THE United States government is a great idol—altogether unworthy of the adoration which it receives. Statesmen, politicians, preachers; all classes and grades, strive to outdo each other in singing praises to this union of democratic professions and slaveocratic practices. In this they are deceived by the sight of their eyes—mistaking a rapid growth and increasing wealth for genuine progress and evidences of permanency. They have been so captivated by the splendor of its rise, that they have forgotten to notice that it is preparing the means of its overthrow. The majority who look and wonder at the nation's progress, are superficial observers; the brilliancy of the bubble of to-day shuts out all thoughts of the past and future.
The following is an extract from Benton's description of the 16th Congress, of 1820-1, as given in his "Abridgement of the Debates of Congress:"
"I entered the Senate at that time, and felt myself to be among masters whose scholar I must long remain before I could become a teacher—whose example I must emulate, without the hope of successful imitation. There they were, day in and day out, at their places, punctual to every duty, ripe in wisdom, rich in knowledge, modest, virtuous, decorous, deferential, and wholly intent upon the public good. There I made my first acquaintance with the federal gentlemen of the old school, and while differing from them on systems of policy, soon came to appreciate their high personal character, to admire their finished manners, to recognize their solid patriotism, (according to their views of government,) and to feel grateful to them as the principal founders of our government; and in all this I only divided sentiments with the old republicans, all living on terms of personal kindness with their political adversaries, and with perfect respect for each other's motives and opinions."
The Cincinnati Gazette contains an article from which the following is an extract, which shows the contrast between the present and forty years ago.
The article commences with some remarks on the adage that the darkest hour is just before day:
"But this rule is by no means universal. The proverbs we have quoted do not correctly express the principle on which they rest. For, in truth, when a national government, for instance, apparently reaches the lowest and worst state of its affairs, it has no certainty of a revival. The fate of Babylon, and Persia, and Greece, shows clearly that a thoroughly corrupted people has no assurance of resuscitation and a reformed future. A crisis of this sort, on the contrary, necessarily involves two alternatives. The nation must either rise to a higher life, by the rebounding energy of a moral force not yet wholly extinct, or else fall forever. The latter is by no means, in such a case, the least probable alternative.
"To a crisis like this, a veritable turning point in its destiny, our country appears now to be very rapidly approaching. Alarmists and prophets of evil, we know, meet with little popular favor. Our people, indeed, are so self-confident, so conscious of the vigor of youth, so elated with unparalleled success, and so earnest in the belief of a great national destiny, that Cassandra-cries would have little effect on most minds, even if the very citadel of our liberties were in the enemy's hands, and the flames of civil war and anarchy were bursting forth on every side. But if we are not in mortal danger, we are certainly near the perilous abyss.
"No close observer of the course of our national affairs, for the last few years, comparing the past with the present, the two generations of public men, of the last of which the remaining representatives are few, and the new generation of politicians who have taken their places, can fail to see that we have been of late very rapidly drifting in a dangerous direction. Corruption stalks through the National Capital with shameless front, and eagerly plies her busy trade with scarcely a rebuke. To how many of our public men at Washington, in the executive, judicial and legislative departments, in the army and navy, does not her approach seem welcome and her presence too alluring to be repelled.
"Turning from the federal government with pain and foreboding, what relief do we find in the conduct and condition of our several State governments? To what legislative body in any State of the Union can we look for that "wisdom and virtue" which our fathers were wont to make indispensable qualities in those who should represent them, and the manifestation of which, while in office, was not deemed a strange occurrence?
"State executives, who acquit themselves honestly and honorably, without intrigue or double-dealing, of the duties required of them by the Constitution and demanded by the voice of the people, are not too easy to find. State officers to whom money can be safely entrusted, or in whose care public property is without imminent risk of being wasted and corruptly used, are not over plenty. General distrust prevails. Heavy bonds and accredited sureties, even, can no longer be fully relied on, to guard the public possessions.
"Our city governments, through the land, have come to be proverbially corrupt. Honest men hesitate to be contaminated by connection with them. Bribery, intrigue, demagogism, and all kinds of dishonesty lurk about our city offices, and those who by one means or another, find themselves in places of trust, pursue reputation under great difficulties, if thereby they expect to win confidence and a good name.
"Through every class and description of official position, reached through popular suffrage, the same evil state of things has extended itself quite too manifestly to need a more special allusion. We do not by any means assert that all or a majority of public officials are tainted with this infection. We only note its penetration into all regions.
"To commerce, manufactures, trade of all sorts, the learned professions, and to all kinds of business, this demoralizing contagion has, more or less, extended its influence. We find constituencies at fault, as well101as representatives. The evil finds its way everywhere. And herein is one of the chief dangers."
Senator Toombs lately remarked in the Senate Chamber, that the American government was the most corrupt government existing. J. P. Hale said it was true; six or seven other senators assented to it. Mr. Toombs added that its chief corruption is in its legislative departments. (The above statement I take from a paper.)
When corruption manifests itself in the legislative and executive departments of a government, and when this state of things continues so as to be looked upon as a matter of course, as it is in this country, we may rest assured that the moral influence of the nation has passed away. To this we may further add that there is no conservative principle left in the churches, to counteract the tendency of these things. On the contrary, the churches hold themselves bound to obey the laws of the land, unjust and wicked as they may be; and thus act till these corrupt legislative bodies shall reform their own labors. Thus, instead of being "the light of the world," to lead and guide the world to truth and duty, their light is become darkness, and they are led by the world, rejoicing to follow where, and do what, the world shall dictate. If those whose eyes are not enlightened by the "sure word of prophecy" see the crisis approaching, it is surely time for the watchmen to lift up their voices like a trumpet to tell "What of the night." J. H. W.
Protecting Postage Stamps from Moisture
By Editor
ALL persons having occasion to send postage stamps in letters during the warm summer weather will take notice and be particular to keep them from all moisture. Neither carry them in your hands nor in your vest pocket, nor anywhere else where they will be exposed to the perspiration of the body. We frequently receive letters containing solid pasteboard of postage stamps, which cannot be used till they are soaked apart, or otherwise carefully separated, and re-gummed.
Correction
By Editor
Correction.—In the extract from Encyclopedia Americana in last week’s Review, last line, read 4th instead of 14th.
THE TIME HAS COME
By James White
To scatter our publications and extend our labors. The steam press works finely, and very fast. We can print more in one day than with the hand press in two weeks. Then the work was very heavy, now it is light. We must keep the press running, and let the silent messengers go everywhere. There should be a Book Repository at every important point.
In order that the book business may be extensively and properly carried forward, there must be a capital at the Office of at least $5000. And it is a fact that our Book Fund amounts to only $1500. Now what shall be done? We suggest that brethren or sisters who can spare $50, or $100 dollars each, lend it to the Office, without interest, with the privilege of drawing it out when they choose, after giving thirty days’ notice. We have several hundred dollars at the Office already on this plan; but as more is needed, we call on the numerous friends of the cause in this public manner, to come up to the help of the Office, with their fifties and their one hundreds.
J. W.
TEMPORAL MILLENNIUM.
By John Norton Loughborough
PERHAPS the song of peace and safety is no more effectually sung in these times than it has been in the cry of "A thousand years of glory to burst on earth ere long," when all will have been converted by the influence of the gospel. This song is now sung with redoubled energy since the late revivals have been in progress in different parts of the country.
In a late issue of the Morning Star (Freewill Baptist paper) published in Dover, N. H., we have just read several accounts of quarterly meetings. One great theme which came before them, and with which they seemed to encourage themselves, was, that "Prophecy is now receiving a remarkable fulfillment in these revivals, and the glorious time is soon to be ushered in." We do not doubt but a glorious time is soon to be ushered in, not, however, by a world's conversion; but by the glorious advent of our King.
To the faithful the coming of the day of the Lord gives occasion to rejoice, "knowing that their redemption draweth nigh;" but to the wicked, and those unprepared to meet it, the prophet says, "Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord." "The day of the Lord is darkness and not light." We cannot help thinking that the revivalists of this time who express so much earnestness concerning the day of the Lord, while they make light and ridicule of those doctrines which show how that day is to be brought in, will find the day of the Lord will be a day of darkness to them, as dark as the land of darkness and shadow of death. Those who say, My Lord delays his coming, (peace and safety,) are to have their portion with unbelievers.
While reading the claim that prophecy was fulfilling in the late revivals, and that the millennium was now to be ushered in, this question arose in our mind, What prophet ever told of a world's conversion that would bring in the millennium? None. The prophets have told of a time when the "knowledge of the Lord shall fill the earth as the waves fill the sea;" but it is when a King shall rule who will "slay (not convert) the wicked with the breath of his lips." Isaiah shows that such a glorious time is to come on earth; but it is after the Lord has created a new heaven and a new earth. See Isa. lxv. Peter shows that the new earth will be after this earth has been melted by fire. See 2 Pet. iii.
While we have found God's word declaring that "the tares and wheat shall grow together till the harvest," [Matt. xiii,] and that evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, [2 Tim. iii, 13.] that in the last days men should have a form of godliness and deny the power thereof, [2 Tim. iii, 5,] we have had no ears to hear the syren song of "world's conversion, and "good time coming." But in watching the signs of the times, we have seen that
"Now the men of might are waking,
Love is growing cold;
See the fields already whitening,
And scoffers growing bold."
While these revivals may have exerted a restraining influence for a time on a few, crimes of the darkest dye are increasing even where the revival has had its grand center, New York city. Our mind was somewhat struck with this increase of crime by seeing a statement in the New York Times of June 19th, that the previous week there were sixteen deaths in the city resulting from violence. Here are sixteen cases, then, of death from violence, either murder or manslaughter, in one week, while union prayer-meetings are held all over the city. This statement being so near the date of one in the N. Y. Tribune, it may be well to compare them a few moments and note progress. The article appeared in the Tribune about the last of June, 1857, headed, "Our Commercial Metropolis," and was copied into the Advent Review a short time after. It commences as follows:
"Sixteen murders have been perpetrated in this city since the first of April, about which time Mayor Wood began to develop his programme of violent resistance to the laws, and the whole army of grog-sellers bade defiance to any legal interference with their desolating traffic. There have been at least twice sixteen attempts at murder," &c.
Here is a picture of New York city under exciting circumstances for over two months, and during that time sixteen murders and thirty-two attempts at murder. Now contrast this with the statement of the Times of June, 1858, sixteen deaths by murder and violence in one week, not when the city is stirred by mobs, but union prayer-meetings are professedly scattering the seeds of peace.
Ponder this, ye thinking men, and answer the question, Is the world to be converted, or are evil men and seducers to wax worse and worse, as Paul has stated?
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
"IF IT BE OF GOD YE CANNOT OVERTHROW IT."
By M. E. Cornell
"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord." Isa. liv, 17.
It may not be uninteresting to note something of the progress of the truth in connection with the Mich. Tent. The truth and its advocates have been assailed by both priests and people in the most unrelenting manner. In addition to the usual professedly scriptural arguments, the foul tongue of slander has been brought to bear against us in a manner unparalleled in our experience. Some of their arguments were entirely original, and as foolish as they were novel. We shall only quote a few of the many positions taken, as most of them are familiar to the readers of the Review.
Meetings in the tent were adjourned, and the people repaired to the meeting-house to hear Eld. B., Presbyterian, and Eld. W., Methodist, in defense of Sunday-keeping, and the immortality of the soul. Eld B. takes up the Sabbath question. Text, fourth commandment. Positions, 1. No command before the one at Sinai. 2. The substance of the command is, One day in seven and no particular day. 3. A man may break the letter and yet keep the spirit of the commandments. 4. Why take up time about the mere matter of the day? They had better be preaching repentance. 5. We feel that to celebrate the resurrection on the first day of the week is very important, and we cannot give it up. 6. If the churches are keeping the wrong day would God bless them as he did the past winter in revivals?
Eld. W. takes up for the immortality of the soul. Text, "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils." 1 Tim. iv, 1. Positions,
1. The latter times have come, and the doctrine of annihilation (or that the human soul can surely die) is of the devil. Reply, The serpent said, "Thou shalt not surely die."
2. If everlasting has an end, then heaven is only just to get there and then be annihilated. Reply, Everlasting, Forever, &c., do have an end. Proof, Ex. xl, 15; Deut. xv, 17; Jonah ii, 6. There are more than one hundred examples of the limitation of the original of Everlasting, Forever and ever, &c., therefore "heaven is only just to get there and then be annihilated." Rule, That which proves too much, proves nothing at all.
3. These men put on a long face and preach the annihilation of the wicked. Reply, We preach the destruction of the wicked according to scripture; while they put on the long face and preach that the penalty for sin is an endless life of misery in hell, in the presence of God, [see Ps. cxxix, 8.] contrary to the scripture which says [2 Thess. i, 9.] they are "punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord," and hence they be out of existence "as though they had not been." Obad. 16.
4. They know better than to preach such things. Reply, "God only knoweth the hearts of the children of men." 1 Kings viii, 39.
5. The devil is ashamed of these men. Reply, Then he must be pleased with Eld. W., for we are at antipodes; besides, Eld. W. is teaching the very doctrine that Satan first introduced to the human family, viz., that man does not surely or truly die. Gen. iii, 4.
6. These men are robbing God's day of the glory he himself hung upon it. Reply, Thou art the man; for God sanctified and hallowed the seventh day, not the first, or Sunday.
The above discourses and our reviews seemed to accomplish a good work for the truth in Canandaigua. To show how the work is progressing since we left, I will copy from a letter lately received from an "Observer" in the place.
"ELDS. CORNELL AND LAWRENCE, Dear Sirs: I write, thinking you might be glad to learn whether any good has resulted from your labors in this place. I am willing to say that I first heard you with prejudice; but I am, as I find many are, now willing to admit that your arguments based upon the Bible are unanswerable! Or at least, our ministers have failed. And we have come to this conclusion after reading the Word for ourselves, and listening to Elds. Branch, Whitcomb and Warren in their attempts to prove your arguments false, and positions untenable. To refute your argument based upon the Bible in reference to Spiritualism's being the work of devils, Eld. Warren denied the truth of the Bible, and in fact denied the existence of the devil.
"Elds. Branch and Whitcomb deny the binding force of the fourth commandment, and assert that the Sabbath was changed by Christ and the apostles to the first day. They give us no express command for liberty to make the change, and not so much as a good reason drawn from the Bible. The good that may be seen from your labors is in the fact that most all who heard you are studying their Bibles with a desire to see if these things are so; that they may know whether indeed one seventh part and no particular time is the Sabbath, or the seventh day, according to the express command of God.
"I am sorry to say that our Elders have fallen into the same error which they laid to your charge while among us; of spending time in discussing these minor questions of the Sabbath, law, &c., failing to preach repentance and faith, the same they say you ought to have done. They have not preached one discourse upon repentance since you left; all combined force and eloquence have been thrown upon the same minor questions, as they called the Sabbath, &c., when dwelt upon by you and listened to by ministers from their congregations; but now subjects of great importance when considered by them, seeing the field is left for them to harrow and plow with none to molest or make them afraid. O what a rare jewel is consistency at the present day, even when found in a minister. AN OBSERVER."
Canandaigua, Mich., July 25th, 1858.
P. S. We some expect to remain here another week after this. Can Bro. Frisbie and Rhodes visit Green Bush and Tyrone? We shall not be able to get to either place with the tent, and several in each place wish to be baptized. A two-days' meeting in each place would do good, I think, Also Locke and Perry should be visited. M. E. CORNELL. Lapeer, Mich.
S. P. WILSON
By S. P. Wilson
From Bro. Wilson.
BRO. SMITH: I would say to the saints who have so often cheered and encouraged me by their letters in the Review, that although surrounded by temptations, and often obliged to mourn my folly, and inconsistencies, I am still striving to hold on to the present truth, and praying that God may give me grace to so apply it to my heart that I may be sanctified through it, and enabled to act wisely my part before my fellow-men.103
Truly the Lord has been good in revealing the precious truths to us which show his coming near; in showing us that we could not serve him while remaining in, and following the example of the nominal churches around us; that we were trampling his holy Sabbath under foot; and lastly, that we were indulging in vain glory, and feeling ourselves rich because of our knowledge of the truth, instead of humbling ourselves in view of God's mercy in giving it to us. Especially do I feel to pray that this last message may be set home to my heart, and that the Lord will enable me speedily to buy the gold tried in the fire, that I may be rich; the white raiment, that I may be clothed; and to anoint my eyes with eyesalve, that I may see.
We need to be awake in these last days of deception, when Satan is stirring up his hosts to work with power, signs and lying wonders. I was somewhat troubled at first in view of the powerful revival influence abroad in the land, and on being requested to attend a revival prayer-meeting, I felt to throw myself before the Lord, and pray to be guided in the path of duty. I went to the meeting feeling strengthened in the truth, and while there I saw so much of the form of godliness without the power, on the part of the professed leaders, that I was led to rejoice that I was no longer under their influence, and to pity the honest ones who from the false shepherds were receiving error for their portion. May the Lord speed the loud cry of the third angel, that the honest may be gathered in. The movement of our great High Priest and the commencement of the judgment of the sleeping saints at the ending of the 2300 days being marked with such powerful revivals and commotions, the thought that the present movement may mark the commencement of the judgment of the living, bears with some weight upon my mind. May the Lord enable us to be ready, that when he comes out to bless the people we can say, Lo, this is our God, we have waited for him.
Yours in hope of eternal life.
S. P. WILSON
Paris, Me., July 24th, 1858.
Are We Morally Bound to Keep the First Day of the Week?
By N. G. Sanders
BRO. SMITH: The following article was written last Winter, and read in the Lyceum here, when the above question was under consideration. It was not intended as a scriptural argument, but a side view; for Scripture, I thought, would have less weight on the point, than meeting them on their own ground with their own arguments. N. G. SANDERS.
By what standard may we judge of the acts of men, whether they are moral or immoral? By the law of the land, public opinion, or the word of God? If by the law of the land, then it is immoral not to aid in the capture of the fleeing bondman. If by public opinion and custom, then where slavery exists, it is morally right. But if by the word of God, then undo the heavy burdens, and let the oppressed go free. "Thou shalt not return to his master the servant that is escaped from his master unto thee." But if God's word is the proper scale in which to govern action on this subject, then it must be on every other. The law of the State says the first day of the week is the Sabbath, public opinion and custom say, amen; but God's word says the seventh day is the Sabbath. In view of this, is it morality to profane the seventh day, or immorality to profane or labor on the first? Does the long continued violation of the law of God cause it to cease to be sin? or does the liberty that man has taken to supplant God's requirements by another day, make it a moral duty to observe the day thus supplied? When sin becomes popular, receiving sanction in high places, from church and State, then unhesitatingly appeal to the Bible to enforce the very opposite of what it teaches; and such a mist seems to fill the eyes of professed Christians that they think age, common consent, or some thing some how has made this subversion of God's law morally right. Has God in his word given any liberty for this meddling? If not, is it a small sin? Man's wisdom says it makes no difference which day you keep; but God's says man's wisdom is foolishness to him. God made man upright, but he has sought out many inventions.
There is another subterfuge which the short-sighted attempt to hide behind when driven by necessity, which, it would seem, is too shallow to deceive many; but nevertheless it serves as a screen to those that raise it. It may be stated thus: First-day keeping tends to order, cleanliness, harmony, and the general good of society. We are morally bound to observe that which is for the common good of society; therefore we are morally bound to keep the first day of the week as the Sabbath. All can readily see that the same physical and social results that would follow First-day keeping would follow the keeping of any day. Then as to the moral results flowing from it, it leads to a direct violation of God's law, which is certainly immoral—placing the devotees of First-day keeping in a like position to those early Christians of whom Mosheim speaks in his Church History, who practiced pious frauds and falsehoods on the heathen, or pagans, to induce them to embrace christianity; seeming to forget that they themselves were amenable to a higher power, or the law of God.
Looking at First-day keeping from this point, all its boasted power for order and harmony is turned into the wildest disorder, by dethroning heaven's unalterable rule of order. But the great day will sweep away all refuges of lies; where then will those be found who break the law and teach others to do the same? I leave them to the mercy of him whose law they have broken. N. G. S.
LETTERS.
By John Fisher
"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another"
From Bro. Fisher.
BRO. SMITH: I would just state to the brethren and sisters in the present truth, that I feel greatly encouraged to go on and persevere in this glorious way. It proves itself to me to be the power of God, and the wisdom of God, which all the adversaries can neither gainsay nor resist. They may rail at it, calling it what they please, but they cannot refute it. They are afraid to handle it, or review it in christian candor, for fear it should cleave unto them; therefore they can only spurn it from them with the blackest malice of heart.
On my way to Battle Creek, I spent last Sabbath and First-day in Northville, town of Plymouth, in the family of my companion's brother. We gave our testimony concerning the true Sabbath, or Lord's day. I left in the family some of our works, supplied them with our latest paper, the Review, and secured it for him for three months to come.
First-day morning I and my companion went to hear the Presbyterian minister, who treated us bountifully with what John Calvin said and thought; but to us it was nothing more than spinning a rope of sand. This Rev. gentleman must have perceived me to be the same person whom he had heard two years previous giving a lecture in that village. This must have so satisfied him at the time, that he by the bare recollection of it, now ventured to invite the stranger to speak for him to his congregation in the afternoon service. And so it was that when I was going down the steps after meeting he followed me out, laid his hand upon my shoulder, and without asking me any questions as to how or what, blandly asking me to preach for him at 1 P. M., it being then 12 o'clock. I as blandly told him that I had no objection. I was granted to enjoy much freedom of speech. I felt some of the demonstration and power of God upon me. I felt no spirit of sarcasm, but of meekness and candor. I had cause to tell him how he had held up Calvin, as it were the pattern of the church; that we had heard no testimony concerning the word of God, only a, Thus saith Calvin; that I wanted a, Thus saith the Lord. I told him my ears had been saluted four or five times by his calling the first day of the week the Sabbath of the Lord. I said, Thus saith Calvin; but, Thus saith the Lord, The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God. I exposed John Calvin as bringing the Pope's Sabbath and Infant Sprinkling with him out of spiritual Babylon.
The man, I believe, felt heartily to confess to his people that he had betrayed their innocent blood, by suffering his sacred desk to be polluted with heresy. He fairly trembled as a vanquished foe. I told him further that I would spend the week in the village and give him all the opportunity he wanted to recover from the consternation into which he was seemingly thrown by the stranger, in being thus attacked in his own stronghold; but he judged it best to call my sayings heresy and gross error.
At 5 P. M. I went to hear the Methodists. There I heard nothing but of immortal souls in heaven and hell. There were two in the desk; and when they came out, I went up to them and asked them to explain to me an immortal soul. One told me it was the immortal mind of man. I asked him what he understood when Paul speaks of this mortal's putting on immortality. He said that referred to the body. I asked him what became of the immortal soul in the resurrection. He said it should enter its own body. I told him if it did, man then would consist, according to that doctrine, of two immortalities, an immortal body and an immortal soul, which I thought was absurd to believe. He looked into my face and laughed. I asked whether either of them felt to discuss the matter in public; but it was not accepted.
I leave this my humble testimony to present truth, and the love for it, with the brethren and sisters, leaving them to judge as regards my proceedings in these matters. If I am right, may it encourage others to boldly, but meekly, come forth in defense of present truth; if otherwise, I hope the brethren will show me wherein I have erred, and strayed from the path of duty.
Your brother striving for eternal life.
Battle Creek, Aug. 5th, 1858.
LINES
By C. M. Rathbun
Written on the death of my grandmother, Anna Maria Cory, who died June 7th, 1858, in Okemos, Ingham Co., Mich., being within a few days of 81 years of age, and having been a Sabbath-keeper about four years.
Thou'rt gone; no more thy voice we hear,
'Tis hushed in death;
Thou'st yielded back upon the air
The last, short breath.
While friends bereaved now mourn for thee,
To rest thou'rt gone;
And left earth's troubling cares, to wait
That last, bright morn.
Sweet be thy peaceful slumbers now,
Within the tomb;
Sleep, till the trump shall call thee forth
In youthful bloom.
Though dim the lustre of thine eye,
Thy step infirm;
Though furrowed was thy brow with age,
Thy heart was warm.
Thou in thy Saviour's love didst dwell,
Rejoicing still.
Rest now, thou'st well performed thy task
And done His will.
We've borne thee to thy resting-place,
With burdened hearts;
But soon within a sunnier clime,
We'll never part.
We soon expect to see our Lord
To earth descend;
He'll not forget thy resting-place,
Farewell till then.
C. M. RATHBUN.
Consistency.
By A. P. Lawton
THE fields are white already to the harvest, and we are praying the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into his harvest. Let us then be consistent with our prayers. When one feels the woe upon him if he preach not the gospel, and says, Here am I, send me, we should be cautious how we put forth the hand—God does not need our interference, and he will take away the influence of those who dare to do so. Those whom God has chosen have enough to do to break away from the chains with which the world and Satan have bound them.
Our tent lies still for lack of laborers. May God grant his people wisdom to discern between those whom he has called and those whom he has not. That some run who are not sent, there is not a doubt; but that all are not in the field that should be, needs no argument.
A. P. LAWTON.
West Winfield, N. Y., July 23d, 1858.
Our Employment.
By A. P. Lawton
PROPERTY should not be acquired in a doubtful manner. Our employment should be honorable and honest in the sight of all men, that the gospel be not blamed. Better have less and live above reproach. God will not accept an apology that the cause is needy. The cause of God can never need the wages of sin. Though we give our goods to feed the poor, and our bodies to be burned, it cannot buy heaven. The cattle upon a thousand hills are the Lord's, the gold also is his, and he can turn it into his treasury as he has need. That we should be diligent in business, that we may have to give to the more needy, I fully believe; but a holy life, a close walk with God, is what the remnant need more than gold. It must be sought and obtained or temporal means will be useless. That God will baptize his people with the Holy Spirit, is my fervent prayer.
A. P. LAWTON.
West Winfield, N. Y., July 23d, 1858.
Visits Among Sabbath Keepers
By William Phelps
From Bro. Phelps.
Bro. Smith: Since I last wrote I have visited the south-west part of Sauk county. I found one Sabbath-keeper, and the only one that I know of that has ever lived in that part of the county, holding fast the truth. Preached twice on First-day to a good congregation of attentive hearers. Some interest manifested; some quite anxious for me to return and give a course of lectures, which I intend to do as soon as circumstances will admit. Then I visited the friends at Westport; found most of them firm in the Sabbath truth; preached once, then returned home, and then visited the friends at Alden, Ills. I found a few precious souls firm in the truth. They had been three years without receiving a visit from any preacher, and some had got almost discouraged. I preached five times, which seemed to encourage them. They resolved to press their way into the kingdom. That was the first band of Advent Sabbath-keepers that was raised up in the State of Illinois. When the meeting closed, one or two that never had obeyed the commandments of God, decided to keep them in future, and go with the remnant to mount Zion. The morning I left, one was baptized. May the Lord bless those lonely ones that are striving to keep all his Commandments, and give them the Faith of Jesus.
I feel thankful for the Review. While I read the communications from the dear brethren and sisters, it is like a meeting with those loved ones; and I anticipate the time when the redeemed of the Lord shall be gathered home. Isa. xi, 11, xxxv, 9, 10. I want to see the cause prosper, for I believe it is a short work the Lord will make upon the earth. Soon the Third Angel's Message will go with a loud cry; then the day of salvation will be over; then he that is filthy will be filthy still. Then behold I come quickly, says Jesus, and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. How necessary that we have all on the altar, so that we can work for God. O may God help us, my dear brethren and sisters, to get on the armor, that we may be able to stand in the evil day, and having done all to stand.
Your brother striving to overcome.
W. Phelps.
Hebron, Wis., Aug. 1st, 1858.
The Promised Inheritance
By Elizabeth Hutchins
From Sister Hutchins.
Dear Brethren and Sisters: As I have often been cheered by the warm-hearted epistles from the dear saints scattered abroad, I wish also to speak in honor of my Master's cause. Though I do not feel capable of edifying any, I yet expect to overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony. There is a glorious prospect before us. The King is soon coming in his beauty to take his suffering children from this world of sorrow and affliction to the holy city where we shall suffer no more; where sin cannot annoy us; where clouds cannot intervene between us and our Saviour; but where we can behold his beauty and loveliness, and the holy angels too that are now so interested for us. We shall soon see the glorious city, the streets that are paved with gold, the gates that are of pearls, the beautiful tree of life with its immortal fruit, and the river of life so clear and beautiful.
Dear brethren and sisters, can it be that the Lord has prepared so glorious a place for us, poor sinful creatures as we are? Yes, his word declares it. Then let us be faithful, for only the faithful shall inherit it. The promise is to Abraham and his seed. None are Abraham's children but they that do the works of Abraham. I believe that here in this earth Abraham and his children shall inherit the promised possession. When the earth shall be restored to its Eden state, and the holy city shall be the capital, then love and harmony shall prevail; then
"Peace shall smile from shore to shore,
And nations shall learn war no more."
"O glorious land! O blest abode!
We shall be there, and like our Lord."
But we are now in a vast, howling wilderness, beset as it were with ravenous beasts of prey, ready to devour at every step; and the Devil goes about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may destroy. We are truly in the perils of the last days. O how many are deceived by the delusions of Satan!
But I rejoice in the Lord for the light of present truth, and thank him for a heart to try to obey it. O let us all be faithful and heed the counsel of the true Witness, and have on the wedding garment. I truly feel that we are in a land of sickness and sorrow; but we have cheering prospects of a better country. I realize that we are in danger of being overcome by the enemy; but the blessed Jesus has promised to be with us, If he is for us, who can be against us? O how many precious promises he has left to encourage us!
For one I am determined by assisting grace to go through to the city. I often feel tired and weary of this world of pain and death, and long for the land where the inhabitants shall not say, I am sick. I love to think the time is near, and I want to be ready.
Dear brethren and sisters, pray for me, a poor, weak creature with very feeble health, and many cares. I do truly need the prayers of God's children to help me bear the trials that I have to pass through. But bless the dear Lord, the promise is to them that overcome.
Yours striving for eternal life.
ELIZABETH HUTCHINS.
Ballville, Ohio, Aug. 4th, 1858.
WM. R. SHERRARD
By William R. Sherrard
From Bro. Sherrard.
BRO. SMITH : I wish to say to the brethren and sisters scattered abroad, that it is about ten months since I embraced the Sabbath of the Lord, and I have no desire to turn back, though previous to this I was keeping the first day in all good conscience, thinking the Sabbath had been changed to the first day. But when I went to the Bible to see when and where it was changed, I could not find it. So now I and my companion are trying to keep all ten of the commandments, and can truly call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable.
Dear brethren and sisters, let us all be more faithful. I find the closer I live to duty, the better my enjoyments. O may the good Spirit ever influence us all to do what God has commanded us to do, and let the commandments of men go.
Yours striving to overcome everything that is not Christ-like. He is our Pattern, and we should imitate the Pattern as near as we can.