Earlier text: POPULAR WORKS OF FICTION.APPEAL TO YOUNG SABBATH-KEEPERS.
By John Q. Fox
DEAR YOUNG FRIENDS: God has spoken and shall we not take heed? In Testimony No. 12, the youth among Seventh-day Adventists are represented as occupying an awful and dangerous position—awful at any period, but doubly so in consideration of the fact that we are living very near the close of time; in a time when the last solemn message of mercy is being given to a perishing world, when, therefore, every one professing godliness should let their light shine, and have a saving influence on those around, that they may be led to seek a shelter from the coming storm; in a time when probation is soon to close, and the destiny of all to be eternally fixed. Solemn thought! awful, not so much from the nature of the danger, as that we are seemingly insensible of it. Oh, that we might be aroused to a sense of our true condition, while yet there is hope, while yet Jesus pleads in our behalf. I cannot expect, neither is it necessary to add any thing to the testimony given, for it is plain and unvarnished. Our salvation or destruction will in a great measure depend upon whether we disregard, or heed and profit by it. We have had many warnings and solemn admonitions, several, like this, directly from Heaven. In almost every “Testimony for the Church” is a message for the young, warning, instructing, and encouraging us to greater diligence in the cause of God. Had they had their designed effect upon us, this last would not have been necessary. It may be our last. “He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” We have a holy, a just God to deal with. He has borne long with and has dealt kindly toward us. Shall we presume upon his mercy, and lightly regard his warnings, until he, in his strict justice, visits us with judgment, or cuts us off as cumberers of the ground, as stumbling-blocks to others? What ingratitude! What an insult to that Saviour who has suffered so much for us, to manifest so little concern for ourselves, to live at this poor dying rate, and thus bring reproach and dishonor upon the cause we profess to love. Were we warned to escape from the magazine about to explode, or to ply the car against the current rapidly sweeping us on to the foaming cataract, a second warning would be unnecessary; but infinitely more awful is the fate of which we have repeatedly been admonished, yet we make little or no effort to avoid it. On the very brink of destruction, yet apparently indifferent with regard to it! True, we have fallen upon an evil time, a time when the tide of iniquity is fearfully against us, when every influence outside the people of God, tends to divert our minds from heavenly things, to drown our interest in and love for the truth, to draw our affections away from God and his people, and blind our minds to our eternal interests; but God, aware of this, kindly condescends to instruct us as to our duty. He has pointed out the way in which he would have us walk, and has held out every inducement for us to walk in it. Now if we pass by lightly, or take no notice of this, will not God hold us responsible, and will not our condemnation be thereby greatly increased? But we by such a course, shall not only endanger our own safety, but there are those all around us, whose hearts are tender, and who if rightly influenced might be brought to a saving knowledge of the truth, whose everlasting ruin may be the result of our wrong course, and their blood be found on our garments. We must soon appear before the Judge of all the earth, and Oh, if we have been unfaithful, what will be our excuse. We shall have none, and our position will be with hypocrites and unbelievers. This is no fancy sketch. Alas! it is too true; and we if not soon aroused, may awake when it is too late for repentance, to find it a terrible reality. “That awful day will surely come,
Th’ appointed hour makes haste,
When I must stand before the Judge,
And pass the final test.” But turning from this we may hopefully contemplate the other side of the picture. The people of God are rising and, by laying aside their idols, are coming into a position where God can bless them with a great measure of his Holy Spirit, and thereby prepare them for translation into his everlasting kingdom. Would we rise with them? Would we share in their joys and trials here and in their final triumph, and with them receive the rich reward of eternal life? Then must we be willing with them to make a sacrifice. We must deny ourselves the pleasures and vanities of earth, be willing to suffer persecution, to bear the scorn and contempt of the world, and to strive to glorify God in our bodies and spirits which are his. Is not the Christian’s hope—the hope of Heaven, the hope of reigning with Christ, and enjoying the society of the redeemed throughout the never-ending ages of eternity, of ranging the plains of the earth when restored to its primeval glory, when there will be no tempting Devil, “No rude alarm of raging foes,
No cares to break our long repose,” no sorrow, sickness, pain or death—is not this enough to induce us to be overcomers? Oh, the unbounded goodness and tender mercy of God! How unwilling that we should perish! How ready to forgive! If we lose Heaven it will be our own fault. Oh, let us be in earnest now to get an experience for ourselves, to build a good foundation against the time to come, to lay up treasure in Heaven, and learn to exercise that faith and confidence in God which will enable us to stand in the time of trouble, when there will be no Saviour to plead our cause. We may, with great profit and encouragement to ourselves, meditate upon the goodness of God, contemplate the glories of his kingdom, and try to realize the great sacrifice that has been made for us. Oh, may God help us that we may outwit the enemy of our souls, and finally share the rest that remains for his faithful people. JOHN Q. FOX.
Madison Co., N. Y. WHO IS WITHOUT FAULT?
By Rebekah Smith
Is there one here, who, e'er thus far,
Has blameless been preserved?
Who never strayed, made one mistake,
Or e'er from duty swerved? There may have been no outward act
To cause one pang of grief,
But has there been no secret fault,
No sin of unbelief? Then judge not harshly; who can tell
Thy brother's suffering now,
That he has failed in any point,
To pay the Lord his vow? From secret faults, the Psalmist prayed,
Dear Lord, Oh cleanse thou me,
And from presumptuous sins keep back,
Preserve and make me free. Left to himself, how great his fall!
And he himself the guide.
How humbled, mortified, subdued,
His vanity and pride! We are left to sin, to punish sin,
No consolation here,
Reflection only swells the tide
Of anguish sad and drear. Our falls oft cause a bitter grief,
That no redemption knows,
The deep, the painful, bleeding wound,
Time here can never close. The die when cast, the ship when sunk,
To light can never rise.
Our good name lost—and all on board,
Then goes in sad surprise. Oh! what a vacancy then made,
An empty, aching void;
Our peace of mind in silence crushed,
And hope's bright boon destroyed. But there is pardon with our God,
For crimes of deepest dye;
Be self and pride then humbled low,
In dust and ashes lie. It should be there and God will see,
Those whom he loves refined.
He'll keep them in the crucible
Till they his statutes mind. He'll watch the furnace and will see
The gold sustains no loss.
Oh! be the faithful process borne,
And all consumed the dross. God must in us his image see,
And we reflect the same.
Oh! may we honor and adore
And glorify his name. REBEKAH SMITH.
Adams Center, N. Y., Sept. 26, 1867. THERE is often much comfortable suggestion in a single phrase, or word of inspired Scripture. Jesus said to his disciples in the hour of deepest grief and anxiety, John xv, 16, “I have chosen you and placed you.” Our version renders it, “I have ordained you.” But the original is simply, “I have placed you.” The place you occupy, then, is his appointment, his choice. We may not like it. It may be a low place, a narrow place. The work it requires may not afford much scope for energy, or excitement to activity, or opportunity for distinction; it may not even be so directly spiritual, or have so proximate a relation as we could wish to the advancement of the cause of God. But if Christ by his resistless providence has allotted it to us, we had better be contented with it, and make the best of it. One of the titles of Christ is “The Captain of Salvation.” No captain will permit a soldier to quit his place in the ranks because he thinks it below his merit, because it does not give him a good chance to show his courage, or to win distinction in the war. Whether he is placed in front or rear, in the forlorn hope, or among “the reserves;” whether he is attached to a scouting party, or ordered to cover a retreat, or guard the baggage, his part is bravely, watchfully, skillfully, cheerfully to keep the place and do the duty assigned him. No act of disobedience would be more flagrant than to forsake it without orders for one more conspicuous. Even to murmur, or to “sulk,” because of the inactivity or obscurity to which he was consigned, would be regarded as disloyal, and expose him to rebuke, perhaps to degradation. The Captain of the Lord’s host, the captain of salvation, does not require a less prompt and absolute obedience than human commanders. The most skillful and penetrating officer may be mistaken in his estimate of the capacity and skill of subordinates. Christ cannot be mistaken in us. He made us. He gave us whatever of talent or grace we have. He will not waste a particle of either. He knows “the very niche we are designed to fill,” and if we humbly and observantly yield to his guiding hand, he will drop us into it. “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” was a prayer which began a glorious career of usefulness. His own gracious words may calm our disquieting aspirations,—“He that is least among you all, the same shall be great.” The awards of the last day will greatly reverse the present order of things, and disappoint alike the sky-aspiring thoughts of one class, and the lowly self-deprecation of another. There is solemnity with which our Lord makes this declaration: “Behold! there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.”—Tract Journal. A BEAUTIFUL ILLUSTRATION.—The following paragraph by Dr. Holmes contains a beautiful and truthful illustration: If one should give me a dish of sand and tell me there were particles of iron in it, I might look for them with my eyes, and search for them with my clumsy fingers, and be unable to detect them; but let me take a magnet and sweep through it, and how would it draw to itself the most invisible particles, by the mere power of attraction. The unthankful heart, like my fingers in the sand, discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day, and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings; only the iron of God's sand is gold. From Bro. Smith.
By Adolphus Smith
BRO. SMITH: A few names of us here in Blendon are striving to buy the gold, the white raiment, and the eyesalve, which Jesus offers without money or price. My companion, from first being opposed, afterward consented to be led, and to my joy finally herself took the lead in many points of present truth. We are striving, in our own family especially, to keep the Sabbath more perfectly than in time past. It appears to me that the Sabbath is as sacred now as when it was promulgated from the summit of quaking Sinai. We strive to make the Sabbath a delight; but we seek not our own pleasure, profit, or convenience, in matters that could as well be attended to on other days. We think it our duty to treat all about us with due regard to their age, their capacity, and their moral relation to us. We strive to be clad in our Sabbath garments before the going down of the sun on preparation-day. We partake of no warm food, so prepared, on the Sabbath, when we can partake of cold food as well without detriment to our health. These things we think it is right to do that we may discipline our minds and bodies to reverence God's holy day. From the first being opposed to the Health Reform, and especially to the Health Reform Institute, I have learned, from happy experience, to bless God for the former, and to consider the latter as a most beneficent institution for the suffering flock of God. My objections to a substantial brick building in lieu of cheaper wooden ones, in view of the shortness of time, have given place to the more reasonable conclusion that such buildings would be far more comfortable, and better adapted to the wants of this cause while time does last. Myself and companion for two years past have been awaiting baptism. We are without an organization here, and only one out of nine of our present number is in possession of a church letter. Yet we cannot call a messenger to leave a good work elsewhere for our benefit, except to explore the field, and judge for himself in the sight of God whether his labor be needed here or not. We shall, by the Lord's aid, endeavor to hold out against the enemy. We want to live so that our neighbors will know without being told that we are followers of Jesus. ADOLPHUS SMITH. Ottawa Co., Mich., Sept. 28, 1867. VISIT TO CONNECTICUT.
By J. S. Miller
I HAVE just returned from a visit with Bro. Rodman among our Connecticut brethren, and although a report of those meetings has already been forwarded, perhaps it may not be amiss to briefly acknowledge the blessings the Lord has bestowed on me in connection with this visit. At Kensington I had the pleasure of forming an acquaintance with several who may properly be called pioneers, who had an experience in the first and second messages, and were intimately connected with the rise of the third message. Oh, how my faith was confirmed and my hope strengthened as they related some incidents connected with the infantile days of this message, and with its progress from that time to the present. Kensington may truly be said to be sacred to the memory of those trying hours which were experienced by those who first preached the unpopular truth of the Sabbath in connection with the second advent of our Lord from Heaven. Some of those experiences have been alluded to in the testimonies of sister White, but oh, how it gives life to those events therein related to hear them confirmed by those who were associated with her in those bitter trials. With the church in Kensington the third angel’s message is a reality in a sense that it can be to but a few. I could truly say on leaving that place that my spiritual strength had been renewed. From Kensington we went to Pleasantville, N. Y., to attend a grove meeting gotten up by Bro. Wild, the only Sabbath-keeper in that section. At this place I was permitted to become acquainted with a number of God’s children, who came all the way from thirty to seventy miles to attend this meeting, and who might truly be said to be hungering and thirsting after righteousness. Oh, how have I been encouraged to plead the promise of the Master to such, that “they shall be filled.” Among those who attended that meeting were many who apparently possessed as much of a love of the truth as any Christians I ever saw, and while I could but regret that they had never been instructed in the truths pertaining to the third angel’s message, my hope was encouraged that the way would by some means be opened for them to receive the whole truth intended for this generation. May the ties of love there formed remain unbroken until we all meet on Mt. Zion. Not the least interesting to me was the administration of the ordinance of baptism to some half a dozen candidates for the kingdom that is promised to the faithful. I can now see a beauty and solemnity in this ordinance that must be entirely unknown to those who disconnect it from the glorious doctrine of a literal resurrection from the dead. May the Lord bless Bro. Wild and give him the wisdom that he needs to fill the responsible position in which Providence has evidently placed him. From Pleasantville we proceeded to Abington, Ct. The week that I spent with Bro. Rodman in visiting among the brethren in that section was of profit to me. I trust that the acquaintances which have just commenced with the little flock there will be perpetuated in the new earth. May the Lord go with them both in joy and affliction. And now, as I return to Rhode Island, I feel that I can truly say that the last four weeks have been weeks of spiritual growth to me. I can look back and recount various little items of experience which will be of profit to me in coming days; and as I enumerate those who have been added to the precious ones that have a place in my prayers and my heart’s best affections, I can raise my voice in praise to God for the cementing influence of Christian love. J. S. MILLER.
Ashaway, R. I., Sept. 30, 1867. ALL the little vexations of life have their use as a part of our moral discipline. They afford the best trial of character. Many a man who could bow with resignation, if told that he was to die, is thrown off his guard and out of temper by the slightest opposition to his opinions or his projects. THERE are two ways of being rich: Raise your revenue to the level of your desires, or lower your desires to the level of your revenue. There is, perhaps, no better test of the religious state of the individual than the frequency and delight with which he engages in secret prayer. If we have a dear and confiding earthly friend, our communion with him is sweet, and we seek his society often. We do this the more proportionally as our attachment to them is increased. Our relations to God are regulated by the same law as to our friends. The true child of God will be on terms of the greatest intimacy with his Heavenly Father and will ever delight to seek counsel and direction of him, while he who has never been adopted into his family cannot share his presence. Secret prayer is not only a test of Christian character, but it is also an effectual means of grace. To continue the figure which we have already introduced, frequent intercourse is often conducive to strong and lasting friendship. It is a common remark, “One only need become acquainted with that man to love him.” This is emphatically true of Christ. The closet is one of the best of places in which to become acquainted with him, and have our attachment to him strengthened. It will be well for us if we are often found there. We should enter it not only to pour out the secrets of our hearts, but burdened for the welfare of souls, remembering that “the effectual, fervent prayer of the righteous man availeth much.” Were there more earnest wrestling with God in secret we should witness corresponding results. There would be greater attachments to Christ, a higher type of piety, more earnest and extensive Christian efforts, and a larger ingathering of souls into the Redeemer’s fold. Let none forget the injunction, “Enter into thy closet.”—Morning Star. 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. From Sister Merrick.
By Martha A. Merrick
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: I feel truly to rejoice in the Lord and praise his holy name for the many blessings I have been permitted to enjoy. About seven years ago it was my privilege to hear the third angel's message preached, and ever since, by the help of the Lord, I have been trying to live out the truths therein presented. What glorious truths! to shed such light on divine inspiration! Step by step the light is advancing which brings to us the glorious boon. The Health Reform, to which I feel greatly indebted, found me suffering with the many ills arising from a weak constitution and nervous dyspepsia. Now, by living out the laws of health as well as I can, I enjoy good health. I want to get the victory over every besetting sin. Many are the trials and temptations we have to endure whilst the perils of the last days are thickening around us. Oh, for grace to sustain me through these trying times. I hope to be an overcomer and meet you all on Mt. Zion. From Bro. Keyser.
By Nathaniel Keyser
DEAR BRN. AND SISTERS: By the request of the people I gave a lecture in this place on the Sabbath and the perpetuity of the Law. I showed them that the Sabbath was binding in the gospel dispensation, and that the law was binding in all its parts. The meeting held in a school-house was well attended, notwithstanding there was a basket-meeting and a funeral at the same time in the neighborhood. I spoke two hours with good freedom, a good interest rising all the time. I felt the Spirit of the Lord was with us. The people want to hear more of the truth. There is no opposition as yet. I think God has a people here. I got five subscribers for the Review. I could sell some books if I had them. Can not some preacher come and give a course of lectures here? If so, will he please inform me. Kimball P. O., Jasper Co., Iowa. SISTER M. HAYES writes from Eaton Co., Mich.: I am still striving to keep the commandments. I humbly ask the prayers of the people of God that I may be an overcomer and have a part with the remnant people in the new earth. The following lines on the dove in Noah's ark I copied from a book eleven years ago. They spoke the language of my heart then and they do still. Dear little dove, when I think of you,
I sigh for an ark of safety too.
A storm is coming when Christ will be,
To those who are his, like the ark to thee. Dear little dove, you did not know
Who it was that kept and sheltered you so;
But I can read of the Son of God,
Who to save my soul has shed his blood. Dear little dove, you trusted in one
Who kept you safe till the storm was done.
May I believe and be sheltered too;
There is an ark for me as there was for you. DANGER OF REVERIE.—“Do anything innocent,” says the memoir of Dr. Channing, “rather than give yourself up to reverie. I can speak on this point from experience. At one period in my life I was a dreamer and castle-builder. Visions of the distant future took the place of present duty and activity. I spent hours in reverie. I suppose I was seduced in part by physical debility. But the body suffered as much as the mind. I found, too, that the imagination threatened to inflame the passions, and that if I meant to be virtuous, I must dismiss my musings. The conflict was a hard one; I resolved, prayed, resisted, sought refuge in occupation, and at length triumphed. I beg you to avail yourself of my experience.” JETHRO'S WISE COUNSEL TO MOSES.
By D. T. BOURDEAU
“And it came to pass on the morrow that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from morning unto the evening. And when Moses' father-in-law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? Why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even? And Moses said unto his father-in-law, Because the people come unto me to inquire of God: When they have a matter, they come unto me, and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws. And Moses' father-in-law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it alone. Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God: And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do. Moreover, thou shalt provide out of all the people, able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. And let them judge the people at all seasons: it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee. If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace. So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he said.” Ex. xviii, 18–24. All must acknowledge the reasonableness of this counsel of Jethro to Moses. It is so replete with common sense and wisdom, that Moses endorses it at once, and shapes his conduct in harmony with it. It is evident that Moses had more burdens upon him than he could well bear up under, and that, unless he changed his course, he must soon break down under the enormous weight of his responsibilities. But the only way to avert this threatening calamity, was for Moses to appoint men of wisdom, God-fearing and disinterested men, to aid him in his arduous work; and they were to refer to him only such matters as were too deep and complicated for them to decide upon. Thus this eminent and useful servant of God could be preserved unto the people of God, to bless them with his rich counsels and instructions. And even then he would have all the labor that he could well perform. Now this counsel was not recorded that we might view it as applying only in the age in which it was given. There have been in every age those who have sustained the same relation to the people and work of God that Moses did; and we as a people understand that this is true in regard to those whom God has called to lead out under the last message of mercy. Their gifts and experience are precious to the cause, and we desire to have them continue among us. And how shall this object be gained? We answer, By not rolling upon them burdens that we or others can bear. We are sorry to say that this is frequently done, especially at large gatherings, where matters are brought before them that elders and preachers should decide upon. Brethren and sisters, shall we not learn from the past and reform on this point? It is just such burdens as these that have greatly helped in wearing Bro. White's vitality, and bringing him where his gift and experience were for a time nearly lost to the cause. I trust we shall awake to this subject. Order has been established among us to distribute the burdens in the church equally, that some may not be eased while others are burdened. Let us not be guilty of burdening Bro. and Sr. White with matters that we or others can attend to. They are glad to see us, but it should not be expected that they can visit with all; much less that they should be detained by our relating trials, that we have either brought upon ourselves by our lack of consecration and that we should bear ourselves, or that our elders and preachers should help us in deciding upon. Let us cheer these servants of God as we meet them, and give them the friendly hand, with holy buoyancy and encouraging words. A word to the wise is sufficient. “REPROVE, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and doctrine.” 2 Tim. iv, 2. Here we have Scripture authority for reproving, but to perform this work so that it may be effectual for good, is one of the most difficult tasks allotted to mortals. The righteous only should reprove. David says, “Let the righteous reprove me, it shall be an excellent oil which shall not break my head.” But let a person who is not right himself in the matter to be corrected, reprove another, instead of being an excellent oil, it will stir up their evil nature and the old adage of “the Devil reproving sin” will pass through the mind of the person reproved, or perhaps the retort, “Physician heal thyself,” will rise to the lips, if it is not spoken. We all know from experience how we are affected on hearing a person speaking against wrongs that we know they are guilty of themselves. Perhaps a person denouncing the sin of covetousness, and at the same time in all their business relations doing all they can to accumulate property; or a brother declaiming against light and trifling conversation, and reproving his brethren and sisters for jesting and laughing, and perhaps in a day or two, or in a few minutes after, he will engage in the very actions he has been condemning in them, or go to such lengths in “carrying on” that he will disgust both saint and sinner with his actions, and bring a reproach on the cause he professes to love; or a sister takes exception to some article of wearing apparel, and thinks it her duty to labor with the offending members, and perhaps in a few weeks wears the very article herself, without an admission on her part to those she has labored with, that they were right, or that she was wrong in reproving them. Such a course is calculated to destroy their influence with the church, and to lessen the respect for them by their brethren and sisters. Consistency, from its rarity in the world, is considered a jewel, but it should not be so in the Christian church. It is not necessary to multiply instances, as any one can call up circumstances where reproof from such sources has done harm, rather than good. There is still another class of reprovers who utter their reproofs in the spirit of bitterness, pride, or self-exaltation. They will cut and slash without regard to the effect it may produce upon sensitive natures and fine feelings, and perhaps bear down so hard that they not only crush out the foible or fault condemned, but with it every good desire and disposition, at the same time manifesting that pharisaical spirit of “stand off, for I am holier than thou.” Should a brother or sister be reproved by one having authority and in a Christian spirit, this class of self-made, second-hand reprovers, instead of letting the wholesome reproof which has found a lodgment in their hearts bring forth fruit, they will pursue them, and in their egotism reiterate in their ears the words of reproof, harrow up their feelings, and tear up the seeds of reproof which perhaps have already germinated, and in doing so break off the tender shoots, and then bury them so deep with their unamiable dispositions and bitterness of spirit that they never have a resurrection. This class of persons are not suited to their work; they lack true delicacy of feeling and refinement, and instead of doing good they do harm, for where they do not cause anger they cause contempt, frequently both, either of which leaves a shadow behind. There is, however, a method of reproving that is always effectual, and all can safely and profitably engage in it. It is by actions rather than words. Let that godly brother pass in and out before us, or engage with us in our daily avocations, with a pleasant yet solemn countenance, cheerful and kind to all, never too much engaged to greet you with cordiality, nor too deeply absorbed in study or himself as to pass you on the street without speaking; never himself engaging in light and trifling conversation, nor taking part in the silly jest, but always maintaining that sobriety consistent with his profession. Such a person will always command our esteem and respect, and should any one be inclined to engage in trifling conversation or jesting in his presence, a shade of sadness will pass over his countenance, condemning more effectually than words. All trifling will be immediately stopped and our countenances sympathize with his, our thoughts will turn to holier themes, and we feel reproved and ashamed of our conduct without his having said a word. Such a reproof was given by our Saviour to Peter. After Peter had denied him the third time, the Saviour “turned and looked upon him.” The result of that look was that Peter went out and wept bitterly. And again, let a sister move in her proper sphere among us, adorned with modest apparel, with shame-facedness and sobriety, with good works, grave, faithful in all things, discreet, chaste, and in all her behaviour as becometh holiness; what an influence for good it would have on the church, what a living, moving, silent reprover all such would be to those who were inclined to act and dress as near like the world as they could and yet retain their name and place with the people of God. The reprover should enter upon the duty of reproving a fellow-sinner in the spirit of meekness, with trembling and deep feeling, taking into consideration their own frailties, and with a thankful heart that God’s grace has enabled them to escape the fault in which their brother or sister has been overtaken. And may God help us all to receive reproof in the spirit of meekness, and when our wrongs are made known to us, to put them away, being warned by the words of the wise man: “He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy.” Prov. xxix, 1. E. S. W. SCATTER THE PUBLICATIONS.
By A. S. HUTCHINS
How this sentence rings in my ears! And to it my heart responds, Amen; for it seems to me that we must awake to our duty on this important subject. And if we do, we shall act immediately. Time is short, and souls are precious. Testimony No. 12 speaks to the point in this matter: “There are many honest souls who would be brought where they would embrace the truth by this means.” Let us think of this, dear brethren and sisters, and ask ourselves the question, What would I not give for the salvation of one soul? Yet one dollar appropriated to this worthy object may, with the blessing of God, save some friend from the second death. The Lord speaks; let us hear and obey. Bro. Amadon informs us in Review No. 16 that “about $75.00 will print and make ready for market 4,000 sixteen-page tracts,” or double that number of eight-page tracts, and so on. Now who will be one of seventy-five to raise $75.00 for this object? Who one of seventy-five to raise $150.00? Who one of the same number to raise five or ten times this amount, if needed? Or who will give from a ten-cent scrip to one dollar for the tract fund, that these publications may be placed in the hands of devoted, consistent, pious men and women who fear God, and by them given to those whom it may seem they would benefit? I believe we have brethren and sisters who would seek to act with reference to the glory of God in the distribution of our publications. This is the class which the apostle addresses in Gal. vi, 1. “Ye which are spiritual,” have a work to do here. Health Institute, Battle Creek, Oct. 9, 1867. DEFECTIVE RELIGION.—A religion that never suffices to govern a man will never suffice to save him; that which does not sufficiently distinguish him from a perishing world will never distinguish him from a perishing world.—Howe.