Bro. Smith: I rejoice that my eyes have been opened to see the light that is now shining on our pathway to the celestial city, and also that my ears have been opened to hear the joyful sound of this Gospel of the Kingdom which is soon to be set up on the new earth. May God help us to realize the short time we have to prepare in. For my part, I feel to put my whole trust in God, and contend more earnestly for the faith that was once delivered unto the saints.
Dear brethren and sisters, let us take heed to the exhortation in Heb. x, 35, "Cast not away therefore your confidence which hath great recompense of reward; for yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry." We are subject to trials, but these light afflictions which are but for a moment will work out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, which will be revealed in us at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ with his mighty angels, when he shall come in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his power.
O how dreadful will be that day to those who are not in readiness! With what anguish of soul will they meet the eyes of their Judge! My prayer is, Lord drive stupidity from us; help us to arise and gird up the loins of our minds, be sober and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto us at the appearing of Jesus Christ. Our lives must show that we believe what we profess. Words are of but little value, compared with our example.
Brethren and sisters, let us set right examples; let it not be said of us, "they say and do not;" and may the exhortation of Paul be heeded by the whole house of Israel. "See that none render evil for evil unto any man, but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves and to all men. Rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Yours waiting for Jesus.
Green Spring, O., Dec. 10th, 1857.
WM. HERALD
Truth Will Prevail
By WM. HILLS.
From Bro. Hills.
BRO. SMITH: I have taken the Review from the commencement, and still feel an interest in the truths it advocates. It is seven years last Spring since I embraced the Lord's Sabbath, and I have not regretted for one moment that I did so. I still feel determined through grace, to keep all of the commandments of God, that I may have a right to the tree of life, and enter through the gates into the city. Pray for me that my faith fail not.
It is a dark time here. People seem not to heed the truth, but I believe God's truth will accomplish that whereunto he sends it. It will prove a savor of life unto life, or of death unto death. The Third Angel's message will draw the line between those that worship God, and those that will worship the beast.
I rejoice to hear of the progress of the cause in the West. Truth is mighty and will prevail. Go on brethren, in the strength of the Lord. Dagon cannot stand before the ark of the Lord. Jesus says, “not every one that saith Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” May the Lord help us to be doers of the word, for such shall be blessed in their deeds.
Your brother in hope.WM. HILLS.Melbourne, C. E., Dec. 1857.
LUCY A. SARGENT
By Lucy A. Sargent
From Sister Sargent.
BRO. SMITH: I feel to praise God for what he has done for me, poor and unworthy as I am. He has shown me his holy Sabbath which is truly a delight, the holy of the Lord and honorable. I want to take heed to the true Witness, and buy the gold tried in the fire, and the white raiment, and anoint my eyes with the eye-salve that I may see.
I want to cut loose from the world, and be on the Lord's side, and have every idol dethroned from my heart, that Jesus may come in and sup with me and I with him. O that I could be just what the Lord would have me be. I feel that I need more patience to withstand the trials that await us in this evil day. I desire the meek and quiet Spirit of Jesus.
LUCY A. SARGENT
Haverhill, Mass., Dec. 8th, 1857.
MARY FOSTER
By MARY FOSTER
From Sister Foster.
BRO. SMITH: Although surrounded with darkness and persecution on every hand, I feel to put my trust in God, knowing if he is for us, he is more than all that can be against us. I praise his holy name for what he has done for me, in showing me his holy Sabbath, and that he has given me a willing disposition to come out and keep it, amidst great opposition. I was in the First and Second messages, and gladly embraced the Third, which I doubt not will be the last ever given. We have blessed meetings here, although our number is only five. Our God is not confined to numbers, and we take him at his word, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst;” and truly he meets with us and approbates us in so doing. We need the prayers of God's children that our faith fail not.
MARY FOSTER
Haverhill, Mass., Dec. 4th, 1857.
ELVIRA L. BASCOM
By Elvira L. Bascom
From Sister Bascom.
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: As it rejoices my heart to hear of the advancement of the blessed cause in other places, I would also say the Lord is with us of a truth. We have many blessed seasons in meeting together to tell of the goodness of God. I think I never enjoyed myself so well before. I want to be a child of God, and by his grace assisting me I mean to go through to the kingdom. I do not think that God would require anything of his children but what they can do. Brethren and sisters, we can overcome, we can stand on Mount Zion. O the glorious prospect! Is it not worth striving for?
ELVIRA L. BASCOM
Caledonia, Mich., Dec. 2d, 1857.
Extracts from Letters.
Bro. A. Town writes from Woodland Wis., Dec. 14th, 1857: “Though I have but little of this world's goods, I am not willing to be deprived of the privilege of reading your valuable paper. It is a great comfort to me to hear from the brethren and sisters scattered abroad, through the Review. The little church in Rubicon meet every Sabbath for worship. Our meetings are interesting. We are not favored with much preaching, but we expect Brn. Hart and Sperry this way soon. That they may come endued with power from on high is the prayer of your unworthy brother.”
Bro. L. Martin writes from Bennington, N. H., Dec. 8th 1857: “BRO. SMITH: I am still striving for the kingdom. I still believe that we have the truth, and feel that I ought to be very thankful for it. I take much comfort in reading the Review, and my desire and prayer to God is that it may continue to be a blessing to the scattered remnant. I often think of you and others in Battle Creek. My desire is that I may so live, that if I no more meet you in this world, I may meet you in the New Jerusalem, where parting will no more be known.”
Bro. J. Dorcas writes, Dec. 16th, 1857: “At this time Spiritualism is raging in Mansfield, Ohio. I might cite particulars, but suffice it to say that they are wonderful. There has never been a time since 1844 that everybody seems to be so conscious that the churches, as they are called, are going down. The consciousness of this awful fact is all-pervading. It would be too shocking to common humanity to mention some of the things that exist, and are allowed to exist as a matter of compromise in some of the individual sects. Truly Babylon is fallen.”
Bro. Wm. Peabody writes from Kendall, N. Y., Dec. 10th, 1857: “BRO. SMITH: I am very much pleased with the Review. It is a good visitor to me. I am all alone in this place, as to keeping the Sabbath. I wish some good brother would come here and preach for us; the people are perishing for the lack of knowledge.”
The Sabbath was Made for Man.
By S. P. C.
1. THE foundation of the Sabbath was laid with the foundation of the earth. Why did He whose Omnipotent word could call worlds into existence—who “spake and it was done”—employ six days in the creation of the world? Why, but for the single purpose of setting an example to man, of laboring six days and resting on the seventh, or, in other words, of laying the foundation of the Sabbath? The Sabbath was made for man, man was made to inhabit the earth, and the earth was as round then as it is now. Hence all the objections reared against the Sabbath from the shape and motion of the earth, are only an impeachment of His wisdom who made the Sabbath for man.
2. After extending his creative labors to six days, God rested on the seventh. This made the seventh day, the rest day, or Sabbath of the Lord. The Sabbath of the Lord, is the day on which the Lord rested. Then, until this historic fact can be changed, and it become a fact that God rested some other day of the week than the seventh, the Sabbath of the Lord cannot be changed to another day. “Remember” what? The Sabbath day. Which day of the week is it? “The seventh day.” Whose Sabbath is it? “The Sabbath of the Lord thy God.” “Keep it holy.” Why rest on and keep holy the seventh day? “For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day.” He who made the Sabbath for man, has in his providence, preserved the week from the beginning to the present time, so that Jews, Mahomedans and Christians, are all agreed in its reckoning; therefore there is no excuse for those who would excuse themselves on the ground that the reckoning of the week has been lost. The Sabbath was made for man, not for a portion of our race only; therefore the Lord requires you, dear reader, to remember the very day on which he rested and keep it holy. A substitute will not be accepted.
3. The creation week was now in the past—its six days of labor, and its day of rest. The example was set—the Sabbath was made. God had rested on the seventh day. But, as the Sabbath was made for man, something more was needed—something must be added to the example, to let man know that it was an example for him to follow. An example is of no force until it is known to be an example. The Sabbath must be set apart for man's observance. “And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it.” Why? “Because that in it he had rested from all his work.” Did God bless and sanctify, or set apart one day in seven and no particular day? No sir. Such language is as absurd as it would be to talk of burning up one house out of seven, and no house in particular. Did he bless a day of rest after six days of toil? Yes, and more; he blessed the very day on which he rested—he blessed the seventh day; because in it he had rested. Thus the Sabbath, which was made for man, was sanctified, (set apart,) for man's observance. Some say that “we ought to sanctify the Sabbath.” If they speak of some other than the seventh day, their phraseology may be admissible, for no other of the seven has God sanctified. But if we speak of the seventh day, God himself has sanctified it; and he does not ask us to sanctify it, but to remember it and keep it holy.
Reader, God has never removed his blessing and sanctification from the seventh day of the week; but he still requires you, and all men, to “remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” You may disregard his holy law and say it is abolished, but for this, God will bring you into judgment. You may, if you choose, attempt to evade his commandment, offering him a substitute which he has never blessed or sanctified, but it will not benefit you. His answer is, “Who hath required this at your hand?” “In vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Even those who would evade the claims of the definite seventh day, by saying that the Sabbath is a day of rest after six of labor, still admit the necessity of being agreed in the observance of a particular day. But how can they be agreed unless God appoints the day? He has appointed the day—blessed and sanctified it. Will you keep it?
From the beginning of his wondrous plan,God made a perfect law to govern man;And scarcely were the earth's foundations laid,Before, for man, the Sabbath day was made.God surely knew, as well as we, 'twas best,One day in seven, to have a holy rest.He knew, if social worship was desired,A portion of our time would be required.He knew, as well as any man can tell,To be agreed in time, it would be well.He also knew that men might rise and say,That God had failed to specify the day.Therefore he firmly fixed the Sabbath day,By an immutable, historic fact.First formed the week by labor and by rest,And then the Rest-day sanctified and blest.In after time, lest this should be forgot,He graved it deep in the eternal rock.And knowing well, the point would be contested,He bade us keep the day on which he rested.Foreseeing too, that some would wish t' excuseThemselves and say, 'twas given to the Jews;Therefore our blessed Saviour has defined,“The Sabbath made for man”—for all mankind.
S. P. C.
The Present Truth in French.
By James White
We are now getting out a work in the French language on the Sabbath. Bro. D. T. Bourdeau came from Vermont to Battle Creek last Summer, to learn the present truth more perfectly, and to translate some of our works into French, and to read the proof sheets of them. Bro. Bourdeau has felt his way along very slowly and carefully, until he has finally embraced fully the present truth. He has also been embarrassed and detained in his work by poor health. But with the blessing of God on the enterprise, we hope to be able to send out the work on the Sabbath in French, in a few weeks. The entire expense of this enterprise, when the Sabbath work of 2,000 copies shall be completed, will be about $150. Our book sales have been insufficient to republish works in English, so that I am alone responsible for what we publish for the French, which must be distributed gratuitously in most cases.
Now who will assist me in this enterprise? Those who wish to help in getting the truth before the French, will please send means, or a pledge of means soon, that I may know by the first of January what to depend upon. God in his great goodness has brought Bro. Augustine and Daniel Bourdeau to love and obey the present truth, and they most ardently desire to teach it to the French people. Brethren, they need Tracts as well as we. It is for you to say whether they shall have them. I wish to hear from you, and shall go forward in this work if I am sustained by my brethren. JAMES WHITE.
The German Tract.
By James White
Bro. Waggoner's work on the Nature and Obligation of the Sabbath of the Fourth Commandment is being stereotyped in German at the Israelite Office in Cincinnati. We expect the plates soon, and shall print an edition of the work immediately on their arrival. The price of the work will be as low as possible and cover cost, probably, $10,00 per hundred or 15 cts. single copy. Send along your orders, brethren, with the cash; for it is wanted to pay for the work. Send along your donations, for at least one half of the work to be gratuitously circulated. Although there may not be a German in your town, or within twenty miles of you, yet remember the poor German people, and help us send the truth to them.
We have orders for this work, some of which were received more than one year since. We inquire of those who sent them, Shall we fill them, and direct the books as you ordered? This we shall do unless you immediately direct otherwise. J. W.
Youth's Instructor.
By James White
The terms of the INSTRUCTOR for the next year will be as follows: Single copy, 36 cents. Those who order it for their friends, 25 cents. From five to ten copies addressed to one person, 25 cents each. From ten to twenty-five copies addressed to one person, 20 cents each. From twenty-five to one hundred copies addressed to one person, 15 cents each. To those unable to pay, free.
☞ All communications, orders and remittances for the INSTRUCTOR should be addressed to Uriah Smith, Battle Creek, Mich. J. W.
Note from Bro Barr.
By E. L. Barr
BRO. SMITH: The Lord is truly good to his poor, afflicted people, and it is still a refuge in distress, and a present help in trouble; his truth is mighty and will prevail. The more we get of the apostolic religion, the more we shall know of apostolic trials, all of which we can cheerfully bear as long as we can bear these comforting, encouraging words from heaven, “Fear not, I am with thee, be not dismayed, I am thy God.” Be of good courage, “The road may be rough, but it cannot be long.”
Yours in hope,
E. L. BARR.
THE SABBATH.
By Editor
With silent awe, I hail the sacred morn
Which slowly wakes while all the fields are still,
With soothing calm on every breeze is borne;
A graver murmur gushes from the rill,
An echo answers softer from the hill,
And softer sings the linnet from the thorn;
The skylark warbles in a tone less shrill.
Hail! light serene, hail! sacred Sabbath morn.
The rocks float silently by in airy drove;
The sun a placid yellow lustre shows;
The gales that lately sighed along the grove,
Have hushed their downy wings in sweet repose:
The hovering rack of clouds forgets to move;
So smiled the day when the first morn arose.—Ed.
A Rule for Child Training
Lay it down as a rule never to smile, nor in any way show approval or merriment at any trait in a child which you would not wish to grow with his growth, and strengthen with his strength.
Evidence of Prophecy
To reject the evidence of prophecy “till all divines shall agree exactly about it,” argues a conduct as wise in the infidels, as if they should decline sitting down to a good dinner, “till all the clocks in London and Westminster struck four together!”
APPOINTMENTS.
By James White; John Norton Loughborough
PROVIDENCE permitting, we will meet with the Brethren at Hillsdale, Sabbath and First-day, Dec. 26th, and 27th; at Monterey, Jan. 2d, and 3d.
The appointment at Monterey is put one week later in consequence of the Conference at Hillsdale.
JAMES WHITE.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
Conference in Hillsdale.
By J. H. WAGGONER
Lord willing, there will be a Conference in Hillsdale in the house of worship, commencing sixth day, Dec. 25th, at 2 o'clock P. M., and holding over Sunday.
Several brethren in the ministry may be expected at this meeting. J. H. WAGGONER.
Receipts.
Annexed to each receipt in the following list, is the Volume and Number of the “Review and Herald” to which the money is to be applied; in case of omission of the paper, or if the paper, for some cause, is not received in due time, the acknowledgment of the omission should then be given.
FOR REVIEW AND HERALD.
N. Rublee 1,00,xii,12. H. D. Bruce 1,00,xiii,6. N. Gibbs 2,00,xii,1. A. Lamb 1,00,xii,1. M. S. North 1,00,xii,1. Wm. H. Graham 1,00,xii,1. J. Barrows 1,00,xii,1. S. Benson (2 copies) 2,00,xii,14. L. Titus 1,00,xii,1. Wm. Hills 4,00,xii,1. H. Clark 3,00,xii,1. S. Kingston 2,00,xii,1. C. P. Finch 1,00,xii,11. B. Haynes 0,25,xii,1. A. N. Curtis 1,00,xii,1. A. Town 2,00,xii,1. J. Culy 1,00,xii,1. M. G. Bartlett 2,00,xii,1. M. Hicker 1,00,xii,1. M. T. Ross 1,00,xii,1. H. H. Wilcox 1,00,xii,1. O. Nichols 2,00,xii,1. P. Hart 1,00,xii,1. D. Smalley 1,00,xii,1. W. J. Mills 2,00,xii,1. S. Bryan 1,00,xii,1. J. B. Grundy 1,00,xii,1. B. F. Wilkerson 1,00,xii,1. Chas. Drew 1,64,xi,8. H. W. More 2,65,xiii,17. S. D. Sinclair 1,00,xii,1. P. Dickinson 1,00,xii,1. P. Dickinson (for Wm. Dickson) 0,50,xii,1. J. Luddington 4,00,xiii,1. J. Bostwick 1,00,xii,1. L. G. Stowell 1,00,xii,1. G. Crosby 1,50,xiii,1. T. B. Mead 1,00,xii,1. J. W. Stewart 2,00,xii,14. S. Chase 1,00,xii,1. M. Ashbaugh 2,00,xii,1. M. Ashbaugh (for E. M. Ashbaugh) 1,00,xiii,1. A sister 0,50,xii,1. L. Shellhons 1,00,xii,1. J. B. Gildly 1,00,xii,1. Wm. Sevey 1,00,xii,1. H. D. Place 1,00,xii,1. E. D. Place (for G. H. Bush, Mrs. Fagnor, H. Dean and Geo Place) 0,50,xi,7. E. Griffith 2,00,xiii,1. C. L. Palmer 1,15,xii,7. R. E. Copeland 0,50,xii,7. F. F. Lamoreaux 2,00,xii,1. F. F. Lamoreaux (for D. M. Hilliard) 1,00,xii,1. E. D. Place (for S. M. Brush) 0,50,xii,7.
FOR POWER PRESS.
A. Woodruff $5.00. M. A. Loveland $1.00. L. M. J. $100.00. L. Shellhons $4.00.