“They that dwell in Him dwell in love.” Oh, how exalted the blessed privilege of having the love of God shed abroad in our hearts. My brother, my sister, is this precious love in your hearts? Have you tasted the sweets of redeeming love, and are you laying up your treasure in Heaven? Do you have your conversation as becometh the gospel of Christ? Are you forgetting the things that are behind and pressing forward to that exceeding great and eternal weight of glory, reserved in Heaven for those that fight the good fight of faith, and lay hold of eternal life? Do you count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord? Can you take joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in Heaven a better and an enduring substance? Is your adorning even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price? Are you purifying your souls in obeying the truth, and do you love each other with a pure heart fervently? Oh, then is your peace like a river and your righteousness as the waves of the sea. Great peace have they that love his law and nothing shall offend them. Then indeed will you be a living epistle, known and read of all men. Oh, how good it is to trust in the Lord, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength. Well may we exclaim, Oh, what love! What wondrous love! God so loved the world as to give his only begotten Son to die for us, and we may hide in his love, and under the shadow of his wings we may find a refuge. Oh, fear the Lord, ye his saints; for there is no want to those that fear him. Then, indeed, can you go on your way rejoicing in the blessed hope with your eye fixed on the prize. Oh, this blessed hope! how it comforts our weary hearts and buoys us up amid the storms and conflicts of these last days. Oh, let us gird on the gospel armor a little closer, that we may be able to quench all the fiery darts of Satan, who, knowing that his time is short, would deceive, if possible, the very elect. Oh, let us extol the name of the Lord, who calleth us not to go a warfare at our own charges, but arms and equips us for the fight and gives his angels charge over us to deliver us out of all our distresses. Oh, let us magnify his holy name, for he is good, and his mercy endureth forever. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope is in the Lord, for he shall be as a tree planted by the water, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green, and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding her fruits. Oh, how blessed to be adopted into his dear family and look up with confidence and cry, Abba, Father. Oh, the Christian’s hope looks glorious, and ’tis bright with immortality beyond this vale of tears. Jesus is soon coming with all his holy angels to take his children home; and who of us will be ready to hail him with joy and gladness? Dear reader, whoever you are, whether high or low, rich or poor, this precious hope may be yours. Yes, we may have the love of God shed abroad in our poor hearts. We may taste and see that the Lord is good. The invitation is extended to all. Ho, every one that thirsteth: come ye, to the waters; and he that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Oh, hear ye the word of the Lord! Wherefore do ye spend your money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not? Incline your ear, and come unto me; hear and your soul shall live and I will make an everlasting covenant with you. Oh, the spirit and the bride say, come. And will you not come, while the angel of mercy is entreating, while all Heaven is interested for you, will you not come and be saved?
L. E. MILLER.
Owasso, Nov. 22, 1867.
Conference Department.
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 of Social Meeting does in the worship of G-d. Speak often one to another to comfort, edify and aid each other in the way of holiness and true Christian experience.
From Sister Baker.
BRO. SMITH. I feel entirely unworthy to occupy space in the Review, but as there are some that would like to hear from us, I venture to write. We are still holding on to that which is good, and trying to get a stronger hold; we are striving to live out the health reform, as far as circumstances will permit. I once thought I could never live without pork, but when I became fully convinced it was wrong to use it, I discarded it at once in the strength of the Lord, and he did give me strength; it has been about eighteen months since I tasted pork, and have not once in that time had a desire for it. I have been jeered at considerably for not eating it, but I cared nothing for that, for I delight in doing that which I know to be right.
We have had some very severe trials in temporal affairs, which came nigh to starvation. My husband wrote to you last winter stating our circumstances, not having the least thought of drawing out the sympathy of the brethren, but, to our surprise, letters came from different parts with words of comfort and means for sustaining life: from the church at Mauston, $5,00; from Bro. John Matteson, $5,00; Bro. and sister Vancil, Princeville, Peoria Co., Ill., $2,00; Sr. M. A. Packard, Brookfield, Vt., $1,00; from the church at Elkhorn Grove, Carroll Co., Ill., $7,00. It has been a great help to us. We would here thank you for your kindness. May the Lord bless you in all good things, both temporal and spiritual. The Lord has blessed us this summer with good health; my husband has been able to obtain work, and while he has been away I have raised about $25,00 worth of vegetables. The prospect for feeding our little ones for the coming winter looks quite cheering. We are also under obligation to some unknown friend for the Health Reformer.395Now, one more favor we would humbly ask of all who have access to the throne of grace: that you will pray for us, that we may grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord, and be prepared to meet you all on Mount Zion, where we can dwell forever with the Lord.
Clark Co., Wis. Nov. 17, 1867.
THE DARKNESS OF DESPAIR.
By Rebekah Smith
The heart knows its bitterness, though ’t may be said,
You are happy and blest all the while;
The depth of your misery, your burden of sin
May in anguish be hid ’neath a smile.
Thy waves and thy billows are over me gone,
With the Psalmist, I mournfully say,
And ask, Why cast down? Why disquieted, opprest?
’Tis why I’ve no heart now to pray?
Has the Spirit been grieved? Has it taken its flight?
To this desolate self am I left?
And merited sure, naught else is deserved,
But to be thus of comfort bereft.
I groan, being burdened, and cannot look up,
By reason of sin’s dread array,
O keep back from sins and from secret faults cleanse,
Or despairing, I sink in dismay.
Sin hardens, and blinds, and shuts up in despair,
The way of transgressors is hard,
Its end is destruction, its wages are death,
Thus forever from Heaven debarred.
This anguish of spirit, this sad state of the soul,
I must bear though I may not submit.
God is just though I perish, his throne remains pure,
However many he may not acquit.
Oh! for one gleam of hope, thus to break the dread spell,
By which I in misery seem bound,
Naught of earth, but the power of Heaven must heal
Sin’s painful, sin’s deep, bleeding wound.
Should I ever again meet the smiles of my God,
Should I ever his praise again sing,
In rapturous song I would swell the grand theme,
And my tribute of thanksgiving bring.
Oh! here is the mystery, give glory to God;
The blessing is coming e’en now.
I’ll sing hallelujah, I’ll praise and adore,
And low in humility bow.
With the Psalmist, I cry, Come praise ye the Lord,
Praise and glory to God now belong;
My heart with my hands, lift to God in the Heavens,
Giving praise with the angelic throng.
This praise ne’er will end, the redeemed will unite,
And with angels, God’s glory repeat.
To the pure tree of life all will there have right,
And the fruit of the vineyard will eat.
How blest to know Jesus our Lord will be there,
The glory and light of the place,
And the song which forever will rise on its air,
Will be sung to his sovereign grace.
REBEKAH SMITH.
West Wilton, N. H.
SKEPTICISM CONQUERED.
A RECENT writer in the following sentences exhibits where lies that force of Christianity which lives through long centuries:
“I was a skeptic, but this scene discovered a new world of thought to me. For afterward, as I traveled on my lonely way eastward, I never saw a church in the little villages that were stationed thirty miles apart, with no intervening civilization, but the thought arose, ‘Who is this Man that he can do these wonderful things?’ Voltaire’s sneers, the arguments of Hume, the ribaldry of Paine, vanished like matinal mist in the effort to reply. For, see, sixty generations have come and gone, crop after crop of men have been reaped by the mower death, since, in an obscure and lonely village of a remote and despised province of the Roman empire, a babe was born whose reputed parents were poor Jewish peasants; a carpenter’s son, who, without culture, without social position, without political power, uttered words that have ever since moulded the lives of the greatest, the most powerful, the best, the wisest, aye, and the vilest also, of the most enlightened continents of the world. History, since this young man died, has been a mere record of struggles either to assist or resist his dominion. He left no written word; and yet the human race has bowed before the reports of his sayings by the waysides of Galilee and the deserts of Judea, to a group of fishermen and crowds of the despised of the earth. I never saw a church in these frontier settlements without feeling a sense of awe as I thought of the origin of the religion it represented. Scenes like these and thoughts like these opened the heart to reply, in the words of earnest Peter, ‘Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.’”—Sel.
Dunn Co., Wis., Nov. 18, 1867
From Bro. McCormic.
BRO. SMITH: It has been nine years since I commenced to keep the Sabbath. I have had but few privileges, being isolated from brethren of like precious faith. I have always been a firm believer on all points of present truth. I must confess that my life has not always been of that meek and humble character that should characterize a follower of the dear Saviour. I think that I can say that I am growing in grace and in a knowledge of the truth.
Eld. J. M. Stephenson visited this place not long since and gave a course of lectures, preaching once against the Law and Sabbath. This was the first discourse I ever heard against the Sabbath. I was surprised to see a man of his reputed ability so blind. He made a number of false and contradictory statements, saying that angels spoke and wrote the ten commandments, and that God in the original was Elohim, which was translated angel. Please give me a true criticism on this word through the Review.
B. McCormic.
Dunn Co., Wis., Nov. 18, 1867
REMARKS. Mr. S. is in error in asserting that the word Elohim is ever translated angel. This word occurs in the Old Testament over twenty-four hundred times, and is uniformly rendered God and gods, with the exception of five instances, where it is rendered judges. He would probably attempt to defend his position on the ground that, although this term is never translated angel, yet it is sometimes applied to a being who is in other places called an angel, as in Jud. xiii, 21, 22; Hos. xii, 4; Acts vii, 38. But a reference to such passages will show that they apply only to cases of personal communication and visible presence, which exhibitions, the great God, whom no man could look upon and live, entrusted to his Angel, upon whom he placed his name and whom he ordained to be his representative. There is not the least ground for supposing that it was any other being than the great God who spoke and wrote the ten commandments.—ED.
SISTER C. W. BISBEE, writes from Deerfield, Mich: I am trying to serve the Lord to the best of my ability, but I am a frail being and have many things to contend with; still, I do not give up nor despair, for I mean, through the grace of a kind Heavenly Father, to go through to the kingdom. Pray for me that I may outride the storms of affliction, and meet you all on Mount Zion, and be forever with the Lord.
Communication from Bro. Rhodes.
By S. W. Rhodes
DEAR FRIENDS IN CHRIST: After a long silence, I am permitted to speak once more to you through the Review. About seven years since, I stated that I had played the prodigal, so far as wandering from home and coming to myself. Since my capture by the enemy I have been in a state of mind between hope and despair, poor, miserable, wretched, blind and naked. You may get something of an idea of my suffering and misery from the case of a Northern soldier taken prisoner in the late rebellion, and confined in a Southern prison, starving, dying, without any prospect of deliverance; or from that of the man who fell among thieves, and was left, stripped, wounded, bleeding and dying.
The following were some of my reflections: I have merited these afflictions. I am the author of my grief and misery. I disobeyed my Father's commandments. I did not give heed to good counsel and kind reproofs. In short, a proud heart deceived me, and brought me to this fearful condition, into the dust of death. I did not cast one reflection upon my brethren, as being the cause of my grief. Bro. and Sr. White had held me up as long as they could consistently, and longer than I could reasonably have asked. They had been faithful to warn me of my danger of falling into trouble by my hasty, unyielding, and self-justifying spirit. May God bless them for their faithfulness to me, and for their good counsel and advice which I never dare to throw away.
While in this state of mind, the feelings of my heart were such as David expresses in the following language: How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? For ever? How long wilt thou hide thy face from me? Consider and hear me, O Lord, my God: lighten mine eyes lest I sleep the sleep of death. Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted. O bring thou me out of my distresses. Look upon mine affliction and my pain, and forgive all my sin. O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath; neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. For mine iniquities are gone over my head; as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness. I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long, for my loins are filled with a loathsome disease, and there is no soundness in my flesh.”
My hope gone, my sins pressing me down, the Devil tempting me at times to take a course that would lead me to disgrace my friends and the cause that I had loved more than twenty years, and still loved, were all that I could well grapple with and retain my reason. The thought that I must be forever separated from a people that I still loved, has at times been almost unendurable, and so worn upon my mind and body, that I find myself physically and mentally weak as a short Samson. I would not pass through such deep waters again for worlds like this. How true the word that says, The ways of the transgressor is hard. I am a chastened, and, I trust, a subdued child.
About fourteen months since, at the N. Y. State Conference, I asked one in whose religious experience and Christian character I have had unwavering confidence, if she thought my salvation possible. The reply was, Yes! From that time, being encouraged to hope, not only from this testimony, but from the comforting words of brethren, and especially our dear Bro. C. O. Taylor, I began to amend, and to labor more earnestly to hope in God and gain victories over my besetments.
At a meeting attended by Bro. and Sr. White and Bro. Andrews, two months since, at Roosevelt, I received unexpectedly great strength from the Lord through the testimonies of those dear servants of God. Oh! how sorry I am that I ever have grieved Jesus by grieving such choice spirits and children of the Most High. To know by satisfactory evidence that my salvation was possible, and probable (if faithful), caused me to rejoice with exceeding joy. Peace like a river has followed me daily since that ever-memorable meeting. Comparing my past few years of sorrow with my present hope, I can say that I am again a happy man.
I penitently acknowledge before my Heavenly Father, his dear Son, good angels, and the saints, my past wrongs, and humbly ask their forgiveness. I will, by the help of the Lord, no more hurt the oil and the wine, nor wound or grieve my dear brethren, by unwise words or dealings in their midst.
I shall ever remember with grateful feelings those who have pitied, helped and prayed for me in my distress. I trust the lesson I have learned by what I have suffered, will not be forgotten by me while life shall last, a lesson of obedience and submission to God and his church. I now see and realize as never before the long-suffering, patience, mercy and love of God. O Lord, grant me and thy people the same love toward erring, sinful man. Amen.
Yours truly,
S. W. RHODES.
Health Institute, Nov., 1867.
P. S. If I have taken aught from any man, let me know at Battle Creek, Mich., and I will try to imitate Zaccheus, Luke xix, 8, in answering you.
S. W. R.
B. G. ST. JOHN
By B. G. St. John
From Bro. St. John.
BRO. SMITH: Enclosed I send you slips from the Alta Californian (one of the leading journals of this city), containing a synopsis of two discourses; one on the coming of the Lord, and the other on the Resurrection, by one of our “reverend” religious teachers. I do this, not because I am in harmony with the sentiments therein expressed, but that the friends in Battle Creek may see something of the monstrous errors that are weekly proclaimed to this people for gospel truths, as well as to understand that this is really a good missionary field for a man filled with the spirit and love of God, of strong faith, and mighty in the Scriptures. All of the popular isms of the day—Catholicism, Judaism, Protestantism, Swedenborgianism, and Spiritualism, in all their subdivisions,—exist here in a flourishing condition, and yet there is not one to hold up the law of God as the rule of life, or to proclaim the soon coming of the Lord in visible majesty to verify to the saint his long cherished hope. So blinded have these teachers become by tradition, and so intoxicated with the wine of Babylon, that they put darkness for light, bitter for sweet, and fables for God’s holy word of truth.
I have read your paper with interest and profit for several years, and though I do not fully understand all its utterances, I esteem it highly for the stirring Bible truths spread upon its pages and the spirit that pervades its controversial articles.
I am quite sure that the law of God is the truth, and that it is binding upon all; that the seventh day of each week is the Sabbath of the Lord, and that man should cease from all his work on that day in token of his acknowledgment that the Lord—the creator of all things, is the only living and true God—that this seventh-day Sabbath was to be a perpetual sign, a memorial to those who keep it, and is as unrepeatable in its very nature as is the great truth that God is the Creator of all things.
Myself and wife are among the few in this region who keep the Sabbath, and are watching and waiting for the coming of our Lord, hoping to be found in Him, without spot and blameless. We have had occasional meetings, and now purpose to hold them every Sabbath for exhortation and prayer, praying that the Lord would send some one of his servants to this far off coast, that the great things of His law might be proclaimed here where “darkness covers the land and gross darkness the people.”
B. G. ST. JOHN
San Francisco Co., Cal.
WM. HILL
By WM. HILL
From Bro. Hill.
BRO. SMITH: I write a few lines to the brethren, and especially those of Minnesota, to let them know what the Lord is doing for us in Jo. Davis. Bro. G. Dimmick has been laboring with us for the past two weeks, and has shown himself a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth, giving to all their portion of meat in due season. As a result of his labors, prejudice in many minds has disappeared and those who were in the truth were established in the faith and greatly encouraged to go on to the kingdom. And besides all this, at our meeting for prayer and conference yesterday (Sabbath), five more of the most intelligent of the community made a start to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and go with the remnant people of God to Mount Zion. Oh! truly, it was a precious season. The Lord was with his people, and it was good to be there.
Pray for us, brethren, that the good Shepherd will take care of his little flock in the wilderness, keep us humble and faithful, and finally give each an inheritance in the earth made new.
Yours in hope of eternal life.
WM. HILL
Faribault Co., Minn.
THE YOUTHS' INSTRUCTOR.
By J. M. ALDRICH
Shall it be Published Semi-monthly ?
At the last meeting of the S. D. A. Pub. Association it was unanimously voted to issue the Instructor semi-monthly. We have no doubt that this would make it far more interesting and beneficial to all of its readers; and we presume that our young friends are now looking forward in joyous anticipation to the commencement of the new volume, expecting that they will then be permitted to receive their paper once in every two weeks, instead of once a month, as now. We are heartily in favor of thus gratifying our young readers, for by so doing, we believe the Instructor would become much more interesting and profitable to them. But right here quite a serious question presents itself. Will our brethren and young friends meet the expenses? and if so, how will they do it?
In order to publish the Instructor semi-monthly we want a subscription list of at least 4,000 paying subscribers at 50 cents a year, whereas, we have now scarcely 3,000 that we can rely upon as sound on the pay question. Now, friends, we must have such a list made up at once,—which, by the way, you can easily accomplish if you will only set yourself about the work,—or, we must have the deficiency made up by donations, and the payment of more than the above-established rate. Very many of our Instructor friends have been in the habit of paying double the regular subscription price in order to support the paper in the past, and thus benefit the children. This is right, and all such have the warmest thanks of the publishers. And, now, if these friends are in favor of the semi-monthly issue,—as we have no doubt that they are—we shall be under the necessity of asking them to continue to pay the double rate, which will be $1.00 a year. But what we now want is assurance in the matter immediately. In less than a month we shall commence the new volume, and before we can fully decide to publish the same twice a month, we want to be assured that the increased expense will be fully met, either by one or both of the ways above indicated. We should greatly prefer to have the increased list, for thereby more good would be accomplished in having a greater number of readers; but knowing the habitual neglect of our friends to interest themselves in procuring subscribers, we dare not expect the immediate assurance that we want from this mode alone, and we therefore ask the liberal ones to respond immediately on their subscriptions at the double rate.
Of course no one wants the Publishing Association to try experiments that will only result in financial embarrassment, and we therefore do not feel quite clear to run the risk of printing semi-monthly, until we have the assurance which we ask. Our friends now see how the case stands. If they wish us to publish the Instructor twice a month—as we shall be greatly pleased to do—they must interest themselves in its behalf. They must help increase the subscription list; they must donate for the poor that we always have on our list, who are not able to pay, and they must be prompt in paying up their own subscriptions.
After saying what we have, we leave the matter of printing the Youths' Instructor semi-monthly with our friends. If they are willing to second our efforts and wishes on this question, we shall expect within the next three weeks to obtain from them the assurance we desire.
In conclusion, we say to all, now is the time to renew your subscriptions. When the new volume shall commence,—whether the paper be printed once or twice a month,—let us have a paid up list. Many are now in arrears. We shall be under the disagreeable necessity of cutting off such from our list unless we hear from them. And let it be here distinctly understood that subscriptions are due from all who are not credited to 17–1. Look to the posters immediately.
J. M. ALDRICH.
ALIVE TWO THOUSAND YEARS.
IN the course of his wanderings among the pyramids of Egypt, Lord Lindsay, the celebrated English traveler, accidentally came across a mummy, which the inscription upon it proved to be two thousand years old. In examining the mummy, after it was carefully unwrapped, he found in one of its enclosed hands a small, round root. Wondering how long vegetable life could last, he took the little bulb from the mummy’s hand, and planted it in a sunny soil, allowed the dews and rains of heaven to descend upon it, and in the course of a few weeks, to his astonishment and joy, that root burst forth and bloomed into a beautiful flower. This interesting incident suggested to Mrs. S. H. Bradford, an American poetess, the following verses upon
“THE RESURRECTION.”
Two thousand years ago a flower
Bloomed lightly in a far-off land;
Two thousand years ago its reed
Was placed within a dead man’s hand.
Before the Saviour came to earth,
That man had lived and loved and died,
And even in that far-off time,
The flower had spread its perfume wide.
Suns rose and set, years came and went,
The dead hand kept its treasure well;
Nations were born and turned to dust,
While life was hidden in that shell.
The shriveled hand is robbed at last,
The reed is buried in the earth;
When, lo! the life—long hidden there—
Into a glorious flower burst forth.
Just such a plant as that which grew,
From such a reed when buried low;
Just such a flower in Egypt bloomed
And died two thousand years ago.
And will not He who watched the reed
And kept the life within the shell,
When those He loves are laid to rest,
Watch o’er their buried dust as well?
And will He not from ’neath the sod
Cause something glorious to arise?
Aye, though it sleep two thousand years,
Yet all that buried dust shall rise.
Just such a face as greets you now,
Just such a form as here we wear,
Only more glorious far, will rise
To meet the Saviour in the air.
Then will I lay me down in peace,
When called to leave this vale of tears,
For “in my flesh shall I see God,”
E’en though I sleep two thousand years.
MONTHLY MEETING AT NEWTON.
In company with Bro. Byington, I attended this meeting on the 16th inst. We both spoke to the brethren and sisters as it seemed to be duty. We were especially impressed to exhort the parents to labor more for the salvation of their children. It was evident in this we were led by the Spirit of God. All seemed to feel that the time had come to engage more heartily and perseveringly in the work of leading the youth and children to the Saviour. Parents pledged themselves to remove every obstacle in the way of their children. They confessed to them, and besought them to start for Mount Zion. Several expressed their desire to do so, by rising for prayers.
A deep sense of our unworthiness, and of the love and mercy of God, pervaded the entire congregation. All felt that it was a good place on the account of the presence and power of God.
The church appointed one more prayer-meeting for each week, and also covenanted to especially remember the children in their prayers in their Sabbath evening prayer-meeting, and to labor by word and example in their families to help them along in the good way. The evening meetings the following weeks were good and encouraging. The following Sabbath I spent with the church there again, and was happy to know that the good work was onward, and that all seemed encouraged not to draw back unto perdition, but to believe to the saving of the soul.
It seems evident that there is a general move, inspired by the Spirit and power of God, on the part of parents for the salvation of the young. Oh! may they be blessed and find salvation among the sanctified and saved in the kingdom of God.
A. S. HUTCHINS.
Health Institute, Nov., 1867.
REPORT FROM BRO. COTTRELL.
BRO. SMITH: It has been some time since my name has been seen in the Review, but I would here say that it is not because I have lost my love for, or attachment to, the present truth. From the time397of my conversion to the third angel’s message, I determined to use my influence to have meetings held here at Bowersville. And in order to obtain messengers to hold meetings here, I traveled over five hundred miles, sacrificed time and means, and, thank God, succeeded in getting two efficient ministers (Brn. Waggoner and Van Horn) to come with the tent to our place. Their labors were abundantly blessed, praise the Lord! for a band of commandment-keepers has been the result of their faithful labors. And still they come. More, we believe, will yet come out. Oh! praise the Lord for his goodness to us. We have long prayed for the Lord to raise up a company of Sabbath-keepers here. We now have the evidence before us that the Lord answers the prayers of his children. I would say to my brethren and sisters that we have nothing to fear, for the Lord is with us of a truth. Let us labor to get nearer to the Lord and pray to him to sanctify us through the truth.
Our Sabbath meetings are well attended, and truly interesting; and we trust profitable to all. We are trying to live so that we may be prepared for translation. We don't expect to repose on flowery beds of ease, for persecution has been a part of our legacy thus far. And we expect yet more; and in the fear of the Lord we would say, Let it come; for we believe that his grace will be sufficient for us. If we are faithful he will cause us to stand. He will never leave nor forsake us. Pray for us, that we may stand firm in all the truth.
Yours in love, WM. COTTRELL.
Green Co., O.
THE WHOLE WORLD IN PERPLEXITY.
The agents concerned in the fulfillment of the various prophecies of the Bible, are the best commentators on those prophecies which they respectively accomplish. The utterances of distracted statesmen and politicians, furnish the best comment on the predicted “distress of nations with perplexity,” which was to characterize the last days. The scoffers of these days furnish a better comment than we can give on 2 Pet. iii, 3, 4, and a multitude of other scriptures; spiritualists, or 2 Tim. iii, 6–8; members of the popular churches, or 2 Tim. iv, 3, 4; iii, 1–5, and so on, almost without number. In accordance with this view, mark how vividly, in the following paragraph, a secular writer in giving the present condition of the world, has described that state of things which the prophecy has told us would exist just before the end. We have italicized a few words as worthy of special notice:
“The whole world,” says a leading London (Eng.) journal, “seems now to be in a state of disquietude. Whether we turn our faces east, west, north or south, we see governments and populations in a slow ferment of uncertainty and dread.” A London correspondent writes that “The Chamber of Commerce of Rouen, in France, in view of the crisis which has struck down some of the great financial institutions, and the paralysis of manufactures in that country, has written to the Chamber of Commerce of Liverpool, asking for an explanation of the causes of the pervading panic. This letter is dated Sept. 18. Taking time to consider, the Liverpool Chamber replied, on the 10th inst., that as far as it could see, the trouble was caused by the American war, and the cotton famine, the high duties levied in America on imports, the continued disorganization of industry in the Southern States, the unsettled state of Europe, military preparations and apprehension of war. In England, also, there have been rash speculations and consequent heavy failures. Destruction of property, disorganization of industry, interruption of production and trade, and a dread of similar or greater disturbances, may be reasons enough for the depression of trade in Europe. The one reason, however, is want of confidence in the future. This gorges the banks with unused capital, and makes it impossible to sell stock in the most promising speculations.”—Toledo Blade.
MEETINGS IN WISCONSIN.
By I. Sanborn
I HAVE now spent three weeks preaching in the town of Waterloo, joining Cassville on the east, and about six miles from where I first commenced meeting. The interest has been good from the beginning, and the result is that twenty-two are now keeping the Sabbath. Last Sabbath ten were baptized. Father Elwell was the only one in the neighborhood that really professed any religion. He is about 80 years old, and has used tobacco about 40 years, but has now given it up, and has come out on the great truths of the third angel's message. If as old a man as he is can leave off the use of tobacco for the glory of God, then younger people ought to do it, as many of them in this place have already done. May God help others to go and do likewise, and thus cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord. 2 Cor. vii, 1. I have again commenced meetings in the town of Waterloo, within two miles of where I preached in Cassville, to be continued two weeks, in which time we expect quite a number more will embrace the truth. I trust I shall still have the prayers of all who love this blessed cause, that God may still give me wisdom to preach his word according to his will, that precious souls may still be converted and added to the Lord, and thus be sanctified and prepared for the coming of his dear Son, which is my prayer.
I. SANBORN.
Cassville, Wis., Nov. 18, 1867.
GOOD THINGS.
By L. C. Tolhurst
In Deut. vi, Moses exhorts Israel to hear God and keep his commandments; and if they obeyed these, the promise was that “when he brought them into the land which he sware unto their fathers, their houses should be filled with good things.” Again in Jos. xxiii, as Joshua waxed old, he called for all Israel; and as he exhorted them, he says in verse 14, “And ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you.”
David, in Psa. cv, 5, in blessing the Lord, says, “Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things.” In Prov. xxviii, 10, it is said that the upright shall have good things. Christ says in Matt. vii, 11, Our Heavenly Father will give good things to those that ask him. In Rom. x, 15, we are told that the gospel of peace bringeth glad tidings of good things. In Heb. it says that Christ is an high Priest of good things to come. We have good things in this world, and Christ being our high Priest of good things to come, we may still look forward for good things to come.
These thoughts about good things were suggested upon reading Bro. J. E. White’s “Acknowledgment.” Brethren and sisters, these are good things that are taking place through the workings of the Spirit of God upon the hearts of his children. May God bless the young brother, and bring him safe to Mount Zion.