We now come to notice more particularly the works of the two-horned beast, and the efforts of H. E. C. to apply these to the operations of the Romish hierarchy. The prophecy declares of this beast, Rev. xiii, 13, 14, “And he doeth great wonders so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast.”
It will be observed that the great wonders which the two-horned beast does are real wonders; and although they are called “lying wonders” in 2 Thess. ii, 9, they are not false in themselves, tricks, shams, deceits, but real wonders wrought for the purpose of proving a lie. And this at once overturns every claim that is based on the pretended miracles of the Romish church; for Rome has never performed any real miracles. All that she claims as such are only tricks and deceptions; and it is abusing the Devil to call these the “working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders.” Rome has never done any work to which the Scriptures apply the term, miracle. Hence the Romish hierarchy cannot be the two-horned beast which is a wonder-working power.
H. E. C. seems to be aware of the difficulty involved in applying this language to the pretended miracles of the Romish church, and hence endeavors to find a fulfillment in works which she has really performed, far short as they come of being miracles. In enumerating these, he says:
“[He [the two-horned beast] attempts the most wonderful and prodigious exploits, and is crowned with incredible success. He has the art to persuade his followers that the clergy of the church of Rome are the only true ministers of Christ!”
The mark of astonishment appended to this extract is our own. The writer seemed to think there was nothing astonishing in calling this a miracle. What is there of the “all power” of Satan in this? What is there here peculiar to the Romish church? Every church under the sun, taken in its great divisions, as Protestant, Greek, Mahometan, Mormon, &c., believes the same. But he goes on:—
“That they have such great influence in the court of heaven as to be able not only to forgive sins, but also to grant indulgences in sin, by paying certain stipulated sums.”
Where is the “power,” “sign,” or “miracle” here? It is no more than the ten thousand other errors that other false churches have made their followers believe. He says further:—
“He persuades them too that they can do works of supererogation.”
Do not forget reader that this is “all power, signs and lying wonders.” We fear you would entirely overlook this fact if not continually reminded of it. We quote again:—
“He pretends that an incredible number of miracles have been wrought and are still working by the Almighty, as so many evidences of the great sanctity of the Latin church; and the false prophet has such an astonishing influence over his flock, as to cause them to believe all his fabulous legends and lying wonders!”
What a miracle it is that the church of Rome should have such an “astonishing influence” over her deluded votaries as to cause them to believe all her lying legends? For the reader will perceive that H. E. C. adroitly endeavors to make the “wonder” consist in this astonishing influence, not in the pretended miracles. But what of it? Who cannot point to scores of other churches which have had an equal influence over their deceived followers? But we must let H. E. C. speak again:—
“He pretends also (and is believed!) that his power is not confined to this world; that he is able by his prayers to deliver the souls of the deceased from what he calls purgatory, a place which he has fabled to exist for the purification of sinful souls after their departure from the world.”
Where is the “miracle” here? Does it consist in his “pretense” that his power is not confined to this earth? If so others have pretended greater things than that, and hence have wrought greater miracles. Persons have come to this Office, some pretending to be the angel Gabriel, and others pretending to be Jesus Christ; but we did not consider that they were doing any very great miracle. But perhaps the miracle consists in the expression “(and is believed!)” which is thrown in as such a marvelous thing within parentheses. If so, as the believing is done by the people, it is the people, not the hierarchy that do the miracle. So, turn the facts either way, and subject them to any amount of pressure, we can get no miracle, sign or wonder out of them. But perhaps we shall come to something yet for H. E. C. continues:—
“His wonderful exploits in being able to induce men possessed with reasoning faculties to believe his monstrous absurdities, do not end here.”
The only wonderful thing we see in all this, is that any power could so far bewilder H. E. C., possessed, as we have always taken him to be, with reasoning faculties, as to lead him to so utterly confound mere false doctrines with the working of miracles! For the reader will perceive that all the points he has thus far brought up as the “wonders” and “miracles” wrought by the two-horned beast, or Romish hierarchy, are merely the false teachings of that church. But false doctrines are not miracles. And they are not peculiar to the church of Rome. They are found in every man-made creed in Christendom. But something more wonderful still follows. In bringing fire down from heaven in the sight of men, the two-horned beast reaches his climax of power; and on the same point, the articles of H. E. C. reach their climax of absurdity. Just listen:—
“He even maketh fire come down from heaven in the sight of men. Fire, in Scripture, when it signifies wrath, presents that species of indignation which is attended with the destruction of whatever is the cause of it. Thus the wrath of God, is likened to fire. Ps. xviii, 7, 8, Jer. iv, 4. Therefore the fire which the false prophet bringeth down from heaven upon the earth, is the fire of indignation, which he causes to come down from the heaven or throne of the Latin world [upon those?] who rebel against his authority.”
There! reader, is not this question now settled? “Fire, when it means wrath?” Oh! indeed! But what, in the name of common sense, is there about “wrath” in the prophecy? The Lord told Israel they should be “burnt with hunger;” Deut. xxxii, 24; and H. E. C. might just as well have said, Fire when it means starvation; and it would have had just as much to do with the prophecy. John says, He doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven upon the earth in the sight of men.” Bringing down fire is the greatest wonder that he performs; it is his most potent miracle to deceive them that dwell on the earth! But this, in H. E. C.’s estimation is simply causing wrath to come from the throne of the Latin empire against those who oppose its authority. Mighty miracle, this, is it not! What a sublime declaration, “He doeth great wonders, so that he maketh wrath come down from heaven?” Sublimer still, this: “He doeth great wonders so that he maketh wrath come down from the heaven or throne of the Latin empire upon those who rebel against his authority! No other empire ever did anything of this kind, of course! In no other kingdom did wrath ever come from the throne upon those who rebelled against its authority; oh, no! No wonder people were struck dumb with amazement! No wonder they were “deceived” by such an exhibition. Oh, stupendous miracle, which he “had power to do in the sight of the beast!” He makes wrath come even from the beast himself, upon all those who oppose his authority! Oh, amazing wonder! Oh, supernatural power!
Seriously, one such exposition as that which we are examining is enough to doom any theory to eternal oblivion. Any view which drives its adherents to such interpretations of scripture, cannot stand. Give us the same reckless liberty, and we can defend any theory from the Bible, we care not what it is. But H. E. C. would fain have this view take among “men possessed with reasoning faculties.” If he accomplishes this, he will have succeeded in doing a mightier miracle than was ever wrought by the Romish hierarchy; and his own two-horned beast might just as well surrender him the palm on “doing great wonders.” If the two-horned beast we hold to, drove us to such straits to bolster him up, we would instantly abandon his deformed and unsightly carcass to the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air.
Of the two-horned beast, the prophecy further says, that he causes all to receive a mark in their right hands or in their foreheads, and “that no man might buy or sell save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast or the number of his name.” On this point H. E. C. produces testimony from history showing that in several instances the pope, or councils or rulers in obedience to the pope, have passed decrees against those whom they were pleased to style heretics, to prevent their buying and selling, or holding even the ordinary intercourse of life. We are happy to meet with this testimony. As we hold that these acts were done by the leopard beast, it throws light on the work of the two-horned beast. The two-horned beast was to exercise all the power of the first beast before him; and the two-horned beast decrees that men who oppose his authority, shall not buy or sell. Now if the first beast has done the same thing, it shows in what sense the two-horned beast exercises all the power of the first beast before him; namely, he is equally intolerant and oppressive with heretics. But if it should appear that the first beast never had done this, nor anything as severe as this, then the two-horned beast in doing it, would not only exercise all the power of the first beast, but even go beyond it; which the prophecy does not warrant. Testimony, therefore, to show that the first beast has prohibited buying and selling under certain circumstances, is right to the point as throwing light upon the same acts in the two-horned beast.
The number of the beast, says the prophecy, “is the number of a man; and his number is six hundred three score and six.” [666.] This number, H. E. C., from Newton, finds in the word “Lateinos,” the “Latin” kingdom, using letters for numerals, according to ancient custom. Thus, L. stands for 30, A for 1, T for 300, E for 5, I for 10, N for 50, O for 70, and S for 200; which numbers, added together, make 666. This drawing the number from a name, we must regard as rather conjectural than otherwise, seeing that names can be found almost to any extent, making just that number. We think we discover a serious objection, however, to the exposition which H. E. C. offers from Newton. The number, says the prophecy, is the number of a man; and if it is to be derived from a name or title, the natural conclusion would be that it must be the name or title of some particular man. But H. E. C. gives us the name of a people or kingdom, not of “a man,” as the prophecy says.
The most plausible name we have ever seen suggested as containing the number of the beast, is the blasphemous title which the pope applies to himself and wears in jeweled letters upon his miter or pontifical crown. That title is this: Vicarius filii Dei: “Vicegerent of the Son of God.” Taking the letters out of this title which the Latins used as numerals, and giving them their numerical value, we have just 666. Thus we have V, 5; I, 1; C, 100; (a and r not used as numerals); I, 1; E (formerly the same as V), 5; (s and f not used as numerals); I, 1; L, 50; I, 1; I, 1; D, 500; (e not used as a numeral); I, 1. Adding these numbers together, we have just 666.
The following extract on this point is from a work entitled “The Reformation,” bearing the date of 1882:—
“Mrs. A., said Miss Emmons, I saw a very curious fact the other day; I have dwelt upon it much and will mention it. A person, lately, was witnessing a ceremony of the Romish church. As the Pope passed him in the procession, splendidly dressed in his pontifical robes, the gentleman’s eye rested on these full, blazing, letters in front of his miter: “VICARIUS FILII DEI,” “The Vicar of the Son of God.” His thoughts, with the rapidity of lightning reverted to197Rev. xiii, 18. Will you turn to it? said Mrs. A. Alice opened the New Testament and read; ‘Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast; for it is the number of a man; and his number is six hundred three score and six.’ She paused, and Miss Emmons said, He took out his pencil and marking the numerical letters of the inscription on his tablet, it stood 666.”
Here we have indeed the number of a man, even the “man of sin;” and it is a little singular, perhaps providential, that he should select a title which shows the blasphemous character of the beast, and then cause it to be inscribed upon his miter, as if to brand himself with the number 666.
We had hoped to finish our remarks on this subject in this number; but we must crave the indulgence of the reader while we endeavor to close in our next.
(To be continued.)
Scatter the Books and Papers.
By Editor
We are satisfied that there is one branch of the work in which we are engaged, upon which there needs to be a great advance among this people; and that is, the circulation of our publications. From what has already been done in this respect, and the many that have embraced the truth from merely reading the books and papers, we can judge, to some extent, of the many honest hearts that might be reached all over the land, by a judicious yet liberal and wide-spread circulation of our publications. The number of living preachers is limited. The silent preachers, the printed sheets, can be multiplied by hundreds of thousands, if only called for. Then do not restrain these messengers of truth that are waiting to go forth upon their mission. Let them go by hundreds and thousands. Brethren and sisters, everywhere, resolve yourselves into a committee of the whole, to put into the hands of every person with whom there is a willingness to read, either the Review or some publication on present truth. The blessed results of such a move, eternity alone can tell. There are thousands waiting to embrace the truth, who do not as yet know that such a people as Seventh-day Adventists exist, or that any such truths are promulgated, as we hold. Who is to search out all these, and show them the light. This must not all be left to the preachers. The humblest believer may have some share in it, by heeding the injunction, “Cast thy bread upon the waters,” and sending forth upon their way, some publications well-stored with precious truth. We are assured that it would not in all cases be necessary to wait the “many days” before witnessing the good result.
Another case has just come to our knowledge, of hearts ready to receive the truth simply from reading, which is calculated to admonish us as to our duty in sending forth the books where such ones can get hold of them, as well as to greatly encourage all lovers of truth to take hold of the work with new energy and zeal. A person in this State who has by some means come in contact with some of our publications, writes:—
“I have become greatly interested by reading several of your publications of late. Although a humble layman, I have been for the present year preaching to an unsupplied community in an adjacent town. Before I read any of your works, I had become deeply impressed with the idea of the speedy advent of the Messiah. Your works were received with great joy to me. I conversed to-day with Eld. L. and Eld. S. of this town, who I found were firm believers in the truths you advocate. They are both Wesleyan ministers. Also Eld. K. of M., who is on this M. E. circuit. I think a majority of Christians in this community are convinced that the Adventists are on right ground. Your publications are eagerly read, and seem to strike conviction to the heart and conscience.
“We are anxious that some one of your body who is competent should come here and give us a series of discourses upon the subject. I will venture to pledge him a hearty welcome to our hearts and homes, also a good audience of attentive hearers. Were I competent, I would hereafter make this the burden of my discourses to my little flock.
“Hoping you will do what you can for us, and that I shall hear from you soon, I subscribe myself,” &c.
This person has now subscribed for the Review, and sent for other publications, and the way seems to be open for the living preachers to present the truth there with effect. We will add no more. Such facts urge us louder than words can do, to scatter the books and papers. What if ten are lost to every one that takes effect? It were better that the ten should be lost, than that the eleven should be withheld, and the good which the one might do, be left undone. Then scatter the Reviews. Scatter the books. Invoke God’s blessing upon them, and good will be the result.
Labors in Wisconsin.
By H. SANBORN; R. F. ANDREWS.
BRO. WHITE: According to appointment, we met with the church at Mauston in Quarterly Meeting, Oct. 20. We held nine meetings with them. The brethren seemed encouraged a good deal, and we hope they will continue to fight the good fight of faith that they may finally lay hold on eternal life. Bro. Wm. Pierce was ordained deacon of the church. We hope he may have the prayers of the church, and help from the Lord to faithfully fill his office.
Bro. and sister Tenny and sister Robinson of Dell Prairie were at the meeting. Bro. Sanborn went home with them and held three meetings at their place. I stayed two days longer and visited the brethren, and held two more meetings.
The 24th, we left for Hundred Mile Grove. We stopped at Baraboo the 25th, and held meeting in the court-house in the evening. On account of bad, stormy weather there were but few out, still we trust our meeting was not in vain. We left by stage the 26th, and arrived at Bro. Jordan's at Lodi at one o'clock P. M., where we had a hearty reception. Bro. Rankin very kindly met us here with his team, and carried us to his place, which was our home during the meeting. It commenced snowing Sabbath morning and snowed nearly all day, which was somewhat against our meeting. Still the Lord met with us, and we were encouraged to labor on in this good cause.
Bro. Sanborn went to Lodi the 29th, and labored for the brethren there till the 31st, when he left to attend the Quarterly Meeting at Sand Prairie, Nov. 3 and 4. I stayed at Hundred Mile Grove one week after he left, visiting the brethren and laboring for them. Held eight meetings during the time. Our effort here wound up gloriously. The brethren are determined with the Lord's help to go through to the kingdom. Left for Monroe, Nov. 5.
Brethren, pray for us.
H. SANBORN,
R. F. ANDREWS.
The Work Progressing.
By R. F. COTTRELL.
WHEN the Lord sets his hand to a special work, such as his present work of giving the last warning to mankind, and of preparing the remnant of his people for translation, the work moves steadily onward to its completion. There is no such thing as retarding the work or turning it back. Men may engage for a while in the work of the Lord, and then turn back to the service of Satan, and try to hinder the work of the Lord, but they cannot stop it. An irresistible power is moving it onward; it will prove a perfect success.
‘But what I was intending to say is that the work is not flagging, but deepening in the hearts of the believers. The spirit of humility is increasing in the church, and the spirit of boasting diminishing. The reception of so much light as God is giving to his people, has led the carnality of the heart to exaltation to a feeling that “I am rich and increased in goods and have need of nothing.” But a perceptible change is taking place. It is being discovered that a theory, though true, cannot save men—that light may be enjoyed among the icebergs, and yet men perish for want of heat. The truth will only sink men deeper in condemnation, unless they are sanctified through it. Light is given in vain to the blind. It is possible that people may feel that they are rich and increased in goods and have need of nothing, when in fact they are poor, and miserable, and wretched, and blind and naked.
Many have heard the arguments in favor of the truth without being moved to obedience, Those arguments may be presented again and again, and with as little effect. Such want the solemn realities of the judgment placed before their mind, and appeals to their conscience to move them to act. They need not so much to be instructed as to what the truth is, as to be moved to obedience to their own convictions of duty. So that while the believers are being admonished to seek righteousness and meekness, to get a preparation for the coming of the Lord and make sure work for eternity, out-siders who are present that have had instruction in the theory of the truth, are moved upon by stronger motives, than they could be by all the arguments in favor of the theory that could be presented.
The preaching of the servants of God is taking this turn, and it is doubtless by the impulse of the Spirit of God. They have a burden for the church; and are admonishing believers to make clean work for the judgment. And if anything will move those out of the church who know the truth, this will. It is comparatively easy to convince men's judgments. It wants stronger motives to move to obedience and to a crucifixion of the carnal mind.
The work is advancing. The preaching and the exhortations are taking this more solemn, practical, powerful form. The close of probation—the Judgment upon the living is nearing, and the Spirit of God is moving out the powerful testimony to prepare the church for it. When the church heed the warning, the message will move with mighty power.
R. F. COTTRELL.
Tests of True Conversion.
By Robert F. Cottrell
The question which Wesley used to ask, on hearing of the conversion of wealthy individuals, viz: “Is his purse converted?” is generally a pretty good test of genuine conversion in this money-loving, covetous age. But there are individuals of a liberal turn of mind naturally, who were always ready to “go their share” with their comrades before conversion, and who would despise the thought of being meaner in the service of God, than they were in the service of Satan. These, if money would purchase them a place in the kingdom of Heaven, would certainly enter in. It is easier for them to give money than to give up the pride of their hearts and “walk humbly with God.” If missionaries are to be sent out to enlighten and save men, they are ready to aid with their means. If meeting-houses are to be built, they will do their part in preparing a place for others to worship in. And in this respect they put one in mind of Noah’s carpenters. They helped build the ark, but did not get on board.
There are three grand points of obedience which the Lord requires. 1. To do justly. 2. To love mercy. 3. To walk humbly with God. Mic. vi, 8. These are good tests of true conversion. The first requires honesty in deal, the second, liberality, and the third, the humble devotion of the heart to God, and obedience to all the institutions of religion. Some are lacking in one of these and some in another; but it takes the whole to make a Christian. If we lack one, we shall be found wanting when weighed in the balance.
Some will take part in social worship and the institutions of the gospel, while their crooked walk and deal with their neighbors is a stumbling-block to sinners. Some of more noble mould will deal uprightly, and even be merciful to the poor, and are too public-spirited to be stingy anywhere; but humble worship and obedience of faith are too much for their pride. Happy are they who combine the three—who to honesty add liberality, and to liberality, humility; who are just and merciful, and take no praise to themselves on that account, but acknowledge humbly before God that they are unprofitable servants, and by contrition and humble obedience to the gospel seek to be saved by grace.
R. F. COTTRELL.
The Cost of Chinese Idolatry
THE incense burnt in the Chinese Empire annually for purposes of idol worship is said to cost four hundred and fifty million dollars. Superstition and ignorance are always more expensive than intelligence.
Christ’s Love Overcomes Suffering
The spirit of Christ sweetly calms the soul of a suffering believer, not by taking away all sense of pain, but by overcoming it with a sense of His love.
Is the World Growing Better, or Worse?
WHEN Adventists discourse upon the abounding iniquity of this age, they are accused of allowing their peculiar views to color the facts. This makes the testimony of those who oppose us doubly valuable, when they unconsciously sustain our position by unbiased statements of their views of the times. A correspondent of The Religious Telescope bears the following testimony on the present moral condition and prospects of the world.—Voice of the West.
“INIQUITY ABOUNDS.”
“Drunkenness increases. After all the lectures, sermons, and private reproofs, the demon continues to slay his thousands every year, under the very shade of our churches. Moderate drinkers multiply. Cider, beer, and wine, are consumed largely by the masses. Distilleries flourish. Wholesale dealers grow rich; retail venders multiply around us daily, filling every village and city with their ungodly examples, blasphemous oaths, and obscene songs. Result, poverty, crime, overflowing jails, and penitentiaries.
“Blasphemy is the order of the day. Go where you will, you hear the name of God taken in vain. Merchants swear, mechanics swear, lawyers, doctors, and literary men swear, and little boys, before they are scarcely able to walk, learn to belch forth the most fearful oaths. The most common of all sins, it has never yet found an excuse. It is open, willful hatred to God, and contempt of his authority.
“The love of worldly amusement increases; at least the means of gratifying this unholy passion are multiplying. In ancient times, multitudes assembled to witness the Olympic games, or gathered by thousands to the Roman amphitheater, to witness the ferocious encounters of wild beasts; or, what was still more gratifying, they beheld the death-struggle of criminals as they appeared in mortal combat with these same wild beasts. In modern times the Spaniards gratify this morbid appetite for amusement, by witnessing the terrible bull-fights so common in all the kingdom. Men, women, and children, go forth by thousands to behold these exhibitions of cruelty and bloodshed, thus cultivating the baser passions of the human heart, at the same time they pollute and deaden every polite and noble attribute of the human soul. And this is called innocent amusement!
Have we advanced any in restraining this passion? Let the theater, the card-table, the billiard-saloon, and the ball-room, answer the question. Let the multitudes who witness indecent performances at circus shows, or frequent the horse-racing, and cock-fighting, or the beastly conflicts of the Heenans and Sayerses with which the age abounds, explain how much they are elevated above the obscene Grecians, the blood-thirsty Romans, or the besotted Spaniards.
“Fictitious reading is another means of gratifying the thirst for pleasure. Formerly people thought there was at least some virtue in reading history, biography, philosophy, and some even thought it well to read the Bible. But now the rage, to speak plainly, is for falsehood. Fiction, romance, and obscene poetry, find ready sale, and multitudes of readers and admirers. Half the reading of the present day may be described in three words: love, murder, marriage. This is the staple of the New York Ledger and Mercury, and the thousand and one smaller journals published in America. As for books of fiction, the heart sickens to contemplate the thousands of volumes issued annually, and the multiplied thousands of readers they must find to keep them afloat. ‘Why do you not peddle better books?’ I asked of a young man who was circulating for sale among the passengers in a railway car a half bushel basket full of lies, lies embodied and surrounded with yellow covers of the most approved style. With some astonishment he inquired, ‘What do you mean?’ I mean histories, biographies, works on poetry, philosophy and religion. ‘Never sell ’em in the world. You’re the first man ever called for any such a thing,’ was his significant reply. It was his business to satisfy the cravings of the public maw. Works of fiction—of falsehood rather—could alone do this. He was simply making money by supplying a morbid appetite with what instead of satiating continued to whet the vitiated taste. Whether right or wrong he did not inquire. His object was to make money. Any means to attain the end were, in his opinion, legitimate.
“The love of gain is another abounding iniquity of the present day. To make money, manufacturers use inferior materials, make poor work, thus gaining their end by falsehood. Venders carry forward the deception, by exaggeration and flattery. To get money, men gamble, steal, rob, murder. Worse still, they seek office, and prostitute public confidence to the base purpose of acquiring money. One buys a patent for a rat-trap, or churn, or feigning genius, takes out letters-patent himself for some trifling invention, and then brings into requisition all the artifice he can command to lie some unsuspecting victim out of a few hundred, or thousand dollars. Another sets out on a wild adventure to California, Arizona, or Australia, to dig gold, perchance forsaking a wife and three or four children in order to satiate his thirst for gain.
“Every one ‘looking for gain from his quarter,’ the helpless poor are forgotten. Even professors of religion forget that we have the poor always with us, forget to do them good, suffer them to hunger and die under their very eyes, while they make money and live in state. This is not the worst of it. The poor who are able and willing to work, are ground to powder. They must work long and hard, and at the lowest possible rates; then be sometimes cheated out of their thrice-earned wages.
“Amid the speculation, the wild adventure, the lust for gain, God’s house and God’s cause are forgotten and forsaken. They have no relish for any place or any society where money-getting is not the chief motive. Money takes up all their day thoughts and night dreams.
“Pride is another evil, a sin of immeasurable magnitude that, like the pestilence which wasteth at noon-day, walks forth with all the disdain of its father, the Devil, stamped in its forehead. It creates caste, fosters aristocracy, and looks with supreme contempt on its more virtuous and more honest neighbors, solely because they are poor. Even many churches of Jesus Christ foster this spirit. ‘Tell this not in Gath!’ The poor are almost always suspected of vice; the rich are as generally allowed to be virtuous and innocent till proved guilty. So judges man.”
A Hymn of Trust.
LEAVING God to order all thy ways,
And hope in him whate'er betide;
Thou'lt find him in the evil days
An all-sufficient strength and guide,
Who trusts in God's unchanging love,
Builds on the rock that naught can move.
What can these anxious cares avail,
These never-ceasing moans and sighs?
What can it help us to bewail
Each painful moment as it flies?
Our cross and trials do but press
The heavier for our bitterness.
Only your restless heart keep still,
And wait in cheerful hope, content
To take whate'er his gracious will,
His all-discerning love has sent;
Nor doubt our inmost wants are known
To him who chose us for his own.
He knows when joyful hours are best,
He sends them as he sees it meet;
When thou hast borne its fiery test,
And now art freed from all deceit,
He comes to thee all unaware,
And makes thee own his loving care.
Nor in the heat of pain and strife,
Think God has cast thee off unheard;
Nor that the man whose prosperous life
Thou enviest, is of him preferred;
Time passes and much change doth bring,
And sets a bound to every thing.
All are alike before his face,
'Tis easy to our God most high,
To make the rich man poor and base—
To give the poor man wealth and joy.
True wonders still of him are wrought,
Who setteth up and brings to naught.
Sing, pray, and swerve not from his ways,
But do thine own part faithfully;
Trust his rich promises of grace,
So shall it be fulfilled in thee.
God never yet forsook at need
The soul that trusted him indeed.
Thoughts About Meetings.
By D. B. Staples
BRO. SMITH: Our hearts were made glad this morning on receipt of Review No. 22. It came in time for our little church to get the benefit of the lesson which it contained from Bro. Canright, in his “Few Thoughts About Meetings.” The weather being favorable, the most of our church were present, and the article from Bro. C. was read at the commencement of the meeting; and could you have been present and witnessed its effect upon God’s dear people in this place, it would have done you good. From the testimonies borne, and resolutions formed, we have reason to believe there will be a general reformation in the Johnstown Center church.
We all had to confess a lack of energy, and plead guilty to all the points advanced. May God help us to carry out our resolutions with a full purpose of heart, and bless Bro. C. for his timely admonition, and encourage his heart to think that his “few thoughts” have been the means of doing so much good, even if they do no more; but I believe they will act as an impetus to a renewed energy, to more than one dear brother or sister, or church even.
D. B. STAPLES.
Johnstown Center, Wis., Nov. 3, 1866.
To the Laborers in Ohio.
By A. B. UNDERWOOD
BRO. WHITE: The Sabbath-keepers in Wayne wish, through the Review, to request Bro. Van Horn to make arrangements so that when he attends the Orwell Quarterly Meeting (if consistent with his other arrangements for labor), he can visit us also in Wayne, some ten miles further east. If the visit cannot be over the Sabbath, we would be glad to have a week-day appointment, agreed upon at the Quarterly Meeting.
There is an increasing desire with us, to be organized into a church. We desire a visit with reference to that object, if thought advisable.
There has been no messenger here since we first listened to the “third angel’s message,” by Bro. Waggoner and Ingraham with the Ohio tent.
We are not without our trials; but the Lord wants a tried people. The most are still striving to overcome through the blood of the Lamb. Pray for us.
Yours in hope of eternal life.
A. B. UNDERWOOD.
Quarterly Meeting in Minn.
At the Quarterly Meeting in Faribault Co., Minn., according to appointment, Bro. Ingraham was present to minister in word and doctrine. Meeting commenced Sabbath A. M. The few scattered lovers of the truth from Walnut Lake, Minnesota Lake, and the vicinity of the meeting, were present. The School-house was in a neighborhood mostly Baptist; and when the notice of our meeting was given out, of course something must be done to protect their members from heresy. So one Elder Hopkins was requested to preach on the subject of the Sabbath, as they were already beginning to meet with some trouble on that point, the wife of their Deacon, having, through the efforts and commendable zeal of a sister of hers in Wisconsin, taken hold of the Sabbath, and renounced Sunday observance. As this sister came out and expressed her determination, others began to think that if a woman like her had come to that conclusion, there must be something in it, and they hoped that Eld. Hopkins would confirm the word. But so weak and futile were his reasons for first-day observance, that dissatisfaction spread through their church generally, and increased their desire to hear the other side of the question.
LEWIS HACKETT
By Lewis Hackett
Bro. Ingraham delivered three discourses only. The result is, the Deacon and four others have come out perfectly satisfied; and others say they are satisfied they ought to keep the Sabbath, but lack courage. May the Lord help them to see the importance of following him fully. We hope to be remembered by the State Conference. We want more labor here to set things in order and bring the scattered few into unity so that we can work together to the glory of God.
LEWIS HACKETT
The Meteoric Shower.
Prof. Loomis of Yale College writes concerning the late expected meteoric shower, explaining all that is known of the nature of meteorolites. He says on Monday night, Nov. 12, a company of observers at New Haven counted 690 shooting stars in five hours and twenty minutes, which is about four times the average number visible for the same period throughout the year. Tuesday night, Nov. 13, another company counted 881 shooting stars in five hours, which is five times the average number. On Wednesday night, the sky was overcast so that no observations could be made. It is concluded that the number of shooting stars visible about the 13th was very remarkable, nevertheless this display was not to be compared with that of Nov. 13, 1833, in which the number of meteors was variously estimated at from 10,000 to 30,000 per hour. The grand display, therefore, which it was supposed might occur this year, has not been witnessed in the United States, and probably not in Europe or it would have been announced to us by telegraph. It may have been witnessed in Asia or the Pacific ocean, but if such had been the case, it seems probable that the number visible in the United States would have been greater than it was. The telegram a day or two since, purporting to have come from Greenwich, Prof. Loomis thinks is spurious, and concludes that it is probable that there has not been witnessed this year in any part of the world, a display of meteors at all, to be compared with the display of 1883.—Detroit Tribune.
The Minister’s Wife.
By Jos. Clarke
THE minister is an under Shepherd, who goes out to gather in and feed the flock of God; and this he does himself, under the supervision of the Chief Shepherd, Jesus, who is over all the flock of God.
The shepherds understand how to feed the flock so that all get their wants supplied; and all feel that they are happy in the care of the true shepherd.
Sometimes the minister is so fortunate as to have a companion who is so thoroughly imbued with a missionary spirit, that she leaves all and goes out with her husband, and by her assiduous care, and wise counsel, and studious, devoted life, doubles his usefulness and courage; and adds her own efforts. Other ministers, having large families at home, are wholly relieved of home cares, by the faithful wife.
Go, says the noble-minded woman, into the wide harvest field, and gather in the sheaves. Go, gather the sheep and lambs into the fold. Feed the flock of God. Give yourself no uneasiness about us at home. And although our home seems desolate in your absence, yet the Lord is our stay; and our present pain of separation is more than repaid in the satisfaction we have in the thought that we are doing our duty.
To the children, in your absence, I will redouble my care and devotion; and to our secular affairs I will be a faithful steward. Never shall it be said that your wife has, by her selfish feelings in wishing you to remain at home, undermined your courage, and by degrees ruined your usefulness. On the contrary, your usefulness is to me more precious than my dearest earthly hopes.
Jos. CLARKE.
Moral Courage to Follow Principle
THERE are thousands who can follow a multitude, who have not moral courage enough to follow a principle.
Gambling Implements and Obscene Prints Destroyed
The Massachusetts constabulary force destroyed $3000 worth of gambling implements and 6000 obscene prints in Boston last month.