Earlier text: The Hope of SalvationFROM CREATION TO REDEMPTION.
By Lilla D. Avery
Darkness and chaos reign o’er all the earth!
No moon, no stars, to cheer the awful night,
Naught but confusion, vacancy, and dearth,
No shape, no form, no beam of cheering light,
No ray of sunshine, lights the waveless deep.
No sound to break creation’s death-like sleep! When hark! a voice sounds o’er the darkened sky—
“Let there be light!” and wakening nature hears.
With magic speed the misty shadows fly.
Jehovah speaks, and dawning light appears.
Night’s sable curtain quickly melts away;
And darkness flies before the new-born day. The mighty transformation still goes on.
Dry land appears arrayed in verdure bright.
To rule the day, shines forth the glorious sun,
And silvery Luna beautifies the night;
While bright-winged songsters, beauteous and fair,
With strains melodious fill the boundless air. The work advances still, and o’er the land
Roam harmless creatures, ’neath the grateful shade,
With none to guide them but their Maker’s hand,
With none to harm them, or to make afraid;
While in the waters of the briny sea,
Sport finny monsters, careless, wild, and free. Once more Jehovah speaks, and angels gaze
In admiration; while through boundless air,
The sons of God their shouts of gladness raise
As man stands forth, majestical and fair,
In God’s own image, beauteous and grand,
The crowning glory of Jehovah’s hand. Thus all is finished, perfect and complete,
The six days’ labor now is in the past.
Jehovah’s rest-day, quiet, calm and sweet,
The holy Sabbath, dawns o’er earth at last,
Oh, sacred day! the holiest and the best,
Which great Jehovah sanctified and blest. O beauteous Eden! “Garden of the Lord!”
How calm and sweet thine amaranthine bowers!
What luscious fruits thy waving palms afford!
How rich the perfume of undying flowers!
How sweet the echoes of the music rare,
That fills with melody the balmy air! O sweet abode of innocence and joy
E’er sin had entered with its poisonous breath.
No gathering storm, no tempest to destroy,
No fading flowers, no suffering, nor death,
No mourner’s badge, no sad and tearful eye,
No fevered brow, nor sorrow’s bitter cry. “When lo! a cloud,” in darkness seems to rise.
All hushed the music of the Seraphim,
The gladsome echo from the harpstring dies,
And angel choirs suspend their joyous hymn;
For in the garden, subtle, soft, and low,
Are heard the accents of the wily foe. O sorrowing Earth, no longer blest and fair,
For sin hath entered with insidious tread.
Decay and death pollute the poisonous air,
And strew thy bosom with the silent dead.
O’er hill and dale the thorny bramble grows,
Where bloomed the myrtle and the scented rose. Thus, one by one, the weary years go by.
The sons of men forgetful of their God,
In reckless pride Jehovah’s Law defy,
’Till wrath o’ertakes them with avenging rod.
The storm comes on! The noisy waters dash.
Earth shakes and trembles ’neath the thunder’s crash. The trembling wretch has ceased his scornful boast.
The fiery lightning plays along the sky,
While pallid lips, in all that frenzied host,
In piercing accents, join the wailing cry.
The howling tempest shrieks a funeral dirge,
As round their forms the hungry waters surge. And when at last, with sad and solemn mien,
Earth’s lone survivors stand, the sorrowing eight,
O’er hill and vale confusion reigns supreme,
Earth’s ruined cities, still and desolate,
No cruel taunt, no careless, scornful sneer,
No tones blasphemous, break upon the ear. And thus emerged, from ’neath the whelming flood,
Our mighty earth—its former beauty fled,
All scarred and broken, now no longer good,
A silent graveyard of the perished dead.
But see the glorious rainbow arching high,
Sweet pledge of mercy, in the brightening sky. Time marches on, with never ceasing tread.
O’er peopled earth the grossest errors reign.
Ungodly men by superstitions led,
’Till Babel’s Tower appears on Shinar’s plain,
And wicked Sodom dares the chastening rod,
And with Gomorrah, feels the wrath of God. But radiant Hope, like dawning star appears,
And lights with joy the darkness of the skies.
Messiah’s advent is foretold by seers,
And faith is shown by bleeding sacrifice;
For as the trembling victim yields his breath,
So Christ for man shall bow his head in death. Four thousand years, with all their sin and crime,
Have passed forever o’er this mighty earth,
Since first began the onward march of Time,
And seraphs hailed a new creation’s birth.
When lo! He comes! Rejoice, ye sons of men,
And hail with joy, the Babe of Bethlehem! He comes! he comes! lost Israel’s sacred King,
The Prince of Judah, long ago foretold.
The blest assurance angels come to bring,
And strike anew their glittering harps of gold.
O stricken Earth! thou art supremely blest.
Arise, and hail thy long-expected Guest. He heals the sick; restores the groping blind;
Cheers the desponding, destitute, and low.
His tender heart, compassionate and kind,
E’er moves in pity at the sight of woe.
He calls the dead to life and strength again,
And brings salvation to the sons of men. And some believe, while others doubt and sneer.
Some hear his word with solemn, sacred joy;
Some shun his pathway, and his presence fear,
Whom fiendish men are seeking to destroy.
But from those sacred lips is never heard
To heartless foes an unforgiving word. And when at last on Calvary’s rugged side,
He meekly bows beneath the stroke of death,
For cruel foes who mockingly deride,
He prays for pardon, with his fainting breath.
And thus he dies upon the shameful tree,
O wondrous mercy! Love beyond degree! ’Tis finished all! The fearful debt is paid;
When lo! an angel, from the dazzling skies,
Descends in splendor where his form is laid,
And bids the Prince of Glory to arise.
A heavenly radiance lights the darkened gloom,
As Christ comes forth, victorious o’er the tomb. And when at last with painful, throbbing heart,
With sad foreboding and with tearful eye,
The sorrowing few behold their Lord depart
In cloudy chariot to the opening sky,
Two glorious beings, beauteous and bright,
Stand by their side arrayed in garments white. “Why stand ye here, ye men of Galilee,
To gaze in grief at your ascending Lord?
For this same Jesus, slain on Calvary,
Shall come again according to his word.
In kingly glory shall he then appear;
His word is sure, why do ye doubt and fear?” Yes, he will come again, our mighty King.
These blessed words our drooping spirits cheer;
And as the trees put forth their leaves in spring,
E’en so the signs portend his coming near.
Ye tardy years! roll on, and bring the day,
When his bright chariot shall no longer stay. The lame shall leap, the sightless eye shall see;
And desert wastes shall blossom like the rose.
Our mighty Prince in power and majesty
Shall reign victorious over all his foes,
And saints shall dwell upon the new-made earth,
More glorious still than at creation’s birth. YOUTH SHOULD BE TAUGHT TO THINK.
By R. K. Slosson
The world is indebted for nine-tenths of its valuable knowledge, its improvements and progress generally, to men and women who have trained themselves to think in a systematic and consecutive manner. No man has ever become eminent in science, art, literature, or farming, who was not a profound thinker—who did not thoroughly examine and compare all the items pertaining to the subject—to know whether in their various relations, they sustain the principle which public opinion upholds as being true. It is not a very uncommon thing that a principle has been enunciated by men who have pet theories to support, and where it is plain to a thinking, unbiased mind, that some of the important items of the theory are in direct antagonism to the principle, and therefore false; or otherwise, the principle itself has no foundation in truth. This is strikingly true in politics and religion. A great principle is potent, and all give their undivided assent to its truth, and now come a dozen theories, any one of which, if true, would utterly demolish the principle. There is shown a looseness of thought detrimental to man's best interests, or a selfish purpose incompatible with truth, and exerting an unwholesome influence on the community. Causes, relations, and consequences, cannot be thrown aside without involving us in grave errors and gross absurdities, and therefore, an educated habit of looking things squarely in the face—of tracing out all the relations, the causes, and effects—is absolutely necessary if we would logically anchor ourselves on the firm seat of truth, and have an abiding trust in the perfect ordinances from on high. The ability to analyze the causes, and effects; to put them together so that each fact harmonizes with every other fact, constituting a compact, beautiful, and solid structure impervious to sophistry or the shafts of slander, can never be too thoroughly acquired or carefully used. The earlier, consistent with health, that youth learn to think, the more massive and powerful will be the brain in maturity—the better prepared will be the mind to shed a glow of interest and happiness on all around, and fill itself with an intense sense of enjoyment unknown to the undisciplined mind. This process of thinking should be systematized, so that the mind can bend its energies in full force on one point at a time, and after having examined in this manner the whole ground, the facts elicited can be classified, managed, and put in a position to be easily understood and appreciated, because they are forcibly and logically brought to bear. If you once acquire the ability to concentrate the mind, so as not to be diverted from the main question, or object in view, you have made a long stride in the right direction, and the vigorous use of individuality, comparison, and causality will be pretty certain to enable you to reach satisfactory and demonstrable conclusions. For instance, you find a new flower, that is, new to you. Being already familiar with the mode of scientific analysis, you succeed in finding the precise position it occupies in the flora of the State in which it grows, and of course the peculiar marks that distinguish it from all other plants. But this is not enough. You inquire what are its properties, its uses. Why should one plant be different from another? Why do plants exist at all? What are the peculiar functions they perform in the economy of nature, and why? When you have answered these questions as nearly as the limited and fallible mind can, you are at the footstool of Omnipotence; and every pulsation of your heart sends forth praise and thanksgiving, and your spirit in love, affiliates with its divine Author. The more perfect your knowledge of the natural objects that surround you, the better are you able to appreciate the exceeding wisdom and unchangeable love shadowed forth in the inimitable laws which govern all things. It will assist you very materially specially to cultivate memory; and we believe this can best be done by the association of things and ideas. If you wish to retain an idea, you have only to specify in your mind a familiar idea, analogous in some particular to the one you wish to remember; so all you have to do is to recall the familiar idea, and the new one immediately pops into mind. A little practice in this way will convince you of its utility; and remember the longer you practice a thorough analysis of the subjects submitted to your investigation, the more speedy, perfect, and satisfactory, will be your work. We believe, therefore, that all high schools should have a professor whose business shall be to learn pupils to think, and even our common school law should require elementary instruction in the science of thinking.—R. K. Slosson. 1. From your children’s earliest infancy, inculcate the necessity of instant obedience. 2. Unite firmness with gentleness. Let your children always understand that you mean exactly what you say. 3. Never promise them anything, unless you are sure you can give them what you promise. 4. If you tell a child to do anything, show him how to do it, and see that it is done. 5. Always punish your children for wilfully disobeying you, but never punish in anger. 6. Never let them perceive that they can vex you or make you lose self-command. 7. If they give way to petulance and temper, wait till they become calm, and then gently reason with them on the impropriety of their conduct. 8. Remember that a little punishment, when the occasion arises, is much more effectual than the threatening of a greater punishment, should the fault be renewed. 9. Never give your children anything because they cry for it. 10. On no account allow them to do at one time what you have at another time, under the same circumstances, forbidden. 11. Teach them that the only sure and easy way to appear good, is to be good. 12. Accustom them to make their little statements the perfect truth. 13. Never permit tale-bearing. 14. Teach them that daily self-denial, not self-indulgence, is the appointed and sure method of securing happiness.—Sel. A PRETTY anecdote is told of Queen Victoria and Mendelssohn. A short time before his death, the great composer visited the Queen. He sat down to the piano, and played accompaniments while she sang some of his songs. When Mendelssohn arose to go, Victoria warmly thanked him for the pleasure he had given her, and said:— “Now, what can I do to give you some pleasure?” expecting him to mention some gift or honor she could confer upon him. Mendelssohn at first declined to mention anything, but when her Majesty insisted, he frankly told her that he was a lover of little children, and that he desired to see the royal children in their nurseries. The queen mother was much pleased, and kindly led him through the nurseries, and they spent a pleasant hour talking in a friendly way about their children.”—Sel. Losing Heaven Over Theological Skins
ANACREON, one of the lyric poets, is said to have lost his life by swallowing the skin of a raisin. So a good many over-wise men lose Heaven by swallowing the skin of a particular theology while rejecting the meat of a living Christianity. The world has been filled with outcries against theological dogmatism, and for a religion of reason. This is well enough. If the religion of the Bible is not a rational religion it should be abandoned. Those who profess it, claim that it is not only a rational system, but the only one which has existed, or asks the confidence of men at this time. It would be a good thing, however, if some of these gentlemen who are so anxious that Christians should avoid placing assertion instead of evidence, would direct at least part of their attention to the fashionable, scientific dogmatism of to-day. As an example of this loud talk, take the following account of a whale’s rib which was found in Maryland 200 feet below the level of the surrounding country. The rib being sent to Baltimore, Dr. John F. King, of that city, thus discourses concerning it:— “This skeleton was deposited when the continent was submerged, at a period when the Alleghany Mountains were hidden by the sea, and ages before the eastern shore of Maryland became dry land; in fact, when the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans mingled their waters and rolled uninterruptedly across the American continent. It was deposited there long before any quadrupedal animal, or men, appeared upon the earth—ages before Adam lived.” It is of course to be supposed that this gentleman stood by and saw the whale covered up, as he could hardly speak so authoritatively unless such was the case.—Sel. The Cause on the Pacific Coast.
By James White
In no part of the great field has the cause of present truth been established without a sharp contest with the powers of darkness. This has been true in the brief history of our cause East and West. It is as true in the experience of our missionaries in Europe as it has been in America. And as sure as our message to the world is based upon the word of God, and our mission is in the special providence of God, just so surely will the enemy of truth contest every inch of new ground we may occupy. The outside world seems powerless to oppose our progress. In fact, opposition from the clergy is necessary to wake up the spirit of investigation, and give the truth of God a hold on the minds and hearts of the people. New fields of successful labor are being opened in all directions, and we find no difficulty, so far as the clergy is concerned, in establishing the cause wherever plain Bible truth is preached in the spirit of the gospel. The tug of war, in establishing the cause on the basis of unity and vigorous action in the entire membership, comes from want of confidence in the work on the part of those newly come to the faith. Here Satan sees his best chance to hold the work, that it may not move forward with strength and vigor. This trial came on the cause in Michigan, Wisconsin, and other of our stronger Conferences, twenty years since. Younger Conferences have suffered from the same want of confidence at later periods. And the result has been murmuring and rebellion and the purifying of the body by the separation of the discordant elements. If there be an apparent loss of membership for a time in any locality, the Lord shows his approval of the plain testimony which discovers the dross and purifies the church, by adding worthy members to the body far exceeding in number those who contributed to the burdens of the cause. Such exchanges are ever great victories. And it is these exchanges of jealous, fault-finding ones for men and women of worth that are constantly adding to the permanency of our cause. In such old Conferences as Michigan, where real progress is being made, and success attends every effort, such trials are in the past. At their annual camp-meetings not a word of dissatisfaction is heard in all the camp. Our organization is such, the officers of the several societies chosen by the people annually, and all the business transactions connected with the cause laid open for thorough inspection, that the opinion prevails with the body that none but malicious railers will engage in general fault-finding in those localities where our cause and work are understood. Taking this view of the subject, our people in the older Conferences will not for an hour tolerate the spirit of grumbling at the leaders and managers in the cause. From the very nature of the case the evils aforementioned may be expected on the Pacific Coast to a greater extent than on the other side of the mountains. Those who have emigrated to this country had sufficient independence and enterprise to break away from home associations, and to look after their own interests after they came here. Such persons usually have more confidence in themselves than in their neighbors, and the spirit of distrust and fault-finding will find place with this class of minds more readily than with the confiding who think their neighbor's judgment nearly as good as their own. It is with these difficulties to face that the cause has progressed on this coast. And it has been found to be a task to establish the cause in unity and efficiency upon this coast, above the influence of those who would sow the seeds of discontent and murmuring. For a time Eld. Miles Grant held an influence over some minds. But overaction in his malicious course cut the last cord of sympathy through which he abused certain minds. This had a tendency to strengthen confidence in our cause. And later efforts on the part of one whose church connections have their head-quarters at Marion, Iowa, are proving most beneficial to our cause. The young man evidently came to this State under the delusion that he could draw off a party with him. And it is not his fault that he has not succeeded. He has labored patiently and persistently under great discouragements. But after four months of toil he has nothing to show for his work here only that he may have strengthened the hands of those whose hearts were set against the cause before he came. If he has separated a single soul from the body during his four months' tug, we have yet to learn it. But in his utter failure, our people here have a forcible illustration of the power of truth and the feebleness of error; and the result upon our brethren is stronger confidence in the work, and greater love for God's servants who give their lives to it, and sweeter union in the body. Our people should not complain of opposition. Said Christ, “It must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh.” A Judas was as necessary to the carrying out of the great plan of human redemption as a John or a Paul. These men of God, however, had decided preferences in the part to act; and, noble souls, they could spend their breath to better account than in complaining of poor Judas. We say, Let God work out his own purposes for the good of his cause and people. It should be the greatest care of our people to hold themselves in a proper position, and speak and act in harmony with Providence. God has greatly blessed his people and cause on the Pacific Coast. If trials have been severe at certain times, our people have had better chance to learn and become united and strong. But in the midst of the furnace the good cause has fully stood the test, and has advanced almost without a parallel. The Pacific S. D. A. P. Association owns a lot and fine building worth $18,000. Its presses and printing material are worth $12,000. And books and stock on hand will very nearly equal all debts. The SIGNS Office is a place of great activity. Gentlemen who call on business, or to see what we have, and what we are doing, represent our publishing house, crowded with presses, material, and operatives, as a beehive. Those who have liberally donated to bring this institution into existence have the satisfaction of having lifted in the right place at the right time. This great work now accomplished will not have to be done again. And from present indications the Office will very soon be self-sustaining. It is truly wonderful that so great a work has been accomplished in a time of severe trial. And it is truly wonderful that a handful of brethren in San Francisco, and a large proportion of those the poor of the flock, now worship in a house which cost, including the lot, about $18,000. True, they have a debt of about $6,000 on their house; but the rent of the basement to the city for schools more than pays interest and other expenses, and they are constantly reducing the debt. But above all wonders of church progress is the noble action of the church in Oakland. They now have a church ready for dedication in the very best locality of this city, which has cost not far from $15,000. And the members of this church are generally poor people. They have done nobly. Here are three enterprises of no small magnitude, which have been carried forward in this great center of the Pacific Coast (for San Francisco and Oakland are really one), in the midst of severest trials. These, if preserved from disaster, are accomplished forever. If the churches at San Francisco and Oakland require more room and a greater outlay, they will be ten times as able to do it as they were to do what they have done. And during two or three years the publishing house will need only a few thousands annually to pay its debts, and create a capital to invest in stock. God has been testing his people on the Pacific Coast, and most of them seem to stand the test nobly. And there is at the present time a gathering influence in all our churches. We are made very happy by good news from the North Pacific Mission. Eld. Van Horn has some help in the ministry. Should men in that field dedicate all to God as he has, he would soon have half a score of fellow-laborers. Elds. Healey and Wood are bringing valuable accessions to the cause in California. We hope that the time is not far distant when there will be a score of active men in this State, proclaiming the message and scattering our publications everywhere. Our people are looking forward to the Biblical Institute to be held at Oakland in April, with great interest. J. W. THE CAMP-MEETINGS.
By James White
The last season’s camp-meetings, fifteen in number, were very successful. We attended fourteen of these, under the impression that it was the last complete round of camp-meetings we should undertake. We were anxious to attend all the Eastern meetings last season, as we designed to remain on the Pacific Coast until the Spring of 1878. But the work was too hard for us. We have been able to write but little, and speak less, the past winter, from overlabor last summer. The camp-meetings for 1877 should be more in number than those of 1876. And it is of no use to arrange them to follow each other, one each week, so that one set of speakers shall attend them all. Our speakers who can hold the crowds are of too much value to the cause to be used up in this way. These speakers must be on the camp-ground five days in each week. Wet or dry, cold or hot, these very persons must do all, or nearly all, the preaching, and must be present at business sessions. And these are the very persons who feel the importance of the camp-meetings, and take much of the care of them. And the time between the meetings is spent on the cars. We have gone from meeting to meeting four weeks at a time without stepping over a threshold, only that of the railroad depot. If our people would take all these things into the account, they might smooth our way very much, so that we might last longer, and be at more meetings. We live in our trunks nearly one-third of the year. We take our tent with us in a trunk. Could lumber be in reserve on the ground for us, some one be appointed to take us and our baggage directly to the ground, and persons ready to assist in putting up our tent, and we be visited by those only who should come to our tent to assist and cheer us, and none come in the confusion of breaking up, and packing for the cars, to bid us good-by, very much of the dreaded part of camp-meeting life would be removed. We are used to driving our own team for rest from Office labors and cares. After a tedious journey shut up in the cars, or shut up in the woods speaking to the people, on committees, or attending business sessions, week after week, what an unspeakable relief to weary brain and trembling nerves would be the use of a horse and carriage for a few hours each day. But no one thinks of this, only the camp-meeting slave, who is shifted twice each week; first, from the cars to the omnibus and to the ground; then away by the omnibus to the cars, to be dumped off in the ditch, perhaps, bag and baggage, beside the next camp-ground, after riding day and night for twenty-four, thirty-six, or forty-eight hours, in the dusty, smoky, stifled air of the cars. And if you don’t preach with spirit and freedom each day of the meeting, you are liable to be regarded as backslidden. Dear brethren, we cannot go the rounds of your camp-meetings any more, and we ask for one season’s entire rest from the camp-meetings to recover as far as possible from the severe wear of such efforts as the past year’s. Should you consider our past labors and our age, and smooth our way before us, we might attend a portion of your camp-meetings in 1878. We have promises to fulfill to the readers of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, and Mrs. W. is completing the third volume of Spirit of Prophecy. And we have other books to write, which makes it necessary that we should remain at our Pacific retreat a whole year from May next. There should be held by our people the coming season not less than twenty camp-meetings. We recommend that each State select its best time for meeting, secure help, and trust in God for the rest. If the brethren will cheerfully do this in faith and hope, the next will be a better camp-meeting season than they have yet enjoyed. J. W. THE TWO-HORNED BEAST.
By Joseph Harvey Waggoner
Seeing a notice in a San Francisco paper, not long since, that Eld. A. C. Long was going to give a discourse on this subject, I went to hear. He said the ten-horned beast was the Roman Empire, but did not say what was the dragon, which gave its power and seat and great authority to the beast. He said the two-horned beast was not civil, but ecclesiastical, and that it came up peaceably, which the United States did not, and referred to “the battle of Valley Forge” as evidence on the latter point. But in that respect mark the difference between the United States and the governments which rose before it. They all came up by aggression; by subduing other powers and possessing their territory. Not so the United States. It grew up in a new world, and only fought to resist the usurpations and tyranny of a power three thousand miles away, to defend its rights on the soil which it had reclaimed from the wilderness. Since it maintained its rights, and secured freedom, it has multiplied its thirteen states by three and its three millions of inhabitants by thirteen, and all by purchase or original possession, and by peaceful immigration. The like is found nowhere else in the world. He said it arose out of the “Roman earth.” This term has been some time in vogue with a certain class, but from what vocabulary they derived it I am at a loss to imagine. The expression appears to be neither sensible nor scriptural. He cited Rev. 14:6, 7 and 17:18 to prove that the earth is not confined, in this prophecy, to the United States. But no one ever supposed that the word earth always applied to America in the book of Revelation. Neither does “the sea” always refer to that locality where the first beast arose. See chap. 10:6; 14:7; and 18:17, 19, 21. The same words are not always used in the same sense in this book. Sometimes they are used as symbols—sometimes not. But we do claim that “the sea,” as representing the dwelling place of the multitudes of people (see chap. 17:15), where the first beast arose, is in distinction from the unpeopled “earth” where the two-horned beast came up. He said that exercising the power of the first beast before him, in his sight, means in his own territory. But of this he gave no proof; he said if it is the United States then it must put millions to death. But it is evident that the term “causes” in this text is used in the sense of decreeing or purposing to do as well as of executing. If not, let us look at the other side. Did the Roman power “cause all” to receive its mark? Did it kill “as many” as would not worship it? Its decrees included all, and its anathemas were against as many as would not worship. But the Lord preserved thousands of his true followers from its power. And just so in this case. No doubt the decree will regard all, but deliverance will come at that hour. He said the ten-horned beast did not mean the church, for in Rev. 17 the church as a woman controls the beast. This objection grows out of a misapprehension of the use of symbols, and a disregard of the relation of things. So Bishop Purcell ridiculed the views of Mr. Campbell, because, as he averred, Mr. C. sometimes had the Catholic church the man of sin, and sometimes a woman on a beast. The same power is seen at different times under different circumstances. Rev. 13 presents the Roman hierarchy, church and state firmly united, the church in full possession of the civil power. Chap. 17 gives a closing view of the same powers, differently related; after the church has been divorced from civil power, but retaining sufficient influence to be upheld by the civil power for a short time. He said the two-horned beast caused the people to worship the first beast—and itself. But therefore it cannot apply to the Catholic church, for that took all the honor to itself. And he asked, as in astonishment, “Will the United States cause its citizens to worship Rome? Catholics made them worship Rome.” But, query: Did the Catholics make them worship the “Roman Empire,” which preceded the Catholic power? No; they made them worship the power which had its seat in Rome, or to worship Rome as Catholic. The reader will bear in mind that Eld. Long teaches that the Sunday institution, already enforced by the laws of the States, and recognized as a day of rest by the United States, and in favor of which great efforts are now put forth to amend our Constitution so as to enforce it by the general government, is an institution of the Roman church. The United States will cause its citizens to worship Rome in a matter where one of “the commandments of God” is involved. Hence the necessity of the warning of the third angel’s message. He explained the bringing down of fire in the miracles and wonders wrought by the two-horned beast, as meaning indignation! The Catholics brought down the fire of their indignation upon their enemies. He said they had two ways to enforce their power; one, by the civil arm, the other, by professing to work miracles. If anything can be weaker and more childish than this, I cannot imagine what it can be. Mark the plain difference between truth and error:— 1. The Scripture says he deceives them that live on the earth by those miracles which he had power to do. Eld. Long says he deceives them by professing to work miracles which he had not power to do. A direct contradiction. 2. The Scripture shows that its deceptions or wonders prevail over its worshipers. Eld. Long says the fire—of its indignation—which was the greatest of its wonders, prevailed over those who refused to worship. Another contradiction. 3. The Scripture says it deceived by its wonders, the chief of which is bringing down fire.101But Eld. Long would have it that it deceived men by its persecutions, and its greatest deception was that of the martyrs, whom it deceived so greatly as to burn them at the stake! A powerful deception must rest upon those who thus cover up the truth of this prophecy. He said verse 14 proves that the image was not of the beast but to the beast. We were left to imagine how he felt when he immediately read in verse 15 that it is the image of the beast. These expressions are equivalent, as any one may see by the reading. He said the image is the pope, and the mark is the cross, and tried to make it appear that the people took part in the creation of a pope; which is an instance of a laborious effort to make the prophecy fit a theory. But now, he said, Babylon is fallen; the civil power is taken from the church; this prophecy is fulfilled, and now we may look for the Lord’s coming. But if the fall of Babylon was the taking away the civil power of the papacy, and this was completed, as he said, quite recently, then it is just the time to give the third angel’s message! For this message follows the fall of Babylon, and is given just before the Lord comes. See Rev. 14:8–12. Strange that opposers of this message cannot see the order and relation of events in Rev. 14. Perhaps we should not consider it strange, however, knowing that opposition to important truth and to plain duty has a powerful tendency to blind the mind. By omitting all notice of the dragon, an important link is wanting for the identification of these symbols. He also passed in entire silence the dragon’s giving power to the beast, the receiving and healing of the deadly wound, and the forty-two months of the first beast. In fact, he omitted every point essential to the identity of the powers, and in not a very ingenious manner obscured the few points he did notice. The dragon is Pagan Rome. It gave its power to the beast, to papacy. By comparing Dan. 7 and Rev. 13, it is seen that the little horn of the former is identical with the beast of the latter. The time, times, and half, of the former are the forty-two months of the latter. The characteristics of the two symbols are identical in every particular. Eld. Long accused those who teach that the third angel’s message is yet to be given of saying, “My Lord delayeth his coming.” We do not believe the third angel’s message is entirely “to be given.” A very important part of the work is already accomplished, and it is going on with constantly increasing power. It is in the direct providence of God that it is fast taking hold of inquiring minds in the nations of Europe, some of them having embraced its precious truths solely by studying the Bible, without any co-operation or knowledge of believers of the same faith in America. “This is the Lord’s doing; and it is marvelous in our eyes.” But we have one question to propose which we will leave Eld. Long to settle with his brethren. Is there greater probability of the Jews’ returning to Jerusalem before the Lord comes, than that the third angel’s message will be given before the Lord comes? If he says he does not believe they will return to Jerusalem till after the Lord comes, he will still have the question to settle with those of his brethren who believe they will return before he comes. The third angel’s message is winging its way to the nations of the earth. “Babylon is fallen,” of a truth. “And the third angel followed them.” The fulfillment is in the order of the prophecy. All is harmony and order in God’s work. May the light increase and spread, and darkness continue to flee before it. Oakland, Cal., March 11, 1877.