as follows: 1. Amount pledged for said quarter. 2. Amount paid out to ministers of the Conference, giving their names, &c. 3. Amount sent in to the State Conference treasurer. 4. Amount on hand at date of report. Those who have not made their reports will please to fill one out for each quarter, and forward to the State Conference secretary as soon as possible. Pledges should be paid up to the first of October, and all funds on hand belonging to the Conference sent in to the meeting by the respective church delegates. By order of the Committee. H. C. WINSLOW, Secretary. Temperance at the National Capitol.
It is said the cause of temperance is progressing in Washington, D. C., and we think if there is any place in the country where temperance reformation is needed, it is there. The nation is cursed and disgraced with drunken Senators and Congressmen, who spend much of the time that should be employed in legislating for the good of the country, in dissipation and its attendant evils. Valuable time is lost, wicked and unconstitutional laws are passed, and millions of the people's money squandered through the influence of rum-maddened brains. It is a shame that drunken gamblers, and bloated blackguards are permitted to sit in the councils of the nation. The bloody tribulations through which our beloved country has passed are partly attributable to dissipation. When will the people learn wisdom enough to repudiate drunken candidates for high official positions?—Temperance Vindicator. Exhorting one another, and so much the more as ye see the day approaching. Heb. x, 25. This Department is designed to fill the same place in the paper that the Conference or Social Meeting does in the worship of God. Speak often one to another to comfort, edify and aid each other in the way of holiness and true Christian experience. Dear Brethren and Sisters: As the twilight shadows were deepening to-night I threw aside my work and took up the REVIEW, which had just come, eager to read the latest news from the war that is raging between truth and error; the powers of light and darkness. My eye fell upon the report from the Iowa tent, and joy thrilled my heart, and tears filled my eyes. Words of praise sprang to my lips as I read how God is working through his faithful servants. I was carried back, in thought, three years, when these truths were proclaimed for the first time in Norridgewock, Me., and I enlisted under this glorious banner, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. How invincible is our weapon, the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Right will be victorious in the end; the truth will triumph. I am glad I am in this army. I love to hear of others who are joining its ranks. My heart is with those who are obeying the command, Go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people. Isa. lxii, 10. But oh! the immense amount of work to be done. How important that we should all be at our post, with our armor on, all ready for action. The Lord help us to be faithful, each in our place, that at last we may hear the plaudit, “Well done.” Our salvation cometh. How our hearts bound at the thought! His reward is with him. How the fair vision dazzles our eyes with its splendor! All earthly glory pales before it, and all this the reward of a few days of faithfulness here. What if we suffer now? These light afflictions are but for a moment, and work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 2 Cor. iv, 17. Danger is on our track; perils thicken around us; turn not to the right hand or the left; there is safety only in the narrow way, and there is safety there. Thank God. His angels angels encamp around those who fear him. I know this is true. We shall all learn it by experience, I think. But how weak we are! How liable to be led off from the track! Perhaps we do not realize it, at first; but we will surely learn it, if in no other way, by a few sad falls. “In the hour of trial,
Jesus, pray for me,
Lest by base denial,
I depart from thee.”
“If thou seest me wander,
With a look recall;
Nor for fear or favor,
Suffer me to fall.” Oh! how we love this blessed Jesus, who is so loving and forgiving to his erring children. We rejoice that we can show our love to him by keeping his commandments. Dear brethren and sisters, may the Lord bless you, and bring you off conquerors through him who hath loved us, and given himself for us, is the prayer of your sister. Sister Hudson’s Testimony
By A. M. Hudson
SISTER A. M. HUDSON writes from Grant Co., Wis: Through the preaching of Bro. Sanborn, nearly two years since, my husband and myself became convinced that we were worshiping God through the traditions of men, and keeping a Catholic holiday in place of the true Sabbath. We soon commenced, with several others, to keep the Sabbath according to the commandment. Most of those that started with us found it so inconvenient that they soon gave it up. We have kept it ever since, and have no desire to give it up, but we greatly desire to keep it more perfectly, also to grow in grace and the further knowledge of the truth, and try to overcome everything contrary to the word of God, that we may have a right to the tree of life, and enter through the pearly gates into the New Jerusalem. Determined to Overcome and Do Every Duty
By Sr. L. Conley
SR. L. CONLEY writes from Wood Co., Ohio: I have been reading my last REVIEW, and it has cheered and encouraged me to renewed efforts to be an overcomer, as its weekly visits ever do. I thank the Lord for his mercy to me in helping me to obey his commandments, and I do not find them grievous. I am determined from this day, the Lord being my helper, to live nearer to him, and commence with this and discharge every duty day by day. I have been too half-hearted in the cause, at times forgetting I have a work to do. There are a few willing to read my paper. Pray for them that they may embrace the truth, and for me that I may not be weary in well-doing. LAURENTINA GOTTFREDSEN
By Laurentina Gottfredsen
BRO. SMITH: We are a few lonely pilgrims in this place, who meet together on the Sabbath of the Lord. We cannot see brethren and sisters in other places, but our spirits run together with theirs, and we rejoice to hear that the cause is onward in other places, and how God's children are cleansed and sanctified, preparing for the kingdom of our soon-coming Lord. I desire to strive, and do everything that is the will of God, as far as I can understand. Oh! that I may be more like Jesus. I am so sorry to see the many imperfections that still make me unlike my Saviour. I cry, Unclean, unclean. But there is a Fountain where I can wash; and there I will continue to wash until I shall reflect Jesus' lovely image. I am very thankful to God that his Spirit still leads me, and I long for the day when I shall be satisfied in the enjoyment of Jesus' love, and be gathered with the dear saints of all ages, to dwell for ever in the kingdom of God. ANNA RASMUSSEN
By Anna Rasmussen
BRO. SMITH: I am sorry that my circumstances would not allow me to go to the camp-meeting in Mich. I love such meetings. But though absent, my heart is with God's remnant people, and my prayer is daily for the success of the cause. May God lead his little flock till we shall gain the glorious victory... I have received letters from my youngest and oldest brothers. One is in Minnesota, the other in California. One dwells on the heavenly riches, and is striving to obtain those; the other is working and planning for that which is 500 feet below the surface of this earth. May the Lord strengthen us all to strive earnestly for the crown which Jesus will bestow when he shall appear. Rest in the Sabbath and God’s Promises
By Sister N. J. Lucas
SISTER N. J. LUCAS writes from Maine: I thank God for what he has done for me, and is still doing. I thank the Lord that he has shown me where I was transgressing his holy law, and that I can say now in the language of the apostle, “I delight in the law of God after the inward man.” The Sabbath is a day of sweet rest to me. Its holy hours bring joy and peace. Peace fills my heart in anticipation of that glorious rest that remaineth for the children of God. Although cares of this world may weigh heavily upon us at times, and we sigh and mourn over sorrows of earth, yet we have but to look away to the heavenly sanctuary and there we find light and glory. Dear brethren and sisters, the morning will soon dawn, be of good cheer. Probationary time is closing. Deliverance is coming. The pearly gates of the New Jerusalem we soon shall see, and rest where living waters flow. Let us be strong in the Lord, and strive to live a life here that will adorn our profession, and when Jesus comes we can say, Lo! this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us. Sr. L. Pancoast writes from Clark Co. Ohio: I deem it a privilege and duty, as I am one of the lonely ones, to speak to you through the Review. I feel that I am unworthy of the privilege. My heart is often made to rejoice by reading the cheering testimonies in the paper, which are very encouraging. It has been nearly a year since I first heard preaching from the Adventists. I was led through curiosity to the Bowersville tent, thinking I would care nothing about the preaching; but when I got there and heard it, I found it far different from what I had expected. I heard from Brn. Waggoner and Van Horn, and from the books, many truths that I had long desired to understand; truths for which I am very thankful. I now delight in the present truth. I was soon convicted, and felt that it was my duty to keep the Sabbath, but living fifteen miles from Bowersville, I was entirely alone in my convictions of the truth after I came home. I labored some three or four Sabbaths under a guilty conscience, through dread of the cross. The more I read and thought, the more guilty I felt. I knew I was violating the commandments; but if I kept them, I feared all would be against me, as no one gave me any encouragement. I was laughed at if I spoke of keeping the seventh day. I then read the Thoughts on the Revelation, which explained the seal of God and the mark of the beast. After reading this work, I felt that, others do as they might, I would obey the truth. And I found when I commenced keeping the Sabbath, that the cross was much lighter than I had expected. Then I could rejoice in the Lord, feeling that I was, at least, trying to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. I now love the Advent name. It is blessed news to hear of Jesus' soon coming.