Review and Herald, Vol. 24, No. 8. (7/19/1864)

Review and Herald

Jul 19, 1864

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 19, 1864

TOBACCO ON HEALTH

Tobacco - Using. No. 7.

TOBACCO ON HEALTH.

ONE seeming misfortune about this pernicious habit—to which allusion has already been made—is, it remains so long doing its fatal work without being perceived. If its doings could speak out as readily and as loudly as those of alcohol at this day, many a life might be saved that is now being sacrificed upon its cruel altar. The time has been when alcohol did its work unperceived. It walked boldly among men of the first respectability with its arrows of death, without being considered a destroying angel, but rather an angel of mercy, exercising good-will to man. Now its cloven foot is seen, and the demon tries to hide himself. He is still doing a fearful work, but not with so bold a face, nor in so reputable a circle.

It is somewhat amusing, as well as painful, to see the monster now retire behind a large screen, or in a back apartment of the dram-shops; or down, out of sight, in the basement of respectable hotels; in order that he may carry on his work unblushingly, and that his friends, who would be glad to preserve their respectability and their drams, may associate with him with much less embarrassment.

But as yet the Devil's great agent, tobacco, goes shamelessly forth, without the external signs of blood upon his skirts. Not because no blood is there; nay, his garments are full of the blood of his victims; but the world has thrown over him the long red veil of fashion, which shields his real character and the marks of his doings. But my prayer before Heaven is, that the veil that covers the sins of this incorrigible monster may soon be torn asunder. It seems to me, that time is not far ahead; that a revolution will soon take place; that men of common sense, of thought and reflection, will wake up and concentrate the forces of public opinion, to dispel the darkness that hovers over this enormous evil, and wipe its foul stain from the face of human society.

A few men are disseminating light upon the subject. It is to be hoped others will enlist their powers in this warfare. Every medical man is called upon, for the highest good of humanity, to which the profession dedicates itself, to carry a lamp in his hand that will shed light upon the subject. Every minister of the Gospel ought to "cry aloud and spare not," against an evil habit that not only destroys the bodies of those who are required to present themselves living sacrifices upon the altar of Christ, but in benumbing the highest susceptibilities of their souls; an evil habit which, like alcohol, stands in the way of those whom they would persuade to become reconciled to God; an evil habit that is costing the members of the church not only a large amount of their physical and moral energies, but an enormous amount of money, which, in the Christian treasury, would do immense good to a benighted world.

There never has been a time since tobacco came into popular use, when men, possessed of a spirit of humanity or of Christian zeal, were so loudly called upon to come to the help of God and the rescue of the race in this matter, as at the present time. Americans are using it more extensively than any other people. It is estimated that the consumption of tobacco in this country is eight times as great as in France, and three times as great as in England, in proportion to the population.

The habit is increasing. There is a larger number, in proportion to the population, who are using it now, than at any former period. It is being used earlier in life than formerly. Our fathers began to use it later in life than the present generation of men. Now it is used very early. Young boys are chewing and smoking. It often seems to me that if laying my own life on the altar of humanity could save this rising generation, and those that may follow them, from this dreadful destroyer, the offering should freely be made.

To see the boys in our streets crippling their vital energies in the very buddings of life, with this Bohun Upas, is truly appalling. This is the time, if ever, to lay in a good stock of health and soundness. If the vital forces are crippled now, they are probably crippled for life. Its withering influence at this period, on the brain and nerves, and the electrical currents that flow constantly through them, and on the serous and mucous membranes which gather this electrical fluid, is far greater than at any other age. At this period especially, are needed all the avails of the nervous energies, for accomplishing the full and perfect developments of the different organs of the body; and for ushering in the completions of manhood. But perhaps a more fearful view of the matter still, is its destructive power transmitted from parent to child.

(To be continued.)

Picture of a Fallen Church.

We present the reader this week, with some further extracts from the sermon of E. Bowen, D. D., Episcopal Methodist, from which we gave an extract in Review No. 6, present volume. Nothing but the most marked and alarming apostasy from the spirit and power of primitive religion on the part of the Methodist church, could call forth such rebukes from the lips of one of its friends.

With respect to intemperance, we may not have kept pace with the English Wesleyan connection, whom a correspondent of the Christian Advocate and Journal represents as a community of incipient drunkards. They, being a little older than we, might be expected to have got a little ahead of us in their devotion to Bacchus. But, however we may have fallen behind them in the use of wines, beers, and other intoxicating liquors as a beverage, still, in that sacrific form of intemperance which consists in chewing, smoking, and snuffing tobacco, we can scarcely be out-done. With many among us, the use of this poisonous weed has become an inveterate habit, defying all remedy; their appetite, by long and unrestrained indulgence, having gained the complete mastery over them. In vain are they expostulated with on the subject by relatives and friends, and by "their superiors in office," whose godly judgments they have solemnly pledged themselves to "follow;" all sense of the indecency of the practice, and of its offensiveness to all decent people, having become extinct. Still they continue to bow at the shrine of their Bacchanalian idol, and pay him their eager, filthy, slobbering devotions. The appalling criminality of a practice which has wasted more lives, not to say more time and money, than any other species of intemperance; and of insulting everybody they approach, by compelling them to stand aloof with seeming incivility, or inhale the stinking, pestiferous atmosphere they carry about them, gives them no concern. They even regard their guilty indulgence as an accomplishment, without which they would scarcely be qualified for respectable society; and scoff at the vulgarity and superstition of those who presume to make it a question of morals. None except some poor, old asthmatic, under the delusive notion of the medicinal virtues of tobacco, could be seen using it in the early days of our church without a blush; but now—the Lord have mercy upon us—there are many belonging to the church; of preachers not a few; who can set aside the teachings of physiology, morality, and religion, upon the subject, with a sarcastic sneer; look with an air of self-complacency upon their offensive tobacco-using habits, and "glory in their shame."

But the strongest and most lamentable evidence of our defection from God is, that having lost the life and power of religion ourselves, we now persecute it in others. It is by this work of hell, more than anything else, that we become identified with fallen churches; for these alone assume the prerogative,

and possess the disposition, to persecute the truly pious: as they, in their turn, were persecuted when they sustained that character. It is the Church, in her fallen condition, that has forever constituted the great persecuting power; the civil authorities—whether Heathen, Christian, or Infidel—doing comparatively little in this direction; scarcely anything indeed, except by her instigation. Nay, it is the Church whether Catholic, Episcopalian, or Methodist—any one who claims the exclusive right and title of a Church, that constitutes the great persecuting power of the earth. And any denomination engaging in the work of persecution, does it, of course, upon the ground that they are The Church, to the exclusion of all other persuasions. All the persecutions, in general, from the foundation of the world, may be traced to The Church in this acceptance of her character.

Who persecuted and slew the prophets, the apostles, the Lord of life and glory? The Church. Who destroyed the lives of more than fifty millions of Protestant Christians in the sixteenth century? The Church. Who drove the Puritans out of England, and the Huguenots out of France, massacring many thousands of them in the most barbarous manner—and hung the Quakers at Boston? The Church. Who formerly persecuted the Methodists in the old country, and more recently in this, while they sustained the character of a holy people? The Church. And if the question be asked,—Who are now kindling the flame of persecution against the Free Methodists; and all who go in for full salvation, as taught by Wesley, within our own pale, even? the same humiliating answer must be given—It is The Church. She it is—no matter what her denominational designation may be; since it is her affiliation with persecutors that gives her this bad eminence—she it is—being fallen to the infernal height of Popish infallibility and exclusiveness—who excommunicates her best members—lay and clerical—ostensibly for contumacy; the stereotyped general charge of all fallen churches against all reputed heretics; but really for the reason for which Cain slew his brother—"Because her own works are evil, and her brethren's righteous."

And what else could be expected but that the great body of our people, preachers and all, should sink their Christian practice in a loose morality, and their morality in the fashionable sins of the day, when "our chief ministers"—the Bishops—are understood to lead the way? Just look at the example they have set us for a few years past in respect to practical godliness. See one of them, as he mingles in the scenes of a public banquet, given him by the people of the world, "whose friendship," which "is enmity with God," he reciprocated and enjoyed with such evident gusto at a rum hotel. And another, who so far forgot the proprieties of the occasion, not to say the principle involved, as to ridicule a prominent member of the Philadelphia Conference for simply inquiring—as in duty bound—whether a brother whose character was under examination before the Conference, were a slaveholder.

See them, one and all—possessed of vast fortunes, as the most of them are said to be—drawing their heavy salaries from "the proceeds of the Book Concern," made sacred by the original charter of that institution to "the support of the distressed traveling preachers and their families, and the widows and orphans of those who have died in the work; thereby depriving those worthy claimants, in many instances, of the ordinary comforts of life. See them also with eight or nine months of the year allowed them to "travel through the connection at large, and oversee the spiritual and temporal business of the Church"—exclusive of the time necessary to attend the Conferences—yet never making their appearance within the bounds of many of the Conferences during the entire interval of their annual sessions. And see them extending the ægis of their protection over "the sum of all villainies;" by throwing the whole weight of their influence against the impending anti-slavery action of the General Conference, as in their quadrennial address of 1856; and by conferring holy orders upon slave-holding preachers, in utter disregard of the Discipline which they have solemnly vowed to keep and administer.

But we are done. Our task has been one of painful interest; not only because of the pain we have felt in being called upon, in the order of Providence, to present to the Church the ugly portrait of her own character; but more especially for the reason that she was not in a condition to sit for a better picture. We mourn over her defection from God; and from Methodism, which we still love, as ever, with an almost idolatrous devotion. We still love the Methodist Episcopal church; and mean no disrespect toward her in anything we have said in this discourse. And if we have felt it incumbent on us to sound the note of alarm, and to admonish her, in this way, of her impending overthrow, it is not because we desire such a catastrophe, but because we fear it. Nothing is plainer to us than that the old Methodist ship, unless she change her course, will inevitably sink—engulfed in her own worldliness and pride—and be irrecoverably lost. But while we grieve over the sinking condition of the old ship, in which we have so long sailed upon the ocean of life, we rejoice in the persuasion that God is preparing a life-boat to take off any passengers who may feel disposed to make their escape before she goes down.

The Recording Angel.

By C. M. Willis

No transaction, 'scapes his eye, Not one sigh, or groan, or tear, Not one idle word passed by, All must be recorded there. Now one kneels before the throne; If his heart is far away— Thus the record is set down, Thus 'twill read at that great day.

Swearer pause! that awful name, Just about to leave thy tongue, Will appear in words of flame, When thy soul with fear is wrung. Ye who to the poor deny, Of the plenty to you given, Tremble! for that anguished cry, Is recorded high in Heaven.

Though great power may here be gained, To defraud, and cheat, and wrong; Trample on their fellow's claim,— Still that pen is moving on. Though the action may in part, Screen the thoughts that move them here, Every motive of the heart In that record will appear.

Sinner pause! ah! pause with dread! Let this question claim your care: When the judgment books are read, Will your name be mentioned there? Solemn warning! Solemn thought! Sinks the heart in deepest gloom! Mercy then cannot be bought, Fixed for aye, the sinner's doom!

C. M. WILLIS.

It is Enough.

By M. D. A.

"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities; but in all points was tempted like as we are, yet without sin."

Were it not that some such declaration had been written for the child of God, and left upon record on the sacred page, how often some afflicted soul would have been wrecked in a maelstrom of temptation? Many a weak vessel and frail bark without this compass and anchor would have been stranded upon the shores of unbelief. But here again is the Christian mariner's lighthouse, guiding him through every danger, buoying him above every temptation, and beyond every sorrow; and here, beneath its cheering rays, may toiling hearts find refuge and peace, even a foretaste of that rest, to be given to all the weary and way-worn, who have so long been upon time's boundless ocean, waiting, to catch a glimpse of the heavenly land ahead. Then never despair. Is it not enough?

But how can it be? ponders the Christian as he enters some fiery ordeal—how can it be that he who had known the joy of Heaven and tasted its bliss, witnessed its glory, and experienced all its height of happiness, could feel the burden of temptation, as I who am so poor and weak, trembling and fearful, and so unacquainted with the heavenly clime? Did the dear Redeemer feel this crushing weight that bears me so low? But stop, doubting soul, think of the garden, the tears, and blood, the long night of pleading and anguish, of the forty days in the wilderness, weak and hungry, of the powers of darkness pressing down when hanging upon the dreadful cross, and not one to stand by him then. Oh it was at the blessed Saviour, that Satan hurled his most fiery darts, and yet all without sin.

The promise is real, and every trusting heart may come boldly to the throne of grace, and the despairing ones may see light and joy for them. Oh, is not this enough?

But here we experience earth's losses, bitter disappointments, blighted hopes, friends pass away, others prove untrue, the world greets us with scorn, and we realize that this is not our rest, and with all our burden of grief, we turn to Heaven for aid. Our great burden-bearer knows our wants, and we pour out before him our complaints. He listens, hears, and pities; and when it suits our case best, he lifts the load and gives us of his love and the comfort of his Holy Spirit. He comes in and sups with us and we with him. Oh then, had we no other heart to whom we could turn for sympathy, is it not enough that the dearest of all friends is ours and we are his? Could we but look clearly into some gospel mirror and see how afflictions and trials, disappointments and blighted hopes, serve to purify the heart, win the affections to God, and cause the image of the Redeemer to reflect itself in us more and more, we should oftener feel and pray.

"Subdued and instructed at length to thy will, My hopes and my longings I fain would resign; Oh, give me a heart that can wait and be still, Nor know of a wish or a pleasure but Thine."

But again, we think the way rough and dark, oh, how dark! and the desert sands are scorching to our weary feet, and yet we must press on. We look here and there for some earthly prop, but all in vain. We see now and then those whose way seems smooth to us. Ours seems hard. Life's hardships press us heavy, and we almost forget our Source of help. Like Peter to whom the Master predicted a martyr's death, we are ready to say "Lord and what shall this man do?" The response comes back, "What is that to thee? follow thou me." Then the promise, "As thy day, thy strength shall be," and as thy work so thy reward; and that will be enough.

Oh, then, the Christian's path is not all thorns, and were it all flowers he would never realize the worth of his heavenly home. There his feet will never press the burning sand, nor his flesh feel the pricking thorn, nor his heart be thrust with Satan's sharpened arrows. No, and it is enough that we may here prepare for that glorious home. Now the waves of temptation may roll like liquid mountains around us, yet there is always ground to anchor. Securely may we confide in our faithful Captain until our work is done; and as one, a humble tried one, once remarked "What if we do receive blows? why there will be a reward." Such a reward! Then every little act for Christ's sake will make up the great sum. Not mighty deeds, but every prayer of faith to God, every sympathizing tear, every worthy word spoken in season, every cup of water to His followers, every worthy example, all, ALL will tell in the final reward.

And if our names be found in the Lamb's book of life, and a crown of life await us at Christ's appearing, and we be found among that sinless throng who meet Jesus and his attending angels in the air, oh, then will it not be enough, yea far outweigh with an exceeding and eternal weight of glory all our sufferings here? Blessed hope!

Then will blend each heart and tongue, And join in angel strains the song Glory and praise to God most high, Who gave his Son for man to die! And as each heart, tuned to the lay, Repeats the chorus night and day, All Heaven with loftiest music rings, Of glory to the King of kings. M. D. A.

What must it Be to be There!

By L. J. Shaw

WHO does not delight to think of the beauty and splendor of the holy city, the New Jerusalem, built of pure gold like unto pure glass; her walls of Jasper, gates of pearl, streets of gold; and her pure river of water of life. All that we can imagine will convey to our minds but a faint idea of the splendor of the saints' heavenly home. When we gather together what is gorgeous and precious and beautiful, in the visible creation, it will not compare with the final home of the saints, will not compass the greatness, nor exhibit the loveliness of the portion which awaits the people of God.

As the shining company of the redeemed take the circuit of the celestial city, as they walk about Zion, and go about her, "telling the towers thereof, marking well her bulwarks and considering her palaces," who can doubt that they say one to another, As we have heard so have we seen in the city of our God. We heard that here the wicked cease from troubling, and now we experience that heavenly peace and rest. We heard that here we should be with the Lord, and now we behold him face to face. We heard that here we should know, even as we are known, and now the ample page of truth is open to our inspection. We heard that here, with the crown on the head and harp in the hand, we should execute the will, and hymn the praises of our God, and now we wear the diadem, and wake the melody. They can take to themselves the words which the dying leader, Joshua, used of the Israelites. "Not one thing hath failed us of all the good things which the Lord our God spake concerning us; all are come to pass, and not one thing hath failed thereof."

Jesus said, "In my Father's house are many mansions; and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am there ye may be also." How

vain must be our hope of entering into Heaven, into those mansions prepared, if we have no present delight in what are said to be its joys! Is it not good to hope and wait when each moment may add a jewel to the crown? And shall it be said of any among us, that they heard of Heaven, but made no effort to behold it? Are there any who can be indifferent to the announcement of its glories? Is there one who can feel utterly careless whether he ever prove for himself that it is indeed a surpassingly fair land, which is to be the everlasting home of those that love God and keep his commandments?

The walls of that city shall never decay. The lustre of that city shall never grow dim. The melodies of that city shall never be hushed. And is it of a city such as this that any one of us should be indifferent? Who would think that any, old or young, rich or poor, would delay to make the solemn vow that they will seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, that they may share the glories of Heaven, where we shall feel his influence cheering and enlivening and supporting our frame, in a manner of which we now have no conception.

Oh who will not adopt some such reflection and prayer as this; I have heard of Heaven; I have been told of its splendors and of its happiness; grant gracious Father, that I fall not at last to be associated with those who shall rejoicingly exclaim, As we have heard so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts; for he has promised that he that overcometh shall inherit all things. L. J. SHAW. Strykersville, N. Y.

To the Honest-Hearted.

By W. S. Foote

As we believe that there are such persons, not connected with us in church capacity, I wish to ask such a few questions relative to a subject of profound importance to both of us.

In the first place, are you so anxious to get at the truth that you are willing to lay aside all your "isms," that you may understand what is the mind and will of the Lord? Are you willing to sacrifice all that you are, and have in this world, for the truth?

It may seem superfluous to put such questions to the honest-hearted. I do it because some may think they are so, but are not. Friendly reader: if you and I get ready for the coming of our Lord, and unite with all the sanctified in singing the song of redeeming love, we must dig down deep into our hearts, and throw out all that the world, the flesh and the Devil have buried there. Our bodies must be the temple of the Holy Ghost. "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Rom. viii, 9.

Are you leading a watchful and prayerful life? In Prov. xxviii, 9, it is said, "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination." And in Ps. lxvi, 18, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." What is iniquity? Is it not sin? Is not sin a "transgression of the law?" Are you at any loss about what is meant by the law of God? In Ex. xxiv, 12, God said to Moses, "I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written." With these remarks I will leave you to find the place in the Bible where we are told that the Sabbath of the Lord has ceased to exist, or where the Sabbath, or Lord's day has been changed by divine authority from the seventh to the first day of the week; or the place, where we are informed that the law of ten commandments has been abrogated by the law-giver. Surely you cannot refer to the language of our Saviour, "I came not to destroy the law," or to Rom. ii, 13: "For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified;" or to Rom. iii, 31: "Do we make void the law through faith? God forbid; Yea we establish the law."

Now, dear friend, I would advise you not to place yourself in a position, where the Lord will not hear you, when you attempt to address a throne of grace, but fear God and keep his commandments." If you are "justified by faith," you will love God, love his holy law, delight in obeying all its holy requirements. The Sabbath will not be to you a yoke of bondage, but you will "call it a delight, holy unto the Lord, honorable." Isa. lviii, 13. You will be willing to leave all your errors, and your conformity to the fashions and maxims of the world.

You will also incur the displeasure of the world, and especially of false professors. They will call you a Jew, a fanatic, an infidel, &c. It costs something to be a Christian. You will find the language of the Bible all true. You will find that "they who will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution." But as a reward of faithfulness here, you will know from happy experience, that "great peace have they that love thy law, and nothing shall offend them." Ps. cxix, 165. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have a right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Rev. xxii, 14.

Reader, men's hearts are now failing them for fear of those things which are coming upon the earth; while there is a company who are lifting up their heads, knowing that their redemption draweth nigh. A storm of wrath is already gathering, soon to overtake a guilty world, and sweep into destruction those who fear not God, and keep not his commandments. Escape for thy life.

W. S. FOOTE.

Pendleton, O.

God Rules in the Kingdom of Men.

By L.

About the history of Nebuchadnezzar there is something wonderfully impressive. From the highest of human distinctions sinking out of the level of his race, the extremes meet in his life as in no case on record.

As with the great of earth generally, so dazzled had he become with the glory that surrounded him, he saw no higher than the dome of his own greatness, and so failed to acknowledge Him, by whom all rulers are ruled. The language of his heart instead of being "O Lord how manifold are thy works" is expressed when he walked in his palace with stately tread, and exclaimed, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty." But there comes a voice from heaven starting fearfully the proud king from his revery. "Oh king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken: The kingdom is departed from thee: and they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomever he will."

Severe indeed, are the lessons by which God teacheth an individual or nation, humility; and terribly does he sometimes demonstrate that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men.

As a nation, with a feeling akin to Nebuchadnezzar's while surveying Babylon, have we looked upon our Republic, and this feeling would not have been reprehensible perhaps, had it been founded upon justice and mercy. But as great as the institutions of which we boast, are the sins of which we are guilty; and according to these, may we expect that our punishment will be meted out.

Had the Chaldean king heeded the counsel of the interpreter of his dreams, "to break off his sins by righteousness, and his iniquities by showing mercy to the poor" the tranquility of his kingdom might have been perserved. And had we remembered, although on the side of the oppressor there might be power, that it was righteousness alone that exalted a nation, the calamities that are befalling us would have been averted. But hardened in sin, we know, is the heart of this great nation; for while "war lifts his helmet to his brow," in our midst, and tumult and confusion prevail throughout the land, when men have "much to fear and little to expect" instead of turning from these things as Pilgrim turned from the city of Destruction and crying, "Life, life, eternal life!" men close their ears that they may not hear the cries of the distressed and dying, and madly rush on, as never before, in the pursuit of perishable wealth.

Smitten, but not humbled, we still hear them all around us, speaking haughtily concerning oppression; and pride, at unparalleled expense, still adorns herself, and parades our streets, whilst truth, like an outcast, receives the warmest welcome at the door of the humble.

But the day of the Lord is upon us when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess; for "God's hand will find out all," and men shall know if not now that his eye has not slumbered upon their wickedness. Brethren let us, who profess "not to be in darkness," acknowledge the Most High by humbly walking in obedience to all his commandments. That we may be acknowledged of him when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

Let It Pass.

Be not swift to take offense ; Let it pass ! Anger is a foe to sense ; Let it pass ! Brood not darkly o'er a wrong Which will disappear ere long : Rather sing this cheery song— Let it pass ! Let it pass !

Strife corrodes the purest mind ; Let it pass ! As the unregarded wind, Let it pass ! Any vulgar souls that live May condemn without reprieve ; 'Tis the noble who forgive, Let it pass ! Let it pass !

Echo not an angry word ; Let it pass ! Think how often you have erred ; Let it pass ! Since our joys must pass away, Like the dew-drops on the spray, Wherefore should our sorrows stay ? Let them pass ! Let them pass !

If for good you've taken ill, Let it pass ! Oh ! be kind and gentle still ; Let it pass ! Time at last makes all things straight ; Let us not resent, but wait. And our triumph shall be great ; Let it pass ! Let it pass !

Bid your anger to depart, Let it pass ! Lay these homely words to heart, "Let it pass !" Follow not the giddy throng ; Better to be wronged than wrong ; Therefore sing the cheery song— Let it pass ! Let it pass !

[All the Year Round.]

The Power of Christ's Coming.

SAYS E. Bickersteth, D. D., The certainty and the nearness of the Lord's coming, and the duty of waiting for it, are now, blessed be God, much more generally acknowledged and realized. I trust that the hearts of Christians are becoming more and more established in this solemn reality. That it is not a mere careless repetition of words when they say, We believe that thou shalt come to be our Judge; and when they say in the creed, He sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. Doubt not of the fact at all. Be expecting it, and be waiting for it; earnestly desire to be ready and prepared for it. Lord, we believe; help thou our unbelief! Oh, may we live more and more in the light of this coming judgment, and accustom ourselves to view everything with constant reference to it. The bringing near of the final judgment, and the realizing of the wrath then to descend on the wicked, and the promised glory then to be bestowed on the righteous, are full of weighty influence on all our duties. The solemnities and infinite magnitude of the judgment, its irreversible issue, and its eternal decision of our future state, as inhabitants of hell or heaven; and the assurance that the Judge now standeth at the door, cannot fail to quicken every one who receives God's testimony in simple faith.

Brooding Over Misfortunes

SATAN is ever pleased when we sit down and brood over our misfortunes, for then he knows we shall be forgetful of God's favors.

What Shall I Believe?

By R. F. Cottrell

SAYS a friend, "I would be glad to know the truth, and I believe I would try to be a Christian, if I knew what course to take. I believe the Bible is the book of God, but there are so many sects of Christians, each claiming that they are right, though differing widely in teaching and practice, that I do not know what to choose."

If, my friend, you will study some of the prophecies of the Bible, which I can point you to, and some of the signs given by which we are to know when the coming of Christ is near, even at the doors, you will be convinced that Adventists are right, that the coming of the Lord is at hand, and that the true people of God are preparing for the event, so that they may, as the Scriptures represent they will, be looking for the advent and waiting for the coming Christ, when he appears.

"Of course you will have it that you Adventists are right. But if I should be convinced that the coming of Christ is at hand, what then should I believe, and how should I know what course to pursue? for they are divided as well as others."

It is in vain for people to call themselves Adventists and say they believe that the coming of the Lord is at hand, unless their faith and preaching produce a real reformation. They that are prepared for translation without death at the advent, will certainly be reformers. It will be something besides mere theoretical faith in Christ's coming. They will have faith in this and will be waiting for the Lord, but this is not all, there will be a moral reformation and renovation with them; in other words, they will keep more moral commandments than other people. From what we are warned of the perils and deceptions of the last days, reason itself would teach us that such would be the case. But the last warning for men before the advent expressly points to the fact. Rev. xiv, 9-12. After warning us not to follow the traditions of the leading

power in the great apostasy—the great corrupter of faith and manners, the changer of God's times and laws, Dan. vii, 25, Rev. xiii, 1–10,—it is said, "Here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus."

There is, in accordance with this prophecy, a people that are heeding and preaching this third angel's message, and they are distinguished from other professed believers in the advent at hand as commandment-keepers. And it is not a mere nominal distinction, for they do observe one commandment at least of God's great moral law, that the others are openly trampling under foot.

It will be a people reformed from the corruptions of the apostasy, and from the manners of this corrupt and degenerate age, that will be ready for translation at the advent, and will say in that day, "Lo, this is our God, we have waited for him, and he will save us." Isa. xxv, 9.

If you desire to find the people of God, look for those who have faith in prophecy, and not this alone, but look for reformers—real reformers, reformers in practice as well as in profession and theory.

R. F. COTTRELL.

Continue reading: Modern Adventism Unveiled