“Bro. Smith: In your late work on the Sanctuary, page 82, you say the work of building was finished under Nehemiah, in the fifteenth year of Darius Nothus, and that that year of his reign was the year B. C. 408. Now in Nehemiah, chap. 2, I read that he received his permit in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes, and in chap. 6:15, that he finished the building in 52 days. How then could his work have been finished in the fifteenth year of Darius Nothus? Again, the chronology of chapters 2 and 6 is given as B. C. 445. Please explain this discrepancy in the first use of the ‘measuring line.’”
“S. S. S.”
Ans. Nehemiah made several visits to Jerusalem; and while the building of the wall was finished in a very short time during his first visit, from 444 to 432 B. C., there were other matters to be accomplished in the work of the restoration of Jerusalem, which he attended to afterward. In the 32d year of Artaxerxes, Nehemiah returned to the king of Persia, and after some days, how long after is not stated, he gained permission to go up to Jerusalem again. Neh. 13:6. Prideaux makes his tarry at the Persian court, at this time, at least five years, and his return to Jerusalem in the 37th year of the king, B. C. 427. Whether he returned to Persia again or not is not stated. Artaxerxes reigned 41 years, to B. C. 423, and in the canon of Ptolemy, was succeeded by Darius Nothus, the short reigns of the usurpers Xerxes and Sogdianus, amounting together to less than a year, being thrown out of the count. The 15th year of Darius Nothus would therefore be as late as B. C. 408, nineteen years from the date of Nehemiah’s second journey to Jerusalem. That Nehemiah’s last act of reform, as recorded in Nehemiah 13:23–31, was as late as the 15th of Darius Nothus, is ascertained from the fact that Nehemiah himself says, verse 28, that it was in the priesthood of Joiada, who came to the priesthood on the death of Eliashib, his father, in the 11th year of Darius. This was within four years of the point where the seven weeks or forty-nine years would end. And as the act of restoration was accomplished under this priesthood, and we have the light of the prophecy to guide us, the only reasonable place to locate it is in the fourth year of the priesthood of Joiada, the fifteenth of the reign of Darius, B. C. 408, just forty-nine years from the going forth of the commandment to restore Jerusalem, B. C. 457.
The chronology given in the margin of the book of Nehemiah is not consistent with the record of the book itself, nor with the chronology placed in the margin of the book of Ezra. For instance, the first year of Artaxerxes is placed beyond controversy in the year B. C. 464. To get his seventh year, we subtract seven from that, which gives 457, as is given in the margin of Ezra 7. Nehemiah (2:1) received his first commission in the twentieth year of the king. Twenty from 464 would give us 444. But in the margin we find the figures 445, and this number is carried through to the end of the book, without regard to the record of chapter 13:6.
Prideaux argues this matter fully in his “Connexion,” vol. 1, pp. 322–324, making it clear that the record of Nehemiah brings us down to the end of the seven weeks of Dan. 9:25, to the 15th year of Darius Nothus.
SUPERFICIAL RELIGION.
By Roswell F. Cottrell
The world is full of superficial religion. The breaking-up plow of true repentance has gone out of use. The surface is stirred with exciting stories, and then the invitation is made to come forward and get salvation; and people are encouraged to believe that only faith is required, and that it is a very easy matter. Entire consecration is talked of, and the “rest of faith;” which seems to mean perfect satisfaction with one’s self, a knowledge of acceptance independent of a knowledge of the truth.
If ever the people needed instruction in the very rudiments of the religion of the Bible—the moral law—it is now. The wound is not probed, but healed slightly. That by which is the knowledge of sin—that instrument that shows how deep the wound is—does not enter thoroughly into the work of conversion. It will not do to deal thoroughly with the law of God in these days; too many would be condemned; and so it is that little is said and taught of God’s perfect law, only in a general way. It seems to be taken for granted that those who are almost wholly unacquainted with the Bible, know as well what is right and wrong as their teachers; therefore there is but very little teaching. A conscience formed by tradition and custom is supposed to be an infallible guide, and the truth of God is but little sought.
A charity, falsely so-called, is highly esteemed; a charity which ignores the truth, instead of rejoicing in it, as Paul taught. 1 Cor. 13. Union is much talked of, which is only a confederation of discordant sects. Agreement in truth as a foundation is not thought of; and he that can cover the greatest number of conflicting creeds with a broad mantle, is esteemed the most pious as well as liberal. And so protestantism has come to fellowship popery. And why not! since truth is no test. Ignorance is cherished; and all is made to depend upon the vain thought that “the heart is right.”
R. F. COTTRELL.
TRUTH PROGRESSING.
The readers of the REVIEW are probably aware of the fact that during the last few months many eminent ministers of the gospel throughout the country have been discussing before their congregations the subject of the final destiny of the wicked. Many of them have wholly repudiated the commonly accepted idea of the everlasting, present, literal hell-fire torments of the wicked.
Mr. Beecher, who first began to agitate the matter, says of the subject: “The doctrine is too horrible. I cannot believe it. And by the blood of Christ I denounce it; by the wounds in his hands and his side, I abhor it; by his groans and agony I abhor and denounce it as the most hideous nightmare of theology.”
Though many boldly denounce this erroneous doctrine, yet we have failed as yet to discover their true position in regard to the punishment or final destiny of the wicked. We can but rejoice when false doctrines are ably combated, exploded, and wholly repudiated; for all nations have been made drunk with them.
We have anxiously waited, hoping some one of them would present the Bible facts in regard to the subject. Thus waiting and hoping we could but exclaim, Eureka, when we read the following in the Cincinnati daily Commercial, of Feb. 18, 1878, which is a brief sketch of a sermon delivered by N. Summerbell, at Bible Chapel, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Sunday, Feb. 17:—
“Ye shall not touch it lest ye die.”—God. “Thou shalt not surely die.”—The Serpent. Gen. 3:3, 4.
“And whosoever name was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death.” Rev. 20:15.
I have thus used as a text the beginning and the ending of the Bible concerning sin—the first warning of God and the last judgment. And as is the beginning and also the end, so is the whole Bible.
There is not one solitary text in its sixty-six books which teaches that anything that is wicked is immortal; or that impenitent sinners shall live forever; or that Satan is immortal; or that sin is eternal; or that rebellion against God will be tolerated forever; or that hell will not end; or that Satan will not be destroyed.
THE CONFLICT.
By S. H. Lane
Eden is an emblem of life and its destiny, and the lesson of the fall is the lesson of our experience.
The tree of life represents immortality; the forbidden fruit, sin; the serpent, Satan; God's word, the truth of all ages; Satan's denial, the false teaching of all ages. Let us learn the lesson of Eden.
To the tree of life man had free access, and to all the fruits of the garden, except the tree of practical evil. Its fruit was moral poison, and God said: “Ye shall not eat of it, for in the day that thou eatest of it” dying, “thou shalt die,” or “thou shalt surely die.” The serpent said, “Thou shalt not surely die.” Man believed the serpent and disobeyed God, and sinned and fell, and was deprived of the tree of life, with the sentence of death pronounced against him. God said, “Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” Whose word was truth, God's, who said, “Thou shalt surely die,” or his who said, “Ye shall not surely die”?
As it was then it is now. God says, “Ye shall surely die.” Men say, You are immortal, and shall not surely die.
But sin entered into the world, and death by sin; for the wages of sin is death. Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
But, as Satan said, “Ye shall not surely die,” so men now say, “Man is immortal; he shall not die.”
From Adam to Moses, Moses to the prophets, the prophets to the Son of God, and the Son of God to the Judgment, God's law has been, and is, for the penalty of sin, death.
When the law was given, God said, “I have set before you life and death.” Life and good, death and evil.
When the prophets spake they said, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.”
God said, “Why will ye die?”
When Jesus came it was to bring life and immortality to light. His religion is characterized as life-giving. It is the water of life, and the bread of life, and the word of life; Christ who is our life, the tree of life, the river of life, life eternal and eternal life. It is a narrow way which leadeth to life.
John 3: “So must the Son of man be lifted up that those who believe might have eternal life.” Verse 16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life,” and “I will give unto him everlasting life.”
“This is the record that God hath given unto us eternal life,” and this life is in his Son, and “he that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son hath not life.” “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.” “To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory, honor, immortality, eternal life.”
This is the common form of the promises of salvation. It is from sin and death . . . that he should not perish, but have eternal life. He that converteth a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and hide a multitude of sins. The great object of the advent of the Saviour, when he came into the world, was to save us from sin and death, not the death of the body merely, but the death of the soul. St. Paul says he came to destroy death, and him that hath power over death, that is, the devil. . . . The last enemy to be destroyed is death, then there shall be no more death, neither sorrow. So that the truth of Eden is the truth for the sinner forever, “Thou shalt surely die;” and the falsehood of Satan in Eden to the sinner is Satan's falsehood still—that he shall not surely die, but is immortal; and though God says a thousand times, and in a thousand different ways, that he shall die, he shall live forever. On this false view, which has contradicted God from the beginning, men still teach that the sinning soul shall never die, but live on and on in ever-increasing sin, and eternally-increasing torture, without intermission, forever and ever. The popular doctrine knows no end of sin or evil, no end of Satan or suffering. To all the wicked it says, “Ye shall not surely die.”
Another thought in the Eden experience was the promise of the destruction of the serpent, Satan: “The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent’s head.” That is, as the serpent is slain by crushing its head, so Satan shall be slain by Christ; or, as St. Paul says, “God shall bruise Satan under your feet;” or, again, Christ will destroy death and him that hath power over death, that is, the devil.
The Scriptures contemplate the end of all evil, the destruction of every enemy of God, and the reconciliation of the universe, that God may be all in all. The Bible says, “Every plant that my Heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up.” Christ came to make an end of sins, to destroy the devil, to destroy hell, to destroy death, to reconcile all things unto himself, and to bring in everlasting righteousness.
The mistake of men is in not believing God's word. As it was in the garden, so it is now. They tell the sinner that he shall not die, even if lost, but God says he “shall surely die.” Christ is the life. His salvation means deliverance from sin, and eternal life. His religion redeems from sin and death, and in it we have eternity added to time, immortality added to life, and all the riches and joys of Heaven forever.
Though the arguments are not new to the readers of the REVIEW, yet they contain the truth, and we read them with renewed interest when we consider that the source from whence they came will give them weight, and that published as they were in one of the leading newspapers of the United States, they have been read by thousands who have never before had their minds called to the truth in regard to this important subject. Surely, the truth is progressing. S. H. LANE.
KANSAS CAMP-MEETING.
By J. N. Ayers
This meeting has been appointed for May 22-27, and it is with the greatest anxiety that I look forward to that time. A great many questions arise in my mind. Will our brethren lay aside their worldly business for a short time and attend this annual feast? Will they come at the commencement and remain till the close? Will they commence now to make their arrangements, not only to come themselves, but to bring their families and interested friends? Are they daily praying for the success of this meeting? Will they consecrate all they have and are to God, and come praying that his blessing may rest upon them and the meeting, and that we may see souls converted to God?
Will all the churches and unorganized bodies be properly represented? Will the T. and M. officers be on hand with full reports from their respective districts? Will all come up to this annual meeting with a free-will offering, thereby showing their gratitude to God for his blessings received during the past year? In short, will all do their duty? If they do not know their duty, this will be the place to learn, as we expect experienced help from the General Conference.
We believe this will be the largest gathering of Sabbath-keepers that ever met in Kansas, and there is no reason why it should not be the best, if all do their duty.
Let me make a few suggestions: Let the Conference secretary see that every society is furnished with proper blanks. Every leader should ascertain at once what blanks he needs and order from the secretary, Smith Sharp, Ottawa, Franklin Co., Kansas. Choose your delegates at your quarterly meeting in April. See that they have the necessary instructions and credentials, as the Kansas Conference will hold its annual session at this meeting. Our T. and M. society will also hold its annual meeting, and each director should be present, as business of the utmost importance will come before this meeting. Have a consolidated report of all T. and M. labor performed in your different districts, and if there are openings for ministerial labor report them.
The ministers should all have their accounts made out before coming on the ground, so that there will be no delay. The account should show where each has labored, and how long at each place; it should also show the number of days he has labored, the number of times he has preached, the number baptized by him, the number taken into the church, and the number of churches organized.
The financial report should show the amount received from the treasurer, the amount received from individuals, and the total amount received. The bill of expenses should be itemized, then added together, showing at a glance the total expenses. Then deduct the amount of expenses from receipts, showing just how much has been received over and above expenses.
Appointments will appear next week.
J. N. AYERS, Pres.
A Colloquy.
By R. F. C.
You say the law of God has been abolished, because it was imperfect. David, by the Spirit, says, “The law of the Lord is perfect.” What evidence have you that it is imperfect?
“Paul says, ‘The law made nothing perfect,’ and that it ‘can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.’”
Could not a law be perfect, and yet not be able to make its transgressor perfect? The carpenter’s perfect straight-edge will show just how imperfect a crooked stick is; but it takes another tool to make it straight. God’s perfect law shows us our imperfections. Nothing but the sacrifice of Christ can remove them.
R. F. C.
Prejudice and the Black Sheep of the Flock
PREJUDICE answers Shakespeare’s description of jealousy: “A ghastly green-eyed monster which doth make the meat it feeds on.” Do the best we can, it will still live and thrive. But if there is one black or deformed sheep in the flock, passing by all the rest, that one will be held up as a sample of the whole. What shall be done with these crooked disciples? This is a difficult question; but prejudice, which loves to feed on carrion, would still live, though it could find none.
Calhoun, March 11.
I gave a course of lectures at Belvidere, Monona Co. The Lord blessed. Eight commenced to keep the Sabbath. There is a little company of twelve Sabbath-keepers there now.
I am now at Calhoun, in Harrison Co. I have spoken four times. The interest is good, and the congregation large.
My post-office address is Missouri Valley, Harrison Co.
J. BARTLETT.
Alden and Webster City, March 13.
Feb. 16 and 17 I spent with the brethren near Alden. One more joined us at this place.
I then commenced meetings in a school-house six miles south-east of Webster City. The interest was good. By request I gave way to Eld. Bell, of the Christian denomination, that he might show the people who abolished the Sabbath. On the following evening I reviewed him before a crowded house. At the close of my discourse I gave opportunity for any to ask questions, when several were asked by the elders present, which I answered to the satisfaction of the people. Some are convinced that we have the truth. As the roads are bad and this is a busy time of year, we closed for the present, with an urgent invitation to return.
J. S. HART.
Deerfield, March 10.
SABBATH, March 9, I was at Deerfield, where Bro. and sister Preston are laboring. We were interested and encouraged by remarks from sister Preston, from the words, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” Seventeen have signed the covenant, and three more are keeping the Sabbath. Many others are deeply interested. There is strong opposition here. A professor of Adrian College was sent for to undermine the interest; but perhaps he helped the truth some by saying it made no difference which day was kept, so long as the motive was right.
Bro. Preston has for some time past been laboring at Ottawa Lake, where there is a good interest and no opposition. In Dundee the interest is such that Bro. Preston deems it best that labor begin immediately; so Bro. Carey will come and prepare the way for a course of lectures.
There is a genuine interest here in canvassing and doing missionary work.
Pray that the cause in these places may move onward.
DELIA FITCH.
Holton, March 11.
A week ago last Sabbath I organized a Sabbath-school at Twin Lakes, with three classes. They have also a prayer-meeting Wednesday evenings.
I have delivered ten lectures at Holton. The attendance has been from twenty-five to fifty. Several are convinced of the truth. Last night the Methodist presiding elder spoke on the translation of Enoch. He did well until he was about to close, when he said that the translation of Enoch and Elias was a strong proof to him of the immortality of the soul! I have sold and given away several pamphlets and tracts.
GUSTAV A. CARLSTEDT.
Harrisonville and Independence, March 6.
We labored at Harrisonville and Independence from Feb. 20 to March 4. At Harrisonville Bro. J. P. Henderson had been laboring faithfully to present the truth before the people. There was much opposition. Two were keeping the Sabbath as the result of his labors, and others were nearly persuaded. Four more decided to keep the commandments while we were with them, making seven Sabbath-keepers at Harrisonville.
At Independence and in the vicinity there are eight Sabbath-keepers. At this place our meetings closed. Here we organized a church of six members, a part of them of the Harrisonville and a part of the Independence company. We were sad to have to leave some out on account of tobacco. Others will join soon.
We think there is a good foundation laid here for a church. Bro. J. P. Henderson was elected and ordained elder; and James W. Lesern, of Independence, was chosen clerk. The S. B. pledge amounts to $49, and most of the one-third for the T. and M. work was added. They took the name of the Independence church of S. D. Adventists. J. H. Cook.
Hymer, Chase Co., March 10.
Our meetings at this place continued nearly a week. Five were added to the church by baptism. A T. and M. Society was organized, consisting of six members. Four copies of the SIGNS are taken. The prejudice, which was very high here a year ago, has perceptibly decreased. The friends feel encouraged, and are settling into the work. J. Lamont.
Ottawa, March 12.
Two of the Sabbath-keepers at Atchison united with the T. and M. society and promised to canvass for our works. Bro. Wm. Carlile wishes any Sabbath-keepers that are passing through the city to call on him, at 8th and L Sts., N. Atchison.
Since leaving them I have been laboring at a school-house eight miles north-west of Ottawa. Two were baptized last Sunday. One more has commenced the observance of the Sabbath. One subscribed for the REVIEW and two for the INSTRUCTOR, and one joined the T. and M. society. I have sold and distributed several books, tracts, and papers.
A few more are interested, and I shall continue as long as duty requires. Smith Sharp.
Golden Gate.
By C. Nelson
For the past four or five months I have been laboring among our churches the most of the time, and we have often felt in our meetings that we received the blessing of the Lord.
On Sabbath, March 2, we were at Golden Gate. The Lord was with us by his Holy Spirit; praise his holy name. Remember us in your prayers. C. NELSON.
THE BURDEN.
“My God! my God! like him of whom the fable
speaks,
I roll and roll my burden ever on:
And when at length I think to rest, back, back it
breaks—
My work begins afresh, my hope and strength
seem gone.
“Too heavy, Lord, I find it. I am very weak,
Heart and flesh fail beneath my anguish sore;
Oh, say, is there no lonely spot my soul can seek,
Where I may fly from sin, and weep no more?”
“My child, on earth go wander where thou wilt,
no land,
However bright and sunny, tearless is;
On all, ‘sin’s shadow, sorrow,’ lays its chilly hand;
E’en my own sinless Son, on earth found this.
“Oh, cheer thee! that heart-cheering burden
comes from me;
I laid it on thee. Roll it back again,
Nor spurn it with thy foot, nor with impatience
flee.
Rest thou and it on me, and peace regain.
“I will sustain; I know thy sorrows—long ago
Thou wouldst have fainted but for me above;
My all-sufficient grace I freely will bestow,
My ways are dark, but still my name is ‘Love.’
“Trust, lean on me, fear not, to me thy trials
bring;
By faith and hope in my pavilion dwell;
Beneath its shade, when weary, thou shalt rest
and sing,
And own at last e’en sorrow has been well.”
—Christian Weekly.
INDIANA
By S. H. Lane; J. S. Siddock
We closed our labors at Friendship, Ripley Co., March 3. The turnout was good from the first, considering the almost impassable condition of the roads. The interest was good on the part of those who could attend. The Baptists kindly granted us the free use of their meeting-house. The last evening of the meeting we received a donation of $6.00.
Through the blessing of the Lord some good was accomplished. Nine embraced the truth, and these, with the two who before had learned it by reading, make a company of eleven, the first company ever raised up in the south-eastern part of the State. Established Sabbath meetings, and obtained sixteen subscribers for our periodicals.
S. H. LANE.
J. S. SIDDOCK.
ALABAMA
By A. O. Burrill
Last evening we closed our meetings in this county, which have continued, at two different points, for more than seven weeks. The Lord has blessed our efforts beyond our own expectations. We leave above fifty adults keeping the Sabbath, nearly half of whom have received the truth since we came. Two churches have been organized, known as the first and second S. D. Adventist churches of Bladen Springs, Ala. These churches have adopted the Bible plan of S. S. and organized a T. and M. society. They have ordered upward of 70,000 pages of reading matter. This is a good beginning. About thirty subscribers for our periodicals have been obtained, and I have sold more than 13,000 pages of reading matter. They are delighted with their Sabbath-schools, and also with the day school. I found them very willing to be instructed in the truth; and not only that, but they appear grateful to the General Conference for sending them help. We are becoming greatly attached to them. Surely this message will unite hearts in the bonds of Christian love.
This morning (March 11) finds us on the banks of the Tombigbee River, where we have been waiting for nearly twenty-four hours for the steamboat for Gadsden, where we shall erect the tent. This will be our address till further notice. Peach trees are in full bloom, and farmers are planting corn. Our brethren who contemplate sending us boxes of reading matter will please correspond with us before doing so. Bro. J. M. Ellett accompanies me.
A. O. Burrill.
CASS CO., NEB.
By M. HACKWORTH
My meetings in the Hutchins school-house closed last night. Have been here two weeks. Some are convinced of the truth, but have not decided to obey. But some that became interested at my last meeting have come six miles every evening to attend this meeting, and four of them have signed the covenant. The truth is still working. M. HACKWORTH.
KENTUCKY
By S. Osborn
I remained at Glover’s Creek until Feb. 27, and left eight keeping the Sabbath. I think they will be able to stand. They were not quite ready to be organized into a church. Appointed meetings for the Sabbath and organized a Sabbath-school. Want to return in April to complete the work. There were eight Sabbath-keepers and nine children in the Sabbath-school.
I then went to Knob Lick, and held meetings Sabbath and Sunday, March 2 and 3. The few there were strengthened.
I next went to Bear Wallow, where we met a few Sabbath-keepers, and talked and prayed with them, encouraging their hearts and ours. There are six earnest ones keeping the Sabbath there. Promised to return in April and hold meetings. I am now at Bro. Barr’s, where we had some good meetings Sabbath and Sunday, the 9th and 10th.
My P. O. address, for the present, will be Elizabethtown, Harden Co., Ky.
S. OSBORN.
IOWA
By C. A. Washburn
Decatur Co., March 5.
MEETINGS continue near Davis City. Between twenty and twenty-five are now keeping the Sabbath. Eighteen have signed the covenant, three of whom were keeping the Sabbath before. Nearly all of these are heads of families. I have now commenced a course of lectures about two miles from Bro. Andrew Scott’s. We have Sabbath meetings. Scattered brethren are invited to meet with us.
My address is Davis City, Decatur Co., Iowa.
C. A. Washburn.
MICHIGAN
By J. B. Frisbie; B. F. Lewis
Westphalia.
We commenced meetings at this place, Feb. 8. At first we had twelve hearers, but our congregations increased to seventy and averaged about thirty. There are good, substantial people here, but many of them are nonprofessors. The inhabitants of the surrounding country are mostly German Catholics. There is no other society in the neighborhood.
About fourteen have consented to sign the covenant, and there are two here who were keeping the Sabbath, making, in all, sixteen to keep up meetings. Several others are convinced on the Sabbath, who, we hope, will soon join the number.
The following item appeared in the Clinton Independent, the county paper, of Feb. 28:—
“Feb. 23.—The S. D. Adventists are doing a noble work at the Sanford school-house, Westphalia. Their sermons are much admired by the people of that vicinity.”
We have given, in all, about thirty-seven discourses, closing March 10.
J. B. Frisbie,
B. F. Lewis.
MINNESOTA
By D. C. Burch; E. A. Curtis
Union Lakes, March 7.
We came to this place Feb. 24, and commenced a course of lectures. The weather and roads have been very unfavorable, and our congregations have been small. We found about the usual amount of prejudice existing in the minds of the people; but, through the blessing of God attending our labors, this has been removed from the minds of those who have attended our meetings, and a good interest has been awakened.
The Lord has blessed us abundantly in trying to present his word. A goodly company are convinced of the truth of our positions. May the Lord help them to decide to obey. Brethren, pray for us.
D. C. BURCH.
E. A. CURTIS.
KANSAS
By Chas. F. Stevens
New Liberty, March 5.
I held meetings with the New Liberty church, Feb. 22 to 24. The little company here are united, and appear to be growing in the knowledge of the truth. We held five meetings, and celebrated the ordinances. They pledged the added one-third for the T. and M. work, and also subscribed for eight copies of the SIGNS to circulate among their neighbors.
On Monday, came to Marsh Creek, in Jewell Co., where I am now giving a course of lectures. The interest appears good.
CHAS. F. STEVENS.
NEW YORK AND PENNSYLVANIA.
Covington, Pa.
During the week past the interest has increased in some respects. Although the roads have been in a dreadful condition, so that we could not hope for a continuance of our usual attendance, to our surprise the house has been filled every night, and Sunday evening it was crowded again.
We had another good meeting last Sabbath. The Disciples have been agitating the matter of a discussion and have taken some steps to furnish a defender of their side, but have not succeeded as yet. The positiveness with which they have asserted that they could show proof for the first day has caused many to hesitate in their decision and call for the proposed discussion. This has seemed to make it duty to call upon them to produce a man for this purpose or tell us why they do not. They are now talking of sending to Ohio for one.
My health does not improve much; but I have been able to perform my public labor, and do something at visiting nearly every day so far. S. B. WHITNEY.
Smith’s Corners, St. Law. Co., N. Y.
By invitation I came to this place, Feb. 28. A brother had opened his house for meetings, and there was already a good interest. I have given six discourses. At the fourth meeting eight came forward for prayers, and some new ones have come forward in each of our meetings since. Some have found the Saviour precious, and acknowledge the truth as far as we have presented it. H. H. WILCOX.
Essex Co., N. Y.
Spent four days with the church at Keene, speaking six times with good freedom. Re-organized S. B., which now amounts to $63. Secured thirteen subscribers for the SIGNS and sold books to the value of $12.50. The church pay their S. B. a quarter in advance, with the one-third added. Although they live in a barren, mountainous country, where many of our people would hardly think they could get a living, yet they paid me $60 for different enterprises. I inquired where they obtained their money, and was answered that they sold what would bring money and gave to the Lord; the remainder, they lived upon. Our people generally ought to learn a lesson from them.
Found them to be good, straight reformers. One sister had not heard a sermon for four years because of deafness. She now thanks the Lord that she is able to hear.
I left Keene March 4, for St. Lawrence Co. Stopped in Clinton Co., where I found a few who had been keeping the Sabbath some years. Held one meeting. Talked to them over an hour. They promised to hold Sabbath meetings. A few who have moved away are still in the truth. A. H. HALL.
“BLESSED ARE YE THAT SOW BESIDE ALL WATERS.”
By Mrs. Wm. H. Brown
Truly the promise, “Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters,” is an encouraging one to the faithful worker in the vineyard of the Lord. This promise made me glad, and rejoiced my heart, one evening when I was feeling somewhat discouraged, having permitted doubts as to my fitness for the missionary work to enter my heart; and then and there I promised the Lord I would no longer distrust him, but that I would improve every golden opportunity, as it presented itself, in scattering the seeds of truth. We are taught in his word, “In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand; for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.”
As we give ourselves into the hands of the Lord, and express our willingness to work for him and his cause, we realize the magnitude of the work, and that there are many ways of doing good. We are too far advanced in the message to sit at our ease, with hands folded in idleness. It is no time to be faint-hearted and inactive. In the day of Judgment excuses will avail us nothing. Our strength comes alone from God, and if we feel faint and weak let us take hold of his strong arm, and go forward. We want to work more and doubt less. God’s hand is not shortened, and if we but sow the seed, leaving it in the care of our Heavenly Father, he, in his own good time, will give the increase.
There is something for each one to do, and let us with energy bestir ourselves. The more arduous our labors the greater the blessing, and if we endure faithfully unto the end, the glorious reward will be ours. Yet let us toil from love to Christ, and of precious souls for whom he laid down his life. May the Saviour impart unto us a large measure of his own spirit of love and sacrifice, and if at times our work should seem to be fruitless, we will remember his words, “Be ye not weary in well doing; for in due time ye shall reap if ye faint not.”
MRS. WM. H. BROWN.
Jefferson Co., N. Y.
THE NINETY-AND-NINE.
On the Aletsch Glacier I saw a strange and beautiful sight,—the parable of the “Ninety-and-nine” re-acted to the letter. One day we were making our way with ice-ax and alpenstock down the glacier, when we observed a flock of sheep following their shepherds over the intricate windings between the crevasses, and so passing from the pastures on the one side of the glacier to the pastures on the other. The flock had numbered two hundred, all told; but on the way one sheep had got lost. One of the shepherds, in his German patois, appealed to us if we had seen it. Fortunately one of our party had a field-glass. With its aid we discovered the sheep far up in a tangle of brushwood, on the rocky mountain side. It was beautiful to see how the shepherd, without a word, left his one hundred and ninety-nine sheep out on the glacier waste (knowing they would stand there perfectly still and safe), and went clambering back after the lost sheep until he found it. And he actually put it on his shoulder and “returned rejoicing.” Here was our Lord’s parable enacted before our eyes, though the shepherd was all unconscious of it; and it brought our Lord’s teaching home to us with a vividness which none can realize but those who saw the incident.—Sel.