Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 12, 1857
SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
By James White
[Continued.]
The faithful watchman, who sounds the alarm as he sees destruction coming, is held up before the people from the pulpits of our land, and the religious press, as a "fanatic," a "teacher of dangerous heresies;" while in contrast is set forth a long period of peace and prosperity to the church. So the churches are quieted to sleep. The scoffer continues to scoff, and the mocker mocks on. But their day is coming. Thus saith the Prophet of God, "Howl ye, for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt. And they shall be afraid; pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth; they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.
Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it." Isa. xiii, 6-9.
Most dreadful day! And is it near, and hastening on as fast as the rapid wheels of time can bring it? Yes, it hasteth! It hasteth greatly! What a description given by the prophet. Read it, and as you read, try to feel how dreadful will be that day. "The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wastness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers. And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord's wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land." Zeph. i, 14-18.
Now we hear the "peace and safety" cry, from the pulpit, and all the way along down to the grog shop. "Where is the promise of his coming," is murmured from the impious lips of a thousand last-day scoffers. But the scene will speedily change. "For when they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, and they shall not escape." The scoffing of the haughty scoffer will soon be turned to wailing and howling. "The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low." Isa. ii, 11, 12. "And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground." Jer. xxv, 33.
The last plagues, in which is filled up the wrath of God, now bottled up in heaven, waiting for Mercy to finish her last pleadings, will be poured out. Unmingled wrath of Jehovah! And not one drop of mercy? Not one! Jesus will lay off his priestly attire, leave the mercy-seat, and put on the garments of vengeance, never to offer his blood to wash the sinner from his sins. The angels will wipe the last tear shed over sinners, while the mandate resounds through all heaven, Let them alone. The groaning, weeping, praying, preaching church on earth, who in the last message use every means within their reach, and employ every power of their being to sound everywhere the Loud Cry, lest the blood of souls be found in their garments, are now hushed in solemn silence. The Holy Spirit has written within them these prophetic words of their soon expected Lord, "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still." Rev. xxii, 11.
Now the ministers of truth and righteousness have a message for the people, and gladly speak the words of life. They joyfully toil on, suffer on, and spend their energies in preaching to hearts as hard as steel, provided a few may be reached, and gathered into the truth. But then they will have no message. Now their prayers and strong cries go up to heaven in behalf of sinners. Then they will have no spirit of prayer for them. Now the church says to the sinner, Come, and Jesus stands ready to plead his blood in his behalf, that he may be washed from his sin and live. But then salvation's hour will be passed, and the sinner will be shut up in darkness and black despair.
It will be a day of mourning and lamentation, and famine for hearing the words of the Lord. "I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day. Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: and they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east; they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it." Amos viii, 8-12.
Now the word of the Lord may be heard; but sinners, in and out of the churches, do not prize it. Then it will not be heard; for the watchmen set to watch, and sound the alarm of danger, will be called down from their high stations. Now the word of the Lord is carried to the sinner, and offered without money or price; but he treats it carelessly, or drives the humble servant of Christ from his door. But then will they go in search for it. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, but they cannot hear it. They shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, but shall not find it. From city to city, from State to State, from one country to another, will they go to find a man commissioned of high Heaven to speak the word of the Lord, but such an one is not to be found. All such will then have finished their high commission. The word of the Lord! The word of the Lord! Where can we hear it? is heard in every land. One general wail, The word of the Lord! goes up to heaven, but the heavens are brass. Then will the people turn and rend the false shepherds who deceived them with the cry of "peace and safety." Children will reproach parents for keeping them back from walking in the truth, and parents their children.
The miser now loves his money, and holds it with an iron grasp. But it will be said in that day, "Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days." James v, 1-3. Now silver and gold may be used to God's glory, for the advancement of his cause. But in that day they shall cast their silver into the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord; they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels; because it is the stumbling-block of their iniquity. Eze. vii, 19. Now they may lay up a treasure in heaven, bags that wax not old. Now they may deposit in the bank of heaven, and deliver their soul. Then, overwhelmed with terror, they will cast their wealth into the mire of the streets; but "neither their silver nor their gold will2be right to deliver them in the day the Lord's wrath."
THE FINAL SEPARATION.
Verses 40, 41. "Then shall two be in the field, the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill, the one shall be taken, and the other left." This language was designed to illustrate the final separation of the righteous and the wicked. Many husbands and wives, parents and children, brothers and sisters, will then part, never to meet again.
THOSE WHO WATCH WILL KNOW THE TIME.
Verses 42-44. "Watch therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh."
The day and hour of Christ's second coming is not revealed in the Scriptures. Neither is the year in which this glorious event is to take place pointed out. No one of the prophetic periods reaches to the second coming of Christ. The Sanctuary is to be cleansed at the end of the 2300 days, and Daniel is to stand in his lot at the end of the 1335 days. But that these events occur before the second appearing of Christ, is susceptible of the clearest proof. Both these prophetic periods terminated in 1844. But we cannot give a defence of our position in regard to these periods in this work.
The time from the end of the prophetic periods to the coming of Christ is emphatically the waiting, watching time. Those who watch, as our Lord commands, will know the time. No man will make it known; for it is not revealed to man in the Scriptures. Angels will not make it known, though they may minister to, and communicate with, the children of men. Neither will the Son. But the Father will make it known when he speaks again from heaven. He once spake the Ten Commandments in the hearing of the people. His voice then shook the earth. When he speaks again, the heavens and earth will both shake. Says Paul, "Whose voice then shook the earth; but now hath he promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven." Heb. xii, 26. "The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth shall shake." Joel iii, 16.
Probably there is no prophecy that better describes the present state of unbelief prevalent in the world in regard to the second advent, caused partly by fanatical time-movements, than the following: "Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth? Tell them, therefore, Thus saith the Lord God, I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision. For there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel. For I am the Lord: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged; for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord God." Eze. xii, 22-25. The burden of this prophecy is time; therefore the word here mentioned that the Lord will speak will be the time.
Rev. iii, 3, is also to the point. "Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee." If none are to know the hour, then why watch? Jesus says, Watch. Those who do not watch will not know the hour. Those who take an opposite course and watch, what of them? Ans. The opposite of not knowing; they will know the hour.
The present watching position is clearly defined in 1 Thess. v, 1-4. "But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. "But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief."
The present watching, waiting position requires much faith and patience. Says Paul, "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience; that, after ye have done the will of God, [in proclaiming the coming of Christ,] ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the soul." Heb. x, 35-39.
Says James, "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." Chap. v, 7, 8.
The present position, and present duty also, of God's people are defined in Rev. xiv, 12. "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus."
THE FAITHFUL AND WISE SERVANT.
Verses 45-47. "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, that he shall make him ruler over all his goods."
In this figure, Christ is represented as the master of the household of faith, [see Mark xiii, 34; Heb. iii, 6; 2 Cor. x, 8.] leaving his house, and committing the work of caring for his church to his servants. A blessing is promised those servants who are faithfully discharging their duty when their Lord comes. They are to "feed the flock of God over whom the Holy Ghost hath made them overseers." Acts xx, 28. They "preach the word." 1 Tim. iv, 2. They "watch for your souls, as they that must give account." Heb. xiii, 17. They will not only give meat to the household, but they will give it in due season. They will preach the present truth. Their last work, before the return of their Master, will be to proclaim his coming, and to teach the necessary preparation. They will sacrifice the society and blessings of home, and go everywhere preaching the word, suffering fatigue of body and anguish of spirit. But, thank Heaven, each will have a high station, and a great reward in the kingdom of God. "Who is that faithful and wise servant?" Where shall we find him? Ans. He is found faithfully and wisely attending to the interests of the household of faith.
1. He is faithful. As a faithful watchman he will give timely warning when he sees the sword coming. His work just before the end is seen in the following scriptures:
Joel ii, 1. "Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand."
Isa. lviii, 1. "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins."
2 Tim. iv, 1-5. "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom, preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come, when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry." Also, Rev. xviii, 1-4.
2. He is wise. "He that winneth souls is wise." He must be wise. He will expose error, then hold forth the truth in its harmony and beauty, and thus win men to the truth. When it becomes his duty
to "reprove and rebuke," it will be at a proper time and place, and then with "all long-suffering and doctrine." He will study to shew himself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Tim. ii, 15.
THE EVIL SERVANT.
Verses 48-51. "But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My Lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to smite his fellow-servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of; and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
What the evil servant says and does, shows most clearly the position and work of the faithful and wise servant. Why does the evil servant say, "My Lord delayeth his coming?" Because the faithful servant is proclaiming the coming of his Lord. Why does the evil servant smite the faithful servant? Because he teaches the speedy coming of his Lord. The faithful servant, faithful to his commission to preach the "gospel of the kingdom" to a fallen church and scoffing world, toils on, and the evil servant smites on. One is laying up treasure in heaven, and is preparing to go home to his eternal reward, while the other is calling down upon his head the displeasure of the High and Holy One, and is getting ready to receive the unmingled cup of the fury of the Lord. The faithful servant is turning some at least to righteousness, to shine forever as stars in his crown of glory, while the evil servant pursues his downward course and work of death, making the bitter cup of woe which awaits him still more bitter. But the separating day is coming. The Lord will come, and cut asunder the evil servant, and appoint him his portion with the lost. In the general wailing and gnashing of teeth, with hypocrites he will receive the portion due him for his works.
Read the doom of the false shepherds, the ministers of the last generation, who come up to the day of the Lord with their garments all stained over with the blood of souls. They now cry, Peace and safety, and their flocks confide in them. They stand between us and the people and turn away the arrow of truth. But their day is coming, dreadful beyond description. Thus saith the Lord, "Howl, ye shepherds, and cry: and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye principal of the flock: for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished; and ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel. And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape. A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and an howling of the principal of the flock shall be heard; for the Lord hath spoiled their pasture. And the peaceable habitations are cut down, because of the fierce anger of the Lord." Jer. xxv 34-37.
THE PARABLE.
The twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth chapters of Matthew are one connected discourse. The parable of the ten virgins is a further illustration of the subject treated in the last part of Matt. xxiv. It is an illustration of the great Advent movement. "Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened [compared, Campbell] unto ten virgins." When will the kingdom of heaven be compared to an eastern marriage? Ans. "Then;" at the time when faithful and wise servants have been manifested in giving the household meat in due season, and evil servants have also been manifested, saying in their hearts, "My Lord delayeth his coming," and are smiting their fellow-servants. There can be no mistake in this application.
Some have desired to obtain a correct account of an eastern marriage, that they might better understand this parable. But let it be understood that our Saviour has here given the desired history, and testifies that the kingdom of heaven shall be likened, or compared, unto it.
But what shall we understand by the kingdom of heaven? Certainly not all the component parts of the kingdom: for in that case the King, [Christ,] the territory, [new earth,] and the subjects of the3kingdom [the children of the resurrection] would all be represented as going forth, tarrying, sleeping, waking, trimming lamps, &c. It is evident that the kingdom of heaven here can only mean that which may be represented by the going forth, tarrying, &c., which can only be applied to the living people of God who are interested in, and are looking for the coming and kingdom of Christ.
It has been said that the Advent people have literally fulfilled Matt. xxv, 1-12. It is not so. Our Lord is there giving the history of an eastern marriage. But it is a fact, that, in connection with the Advent movement, a series of events has taken place which have a natural application to the events of the eastern marriage.
"Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins." Or, then shall the history of the Advent movement be compared to the history of an eastern marriage rehearsed by our Lord. In order that the two histories may be likened or compared, some things are indispensable. First, both histories must be complete; all the events in both must be in the past. It is not possible to compare past history with what has not taken place. Second, after each event in Advent history has occurred, answering to each point in the history of the marriage, there must be time before Christ comes to compare the two histories; also, those who will compare them. This is a part of the work of the faithful and wise servant who is giving to the household meat in due season. Therefore, the parable of the ten virgins illustrates events connected with the Advent movement, which events are all in the past.
THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB.
There are two things which the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments illustrate by the marriage covenant; first, the union of God's people in all past ages with their Lord; and, second, Christ's reception of the Throne of David, which is in the New Jerusalem above.
One class sets forth the union of believers with their Lord by the use of marriage as a figure. This union has existed since the days of righteous Abel, and cannot be regarded by any one as the marriage of the Lamb.
It is supposed by many that Isaiah [lv, 5] speaks of the church, when he says, "Thy Maker is thine husband;" but Paul in Gal. iv, applies this prophecy to the New Jerusalem.
Said John, speaking of Christ, "He that hath the bride is the bridegroom." John iii, 29. That Christ is here represented in his relation to his followers by a bridegroom, and his followers by a bride, is true; but that he and they are here called the bridegroom and bride is not true. No one believes that the event called the marriage of the Lamb, took place more than 1800 years since.
Paul, in writing to the church, [2 Cor. xi, 2,] says, "I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you a chaste virgin to Christ." But does this prove that the marriage of the Lamb took place in Corinth? Or, did Paul only wish to represent by marriage the union which he had effected through the gospel between Christ and the church at Corinth? Judge ye.
Paul also says, [Eph. v, 23,] "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church." But please turn to Eph. v, and read from verse 22, and it will be seen that Paul's subject is the relation and duty of man and wife to each other. This is illustrated and enforced by the relation of Christ and the church. Those who suppose that Paul is here defining who the Lamb's wife is, are greatly mistaken; for that is not his subject. He commences, "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands." Verse 22. "Husbands, love your wives." Verse 25. It is, indeed, an excellent subject, but has nothing to do in determining who the bride would be in that great Marriage, down in connection with the end.
The marriage of the Lamb is one event, to occur at one particular time, and that time is just before the end. It takes place in heaven, before the Lord comes to give immortality to his waiting people. Proof. "Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord when he will return from the wedding," &c. Luke xii, 35, 36.
Then what is the bride in the marriage of the Lamb? Said the angel to John, "Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife." Rev. xxi, 9. Did the angel show John the church? No. But let John testify. "And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God." Verse 10.
The New Jerusalem is also represented as the mother. "But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all." Gal. iv, 26. Christ is represented [Isa. ix, 6] as the "everlasting Father" of his people; the New Jerusalem, the mother, and the subjects of the first resurrection, the children. And beyond all doubt the resurrection of the just is represented by birth, as being born again. How appropriate, then, is the view that the marriage of the Lamb takes place in heaven, before the Lord comes, and before the children of the great family of heaven are brought forth at the resurrection of the just.
We here ask a few questions for the consideration of those who are disposed to cling to the old view that the church is the bride, and that the marriage is after Christ comes, and the saints are caught up.
1. Who are illustrated by the man found at the marriage [Matt. xxii] not having on the wedding garment? 2. Will any be caught up by mistake, to be bound hand and foot, and be cast down to the earth again? 3. If the church is the wife, who are they that are called to the marriage as guests? 4. Jerusalem above is the mother of the children of promise; but if the church is the Lamb's wife, who are the children? 5. Allowing that the church is to be the bride, who are "the nations of the saved," [Rev. xxi, 24,] that walk in her light?
The marriage of the Lamb is Christ's reception of the throne of David, or, his own throne, which is in the New Jerusalem above. That City is finally to come down upon the New Earth, to be the Capital of the everlasting kingdom. The event illustrated by the coming of the bridegroom in the parable is thus described by the Prophet: "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom." Dan. vii, 13, 14.
The Prophet does not intimate that Christ comes to this earth to receive the kingdom. No, he approaches "the Ancient of Days," and there receives the kingdom and glory, and with that glory he comes to the earth, having "on his vesture, and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." Rev. xix, 16.
Having shown that the New Jerusalem is the Lamb's wife, that the marriage of the Lamb is Christ's reception of the Throne of David, and that he returns from the wedding when he appears the second time, the way is prepared to compare those events in an eastern marriage, rehearsed by our Lord, with corresponding events in Advent history.
1. Ten virgins took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom. This illustrates the great movement upon the Advent question in the years 1840-1843, which aroused the people, and led thousands to the study of God's word with great delight. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Ps. cxix, 105.
2. While the bridegroom tarried the virgins all slumbered and slept. The time of expectation was the Jewish year 1843, from March, 1843, to March, 1844. When this time passed, the Advent people fell back into a stupid, slumbering position.
3. At midnight a cry was made, which aroused the ten virgins to trim their lamps. So a solemn and mighty cry was raised in the Autumn of 1844, which aroused the Advent people to great consecration. It was then seen that the 2300 days reached to 1844.
4. In the parable the foolish virgins ask the wise for oil, and are told to go and buy. Those who took part in the movement of 1844, know that it was an individual work, and that all were warned faithfully to look to God and get an individual experience.
5. While the foolish were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came, those ready went in to the marriage, and the door was shut. The bridegroom represents Christ. The marriage represents the marriage of the Lamb, which takes place before Christ appears the second time. When he comes, he returns from the wedding. The coming of the bridegroom, and the shutting of the door in the parable, illustrate events which take place in heaven, prior to the second advent, which are described in the following texts: Ps. ii, 8, 9; Dan. vii, 13, 14; viii, 13, 14; Heb. viii; ix; Rev. iii, 7, 8.
6. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, lord, open to us. The wise virgins represent that portion of the Advent body that occupied a correct position relative to the prophetic periods in 1844. The periods there ended. The foolish virgins, who came afterwards, represent those who in 1854 occupied an erroneous position in regard to the prophetic periods.
Those who make the coming of the bridegroom represent the appearing of Jesus Christ, fail to show how the event, represented by the foolish virgins saying, "Lord, lord, open to us," can take place after Christ comes. True, there will then be a cry, but not "Lord, lord, open to us." No, no. The cry will be, "Mountains and rocks, fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of his wrath is come." Rev. vi, 15-17. Therefore, the events represented by the entire parable are all fulfilled. J. W.
(To be Continued.)
LIVE FOR GOOD.
LIVE not for self, oh child of earth,
Seek not thy good alone;
Arouse thy dormant energies—
For years of sloth atone,
Awake to better, nobler deeds,
Attain to a holier life;
Let not thy ardent zeal be quenched
In the din of worldly strife.
Go forth, and wheresoe'er you pause,
A genial ray impart;
Breathe soothing tones of hope and peace
To the sorrow-stricken heart.
Shrink not to clasp thy brother's hand,
Scorn not affections worth;
Forget not thou, the light within
Is of immortal birth.
Go watch beside the couch of pain,
Go cheer the sufferer now;
Tread softly—cool the parched lips,
And fan the fevered brow.
Point to a Saviour throned above,
Speak of the life He's given;
Touch gently every tender chord—
'Tis love that wins to heaven.
Then linger in thy wanderings oft
Where childish footsteps tread;
Lure to thy side the youthful band—
Murmur no word of dread.
Watch the expanding of the mind,
Kindle a spiritual ray;
How brightly may the "spark divine"
Bloom in eternal day.
With courage act, and bravely bear,
Meekly perform each deed;
Know'st thou not thine earnest work
Shall win a glorious meed?
The good each sacrifice hath wrought
A heaven of bliss will tell;
A dazzling crown awaits thee there—
Then Christian, labor well.—Sel.
The Financial Crisis.
The following concerning the present crisis in money matters is from a sermon preached by Francis Wayland D. D. Oct. 11th, 1857.
"There seems but one subject at present capable of arresting the attention of men. Go where you will, in the city or in the country, on the railroad, or by the fireside, no one converses on anything else than the finances. If you pass through the street, you at once perceive that some matter of universal importance is agitating the minds of your fellow citizens. Every countenance is furrowed with anxiety. Men stand together in groups conversing in an undertone, as they suggest to each other the probability of some additional calamity, which it seems improper just now to make public; or listen in silence to some earnest speaker who is condemning what men have done, or what they have not done, to relieve the universal distress. Even a politician now can hardly gain an audience. Elections are coming on, and no one heeds the prophecy or cares about its fulfillment. The civil war in India, an event of more consequence to civilization and christianity than any which has occurred since the battle of Waterloo, seems hardly of sufficient importance to be made a subject of conversation. Nothing in the daily papers is read but telegraphic dispatches from every city in the Union, telling of unexampled distress, and announcing the failure of houses that were considered above the reach of vicissitude, or banks whose circulation forms the earnings of multitudes. And if you go beyond this, and ask the signs of the times of those whose sagacity is rarely at fault, and whose means of knowledge is most to be relied on, they tell you that they see no light. Private accounts are even more distressing than public report. City after city succumbs, and the rest stand on the verge of suspension. Men's hearts are failing them for fear, and for looking after those things that are coming. It seems like the deep, choking stillness which precedes the earthquake, when the ground begins to tremble beneath our feet, and every one is looking in dismay for the catastrophe which is to overwhelm the labor of centuries in one indiscriminate ruin."
Emptied of Self for God’s Service
Those who are intended to do any eminent service for God are always emptied of self, and led to see their unfitness for the undertaking; then they trust simply on God’s wisdom and power, and he gets all the glory.
BUSINESS PROCEEDINGS
of the General Conference, of Nov. 6th, 1857.
THis meeting commenced its business session, Nov. 9th, at 8 o'clock, A. M. Bro. Joseph Bates was chosen to the chair. Prayer by Bro. Waggoner.
The attention of the Conference was first called to the subject of the Meeting-house. The report of the building committee was read, by which it appears that the whole cost of the house is $881,39. To meet this there have been pledged, mostly by the church in Battle Creek, $553,98, leaving $327,41 still to be raised. In view of the action of the Conference held in March last in voting in behalf of the church in Michigan that such a house should be built here, and virtually only employing the church in this place to erect it, therefore
Resolved, That the Conference accept the building, and take action in regard to the payment of what is yet due.
Resolved, That the brethren residing in the State of Michigan, those present, and those not present, be invited to make up what is yet required to meet the expenses of this house, as soon as possible.
One hundred and thirty-four dollars were then pledged by the members of the Conference, towards this object.
The favorable situation of the Office in regard to issuing publications of every kind was next taken into consideration. Remarks were made by various persons setting forth the duty of the church at large, in scattering works upon the present truth. They can now be published to meet any demand, and scattered like the leaves of Autumn. The only question that remains is, Will the church act their part in their circulation?
Resolved, That the Conference express their satisfaction with the course of Bro. White and the Publishing Committee in procuring, and setting in motion, the press and engine.
The third subject brought before the meeting was the publication of the paper and the book business. These have heretofore been kept separate and distinct. But the impracticability of this has for some time been apparent to all acquainted with the business. The extreme complication of accounts, and much care and perplexity, which necessarily results from such a course, it was thought might be avoided by uniting the two, while no disadvantage would result either to the interest of the books or the paper. Accounts will be no less accurately kept of receipts and expenditures, debt and credit; but the publishing business, if much unnecessary labor would be avoided, must not be divided. It was therefore
Resolved, That the publication of the REVIEW AND HERALD, and of the books be united as one concern.
Fourth, the wants of the Cause in this State. The fact that those who are called forth as messengers into the field, are frequently embarrassed and crippled in their labors by their temporal affairs, and the wrong that necessarily attaches to this state of things, was feelingly and forcibly presented. It was the unanimous feeling of the Conference that it was not reasonable that the ministering brethren should leave the word of God, and serve tables, but give themselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word. Therefore
Resolved, That seven men be chosen whose duty it shall be to attend to the financial interests of the cause in this State, especially by ascertaining the condition and attending to the wants of those who minister the word among us.
By a committee set apart for the purpose the following brethren were nominated to this work, and unanimously chosen by the Conference: H. S. Lay, Allegan, Allegan Co., A. F. Fowler, Hillsdale, Hillsdale Co., A. A. Dodge, Battle Creek, Calhoun Co., D. R. Palmer, Jackson, Jackson Co., C. G. Cramer, Grand Rapids, Kent Co., J. F. Carman, West Windsor, Eaton Co., L. Kellogg, Matherton, Ionia Co.
Resolved, That within the next six months two thousand dollars should be raised and appropriated to the advancement of the cause in this State, under the supervision of the above named brethren.
Resolved, That a Committee of Revision be appointed, through whose hands all matter designed for publication in book form shall pass, and under whose sanction it shall be issued; by which means an individual responsibility in the publication of books will5be avoided, and confidence be placed in whatever shall be thus published, as the voice of the body.
Resolved, That Brn. J. H. Waggoner, James White and J. B. Frisbie, be this committee.
Resolved, That Brn. J. H. Waggoner and J. N. Loughborough correspond with Bro. S. Woodhull of Niagara Co., N. Y., that they may ascertain fully, in order to examine, certain views recently adopted and advocated by him.
Resolved, That the doings of the Conference be published in the ADVENT REVIEW.
Harmony prevailed throughout; and with a firm confidence that the church at large will fully realize the importance to the prosperity of the cause, of the actions taken, and promptly sustain them, the meeting adjourned sine die.