Earlier text: THE SABBATH SINCE THE REFORMATIONEvents to Occur During His Sounding.
AND the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. . . .
And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. Rev. xi, 15-18. If the seventh angel is the same as the "last trump," [1 Cor. xv, 52,] and "the voice of the archangel and the trump of God," [1 Thess. iv, 16,] as many suppose, then the sounding of the seventh angel is the Lord Jesus Christ, at his second advent, calling the righteous dead from their slumbers. In this case, the series of events named to occur under his sounding must all occur after the Lord's second appearing. But if the seventh angel be considered of the same character as the other six, a symbol, and not the Lord Jesus Christ, then why may not his sounding be prior to the second coming of Christ, and some of the events under his sounding constitute signs of that great event? Of the two positions, we take the latter. How natural and reasonable that all seven of these angels are of the same character. How unnatural and unreasonable to suppose that six of them are symbolic, and the seventh to be Michael, Gabriel, or any other literal angel. Again, the trump of God, or last trump and its immediate results, seems to be the work of a moment as the following texts show. "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord." 1 Thess. iv, 16, 17. "Behold I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump." 1 Cor. xv, 51, 52. But the seventh angel is days sounding. "But in the days (years) of the voice of the seventh angel," &c. Rev. x, 7. To the fifth angel, 150 prophetic days (years) are allotted; to the sixth, 391 and a fraction; and why may not the days of the sounding of the seventh, be years also? We see no reason why they may not be. Under the sounding of the seventh angel, several distinct events are to occur. 1. "And there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ." By this we understand that the testimony and faith of the church is symbolized, in probationary time. If it be urged that these voices are to be heard only in heaven, we would ask, How many kingdoms there are, or will there be in heaven? The answer must be, But one. It is evident then, that the voices are to be heard in this world, in probationary time, where the "kingdoms" (plural) are. When Christ's kingdom shall be established "under the whole heavens," it will be one kingdom; but there is a sense in which the kingdoms (plural) of this world become Christ's before they are dashed to pieces, to give place to the immortal kingdom. We may learn this from Dan. vii, 13, 14; Ps. ii, 8, 9. And with the scriptural view of the Sanctuary and priesthood of Christ before us, we are led to apply these texts to the end of the 2300 days in 1844, from which point we date the sounding of the seventh angel. We cannot here dwell on this point at length; but it seems evident that the period for the "voices" here mentioned, is the same as that of the third angel. Rev. xiv, 9-12. 2. "And the nations were angry." Perhaps this does not refer to slaughter among the nations, so much as to great political excitement and hostile feelings. And are not the nations even now becoming angry. 3. "And thy wrath is come." We learn from Rev. xv, 1, that the wrath of God is the seven last plagues. "And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God." This unmingled cup of wrath is threatened in the message of the third angel, and is to immediately follow it. The period of this wrath without mercy is after Christ's intercessions cease before the Father; for as long as he intercedes, wrath will be mingled with mercy-drops. Therefore this third event will occur when there is "no Intercessor," [Isa. lix, 16,] Christ having finished his work in the heavenly Sanctuary, and the third and last message of mercy being closed. Awful hour! Reader, prepare to meet it! This period of unmingled wrath is the "quickly" of Rev. xxii, 12. In verse 11, the True witness declares "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still." This must be at the very point of time when the last warning and invitation shall cease, and Jesus no longer offers his blood to save sinners. The destinies of all are fixed, yet Jesus has not then come as will be seen by the next verse. "And behold I come QUICKLY, and my reward is with me, to give to every man according as his work shall be." Here, then, is the period of the third event under the sounding of the seventh angel, which is, "and thy wrath is come." It is after the message of the third angel, and the work of the sealing angel are closed, and before the second coming of Christ. 4. "And the time of the dead that they should be judged," is the fourth event under the sounding of the seventh angel which we will here notice. That judgment has begun at the house of God, that this is, in a certain sense, a period of judgment and decision, we freely admit; but the judgment, the day of judgment, the time of the dead that they should be judged, is, evidently, in the future. It follows the last plagues, and is to be introduced by the coming of Christ. "I charge thee therefore," says Paul, "before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at (not before) his appearing and his kingdom." 2 Tim. iv, 1. "Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts." 1 Cor. iv, 5. "The time of the dead that they should be judged," is in other scriptures called the "day of judgment." "judgment of the great day," and "day of the Lord." The Apostle, after stating that the present world is reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men, says:— "But, beloved, be not ignorant of one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." 2 Pet. iii, 7, 8. We are led to consider that this text, with the connection considered, teaches simply this, that the Lord's day of judgment is a thousand years in length. This view is strengthened by comparing Rev. xx; Matt. xix, 28-30; xxv, 31-46, which cover the whole ground from the resurrection of the just at the Second Advent, down to the second death of the wicked, at the end of the one thousand years. Search and see. 5. "And that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great, and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth." Prophets and saints will get their reward when the kingdom of God shall be established in the New Earth. This is their reward. If the New Earth does not appear till the close of the seventh millennium, which view we think harmonizes far the best with scripture and reason, then this reward will not be given till the closes of the fourth event, which is "the time (1000 years) of the dead that they should be judged." Then at the close of the one thousand years, those that destroy (corrupt, margin) the earth will suffer the second death, the earth will then be made new, and to the prophets, saints, and all who fear God will be said, "Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." Why may not the sounding of the seventh angel, and the third woe, extend down to the close of the seventh millennium, when all woes shall terminate with the destruction of the lost, at the second death? We have seen that the anger of the nations is a distinct event, to occur during the sounding of the seventh angel, just before the pouring out of the vial, of God's unmingled wrath. The anger of the nations, extreme political excitement and hostile feelings among them, is one thing, and the fury of the Lord poured out upon them is, indeed, another thing. The third angel [Rev. xiv, 9-12] threatens this wrath of God unmixed with mercy. When his voice of mercy, sweet mercy, shall cease to be heard, there being no Intercessor in heaven, the wrath of God will then fall upon the guilty sinner's head. Therefore the period for the anger of the nations is before the last plagues, during the message of the third angel. This being the period of the rise and progress of the third angel's message, we may look upon the present unsettled, and even angry, state of the nations as occurring in the order of God, and in fulfillment of his word. But just what we may now expect will occur among the nations, may not be as easily determined. The third angel will, however, do his work, and the servants of God will be sealed; therefore the four angels will hold the four winds in check sufficiently, that this sealing work may be accomplished. We understand that the third angel of Rev. xiv, 9-12, and the sealing angel of Chap. vii, 1-3, represent the same work, and apply to the present time. The work which they represent commenced in 1848; we mean, the present message there had its rise. The events of that year astonished the world. What a sensation all Europe felt at the sudden announcement, "France is a Republic!" The spirit of revolution, like a tornado, swept along through Europe, and overturned firm thrones of kingdoms. Political prophets53talked of all Europe being deluged in blood, and Doctors of Divinity prophesied the end of tyranny, and the reign of Republicanism, freedom and the millennium at once. But how mistaken. False prophets!—No millennium yet, no rivers of blood, and tyranny reigns. And was it not the fulfillment of the angel ascending with the seal of the living God, saying, "Hurt not [or hold the four winds] the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads," that hushed all to silence again? This is our solemn conviction. This being the period for the fulfillment of the words of the prophet, "And the nations were angry," we may reasonably expect that not only the nations of Europe will make great preparations for war, and even advance to battle; but that our own nation, and all the nations of the earth, may become unsettled and angry. But at the same time the four angels will hold the four winds in check, so that the great slaughter will be prevented, till the servants of God shall be sealed. Those who seek to discern the signs of the times may look upon the movements of the nations with the deepest interest. But to teach that the great time of trouble has actually commenced, and that the battle of that great day of God Almighty may now take place, would lead to a false and unhealthy excitement, narrow up the faith of those who should receive such a view as to the great work yet to be accomplished by the message of the third angel, and limit their efforts to do much for the salvation of others. The anger of the nations is indeed a sign to the people of God that this is the sealing time, and that the great day of wrath hasteth greatly; while at the same time, the four winds being held in check by unseen hands forms a double sign that the last sealing work is being accomplished. A mighty work is yet to be accomplished to bring out upon Bible truth, unite and prepare a people to stand in the day of wrath, and to be translated at the coming of Christ. The Lord forbid that any should get their faith shut up in a nut-shell. The work of the third message is not to be all done in a corner. The world must hear it; a few hearts here and there will feel its power, receive it and prepare. The "loud voice" will be heard, and the work be cut short in righteousness. But, brother, beware how you cease to labor, and wait for the work to move more rapidly before you take an active part in it. Danger, brother! Awake to your present duty! Be sure that you are indeed a Bible Christian now; that you keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. We venture to say that the reason why the work does not progress more rapidly is because so many who profess the truth are not real Bible Christians, therefore are not ready to move along with the work of the Lord, should it move rapidly. Arouse, dear brethren, and put on the whole armor of God. Enter upon the work with all the heart. Raise the standard of Bible holiness, and the Lord of hosts will go before you. He is inclining the ears of the people to hear the message, and if we hold our peace, their blood will be required at our hands. How solemn the third message!—awful announcement! and how fearful to hide it from the people in one's heart, or to carelessly consume that means which should be used to spread it. The signs of the last days thicken around us. Iniquity abounds in the world and church, crimes are multiplied, spiritual wickedness is flooding the land, the spirits of devils are abroad working miracles, false reformations in abundance, and to this we may add, the nations are becoming angry. O church of Christ, arouse! arise! Get ready to work for God. Do your whole duty to perishing mortals, before the vials of God's unmingled wrath shall be poured out upon a ruined and lost world. WE notice in the Harbinger for March 4th, an article by L. W. of Fredonia, headed the Fourth Commandment, in which the writer says:— “I fully believe that God created the heavens and the earth in six days and rested on the seventh from all his works, and God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because that in it he rested from all his works.’ This is the last that we hear about the seventh day for over 2500 years, until the children of Israel left Egypt, and reached the wilderness, when God gave them the Sabbath, and wrought a miracle that they might keep it.” Here the writer has the Sabbath given at the time of the miracle in giving the manna in the wilderness of Sin, about one month before the children of Israel came to Mount Sinai, where the ten commandments were spoken, and written on tables of stone. See Ex. xvi, 1; xix, 1, 2. Now read L. W. again:— “But our Sabbatarian brethren say we will find Christ himself saying the Sabbath was made for man, and that it was made when the first seven days were made, and that the Sabbath was not made for the Jews in particular, but was a gift of God to mankind universally of all nations and in all ages of the world. If the fourth commandment was given at creation the whole ten must have been given at that time; but where in God’s word is the evidence that they were then given? so where; for any one who has read the history of Israel from Egypt to the land of Canaan, knows that the ten commandments were given at Mount Sinai.” The amount of the writer’s argument is this, that the “Lord of the Sabbath” must have been mistaken when he said “the Sabbath was made for man;” for “if the fourth commandment was given at creation, the whole ten must have been given at the same time.” He then states that it is a well-known fact that they were given at Mount Sinai. If this reasoning be correct, that the Sabbath was not made at the close of the first week of time, because the ten commandments were not then delivered by an audible voice from heaven, or given in the form of a code of precepts, it proves also that the Sabbath was first given when the ten commandments were spoken and written by the Almighty at Sinai. And if the assertion of L. W. be correct, that man had no Sabbath till the ten commandments were spoken at Mount Sinai, in the third month, then what stupidity to talk of its being given at another place, in the second month, (one month earlier) when God wrought the miracle in giving the manna! Here are two positions taken which flatly contradict each other, therefore eat each other up. We would not be too severe; but we sincerely think that such groundless assertions, pitiful reasoning and stupidity, or an effort to wrest the word and hide the truth, deserve a faithful rebuke. Now if our no-Sabbath friends wish to convince us that it is an error to keep the fourth commandment, they must not talk of the Sabbath being first given in the wilderness of Sin, at the giving of the manna, and then reason that it could not have been given till a month later, when the ten commandments were spoken at Mount Sinai! About a month before Israel saw Mount Sinai, God said to Moses, “How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? see, for that the Lord [will give you the Sabbath in about one month? no] HATH GIVEN you the Sabbath.” The Sabbath, then, existed before the giving of the law at Sinai, and it is not possible to show that it was made for man at any other time than at the close of creation, when God after he had rested the seventh day, sanctified the day of his rest. There is no record that he blessed the seventh day but once. What did he hallow? Answer, The Sabbath-day. “Wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath-day, and hallowed it.” Ex. xx, 11. Then the Sabbath dates from the very hour that Jehovah hallowed the day of his rest at the close of the first week of time. The history of about 2300 years from creation is crowded into fifty-two chapters of the Bible, and in this brief sketch of events, why should we expect to find the Sabbath mentioned? The fact of its not being mentioned is no proof that it did not exist. It is a fact of a hundred-fold greater surprise that the Bible passes over the history of several hundred years after the law was given, without naming the Sabbath, even in the period when the Sabbath-breaker was stoned to death. “Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” Rev. xiv, 12. “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Chap. xii, 17. In our last we noticed the distinction between the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus; that both are to be kept; and, therefore, the faith of Jesus is the gospel system, embracing all the doctrines and requirements spoken by Jesus in person, and those written by his inspired apostles. We also stated that our design was not to dwell at length upon the gospel system, and enter into all points connected with the faith of Jesus, but to call attention to that portion which relates to present duty. A deep sense of duty to our brethren and sisters has led us to the consideration of this subject at this time. Many suppose that they are quite good Christians, whose words and acts, and their state of spirituality, fall far short of coming up to the elevated standard of the gospel. Admitting that it is the will of Heaven that the church should have apostolic faith, power, and the gifts of the Spirit, they cannot reasonably be expected, while the church is almost destitute of the apostolic graces, good works and consecration. The early apostolic church was indeed powerful. It was no less holy. The standard of holy living was raised high. How pure, plain and pointed the doctrines of our Lord. They took deep root in the hearts of his followers, and were carried out by them in the words they spoke, and in all their acts. They gave all for Christ and heaven. They were separated from, and dead to, this world, therefore were hated by the world. To such a church the gifts of the Spirit could be safely given. They had sufficient humility and wisdom to use them to the glory of God. But if apostolic power, and the gifts of the Spirit, should be freely given to the “remnant” in their present unsanctified, undisciplined state, it would most certainly prove their ruin in the end. There is not yet sufficient humility, grace and wisdom, in the body, to make a right use of such endowments. God has employed, and doubtless will use the gifts of the Spirit to accomplish important objects, and he ever has, and ever will, entrust them to those of experience and humility. To freely bestow them upon an inexperienced and unsanctified church, would54be like placing the keenest edged-tools in the hands of children. Some seem to wonder that there are no more wonderful manifestations of the Spirit of God among them. Is it not rather a wonder that God does so much for them while they are so far from him? Such should return unto the Lord with repentance, mourning and bitter weeping, and learn that they must first obtain the gospel graces, and possess all the qualifications of a Christian, and then, perhaps, God may manifest his power among them. “If ye abide in me,” said Christ, “and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John xv, 7. You have no grounds to claim the promise in this text, unless you abide in Christ, and his words abide in you. To be in Christ, and to abide in him, is no small thing. And in order for his words to abide in you, his plain teachings must be received, and strictly obeyed. No one can say that Christ’s words abide in them when they are at the same time living in violation of his requirements, and neglect to follow his plain teachings. It is presumption to claim the rich and precious promises of the New Testament, while living in violation of its requirements. We will now examine some of the plain declarations of the New Testament relative to the duties of the disciples of Christ, and first we will notice those which relate to their words, or Says the Great Teacher, “How can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart, bringeth forth good things; and an evil man, out of the evil treasure, bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Matt. xii, 34-37. Says the apostle James, “If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which, though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindlieth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. “For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed, of mankind: but the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. “Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig-tree, my brethren, bear olive-berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.” Chap. iii, 2-13. Both the words of Christ, and of the Apostle, teach the same important doctrine, that the proud and evil, natural heart must first be subdued, and the grace of God take full possession of the entire man, before the tongue can be governed. The Apostle declares that “if any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.” From this we learn that to govern the tongue is the greatest and most important work the Christian has to attend to. The natural man cannot tame the tongue. With “bits in the horse's mouth” he may subdue and tame the animal, and “with a very small helm” ships may be turned about; “but the tongue can no man tame.” What a description is here given of the tongue! “An unruly evil, full of deadly poison,” “a fire, a world of iniquity.” Jesus testifies that “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Then the trouble with an evil tongue is, the heart is corrupt. Bitter words come from a bitter heart. But what must be done for the tongue? The natural man cannot tame it. We answer, Let that hard heart break. Let the blood of Jesus be applied, which is able to cleanse it from all sin. Let the fountain be made perfectly clean, and the words that shall then flow from the heart will be sweet words. Praise the Lord! Says James, “Who is a wise man, and endued with knowledge? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.” There is, then, a remedy for the tongue. The grace of God is sufficient to purify the heart, and help to govern the tongue. Look forward to the 144,000 overcomers. “In their mouth was found no guile; for they are without fault before the throne of God.” Rev. xiv, 5. A great work must be accomplished for some, to fit them to stand on the Mount Zion. Says the apostle Paul, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil-speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” Eph. iv, 29-32. “Neither filthiness nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.” Chap. v, 4. “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” Col. iv, 5, 6. This last passage should be weighed well. From those that are without we may expect opposition, hatred and scorn. To ever meet this with calmness, meekness and wisdom, is no small thing to learn. Unbelievers are watching the remnant for their faults, and, it is to be feared that the rash, exclusive and retaliating spirit of some of the brethren has done much to hinder the progress of the cause of present truth. Many who oppose Sabbath-keepers will not give them the credit of possessing christian courtesy, and a good spirit, unless they waver on their position, make the truth of little consequence, and fully fellowship those who break the commandments of God. We have no hope of suiting this class. It would be perdition to yield to their unhallowed influence. The truth is dearer to the child of God than life, and for it he should unwaveringly stand. And while he battles for the truth, he may manifest all the graces of the Spirit of God. “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, [margin, forbearing] in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves: if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth: and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” 2 Tim. ii, 24-26. Those who have not wisdom and grace sufficient to obey these teachings of the Apostle, had better never open their mouth in defense of the truth, especially in the presence of the unbelieving. Such had better wait at some Jerusalem till they be endowed with power from on high, that they may bear the “fruit of the Spirit,” which is “love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.” Gal. v, 22, 23. Says Peter, “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lust in your ignorance: but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1 Pet. i, 13-16. “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” 2 Pet. iii, 14. “Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory, both now and forever. Amen.” Verses 17, 18. A More Sure Word of Prophecy
"We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shinneth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts." 2 Pet. i, 19. As Communications of esteemed Brethren sometimes contain expressions which we choose not to use, and sentiments which we would not advance, we would say, that we are not responsible for what appears under this head. DEAR BRO. WHITE :—I would say through the Review to the dear saints scattered abroad, that I am yet striving to overcome and gain the Rest that remains to the people of God. And while many are laboring to remove the landmarks, and extend the prophetic periods into the future, I feel to rest down on the "original Advent faith," or upon the rock bottom: their principles being fully sustained by the word of the Lord. By these principles the great prophetic period of the 2300 days is shown to have terminated in the Autumn of 1844, and that we are now in the time of the "cleansing of the Sanctuary," giving a perfect harmony to the different parts of the great period, showing an event at the terminus of each, corresponding with those marked in the prophetic chart. The vision once made plain upon tables, the tarry, the slumbering of the virgins, the cry that aroused them, and the event symbolized by the coming of the Bridegroom all find their corresponding fulfillment in the movements of the past; the last, in the change of the work of our High Priest from the first to the second apartment of the heavenly Sanctuary. The great move in 1844 shows a fulfillment of prophecy that shines out upon our pathway to the Kingdom like a great light placed at the entrance of a harbor to guide the toil-worn mariner which when he has once passed, he knows that he shall not have to pass again; but rests in the quiet assurance that he shall soon gain the port and be at rest. So we, having passed these great way-marks need not expect to see them again by a repetition of the same movements, but may rest with perfect assurance that Christ will soon come. The gospel ship will soon anchor in Heaven's broad bay, and the saints pass the pearly gates of the New Jerusalem and partake of the fruit of Life's fair tree. Seeing then my brethren we look for such things how diligent should we be to be found of him in peace without spot and blameless. What manner of persons, truly, ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness. Our words should be few and well chosen, and such as shall minister grace to the hearers. Our every act should tell for the interests of God's cause, and for our own advancement in the great work of preparation for the day of God. Our closets should be often visited, and secret prayer must often fervently rise from our hearts and lips to God. Our family devotions should be deep, fervent and spiritual; and as we enjoy the privilege of meeting with the saints, our fervent prayers and warm hearted exhortations should show that the truth has a large place in our hearts, and by every possible means should we seek to advance the cause of God. Brethren, our position is a solemn one. A great responsibility is resting on us. The work is great. Our time to labor is short. The reward will soon be given to the faithful. None in that day will regret that they have done what they could. Our time, our talents, our property, all belong to God. Soon he will call us to an account for our stewardship. God grant that we may be found faithful and finally enter the joy of our Lord. I have been laboring in this State about two weeks. I held one meeting in Portland. Several causes have served to hinder the cause of truth in that place. But a few are striving to hold fast the truth unto the end. The second Sabbath in this month I spent with the old and tried friends of the cause in Topsham. Our meetings were pleasant and I trust profitable to all. The evening after the Sabbath, and on First-day I held a meeting in a school-house about five miles from Topsham village. Quite a number came out to hear and listened with good attention. Several became quite interested in the truth and wanted publications, &c., to aid them in their investigations. Last Sabbath and First-day I held meetings with the brethren in Brewer. The brethren came in from Bangor, Orrington, &c. A few came in to hear the reasons of our faith. I had a free time in presenting the truth. At our last meeting one wanderer, with tears of contrition, desired the prayers of God's children, expressing her determinations to walk in the ways of truth. The brethren here have been passing through trials, but the prospect now seems brighter, and the church seems to be rising to higher and holier ground. Those advocating the new-time theory, are making a great effort in this part of the State, but yet I find a few who are interested to hear on the third angel's55message and the commandments of God. I expect to spend a few weeks in this part of the State if the Lord will. Yours in hope, F. WHEELER.
Orrington, Me., Feb. 21st, 1854. "O Lord, I am a fool, and not able to know the truth from error: Lord, leave me not to my own blindness, either to approve or condemn this doctrine. If it be of God, let me not despise it; if it be of the devil, let me not embrace it. Lord, I lay my soul in this matter only at thy foot; let me not be deceived, I humbly beseech thee." The Wilderness of the People
By Josiah Hebner
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—I have thought what a blessing it was from God to us, who are so widely separated from those of like precious faith, and have not the privilege of the gospel ministry of the messengers of God, who are proclaiming the third angel's message, that he has opened another way by which his truth can be communicated to us. The Review comes a welcome messenger, laden with truth, and communications from the dear saints scattered abroad. I do rejoice that God has said, "And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord God. And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant." Eze. xx, 35-37. His reason for bringing ancient Israel into the wilderness, he says, was to try them. "And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments or no." Deut. viii, 2. God is about bringing us into the wilderness of the people to try us and to prove us and to know what is in our hearts, and to know whether we would keep his commandments or no, taught in the third angel's message—the last message mixed with mercy that ever will be proclaimed to this world. The church here have been under severe trial, but we feel thankful to God that we have been able to confess our faults to one another, and thus fulfill the law of Christ. The church, we trust, will become more healthy and again begin to breathe the free atmosphere of heaven. We all join in the Macedonian cry, praying the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest; for the harvest is great and the laborers are few. There seems to be quite an interest existing in the minds of some individuals in this place, with regard to the Spirit Manifestations as they are increasing quite fast here. There seems to be quite a number who appear to manifest a desire to hear for themselves, and it seems to me that if some of God's servants could feel it duty to come and present the truth, and the whole truth, before the minds of the people, that some would be added to the commandment-keepers—such as shall be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. May the Lord speed the messengers, is my sincere prayer. Yours striving to be an overcomer through the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony.
JOSIAH HEBNER.
Oakwood, C. W., Feb. 19th, 1854