Earlier text: Punctuality in Attending and Taking Part in Religious MeetingsSigns of the Times—No. 5.
NATURE gives indication of the coming doom. As when Eve put forth her hand and took of the forbidden fruit, “Earth felt the wound;” and Nature from her seat
Sighing through all her works, gave signs of woe
That all was lost,”
so now, Nature gives premonitory symptoms of the great change that is approaching. Strange sights, unusual occurrences, startling phenomena, crowd thick upon us as advance heralds of the coming crisis. We scarcely need refer the reader to the predictions which set forth this class of signs. The sun was to be darkened, the moon was to withhold her light, the stars were to fall from heaven, there were to be wonders in heaven above and in the earth beneath, earthquakes, famines, pestilences, floods, and storms; and following these, more or less immediately, was to appear the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven. Matt. 24: 29-35, and parallel passages in the other evangelists; Acts 2: 19, 20; Rev. 6: 12, &c. Almost as unnecessary is it to refer the reader to those events which have furnished a fulfillment of these predictions. The dark day of May 19, 1780, the dark night following, the falling of the stars in November, 1833, stand as unquestionable fulfillments of the predicted signs in the sun, moon, and stars. But it may be said by those who labor hard to disbelieve, that there have been many dark days and nights, and frequent occurrences of falling stars, so that the occasions we have referred to, cannot be taken as signs of the end. It has already been noticed that events which are of frequent occurrence cannot be taken as signs unless they are of a very marked or unnatural character; but if an event occurs containing these marked, unusual features, then it matters not how many events of a like nature have occurred in the past; for this one so far stands pre-eminent and alone. Now granting that there were dark days previous to 1780, and some, it is true, are mentioned, it still remains a fact that nothing of the kind ever occurred which would bear any comparison with the dark day of 1780, either in the wide extent, or the intensity, of the darkness. In both these respects it was almost as marked as though nothing of the kind had ever transpired. So that when we look for a darkening of the sun as the fulfillment of the prediction, the only natural and consistent course is to fix upon this one as the event in question. But the prophecy has made the matter even more definite than this; for it has located the time when that darkness should occur which was to constitute a sign of the coming end. “Immediately after the tribulation of those days,” says Matthew. The days referred to are the days of papal tribulation upon the church mentioned before. This is a definite period of 1260 years, as is shown by the prophecies of Daniel and of John. The tribulation that was to be inflicted upon the church by the papal power, was not to continue, and owing to the Reformation did not continue, through the whole period. The predicted darkening of the sun was to occur shortly after the tribulation of those days was made to cease; and it was yet to be before the prophetic period terminated; for Mark definitely says, “In those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened,” &c. The days ended in 1798, and eighteen years before that time, the sun, according to the prediction, was darkened. The event thus occurred at the precise time between the restraining of the tribulation, and the ending of the days. In view of this fact, it matters not, not only how many darkenings of the sun there may have been in centuries past, but it matters not even if some of them were as remarkable events as the one under notice; for the prophecy, looking down to a definite period in the future, said that there the sun should be darkened as a sign of the end; and when we find the sun darkened at that time, that darkening, say what we will of other like events, is the predicted sign of the end. One objection is thus disposed of; another is sometimes urged. It is claimed by some that the prophecy is not to be taken in a literal, but a figurative, sense. Very well, let us look at it in this light. If it is to be taken in a figurative sense, what does it mean? What is denoted by the sun, moon, and stars? The answer is, Men in high and exalted positions, kings and potentates. And their being darkened and falling from heaven, denotes that they would be brought down from their lofty stations. In other words, the prediction, taken figuratively, denotes war, revolution and trouble among the great men of the earth. Turning to the parallel record in Luke, this objection is entirely removed by the happy antithesis which the writer there introduces. He says, 21: 25, “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars, and upon the earth distress of nations with perplexity.” Here the celestial, and terrestrial phenomena are set forth in the plainest contrast: the signs in the sun, moon, and stars, are one thing; and the signs upon the earth are another thing. And this predicted distress and perplexity upon the earth must embrace all the revolutions among men which is contemplated in the prophecy; and it must be taken in its literal sense; hence the declarations respecting the sun, moon, and stars, are equally literal, and refer to signs to be manifested in those heavenly bodies. Would the sacred writer express, in figurative language, distress, revolution, and perplexity among the great men of the earth, and connect therewith by the word, and, as though he was about to speak of something else, a declaration of the same thing in literal language! This would make nonsense of the sacred record. It is not our object to repeat the testimony which has been given concerning those striking events. Eyewitnesses have left on record their descriptions of the startling scenes, and the impressions produced upon all who beheld them. It is enough. Science cannot explain them. Even conjecture flags and falters in its attempt to account for them. There is but one solution of the mystery. God veiled the great luminaries of the day and night, and shook out fiery meteors in the aerial heavens, in fulfillment of his word. The prediction was literal, the time was specified, the fulfillment was exact. The sun has been darkened, the moon has refused to give her light, and the stars have fallen from heaven. What shall we do with these things? Those who view them aright will acknowledge them to be the finger of God tracing out before all the inhabitants of the land the great fact that the Divine Agency is still at work in the fulfillment of his word, and that the end of all things, of which these are the heralds and precursors, is about to come. We might speak of other phenomena; strange sights above, strange events below; the Aurora Borealis, known only about two hundred years; terrific storms, the alarming frequency and intensity of earthquakes, great tidal waves, the sea and the waves roaring, and men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming upon the earth. On the single item of earthquakes, look at the following figures, taken from Robert Mallet, by M. Ponton, Fellow of the Royal Society at Edinburgh. We find the table in “The Coming Earthquake” by D. T. Taylor. Earthquakes recorded before the Christian Era, for a period of 1700 years, 58; thence to end of 9th century, 900 years, 197; thence to end of 15th century, 600 years, 532; thence to end of 18th century, 300 years, 2894; thence to 1850, only 50 years, 3240; and finally, a writer in Harper’s Magazine states that he has prepared “from very imperfect materials, a list of upwards of TWO HUNDRED EARTHQUAKES, reported to have occurred in the fourteen months between October 1867 and January, 1869—a number many times in excess of that of any preceding year.” For a full examination of this branch of the subject, with a full account of tidal waves, tempests, hurricanes, and floods, the reader is referred to the work above mentioned. But we have good times still, urge the dreamers of peace and safety. There have been bright days and lovely nights since the darkening of the sun and moon in 1780. The starry heavens have shone as brightly and serenely since the wonderful meteoric display of 1833, as ever before. We have had summer and winter, sunshine and rain, soft breezes and gentle showers, favorable seasons and fruitful years. To which it may be replied, Very true; and all this you will still have; “for while the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” A sufficient number of things will continue as they were, to cause the willful skeptic to exclaim, All things continue as they were from the beginning; and where is the promise of his coming? And at the same time there will be deviations from nature, signs and phenomena, enough to show all those whose eyes are open to discern the tokens of the coming end, that the great day is even at the door. And honest faith answers, Enough there have already been. Writing for the Press.
By Editor
We have reached a season of the year when the energies of almost all classes of our subscribers are called out in other directions than writing for our paper. Consequently, our correspondence at this season is apt to lag, and a dearth of original matter prevail at the Office. We therefore take this occasion to send out, as a gentle reminder of what we want and how we want it, the following article from the Morning Star, which we clip from an exchange. If all are not moved by it to immediately seize the pen, and fortified with such an amount of the excellent grace of patience and forbearance as to be able to stand half a dozen rejections with perfect equanimity, they are less easily moved than we anticipate. But to the article: “Ministers and laymen ought to write more for the papers. It would do them good to write, and do the public good to read what they write. But if they attempt205the task, they should count the cost and resolve to meet it. It is more than likely that they will be wounded to the heart at the outset, by editorial criticisms and rejections. Editors are relentless fellows toward all writings except their own; and aspirants often have to knock long and hard before they are welcomed to the honors of publicity. Such afflictions are not ‘joyous, but grievous;’ but if well endured and properly used, they will bring out talents which would slumber unknown, but for the scourge and gibbet. “One lesson well learned, and a gracious welcome awaits the writer. Learn this: to put your thoughts into short, terse, direct sentences, without introduction or peroration. It is not lack of thought that incapacitates writers, but attempts at fine writing, the use of platitudes, flourishes, and ornate phrases. Whoever attempts this has a terrible run of words, and poverty of ideas. How many articles come to hand, beginning after this fashion: ‘It was evening. . The sun had just bid adieu to the busy scenes of day, and majestically entered the mysterious depths of ————’ ‘Whew! Nonsense!’ exclaims the editor, and flings the parchment into the waste-basket. The anxious author watches every issue of the paper with excited expectation; the heart springs to the throat, the hot blood rushes to the face, the perspiration stands on the brow. ‘What is the matter, that my article does n’t appear?’ “This is the matter: you left out your ideas and sent only words. The next time, send the ideas and keep the words at home, and you will see yourself in print without delay. Follow the example of the little six-year-old, who lisped: ‘I have made a discovery, mamma. Dis is it. It is dood to be dood, and bad to be bad;’ and so ended her philosophizing. Yes, say something, say it in a few words, and stop. “We repeat, more persons ought to write for the papers, and if they are rejected, try again, and keep trying, till they acquire the facility of writing so tersely, putting so many thoughts into few words, that all the editors will be eager for their productions. It requires practice to do this. “Any one can write a long article without any sense; but few can write a short one full of sense. Try it, reader, and see how you succeed. Our waste-basket is large, it will do you good to help fill it; and you may reach a more honorable place and very useful results.” Thirty-Five Volumes of the Review
By Editor
This week adds another to the thirty-four completed volumes of the REVIEW, now standing upon our library shelves. A period of twenty years is covered by this array of volumes. In them is the record of a movement which has been life and salvation to many, a movement which as many more probably have rejected, but of which more still are yet ignorant. The record of the rise and progress of the last message of mercy to the present time, stands upon their pages. We cannot, for a moment, entertain the thought that time enough remains to complete as many more volumes of this paper. And how much is yet to be done! How replete then must be the few volumes yet to be published, with accounts of the rapid progress of the cause, and the wonderful work of the Lord for his truth and people. This we confidently expect to see; for God never fails to carry out his plans and accomplish his purposes. How many experiences are recorded in these numerous volumes! How much labor do they represent! How many have toiled with brain and pen to fill their pages! What changes have been recorded! What fulfillments of prophecy have been chronicled! What truth has been brought out! But one after another, the volumes have closed. Thirty-five now stand completed. All is finished in regard to them except the good influence which they are destined still to exert. So all things are closing. How many lives are daily closing! How soon this world's history itself will end, and the great voice from the throne of the temple of God in Heaven be heard, saying, It is done! What a close this will be! To the wicked, the close of all their hopes, the close of their dreams of happiness, the close of their schemes of pleasure. To the righteous, the close of all their sorrows, the close of their trials and afflictions, the close of their warfare and weary pilgrimage. It remains for us yet to determine whether the final consummation shall be to us a day of inexpressible joy, or of unutterable woe. Let us live in reference to the coming issue. “So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Random Thoughts.
By John Nevins Andrews
THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL.
Our Lord spoke the parable of the prodigal son to teach the possibility of the return of those who have wandered far from God. He also designed by it to show the great love of God toward those who have wandered from the right way, and his willingness to forgive and bless them, provided they return to him with all the heart. He cannot save them till they forsake their sins. He will forgive them when they turn from sin with the whole heart and humbly ask his blessing. But they must have great decision. They have been taken captive by the devil at his will. They can only return to God by seeking help, and then resolutely breaking the bands with which Satan has bound them. But the tender mercy of God will be extended to help them the moment they set out in earnest to return to him. Surely the hand of God is ever ready to help his suffering people. Never is there a time when God will so tenderly care for us as when we are in affliction. The heavens may seem to be shut to our petitions, but the ear of God is nevertheless attent to us, and his eye is open to watch our situation. Surely God will help us if we seek him. And let us not doubt this fact but in humility of heart seek his face and with courage toil onward in the work of God. What a gracious privilege is granted us by the God of Heaven, to hope in him! How exceeding rich are the things which he has promised us! And how freely has he offered them to us! Every mercy promised us in Jesus Christ is freely granted if we lay hold of the promises of God. Surely it would be wicked in us to distrust our merciful Father in Heaven. It is well pleasing to him that we hope in his mercy. It is a grief to the Holy Spirit, when we give way to unbelief and distrust. But we cannot hope in the mercy of God if we will persist in sin; God will not accept. Surely God will bless, if we will put away our sins; but otherwise he will not regard our prayers. It is high time for us to learn this great lesson. WHAT SEPARATES US FROM GOD.
There is but one thing that can separate us from our God; and that is sin. This, God will not tolerate in any being in the universe. He testifies his abhorrence of it by withdrawing his presence from us when we are guilty even in what we think small transgressions. And he gives us due notice that if we do not put our sins from us he will at the great day of Judgment destroy us with terrible destruction. Why should we cling to sin? It is evil and only evil. Why should we cherish that which renders us obnoxious to the displeasure of the Almighty? If we wish his presence we can have it when we do truly turn from sin to righteousness. By all means let us do this. This blessed book is full of heavenly instruction. We never need instruction, reproof, or warning, which the Bible does not contain within its pages. God has given it to guide our feet to life everlasting. We must take heed to its words of infinite worth. When our character is formed by the principles of this sacred book, we shall be fit for the society of the angels of God. God will immortalize us, for we shall be worth preserving. There will be no sin in us, but good, and that alone. We can form such a character by taking heed thereto according to the word of God. REPROOF IS EVIDENCE OF GOD'S LOVE.
If he had given us up to destruction he would send us no reproof. He gives admonition, and rebuke, and warning, that we may not go on in darkness to the Judgment. He chastens us that we may not be condemned with the world. He does not want us to come up to206the Judgment as the wicked world will come up to it. He wishes to separate us from our sins. He shows us our state that we may have zeal in repenting of our transgressions. Why not be thankful for reproof, and active in heeding the solemn warning thus sent to us from Heaven? J. N. A. The Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association.
By James White
WHEN our Publishing Association was first instituted, in 1861, we advised our people everywhere to take shares in its stock—only ten dollars a share—that a sufficient capital might be created to carry out the design of the Association without embarrassment, and to the best possible advantage. We urged that this done, the Association would be able to donate in publications for new fields of labor, hundreds of dollars annually. Our people came nobly up to the work. Shares were taken in a few months sufficient, at that time, to carry forward the business of the Association to the best advantage. The Association thus owned, free from debt, a fine building, sufficiently large for the work then done in it, presses, type, &c., in fact, all that was necessary to a successful prosecution of its work. But, in consequence of the high prices of stock and labor, occasioned by the war, and not raising the prices of our periodicals, and other publications, to correspond with the prices of stock and labor, during the first four years of the existence of the Association it did but little more than to meet expenses with its entire income. When instituted in 1861, print paper was ten cents a pound. During the war it rose to thirty cents a pound. It has fallen to fourteen cents a pound. With present prices of stock and labor the Association can do all that our first and most ardent expectations led us to suggest. As proof of this, we cite the last report of the Auditor, which gave an income of $7,751.19 for the short year from May 1, 1869, to March 1, 1870. During the year from May 1, 1868, to May 1, 1869, there was an actual decrease of $3,260.06. The increase the last year is no more than should be expected. Money during the past year has been comparatively scarce. Yet with proper industry and economy this handsome sum has been saved. The loss of the year before the last is without an excuse. No man can show why it should have been. During that year the Association did as good a business as in any other year. Money was plenty, and the Association sold more books that year than in any other. It would not help the friends of the cause generally for us to point out the causes of failure during that year, while it might injure the feelings of those who were in the fault, should we do it. We therefore would leave the unfortunate things of the past, and press forward, and labor that the original design of the Association should be carried out. The business of the Association has so far increased that it is too large for the building. The present extent of the business demands another building the size of the existing one. The proper accomplishment of this will require the purchase of two small houses and lots adjoining, at a cost of about $3,000, the removal of these houses, and the erection of a building, which would cost about $7,000. This would place beside the present building another like it, which would give at present ample room for the business of the Association. Shall it be done? This can all be accomplished with the earnings of the Association for one year, with usual prosperity. But we do not propose to use the earnings of the Association in this way, as the increase of business, occasioned by greater demand for our publications, requires a portion, at least, of the earnings of the Association to be invested in additional printing material, stock, and larger editions of publications. And if all the annual earnings of the Association should not be wanted in this direction, justice to the feelings of those who at the first came nobly up to the work of creating the existing capital of the Association, with the expectation that the Association would send out its publications to new fields free when necessary, demands that this first design should be carried out. How, then, shall the $10,000, now wanted to put up the new building, be raised? This is not a difficult question to answer. The sum of $20,000 was raised in a few months nine years since, when we as a people had not one-fourth the ability to do that we have at the present time. Should those who have become Seventh-day Adventists since the Association was instituted take hold of this work with liberal hands, as those did who were in the work at that time, in six months $20,000 would be cheerfully raised. But we want only $10,000 to accomplish the proposed work that should be done the present season. And there are not a few of the old hands, who helped create the existing capital, who will want to take still more stock in the Association. As a family, we have about thirty shares in the Association. We will gladly make them forty, if the numerous friends of the cause respond favorably to our suggestions. Again, we ask, Shall it be done? Shall the freewill offerings from a multitude of devoted friends come promptly in to accomplish this needed work? With pain we are reminded that there still remains a degree of discouragement upon the minds of our people in consequence of bad management in the past. This should not, however, be a matter of discouragement to any one. God lives and reigns! And it may be in his providence, and for the good of his people, that unconsecrated and selfish men should do much to run certain branches of the work into the ground, that the cruelty of those who have murmured against the ones who have faithfully and unselfishly done their duty may more clearly be seen. It is God's cause for which we plead. It must and will be sustained. And while it is a shame that any should be unfaithful with the Lord's work, and thereby give Satan a chance to tempt the Lord's stewards to be covetous, it is Christian in the Lord's stewards to resist Satan's temptations, and in faith in God, and in his work, and with a liberal hand, furnish the necessary means to advance the cause. We shall be glad to hear from our brethren of the General Conference Committee in reference to this subject through the REVIEW. And we hope to hear from our preachers and brethren generally. JAMES WHITE. Meetings in Wisconsin.
By L. Sanborn
ACCORDING to appointment I met with the church at Marquette, and commenced meetings May 25, and continued till the 30th. Bro. Thurston, of Fish Lake, and Bro. Baker, of Mackford, rendered me good assistance, which I appreciated very much. I pray that the Lord may ever keep them faithful, and ready to help in every such time of need. We found the church in a contentious and distracted condition, and woefully in the dark, because they did not love each other. As John says, “He that hateth his brother is in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness has blinded his mind.” 1 John 2:11. Again he says, “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil. Whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God; neither he that loveth not his brother.” We showed that all those who do not love their brethren and neighbors as themselves, and prove that love by doing unto their neighbors and brethren as they would have their neighbors and brethren do unto them, are, according to John, of the devil, no matter what they profess to be; and that all such are under condemnation, and walking after the flesh, and manifesting the fruits of the flesh, which are hatred, wrath, strife, &c. And James says that there is every evil work. James 3:16. After we had thus faithfully, in several discourses, showed them their condition, by our advice they unanimously, by a standing vote, disbanded themselves, declaring at the same time that they could see no chance for salvation only by a new and thorough conversion to God, which they then commenced to seek for, and which we showed them they could only obtain by a thorough confession and putting away of all their wrongs. They soon began to do this, and continued two days, with three short intervals of preaching. On the second day, in the afternoon, the confessions began to meet the mind of the Spirit of God, and sweet peace and love began to come in. Then they began to hunt up their sins and make clean work. They sent confessions to those who were miles away; and the Lord met us in a wonderful manner. We then organized them into a prayer and social meeting society, with the same officers they had before. But we advised them to counsel with brethren Baker and Thurston, and we also advised these brethren to have a watchcare over the church. And we are truly thankful to God that we now can report to our brethren everywhere that love, and union, and peace now reign throughout the entire church, and also between that church, and the Mackford church, and the Fish Lake church. They will now make arrangements for union meetings between the three churches. We do sincerely wish that every church in the Conference had such a universal conversion as the brethren and sisters of the Marquette church have had, and which they will now show by their love and good works. And we pray that the Lord may still help them to humble themselves before him, and continue to hunt up all their sins and put them away, and earnestly seek unto God for pardon and peace, and love God with all their hearts, and their neighbors as themselves, and thus be ready for the Judgment, and for the coming of the Lord. Wednesday, June 1, I commenced meetings at Fish Lake, Waushara Co., where the dear cause has suffered much for the want of ministerial help at the right time. The church here had the promise of help last fall, but did not obtain it. Then there was a general interest to hear and know the truth, which has since died away, and some who then were trying to obey the Lord have since given up in discouragement, and lost their interest. I think that, as ministers, we should be very careful to fulfill our promises to those who make such calls. If we do not, I fear the Lord will charge us with all the loss. See Eze. 33:1-12. I have now preached seven sermons, closing up with a Grove Meeting on Sunday, having a respectable congregation, and a good degree of liberty in the word. After the last sermon on Sunday we repaired to a beautiful lake, where four were baptized, and five were added to the church, three by conversion, and two by letter. At our Sabbath meeting, Bro. Thurston was ordained elder of the church. The brethren and sisters seem to be much encouraged to press on in the narrow way to life, realizing more than ever the straitness of the way. May the Lord help them all to be faithful in confessing and forsaking their sins, and helping the backslidden to return to their Father's house, and live. June 7. I preach this evening at Dell Prairie, and to-morrow start for Burns Valley to spend a few days. Then I go to the Ill. Camp-meeting, the Lord willing. Kilbourn City, June 7, 1870. “Take Heed that no Man Deceive You.”
By John Matteson
This is the first warning given in the prophetic discourse of our Saviour as recorded in Matt. 24. It is often used by the different churches, when we go into a place to preach, in this way: A new ism has come along. No doubt it is one of those false prophets of the latter days. Says the Catholic, “Abide by your creed and catechism. The Catholic church is the mother church. Remain in her bosom and you are safe. Let no man deceive you.” Says the Lutheran, “Luther was the great reformer. He was a man of God. He brought light out of darkness. Our church has the word of God pure and undefiled. Remain with us, and you are safe.” Says the Baptist, “We believe in the Bible and the Bible alone. We teach the original and only true mode of baptism. Listen to nothing else. Let no man deceive you.” And thus we hear a hundred conflicting voices. Surely, some of them must be mistaken, for truth is a unit always in harmony with itself. But the greatest inconsistency of all is, that many men, who warn others against deceivers, are themselves deceived in their own heart, destitute of the love of God, full of corruption and worldly love. For “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: Who can know it?” Jer. 17: 9. And while they try to run away from deceivers, they carry the greatest deceiver in their own bosom. What, then, may we understand by the warning of our Saviour, Take heed that no man deceive you? The definition of the original word rendered deceive, is very instructive on this point: “Lead astray; seduce from the path of virtue.” And one definition given of the corresponding noun is: “Seduction from the path of truth and virtue.” This, then, is addressed to those who have received the truth, and who follow in the footsteps of Jesus. It is a tender warning to them not to depart from the truth, nor from the victories they may have gained over self, and the virtues they may have cultivated. Let every one, then, of whatever church he may be a member, zealously hold on to that part of his faith which is founded on the plain declaration of the Scriptures, for which he can show a “Thus saith the Lord.” And let every individual, who has commenced to yield one or more of those precious fruits of the Spirit, “love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance,” be very careful not to listen to any doctrine that would lead him back to his former evil habits, but go on in the207path of the just, which “is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” Prov. 4: 18. Farlinville, Kan., April 19, 1870. Report from Bro. Cornell.
By Merritt E. Cornell
May 7, and 8, 1870, attended the special meeting at South Lancaster, Mass. Here met Brn. Rodman and Haskell, and a goodly number from Rhode Island, Mass., and New Hampshire. Most of the time was occupied in religious services. Five were baptized. All seemed to feel that this was a very profitable meeting—not because there was so much of the comforting office of the Spirit, but because of the unusually solemn and admonitory character of its manifestation. The place was solemn indeed. Resolutions were made that cannot be soon forgotten. What added special interest to the meeting was, the new experience the Lord gave our dear Bro. Crandall, who embraced the truth at the camp-meeting last summer. All seemed to feel that the Lord was specially leading him out to take some part in the closing work of mercy to this world. This meeting was a special blessing to our brethren from Boston. It was the first opportunity they had enjoyed of meeting so many of the old tried friends of the cause. Now they can judge for themselves in regard to the reports that this people took the law, to the exclusion of the Spirit, and faith in Christ. Like the brother in Maine, they could say, "If this is the bondage the Sabbath brings, we want it." May 14, 15, attended monthly meeting at Cornville, Me. The gifts, the awful sin of murmuring, and the need of adding courage to faith, were the principal subjects brought before the meeting. It was encouraging to see a willingness to receive the searching testimony. Bro. Stratton expressed that he was encouraged to start anew in the good cause, and try to be found on the right side. It is to be hoped that he will press toward the light, and again be free in the Lord. After the second discourse at Cornville, Sunday P. M., rode fifteen miles to Norridgewock, and met with the church there in the evening. The session lasted over three hours, and it is hoped will result in a better state of union and good courage, with all that love the cause of truth there. May 20 to 22, attended the monthly meeting at Richmond, Me. By the kindness of the brethren, the use of the Reed meeting-house was granted, in which all the meetings were held. Brethren and sisters came from China, Brunswick, and Falmouth. On the Sabbath the burden of the testimony was similar to that at Cornville, and, though all were not clear and free as could be desired, yet on the whole it was a profitable meeting. Brn. Howard and Goodrich were present, and took part of the labor. On Sunday the house was quite well filled with attentive hearers, and prejudice seemed to give way, and a real interest was manifested. Let all who mean to be on the Lord's side, cease to murmur, and press together with courage and faith, and the cause in Maine will speedily revive. In malice be children, but in understanding be men. Let the fact be established in every mind and heart, that murmuring is a grievous sin, whatever the occasion may be. Dear friends, let me exhort you to get rid of every particle of the spirit of jealousy, discontent, and murmuring, and be done with it forever. Let us all make clean work of returning to the Lord, and then he will return to his people. The Lord hasten the time is our prayer. Religion Begins in the Family
“LET them learn first,” says Paul, “to show piety at home. Religion begins in the family. One of the holiest sanctuaries on earth is home.” The family altar is more venerable than any altar in the cathedral. The education of the soul for eternity begins by the fireside. The principle of love, which is to be carried through the universe, is first unfolded in the family. FAITH—HOPE—LOVE,
By Mary E. Guilford
I've trod the narrow pathway long,
While many thorns have pierced my feet;
Yet faith grows bright, and hope more strong,
And love makes all my joys complete. Yet still more narrow grows the way;
I scarce can trace the dim outline,
As on I press from day to day,
The steep and rugged hill to climb. Shall courage fail, or hope grow dim,
When darkness gathers round my way?
No; Christ has bid me look to him,
And he will guide my steps alway. Bright hope shall buoy my spirits up,
And faith shall be my armor bright,
And love shall mingle in the cup
I drink, while passing through the night. Thy word, O God, my lamp shall be,
To guide my erring feet aright;
A light to point my soul to thee,
Until I reach the land of light. An Aged Believer’s Hope
By Samuel Treat
Dear Brethren and Sisters: I always love to read the letters from the saints, and especially those of my acquaintance; and some may be glad to hear from me. I am far advanced in life, yet through the goodness of God I still live, and hope to live until the Life-giver comes in all his glory. Then I expect, if I faithfully bear the cross and despise the shame to the end, to have immortality and eternal life. Oh! praise the Lord for such a hope! But sometimes I fear lest it prove in my case, as the spider's web; for I have yet many evil propensities to overcome, and need to pray much; and I desire the prayers of God's children to help me in this day of temptation and tribulation. I feel the infirmities of age press heavily upon me, and my own righteousness has always proved to be but filthy rags. None can help but Jesus, my intercessor and advocate; and it is a consoling thought that he never turns a deaf ear to the cries and entreaties of any who believingly ask for help. Seventy-five years of my life have passed away, and I find that my faculties are failing, especially my memory. I often forget to-day what I did yesterday; but, thank God, I remember what the Lord has done and is every day doing for me; and I am often led to say, with the psalmist, Bless the Lord, O my soul, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. I am highly pleased with the weekly visits of the REVIEW, and wish I could pay for it; but I find it quite hard to get my daily bread. But the Lord says through the psalmist, Trust in the Lord and do good, and verily thou shalt be fed. I received some very excellent publications last year from the office, for which I am very thankful. It is all the preaching that I get on the present truth. The reading of these is a great privilege. I try to lend them out, but none seem to be interested. We have the truth on the Sabbath question, and it is my solemn conviction, that it will erelong become a test question. The Lord help us all to have our loins girded about with the whole truth, and be prepared to stand in that day when the Lord shall come to make up his jewels and to test the genuineness of our faith. Oh! how important it is to have a correct faith, as did the ancient patriarchs and apostles who lived out their faith, and are now all ready to receive an unfading crown of glory. Your brother and companion in tribulation. SAMUEL TREAT. Bro. Loughborough writes that he has lately held a series of meetings at Hopper School-house, between Santa Rosa and Petaluma, Cal., and that five have embraced the truth. For the past four weeks, in connection with Bro. M. G. Kellogg, he has been holding a tent-meeting in Bloomfield, with prospects of success. His address for the present is Bloomfield, Sonoma Co., Cal. ALL members belonging to the Amherst S. D. A. church that have not reported themselves according to regulations (once in three months) must report themselves at the Quarterly Meeting to be held June 25 and 26, at Amherst, N. H., or they will be held to censure. By order of the church. F. W. MACE, Clerk.