1. Because God has blessed the Sabbath-day, and hallowed it, making no exceptions for rainy Sabbaths.
2. Because I expect my minister to be there: I should be surprised if he were to stay at home for the weather.
3. Because, if his hands fall through weakness, I shall have great reason to blame myself, unless I sustain him by my prayers and my presence.
4. Because, by staying away, I may lose the sermon that would have done me great good, and the prayers which bring God's blessing.
5. Because, my presence is more needed on rainy Sabbaths when there are few, than on those days when the church is crowded.
6. Because, whatever station I hold in the church, my example must influence others: if I stay away, why may not they?
7. Because, on any important business bad weather does not keep me at home; and church attendance is, in God's sight, very important. See Heb. x. 25.
8. Because, among the crowds of pleasure-seekers, I see that no bad weather keeps even the delicate female from the ball, the party, or the concert.
9. Because, among other blessings, such weather will show me on what foundation my faith is built. It will prove how much I love Christ: true love rarely fails to meet an appointment.
10. Because, those who stay from church because it is too warm, or too cold, or too rainy, frequently absent themselves on fair Sabbaths.
11. Because, though my excuses satisfy myself, they still must undergo God's scrutiny; and they must be well-grounded to bear that. Luke xiv. 18.
12. Because there is a special promise, that where two or three meet together in God's name, he will be in the midst of them.
13. Because an avoidable absence from church is an infallible evidence of spiritual decay. Disciples first follow Christ at a distance, and then, like Peter, do not know him.
14. Because my faith is to be known by my self-denying Christian life, and not by the rise or fall of the thermometer.
15. Because such yielding to surmountable difficulties prepares for yielding to those merely imaginary, until thousands never enter a church and yet think they have good reasons for such neglect.
16. Because I know not how many more Sabbaths God may give me; and it would be a poor preparation for my first Sabbath in heaven to have slighted my last Sabbath on earth.—Feigned Excuses.
The Sinner's Business.
A FEW weeks ago, as a minister of Christ was passing out of his lecture-room one evening after preaching, he accosted a young man who was standing near the door, with the question, "Are you a Christian?" "That's my business," was the young man's blunt reply. It was a rude answer, and was no doubt prompted by improper feeling. But the words which he uttered are fitted to suggest a most important truth, which cannot be too deeply impressed upon the mind of every unconverted sinner. Yes, it is his buisness, to settle the question whether or not he is a Christian; it is his immediate and urgent business; it is a business in which he ought to be diligent; it were better and safer for him to neglect or defer any other business, rather than this.
Reader, are you a Christian? If you are, will you not do your utmost to arouse your unconverted friend, neighbor, fellow-citizen, out of his criminal and dangerous neglect of the most important business which he has to do in this world? If you are not a Christian, will you make it your business,—your first and chief business,—to become a Christian? If you do not make it your business, though all the Christians in the world should unite in importunate prayer and persevering effort for your salvation, all would be vain; you would never be a Christian, you would never be saved. But on the other hand, if there were not a Christian heart in all the world that felt any concern for your salvation, so that you might truly say, "no man cares for my soul," yet if you would make it your business to care for it, you might come to Christ and be saved. An inalienable, inevitable responsibility rests with yourself. A precious treasure is committed to your keeping, to be forever saved, or forever lost, and "the time is short." "If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself; but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it."
[Reflector.
O B I T U A R Y.
BRO. WM. Wick, of Genesee Grove, Ills., father of our esteemed Bro. Eli Wick, died of lung fever, Jan. 31st, aged 63 years. His sufferings were great, but the christian's hope cheered and supported him in his last moments. He had been an exemplary member of the United Brethren church for a number of years. Some more than two years ago two of his children saw that if they would enter into life they must keep the commandments. Shortly after, his companion was numbered with the commandment-keepers; and a year ago last August, while listening to the Sabbath arguments presented by Brn. Ingraham, Loughborough and others, he came to the conclusion that the law was holy, just and good, and although crossing to nature, and contrary to his pecuniary interest he united with his companion in keeping the commandments of God.
While life was receding, and friends were anxiously watching the feeble pulse, he was interrogated as to his hope. He answered that he should soon rest from his labor, and repeated twice with emphasis that he was glad he had kept the commandments of God. A funeral discourse was preached in the United Brethren church by Bro. Ingraham, from John iii, 16. This afflictive providence has removed from our midst a kind and sympathizing neighbor, and an affectionate husband and father.
GEO. MITCHELL.
Genesee Grove, Ills., Feb. 19th, 1859.
FELL asleep, in Locke, Mich., Dec. 16th, 1858, Alva Bronson, aged 39 years. He bore with patience and resignation the sufferings of a lingering consumption.
M. S. AVERY.
FELL asleep in Findlay, Ohio, Feb. 19th, 1859, my grandmother, Nancy Hough, after a painful illness of eleven days. I asked her if, in case she fell asleep in Jesus, I should write and let the remnant know that her heart was with them, and that she expected to meet them in the morning of the resurrection. She replied, "Yes, O, yes, tell them I hope to meet them in the morning of the resurrection."
MARIA JOHNSON.
ALLOW me, through the medium of the Review, to say to the numerous friends and relatives of sister Lydia Crandall, of De Ruyter, N. Y., (formerly of Pitcher,) that she is no more. After a distressing illness of several weeks, she fell asleep on the evening of First-day, February 13.
Uniting, in more than an ordinary degree, an amiable disposition with an unassuming yet fervent, active piety, she was endeared to all her acquaintance; and she has left vacant an important place in the neighborhood, in the family circle, and in the religious meeting. But her example remains, and she, being dead, yet speaketh.
Sister Crandall loved the appearing of the Lord; and we believe that in "that day" when Abraham, Isaac and Jacob shall receive their inheritance, and Paul his crown, she will have part with them; for the Apostle tells us the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give it, not to him only, but to all those who love his appearing.
E. A. POOLE.
"Whatever is, is Right."
By James White
This saying has been corrected by a Spiritualist. Mr. A. E. Newton, one of the ablest, if not the very ablest, of the Spiritual writers and speakers, at the Utica Convention on the cause and cure of evil, said:
"The a priori argument sometimes adduced on this point, is a very plausible one—and it once for a time came near bewildering my own mind. It is this—that as God is perfect, infinitely good, and everywhere present in the universe, there is no possible place for evil to get in! This would be perfectly conclusive but for one thing—evil is in! It is thus in flat defiance of the facts. To come in conflict with so crushing a theory may be very bad for the facts, I allow; nevertheless, they are 'stubborn things,' and my own opinion is that the theory gets the greatest share of the damage. Whatever is, is POSSIBLE!"
"I see not how it would be any easier for physical evil to get its 'infernal hoof' into the universe under this theory, than for moral. Yet, as a matter of fact, both are here, and we must shape our theories and our acts accordingly. . . . It seems plain, then, that any theory of God, any system of theology, which does not leave man an ability to choose what is wrong instead of what is right—and thus to debase himself and aid in debasing others, wants mending. It does not conform to facts."
A sensible conclusion. We were once aroused from our day-dream theories by a consciousness of the existence of these facts, and on examination became convinced that the introduction of the evils of the present state of our race was not accidental, but criminal; and that a remedy which would honor the government of God, and respect his attributes of love and justice, is only found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. J. H. W.
They Love to Fight.
By James White
It will be seen by Bro. Ingraham's communication in this number that Elds. Collings, Stephenson, and the like are still pursuing their peculiar mode of warfare against the truth and those who teach it. They love to fight! Contention, debate and strife seem to be their chosen element. They have lost all respect for good and honest men who differ from themselves, and more, self-respect is also gone. Fight, fight, fight! Rail, storm, misrepresent and slander!
We have met with Age-to-Come apostles of this stamp, East and West, and find them possessed of a spirit that is not found with any other class of professing christians. At Cleveland, Ohio, we met with some of them. Their object seemed to be to throw our meeting into confusion, and in this way destroy the influence of our discourse. At first they professed to be honest seekers for truth, and wished to ask a few questions for information. But before the meeting closed it was very apparent that they were hypocritical in their pretensions, and that the dragon spirit was in them. Such men generally have nothing to lose in a battle of words. They have no fine and tender feelings to be hurt; while the conscientious christian is likely to be wounded by abuse. They have but little or no influence as christians to lose, while the candid, devoted servant of Christ may be in danger here by talking with such men.
They love to fight. And being continually in the employment they love, and choose, they have become adepts at it. They will at one time appear very mild, and wish to learn, in this way to deceive a stranger, and fully open his heart to be pierced by the most irritating and provoking language. Then if you, being wounded and grieved, try to vindicate your position with a little warmth, you will be charged with an unchristian spirit, getting excited, angry, &c. Be assured, dear reader, that if Satan has men on earth inspired by his spirit to carry forward his work of destruction and confusion, we are speaking of some at least of the very men. We want you to view them in their true character, then you will not be in so much danger of suffering by their abusive course.
Question. Will honest seekers for truth break in upon the speaker, or ask questions to disturb a congregation? No. The good pretensions of such are the grossest hypocrisy. True, an honest man might ask a question before a public congregation; but in all cases an honest, conscientious seeker for truth will be satisfied when told that a private interview would be preferable. We should not suffer our meetings to be broken up by these disturbers of the peace, who carry on their work of confusion under the pious garb of "seekers for truth," and "free investigation."
J. W.
Letter from Iowa.
By Hiram Westover
DEAR BROTHER: We are trying to keep all the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus. We are wanting a little help. Bro. Hull was here last Winter and Spring. He got his field of labor so large that he could not finish up the work, and there is no person here that thinks himself authorized to baptize.
Brn. Brinkerhoof and Coffman are preaching. Bro. Coffman has not been baptized, and cannot get any one to baptize him that he thinks is authorized to administer the ordinance. Now if some one of the preaching brethren could come and set things in order, the work would go on. Coffman is from among the Methodists. Brinkerhoof was bred a lawyer.
The brethren here are generally poor, and the times are hard. There is very little money in the country. It is as much as we can do to get provisions to live on. I have two small farms, but cannot sell either of them. It is my duty to help spread the gospel, and I will do it. I have been in hopes of selling, so I could send for Bro. Hull, but I cannot send a dime.
O brother, I am so well pleased that you send the Review, I can only say, I will pay when I can. If we have to wait for some brother to come and preach for us, after we get the means to send, then it may be a long time. If one will come I will pay all expenses if I can sell my place, or if I can raise it by borrowing; but it cannot be borrowed, or I would send it. Please encourage some one to come and see us.
Yours in love,
Hiram Westover.
Afton, Iowa, Feb. 15th, 1859.
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Address URIAH SMITH, Battle Creek, Mich.
Meeting at Battle Creek
By James White
THE Church in Battle Creek invite the brethren and sisters from the towns round about to meet with them Sabbath, March 19th, and enjoy with them the ordinances of the Lord's house.
In behalf of the church. JAMES WHITE.
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