Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 23, 1858
THE ATONING BLOOD OF CHRIST.
By S. C. WELCOME
WHILE reading a letter in the Review, Vol. xiii, No. 1, I was forcibly struck by a question asked by the writer, in the following language: "O, is there power in the atoning blood of Christ to cleanse from sin here on earth?" And while meditating upon the power of that atoning blood to save, and the purpose for which it was shed, I seemed to hear a voice saying, Hath Christ died in vain? No! It is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ came into the world to save sinners. He died to save them, thereby offering himself a perfect sacrifice for sin. Hear the promises God has given to us: "I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you," &c. Eze. xxxvi, 25, 29. And to this the Apostle plainly refers in that exhortation, "Having these promises dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." 2 Cor. vii, 1. And in Eph. iii, 14, he prays that they may be rooted and grounded in love, and be able to comprehend, with all saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, and be filled with all the fullness of God.
Again, 1 Thess. v, 23, "The very God of peace sanctify you wholly," &c. Jesus says, "Be ye perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect." Matt. v, 48. Again he says, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." Matt. xxii, 37.
The Scripture is full of proof on this point, and so plain, that were it not for the habit men have of following the traditions of the fathers, instead of reading and understanding for themselves, we should easily learn the way of life and salvation.
Many teachers tell us we cannot be perfect until death. Then why did Christ command it? and why did he leave his holy habitation to come to this sin-cursed earth, and suffer the ignominious death of the cross? Was it not to save his people from their sins? to purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works? Thank God! he fulfilled the mission for which he came. He opened a fountain in the house of David, for sin and uncleanness, and returned to his Father to make intercession for those for whom he died. The Father looks down with pitying eye upon poor fallen man, and for his Son's sake saves all who come to him, pleading the merits of his blood, and by simple faith, lay hold on him as their Saviour.
Brethren and sisters, have we complied with the requisites of the gospel? Have we presented ourselves a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God? Do we all believe in a present and full salvation? that the blood of Christ can cleanse from all sin here? Or do we imagine that we must carry about with us, the body of this death, as Paul expresses it, and when we would do good, to have evil present with us, sinning and repenting all our days; sometimes on the mountain's top, then again mourning over our sinful hearts, filled with inward corruption? May God help us to examine our hearts; and if sin is remaining in them, come to the fountain open for uncleanness, have faith in God, believe him when he says, "I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and will cleanse you from all your uncleanness." He has begotten the desire in our hearts for holiness, and will he not gratify that desire? Most assuredly he will, if we believe his word; for he is not only just and faithful to forgive us our sins, but also to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Then, says one, why are there so few that enjoy a present salvation. I answer, Because so few seek for it.
Some prefer to carry a few darling sins about them, while they live, (thinking that they can get rid of them just before they die,) than to forsake all for Christ. It is so humiliating to become as little children, and to live good, humble christians, especially in this age of reform, when a form of godliness passes with the majority for good christianity! If one happens to have the power as well as the form, he is considered fanatical.
There are others who have a strong desire to be freed from all sin, but are taught that they must wait until death comes to free them. They struggle along in sin, and if they do not give up religion entirely, they live a cold, formal life, alike comfortless to themselves, and useless to others.
But there is another class, who are continually panting for holiness of heart, and are often heard to say, I want a deeper work of grace in my heart, but have been so instructed that they do not know what to do to be made free. Some tell them they must do certain works, to inherit eternal life. O, that I could explain to them the way of life and salvation as I can see it. I can enjoy that perfect love in my own soul; I can have that atoning blood applied to my poor heart and feel its cleansing power; but I cannot put my feelings into words; and I feel incompetent to teach others. But while I see so many that need instruction, I am often led to cry out, Where are the watchmen that should stand on Zion's wall? Where are those that God has called to proclaim the good news of salvation to dying men? O that their tongues might be touched with a live coal from off God's altar, that they might be as flaming torches as they run to and fro through the land. Thank God there are some that are proclaiming the last message of mercy. O may they ever give the trumpet a certain sound, that all who hear may flee to Christ.
But there is need of all God's children being at work. There is much to be done. We must exhort and rebuke and instruct, while the day lasts. I want to see more written on the subject of holiness. May God inspire the hearts of his dear children that they may write more on this important subject.
The substance of the first and great commandment is, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy mind, and with all thy soul." How important this command! I do not know that I can give any light on this subject, but I will give my views, hoping that I may drop some word that will assist some humble enquirer after truth.
In the first place the question is asked, How shall I come to God to have this work wrought in my heart? I answer, in the same way that the sick came to Christ to be healed. They saw themselves diseased in body, and incapable of curing themselves. They believed that Christ had the power to heal. They applied to him. The faith of one was so strong, as we read, that she believed if she had touched the hem of his garment, she should be healed; and she was made whole. O, what an example of faith! Can we not follow it?
34When we were far from God by wicked works, transgressors of his holy law, he showed us our situation. We were lost and undone forever, unless we came to him, and had our sins forgiven. We were led to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. His blood was applied to our hearts; our sins were forgiven; we were made happy in a Saviour's love; we rejoiced for a season; and then we made another discovery in our hearts; there remained some of the carnal mind that had not been rooted out; it seemed to us that all was corruption within us; sin yet had dominion over us; we sometimes doubted as to our conversion; the light still shines into our hearts; and we see that we are diseased throughout, and cry out, Create within me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me; restore unto me the joys of thy salvation. God has now enlightened our minds, and shows us that he wills even our sanctification.
Now let us come to him to be healed, believing that he is willing to save us, and fill us right early with his love. Lay all upon the altar. Do not keep back part of the price, but give yourself up, your will, your all, saying, Here Lord I am, sinful and polluted, but I cannot make myself better. I come to thee. Thou hast begotten these desires in my heart, and now as I comply with thy requirements, I believe that according to thy promise, thou wilt accept of me and make me wholly thine. This moment, Lord, let refining fire go through my heart, and sanctify the whole.
And while you thus dedicate yourself to God, exercise faith in him; rely upon him; and if you do not feel the assurance of being accepted immediately, calmly trust in and wait for him, and you will be enabled to say, I believe, the work is done, I am the Lord's and he is mine.
Your offering is accepted. O what peace flows into the soul; gratitude springs up in the heart; you feel like shouting forth praises to God, or perhaps you feel
> That sacred awe that dares not move,
> And all the silent heaven of love.
Your will is submitted. You have no will but his. Love takes possession of the heart; glory fills the soul. You drink from the well of salvation, and feed on heavenly food. You have laid hold on Christ, and had a fresh application of his blood to your heart. You have obtained present and full salvation, by simple faith.
Now begin to reckon yourself dead indeed unto sin and alive unto God. You can look up and cry, Abba, Father.
But O, how humble you feel before God. You have done nothing to merit your salvation; it is a free gift; and faith was the channel through which you received it. You do not feel like taking any praise to yourself, as you might reasonably do had you done some mighty work; but you simply relied on God's word, and he made you free. And while heretofore you have been led to cry out, O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death, you can now say, I thank God who hath given me deliverance through Jesus Christ our Lord. You can now say with Paul, There is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
But now having been made free from sin, can we always remain so? Yes, if we walk by faith and are led by the Spirit; for they that are led by the Spirit of God, are the sons of God. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who hath loved us, says Paul; for I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Having this assurance, then, go on. The Devil will tell you that you will fall; and you will if you listen to him. He will tell you that although you have received a great blessing, you had better not say anything about it, until you see whether you can live or not. But fear not to declare what God hath done for your soul. His grace is sufficient for you. In the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength. He will be your rock and strong fortress, into which you may run and be safe. You will find him a sure hiding place in time of trouble. God dwells in you and you in him. Yes, Christ is formed in the heart the hope of glory. And while he is in the heart, no sin is there; and although you once felt that you had inward foes to contend with, they are now cast out; and, having on the whole armor of God, you will be enabled to withstand all the power which the enemy shall bring against you. Your foes being outward, will be easily overcome, if you fight in the strength of Israel's God. Your temptations will be great, no doubt; but he will not suffer you to be tempted above what ye are able to bear.
But do not expect that you can ever be so perfect that you will not be liable to mistakes; for you may err in judgment; for none can attain perfection in this respect, in this life. Some may be continually filled with the love of God, their motives all good, and their souls continually uplifted to God, and yet, says Wesley, "they may have shattered bodies, and be so pressed down thereby that they cannot always exert themselves as they would, by thinking, speaking, or acting exactly right. For want of better bodily organs, they must at times think, speak, or act wrong; not indeed through defect of love, but through a defect of knowledge." And while this is the case, notwithstanding that defect and its consequences, they fulfil the law of love. Yet as even in this case there is not a full conformity to the perfect law; so the most perfect do on this account need the blood of the atonement, and may properly for themselves as well as for their brethren, say, Forgive us our trespasses. Wesley on Christian Perfection, p. 116.
Christ is continually interceding for us, knowing our many infirmities, and there is an abiding merit in his death, which frees us from the condemnation of the law. And being freed from condemnation, we have peace with God, and the Spirit witnesses with our spirit that we are accepted of him.
While the corruption of the heart remained, sin had dominion over us; but now being made free from sin and becoming the servants of God, we shall have our fruit unto holiness, and the end will be everlasting life. Having yielded ourselves up as servants to God, we render perfect obedience to his will; when tempted, we feel no inclination to sin; we see our inability to resist temptation in our own strength; we feel humbled before God; our hearts flow out in gratitude to him for the grace he gives us, which enables us to overcome; we have no pleasure in sin; we delight to do the will of God; yes, we can sing with the Psalmist, that we "delight in the law of God after the inward man."
Now what has wrought this mighty change? Is it anything we have done? No: "Thy faith hath made thee whole." This was said to those who were healed of their bodily diseases when they came to Christ; and I believe it can be said to the weary pilgrim when he ends his toilsome journey at the gates of the golden city. "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God."
What! Is faith the sole condition of salvation? I believe it is. By faith we are led to see our own sinful situation. By faith we see the plan that God has laid for our salvation. By faith we see the fountain opened for sin and uncleanness. By faith we plunge into that fountain and wash away the stains that sin has made; and then by faith strive to walk in all of the ordinances of the Lord's house blameless. Living faith produces good works. I know some say that there are stepping-stones towards heaven; that faith is but one step, and that works is another. But if we never reach heaven until we have some good works to bring that have merit in themselves, pleading our own merit instead of the merits of Christ, I fear we should stop outside the gates. If we have faith in God, we shall keep his commandments; but we shall not be saved for keeping his commandments; and yet in keeping his commandments there is great reward.
O let us examine ourselves and see whether we be in the faith. Let us contend earnestly for the faith that was once delivered to the saints, looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Let us have our lamps trimmed and burning, and oil in our vessels. Let us be sober and watch unto prayer. It is a time of severe trial to many of the little flock, but praise God! if we will walk in the way that is cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in, the highway of holiness, Israel's God will go with us and guide our feet, that we step not out by the way. O that we may all struggle on a little longer, seeking to be pure and holy, a peculiar people unto the Lord, and may the God of peace sanctify us wholly, and preserve us blameless unto the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, is the prayer of your unworthy brother in Christ.
S. C. WELCOME.
Almond, Wis., Dec. 5th, 1858.
WORDS OF CHEER.
Onward, onward in the pathway
Which the pure and good have trod,
Never weary, never faltering,
Resting on the arm of God;
Wheresoever duty calls thee,
Where the truth demands thy aid,
Go thou to the mighty battle,
Firmly, boldly, undismayed.
With the flag of justice o'er thee,
And thine own true heart within,
With the hosts of wrong before thee,
Firmly stand amid the din.
As of old, lo! unseen legions
Help thee in the mighty fray.
And the smiles of God's approval,
Like the sunbeams round thee play.
In the ranks of error are there
Legions 'gainst the little band,
Who for justice, truth and mercy,
Scoffed, despised, insulted, stand.
Heed it not; but let alone
Be thy banner still unfurled,
God and thou at length shall conquer,
Though arrayed against the world.—Sel.
No-Sabbath Investigation.
By M. Hull
Not long since, I sought an opportunity to converse with an Anti-Sabbatarian in whom I had considerable confidence.
Brother, said I, have you investigated the Sabbath question? Well, yes, I have given the subject a candid investigation. I have examined the Bible upon the subject some, and have read several publications where the subject was ably handled.
What are your conclusions after having weighed the subject, as you profess to have done?
I think they who keep the old Jewish Sabbath are fallen from grace.
Permit me then to ask you a few questions, as perhaps you have looked deeper into the subject than I have. What books have you read on that subject?
I have read several, I cannot name them now.
Have you read Henry Grew's pamphlet?
Yes I have read that; and I have read O. R. L. Cozier, Marsh, Seymour, Reed, Stephenson, and a number of others.
Well, have you read the Review?
Well—no, I don't see the Review. Where is it published? I have heard of it; I guess it is rather a slanderous sheet. I have seen some things about it in the Expositor; and more than that, I am informed that the publishing committee "are a set of fiends."
I am not here to defend the Review, or any man, or set of men. I want to pry into your investigations. Have you read Bro. Waggoner's work on the law?
Waggoner—Waggoner—let me see, I've heard of him. No, I have not had an opportunity of reading his book.
Have you read Bro. Andrew's "Review of O. R. L. Crozier?"
No, I have not.
Have you read the "The Nature and Obligation of the Sabbath," "Truth Found," or any thing on the opposite side of the question?
No.
Of course by this time I had arrived at the conclusion that he had candidly investigated the (No) Sabbath question.
I then handed him a small tract, asking him if he would read it. "No, (said he,) I think I'll read my Bible. Your books are only human productions. I don't think I can take time to read them. I am perfectly satisfied with my position any how."
Reader, don't think this case is one of uncommon occurrence. I would that it were. But in nine cases out of ten, where persons undertake to oppose us, they find that they had better look at the other side of the question before pitching battle. They find that their best arguments are but poor evasions—miserable subterfuges.
M. HULL.
Russiaville, Ind., Dec. 5th, 1858.
I Have Decided.
By S. Myers
We hear people say often of late, I have decided upon the Sabbath, I have investigated the subject, and am decided; but when we ask them what conclusion they have come to, we can scarcely find any two that have come to the same conclusion, or reason from the same premises; but all seem willing, yea, anxious, to believe the observance of the seventh day as a Sabbath is no part of a christian's duty. It does appear that if there is more of the wine of the wrath of Babylon's fornication in one of her abominations than another, she has mixed more in the Sunday institution than any other. Such reeling, staggering, zigzagging, crooking, and twisting we have never witnessed on any other subject; and all to excuse themselves from obeying one of the plainest and most necessary precepts of the law of God. Do such realize that it is in vain to worship God while teaching for doctrine the commandments of men? Do such realize that Jesus has said, "Not every one that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven," and that the Father's will is learned out of the law? Rom. ii, 18.
How solemn the thought that people will decide with so little reference to the future, on subjects where eternal consequences hang upon their decisions. But this is nothing new. The antediluvians all decided; but how few decided in such a manner as to save themselves from the impending destruction. The inhabitants of the cities of the plain all decided; but only three made such a decision as saved them from the wrath of God. The Jews decided when Jesus and the apostles preached to them; but alas! how few decided so as to save themselves from the ruin that hung over them and their city. And almost all the inhabitants of the earth have decided, and most of them deliberately decided, in matters of eternal consequences;35but if the Bible is to be the standard by which the world is to be judged, how few have made such a decision as they will wish they had when their future destiny is made known to them! Oh! that people would manifest more of wisdom and the fear of God in their decisions on subjects where fatal consequences are to result from a wrong decision.
S. MYERS.
Plumb River, Ills.
The Blessed Hope.
By William W. Andrews
THE hope of the body is one. The true hope of every creature is to attain its perfection. All long and strive for that which shall complete and crown their being. There is amongst all ranks of living things an instinctive or intelligent reaching forward towards that maturity which shall consummate the end for which they exist. So the hope of the church stretches onward to her perfect standing, when her Lord will present her to himself without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, and give to her the inheritance of the kingdom. Nothing short of that event, by which the "one body" shall attain its predestined power and glory, can satisfy the desire which His promise would kindle in her heart. Death is not the perfecting of the saint. If it is the deliverance of the spirit from sin and sorrow, it is the consummation of the curse unto the body. A disembodied spirit is not a perfect man, and cannot perform the work of a perfect man. The dead must be raised in the likeness of their Lord, before they can receive their inheritance, or serve him in the ministries of his kingdom. They rest from their labors—from all labors—and wait for their crown. Their hope is the redemption of the body, when Jesus shall bring them with him at his coming, and clothe them with their house which is from heaven—the body of incorruption—in which, being like him, they shall see him as he is, and be ready to be used by him in the eternal administration of his government. From beneath the altar they ever cry, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?" Rev. vi, 10. They look forward with joyful desire to the time when "the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ;" when "he shall give reward unto his servants, the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear his name;" and "the meek shall inherit the earth." The rest and peace in which they are now abiding, is not the glory of the kingdom when their reward shall be the fellowship of Christ's throne; and as he could not be seated at God's right hand, till first he had triumphed over death, so neither can his members reign with him so long as they lie bound under the captivity of the grave. It must be remembered, too, that the hope of the body is one, common to all, and to be obtained by all at once. Of the holy men of old, who obtained a good report through faith, the Apostle says: "these all received not the promise; God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." They have not received the promise yet, nor can the dead be made perfect till the number of the elect has been completed, and all are prepared to take their places in that polity which consummates and crowns all the works of God.
And as the hope of the sleeping saints is the resurrection of the body, so the hope of the living is, not to be unclothed in death, but to be clothed upon in the translation, when mortality shall be swallowed up of life. Enoch and Elijah were types of the faithful who shall survive unto the coming of the Lord, in whom the change from the corruptible into the incorruptible shall be accomplished without tasting of the bitterness of death. "We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." This is the hope of our calling—the living hope unto which we are begotten by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead—the hope of life, not of death. And if the faithful who sleep in Jesus, sheltered from the storms, and freed from the pollutions of this evil world, think it long till their Lord appears to raise their bodies out of the dust; how earnestly should we stretch forth the head to catch the sound of his approaching footsteps—we, to whom the battle is fierce, and the burden heavy, and the stain of sin deep in the soul! Oh, how has the church ceased to war against death, yielding herself in passive hopelessness to its usurped dominion, and accounting its rest her chief reward, instead of pressing forward to that manifestation of the sons of God, in the glory of the resurrection, for which even the earnest expectation of the creation waits!
And not for our own sakes alone, nor for the sake alone of the sleeping saints should we long for the return of our Lord and Saviour; but that the earth, now groaning and travailing in pain, may be delivered from the curse. For the promise that the seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head, includes in its large reach of blessings the redemption of man's inheritance by the casting out of him who usurped it, and the purging away of all the evil with which his slimy presence has defiled and infected it. The earth was made for the revealing of God's glory, through the possession and enjoyment of its manifold treasures, free from all curse, by man standing in his allegiance to his Maker; and though the purpose was frustrated by the fall of the first Adam, it shall be accomplished in the second, who will cause the Father's will to be done forevermore. He has already in his own person, triumphed over the seductions of the serpent, and proved himself against all temptation, the obedient Son, worthy to take up the forfeited scepter of man's dominion, and rule in righteousness for God; and he now waits only for the completion of the company of joint heirs that shall rule with him, to come forth to redeem and purify and bless his purchased inheritance. They are right who are looking for righteousness and peace to fill the earth, and make glad the obedient nations; but they are wrong who look for it, before the Man who is the heir shall come forth to make it his own eternal dwelling place. He was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death, to pay the price of the redemption; and then crowned with glory and honor, and invested with the right of dominion over all the works of God's hand; "but now we see not yet all things put under him," and the next step shall be his actual and visible government of the creatures. It is an idle dream which now possesses so many that the church is to bring in the kingdom in the absence of the King. There is not one word for it in all the Scriptures. It contradicts the exhortations for continual watchfulness for Him—not for death, but for Him who is the conqueror of death,—which imply the possibility of his coming in any generation, and therefore the certainty of his coming before the long, fixed period of the millennium, which is the time for rest, not for watching—it is inconsistent with the foretold humiliation and sorrow of the church during the whole of this dispensation, in which she is to walk in his footsteps, and be perfected by the fellowship of his sufferings; it robs her of the blessed hope by which alone she can be purified, and towards which the Apostles ever struggled to lead her—the hope of being like him and seeing him as he is; and it entangles her in worldly schemes and alliances, and so eats out all faith in the heavenly citizenship. The nations are to be blessed, and the earth, unto the uttermost parts of it, is to see the salvation of God, but it shall be when the time comes that the saints possess the kingdom; [Dan. vii, 22.] which is not during the Bridegroom's absence, for the church is the desolate widow called to fasting and mourning, and the word to her ever is, "Be patient unto the coming of the Lord." The last temptation by which Jesus was assailed when he was led up into the wilderness is now spreading its cunning seductions all around us, and we are looking to gain the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them, before the time that the Father shall give them to his Son.
The one great hope for the whole creation, towards which, blindly and unconsciously, if not with intelligent desire, all are reaching forward, is the "marriage of the Lamb." It is the hope of the church who shall then be one with the Lord in all his glory, and power, and fullness of blessing. It is the hope of the nations, who shall then know the blessedness of righteous rule. It is the hope of the sore-burthened earth, which longs to be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. And it is the hope of the Lord himself, whose heart yearns over his church, purchased with his own blood, but still lying in the desolateness of death, or amidst the defilements of this evil world, and whose word of promise is, "Surely I come quickly." Let our response ever be, "Even so, come Lord Jesus." Let our hearts be broken through our sympathy with the burdens and sorrows of all, and let us utter in His ear continually the cry that shall hasten the common deliverance—William W. Andrews.
Triumph Through Affliction
Rom. viii, 35, 37. "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" "Nay in all these things we are more than conquerors, through him that loved us."
Stars shine brightest in the darkest night; torches are better for beating; grapes come not to the proof, till they come to the press; spices smell best when bruised; young trees root the faster for shaking; gold looks brighter for scouring; juniper smells sweetest in the fire; the palm-tree proves the better for pressing; camomile, the more you tread it, the more you spread it. Such is the condition of all God's children: they are then most triumphant, when most tempted; most glorious, when most afflicted; most in favor with God, when least in man's and their own; as their conflicts, so their conquests; as their tribulations, so their triumphs; the true salamander, that live best in the furnace of persecution; so that heavy afflictions are the best benefactors to heavenly affections; and where afflictions hang heaviest, corruptions hang loosest; and grace that is hid in nature as sweet water in the rose leaves, is then the most fragrant when the fire of afflictions is put under to distill it out. [Golden Treas.
Soul.
The following is from Elias Smith's New Testament Dictionary: "SOUL, signifies, 1 The man Adam. 1 Cor. xv, 45, 'And so it is written, the first man Adam was made a LIVING SOUL.' Gen. ii, 7, 'And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.' 2. It signifies men in general. Acts ii, 43; xxvii, 37; Rom. xiii, 1; 1 Pet. iii, 20. Wicked men are called unstable souls. 2 Pet. ii, 14. We read of souls slain for the word of God, and the testimony of Jesus. Rev. vi, 9. These were men. 3. The word soul signifies the mind, or all the powers of the man. Acts iv, 32; Heb. iv 12; vi, 19, 2 Pet. ii, 8; Acts xiv, 22; xv, 24; 1 Pet. i, 22. 4. The word signifies the life. Soul, and body, is the same as the life and body. Jesus Christ considered the life and soul to be the same. Matt. xvi, 25, 26. First he says, 'For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.' Here he mentions the life; in the next verse he calls it the soul. 'For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?' This is the same as losing his life. In one place he speaks of the life and body. 'Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?' Matt. vi, 25. In another he mentions the soul and body. Matt. x, 28, 'And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.' This is the account of the soul in the New Testament. It is the life of the man, and that which can die; and the soul and body of the wicked will be destroyed in hell, unless they repent. 'The soul that sinneth, it shall die.' Eze. xviii, 4. What is said of the immortal soul, the never dying soul, &c., is unscriptural. There is no such thing mentioned or intimated in all the Scriptures of truth. The reader has here what the Scriptures saith; I dare not add, nor diminish."
WE WILL DO THEE GOOD.
“We are journeying unto the place of which the Lord said, I will give it you. Come thou with us and we will do thee good, for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel.” Num. x. 29. Such was the language of Moses to his father-in-law, while journeying to the promised land, the earthly Canaan. Just as appropriately, and with ten-fold more inducement may we hold forth to those around us, the same language, as we are completing the last stages of our journey to the Mt. Zion and the glorious Jerusalem of the heavenly Canaan. To draw a comparison between our situation and that of Moses and his brethren, would be almost needless. It would be but bringing out through the tardy medium of words, those ideas and comparisons which will suggest themselves with the quickness of thought to every mind, in their native force and beauty. Was he making his way from a land of darkness and thralldom? So are we. Was he buffeting the cares, perplexities and fatigues of a wearisome journey and an unfriendly wilderness? So are we. Who has not sung, and felt, too! that
“This world of cares is a wilderness state?”
Was his mind ever going forward, in pleasant anticipation, to the promised land and to a day of rest? So is ours; for the Lord will recompense rest to us in the day of his revelation. 2 Thess. i, 6, 7.
Was he journeying to a better country? So are we. There is this difference only: his country was an earthly one, but ours a heavenly; for we trust to have joined that long catalogue of patriarchs, prophets and apostles who confessed themselves but pilgrims and strangers upon the earth, and looked for a better country, even an heavenly. So great is the privilege which the favor of God bestows upon us, while granting, also, that they without us should not be made perfect. Heb. xi. 40.
Had the Lord said of that land which Moses sought, I will give it you? So has he said of ours; for “the meek shall inherit the earth” [made new]—the antitypical promised land of the true Israel of God. The saints shall take the kingdom under the whole heaven and possess it forever, even forever and ever; and that too, when the glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, and the excellency of Carmel and Sharon spread thereon. Isa. xxxv. 2.
Could Moses say to those about him, Come with us, and we will do you good? With infinitely better reason can we say the same. He spoke only of the type; we can speak of the antitype: he only of the shadow; we of the substance.
“Come with us and we will do thee good.” What was the good which Moses proposed? It could be no higher in its nature than that which he himself was seeking; and that was earthly and temporal. What is the good that is now proposed? It is as high in its nature as that which we aim to reach; and that is heavenly and eternal.
Come then, we say to any who have not yet turned their steps into the way of life, Come with us and we will do thee good. Not that we of ourselves can bestow the good proposed: we can only join our voices with the invitation of the Spirit and the Bride, as they bid you come, and while pointing heavenward, endeavor also to lead the way. We are journeying to the land of which the Lord has said, I will give it you. The Lord has spoken good concerning Israel; and faithful is he who has promised, who also will perform. Would you share the good? Then join the Israel.
We are journeying to that good land. Be this your encouragement, brethren, amid the toils and hardships of the way. Remember that the Lord hath said, I will give it you. Can you think of this and be discouraged? Can you think of this and murmur or complain? Can you think of this, and yet lose heart, or turn again with longing eyes towards the flesh-pots of Egypt? We shall yet reach the reaping time, if no fainting by the way prevents us. We shall soon realize what it is to be counted Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise, unless we choose to be aliens from the commonwealth of Israel.