Earlier text: THE CONSEQUENCES OF SELF-DECEPTIONWHY should the fearful be condemned with the wicked? Because they are so nearly allied to the unbelieving and the abominable, &c. The fearful, here, are not those who fear to offend God, but those that fear to trust his word, and therefore will stand for years undecided upon a point which is as clearly revealed in the Bible as words can reveal it. If the first step is a fear to trust the word of God, of course the next step is unbelief; then follow all the sins which characterize unbelievers. The fearful not only fear to trust the word of the Lord, but they fear to offend their fellow-men more than they fear to offend God. Do not marvel then that they are condemned. They want a reputable standing among those they know to be in error. They seek the praise of men more than the praise of God. I know some who have been convicted, have been investigating and inquiring, and halting between two opinions on the Sabbath question, for from five to ten years, unable to decide on so simple, and so clearly revealed a subject. Did I say, unable to decide? In their practice they have decided to keep the popular day, and maintain their standing with those that break God's law and teach men so; and they will probably remain so till it is too late to repent. They141 are not yet decided against the seventh day, and they cannot be; for all the Bible testimony is in its favor; but they seem decided to smother their own convictions and remain undecided, fearing to let go the praise of men, for the sake of the approbation of God. It is no wonder, then, that the fearful have their part in the lake of fire. Again, I know others who keep the Lord's Sabbath, and have been from three to five years examining the claims of the Third Angel's Message, and yet are undecided. It seems to me, that, with the word of God, and with the past and present history of the Advent movement, one year is a long time to waste in indecision. I thought I was slow enough to believe, and I did not use up but eight or nine months, before I could say, I believe with all my heart. Some will have to decide this question, with less time than this in which to make the decision, before the message closes. And the faith of such will condemn the unbelief of those that have been undecided for years; they will obtain the crown, while the fearful lose it. An undecided person is fit for no service. Their time is running to waste. They are always fighting the battle and never getting the victory. At the end of each struggle they are weaker than before, while the foe grows strong through their cowardice. Whereas, if they would settle the question of duty between themselves and him who justly demands their fear and reverence, and then make a bold and decisive charge, the victory would be theirs. O, ye undecided! no longer charge God with a lack of evidence, nor consume more of your precious time in ruinous delay. Time is swiftly passing, and God is now requiring your whole heart in his service. He is not pleased with your fearfulness and indecision. Years have fled, and all those lions are yet in the way. You are no nearer a decision, perhaps not so near, as when you had had a reasonable portion of time in which to decide. God will do no more for you than he has done, till you take a decisive stand in his service. Those dear friends who hold you back, and for whom you wait, might be saved by a bold and resolute discharge of duty on your part. But if they will not go with you, why tarry in the plain to be consumed. If you do your duty, you may be censured by them, but, in that case, their blood will not be found upon your garments. What folly, to make the present life miserable, half believing, half doubting, half decided and yet undecided, and after all have a portion with the fearful and unbelieving! If the Third Angel's Message is not the present truth, decide against it, and enjoy yourself. If it is, decide accordingly, and enjoy the approbation of your God. The question can be decided; why halt then between two opinions? Let me ask my Sabbath-keeping friend, Is not God doing a great work for his down-trodden commandment through the proclamation of the Third Angel's Message? It will not do to ascribe this work to the devil. He can do nothing in favor of the law of God. The carnal mind also is enmity against God; it is not subject to his law, neither indeed can be. Do you object to the work, because it is connected with the Advent doctrine? That is a Bible doctrine, and you must be slow of heart to believe, if you do not know that Christ is near, even at the doors. But the great objection now comes up, that is, that the proclaimers of this Message teach that man has no immortality out of Christ. Very well. That may be a Bible doctrine after all, notwithstanding all men desire immortality. The penalty of the violation of the law—the wages of sin—may be death, and it is possible that death does not mean eternal life in torments. It may be that God will give eternal life to those that seek for it by patient continuance in well doing, and that the saints will put on immortality at the resurrection of the just. God has promised such things, and I would not admit the possibility of a failure on his part to perform them. But the Third Angel's Message does not come in your own way exactly. Neither did Christ come in a way to suit the Jews exactly. But Paul had an exhortation to them, which may be applicable to you, and I will quote it for your benefit. Acts xiii, 40, 41. "Beware therefore, lest that come upon you which is spoken of in the prophets: Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you." The Lord is doing a work in your days, in the vindication and restoration of his long neglected law; and can you not believe it when you see it? O, beware of unbelief! Do not fall like the unbelieving Jews. Throw away your prejudices and false theories, and believe the Lord while he works in his own way. Decide at once to have a part in this good work of the Lord, and escape the portion of the fearful and unbelieving. While the Lord is fulfilling his own word, and vindicating his own righteous law, in his own appointed way, through the last Message, can you stand aloof from the work? Shall your fear of men, and your lack of faith in God, cause you to wait till the work is done? How then can you hope to hear, Well done, good and faithful servant? Awake! and work while it is called to-day. Bear the cross while you may, and a crown of glory will be yours, that fadeth not away. PRAYER is nothing without earnestness and resolution. How can we expect that God should regard supplications, with which we are unaffected ourselves. "Thou shalt have no other gods before me," is the first of those precepts which God gave to man to guard his honor and his glory; and it may be, that, on the basis that the Psalmist lays down—that the commandment is exceeding broad,—its violation will be found to be involved in acts where we had little dreamed it. The justice of the command, none will question; for certainly the glorious Maker and Supporter of all things, is the only God that we should acknowledge and worship. He alone should be feared, loved, honored and obeyed; and all other beings in heaven or on earth should be subordinate, or as nothing, compare with him. And hence it follows that the worship we pay him must be fervent, sincere and spiritual, or such as he requires in his holy word. To forget, therefore, or neglect, to despise or hate him, to forsake his ordinances, and refuse to pray to, praise and love him, is to break this, the first of his commandments. Again, we may not, in view of this commandment, substitute the creature, or created things in the place of the Creator, nor seek our happiness in them instead of him. Hence whatever is loved, feared, obeyed or followed, more than God, is to us an idol, and is our god. And this opens to us the broad field where lie all those innumerable objects upon which we are liable to bestow inordinate love; and here the commandment appears striking down the idols of our hearts, restraining our ambition and our passions, and directing our affections in the right channel, and to the right object. Thus the covetous man makes a god of his wealth, It is recorded of John Jacob Astor, who died some years since the richest man in America, that when he had approached so near the hour of death that his eye-sight had entirely failed him, he called for money. The attendants placed in his hands a piece of tissue paper, thinking that in this low state he could perceive no difference, and it would answer every purpose. But his practiced fingers detected the deception, he tore the paper into shreds, and called again for money. They gave him a genuine bill, and he was satisfied; and so, with the sordid dollar in his clenched hand, he died. He had made gold his god through life, and it was but natural that he should cling to it in the hour of death. And if the covetous man makes a god of his wealth, so does the ambitious man of his honors, and so does the voluptuous man of his pleasures and sensual gratifications. And here another broad field is opened before us, covered by the stern prohibition of this commandment. We here see that every sensual gratification, and unlawful appetite, as indulged in contrary to that love and obedience which God justly demands from his creatures to himself, is included in it, and consequently prohibited by it. One illustration on this point. The object to which we refer is the product of nature, and some foul manipulations of human art. The thralldom which it exercises over the race is various in form but alike in nature. Its name is Tobacco! The only reason for its use, is the pleasure arising from the gratification of a perverted and unlawful appetite; and this, too, in defiance of the deleterious effects which it is known to exert upon the system. If the principles here laid down are correct, those who thus bow at the shrine of Tobacco, can be regarded in no other light than as trespassers on the forbidden territory of the first commandment. And now, brethren, how plead you? Guilty? or not guilty? Letter From Bro. Loughborough.
By John Norton Loughborough
DEAR BRO. SMITH : I can hardly express what I feel in my heart of joy, peace and victory. God's hand has of late (in this State) been set with power to the Third Angel's Message. When I read Bro. Cornell's statement that it was a great wonder to the people that the servants of God had so much freedom and power in presenting the truth, I felt that I could say, it is just so here. Never since I professed to follow the light of the Third Angel's Message have I felt more as though an ALL POTENT arm was under it, than I have since I have been in Ohio. God's Spirit has at times rested on me in a powerful manner, more especially since I have been in Republic. The people are filled with wonder, and almost think the servants of God are prodigies, not realizing that we are poor, weak, earthen vessels, and that the excellency of the power is of God, and not of us. I never have seen a greater stir made in so short a time than has been made by the six lectures already given in this place. The Lord helps to bring out the truth, and it seems to go down into the heart. The people seem compelled to yield consent that this is the truth. May the Lord give them strength to come out into the whole truth, is my prayer. If I can judge by my own experience for the past three months, this message is rapidly rising in power: soon will the earth be lighted with its glory. The best description I can give of my feelings is of a bird loosed from a cage into free air. I am free, my soul doth magnify the Lord. I hope ever to remain God's free man. God is blessing his servants. There is power in the truth to reach hearts. We may expect success if we move out in the counsel of the Lord. The message is onward. Brethren and sisters are we rising with the message; are we doing our whole duty, and by every possible effort putting side and shoulder to the work to move on the message? Don't allow the message to lag for means. I believe the time has come to begin to push matters more extensively than we ever yet have done. The facilities for getting out the truth were never greater among us than now. Brethren don't be afraid to make investments, for this work is of God and must triumph. Awake to your duty; don't let the message suffer in any of its parts, but let self stand second at least, and let the message go. If those God has enlightened in regard to their duty, will not act, God will, doubtless, raise up others who will sacrifice, and leave doubting 'Demas' to his 'love of the world' with TEKEL written upon him. Republic, Ohio, Sept., 6th, 1858. LIARS' DEPARTMENT.
By John Norton Loughborough
BRO. SMITH: I see you have suggested the idea of a Liars' department in the Review; I am much pleased with the idea. It is always of great interest to me to learn the position of our enemies, as well as the strength of the weapons with which they fight. It shows us God's hand in the work when we see the resort of our enemies to slang, raillery and lies, their most powerful weapons against the truth. Their attempts to show with what great zeal and earnestness what they are pleased to call great errors are advocated, and meet with success, only excites in the people an anxiety to see and hear for themselves. One course among them has been to show that we were a people subject to change; and so since we have come to this place some have been busy circulating the report that Bro. Cornell, who advocated these views so zealously in this State last year, has renounced all his faith in them. If you think the following sketch bad enough for a place in your new department, it is at your disposal. It is a description of our excellent Tent meeting at Bowling Green, given by an editor of the Perrysburgh Journal. Suffice it to say he heard not an argument of our lectures, yet seemed to feel fully prepared to judge us before hearing, as he has in the following testimony: "A traveling company of 'Second Adventists,' have been holding a tent meeting at Bowling Green. We understand several persons have been converted to their faith. They think the world will come to an end in seven or eight years, and that all who are not accounted righteous will then suffer annihilation—that the earth will become a paradise and the saved will live upon it forever. That would be a very nice arrangement, but the time is so indefinite and the result so mixed up with superstitious imagination, with such a small sprinkling of reliable facts, that the Devil himself could not tell 'a reason for the hope' of its followers." Faithful Service Approved by Jesus
We have reason to blush at the mention of our best services, and yet Jesus will mention them with approbation by and by: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Confidence and caution both find a home in the believer's mind, and dwell amicably together. The advocates of the popular view of the state of the dead maintain that the thinking part of man, at the dissolution of the body, goes directly to heaven or hell, according as it has been good or bad, and consequently is happy or miserable. But there appear to be some objections to this idea, although popular it may be. We read in Matt. vii, 22, 23, that "Many will say unto me (Jesus) in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? and then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me ye that work iniquity."
It appears from this that there will be a company at the judgment day who will be astonished at the idea that they are going to be consigned to outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. One would naturally think that if they had already been there for ages, writhing in the agonies of hell, the eyes of their understanding would have become enlightened, and they would not be thus startled at the just sentence of the Lord! "But," replies one, "I don't believe the righteous or wicked are either happy or miserable, although conscious, between death and the resurrection." Well, my good sir, will you please locate and explain the case of the rich man and Lazarus. Here is comfort and torment. What will you do with this? If you apply it in the intermediate state, it is destructive to the words of the Saviour just quoted, and if you locate it after probation, it is only what we believe—but mark, it takes away your strongest proof that a dead man has greater wisdom than all the living, and is presumptive evidence that this darling doctrine is not of God. G. W. A. Christian Dress and Worldly Fashion
By E. D. Scott
Bro. Smith: I expected to see an answer before this to Bro. Byington's question from some of our sisters who are in the practice of writing for the paper. I have felt of late more than usual for the purity of the church. I have feared that there was not that deadness to the customs and fashions of the world that there should be. I do think the articles Bro. B. has mentioned are altogether unbecoming women professing godliness; therefore not to be recommended to the church. I do protest against them. Dear sisters, let us see to it that we stand not in the way of our brethren who are proclaiming the whole truth to a dying world. I have thought perhaps the reason Bro. B. proposed that question, was that his soul had been stirred within him, and his mouth stopped while attempting to preach against the sin of pride, when among those who profess to believe his teachings. As one brother has said in speaking of our examples, "Who shall cast a stone at this soul-destroying sin while the least traces of it can be seen about him? And even if he is confident that the stone he is about to cast will not hurt himself, when he looks around and sees beloved brethren and sisters in danger, how can he throw it? Or to come at the point without a figure, how can he preach plainness of dress &c., when among those who profess to believe his teaching, he can scarcely find one who is a living illustration of his subject." O let us by our examples, help our brethren to preach. I fear there is too much of the pride of life among the remnant of God's people. John says, "If any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world passeth away and the lust thereof, but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever." Paul to the Romans says, "Be ye not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your minds, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." He also to the Corinthians says, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy. Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you. Having therefore these promises dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." O how much scripture testimony there is exhorting us to keep ourselves unspotted from the world. While looking over the Scriptures for certain passages, my soul has been fired anew with zeal. Do let us be zealous and repent, and put on the whole armor of God that we may be able to stand when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. Solemn indeed are the times in which we live. The judgments of God are hanging fearfully over a guilty world. The unmingled wrath of God is soon to be poured out; and the decree is soon to go forth, "He that is filthy let him be filthy still, and he that is holy let be holy still." "Knowing the time, now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand; therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light." Dear sisters, the times require a decision. Let us not drink into the spirit of the world, but let us be modest in our apparel, and our adorning be of the hidden man of the heart, and our ornament, a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. The little church here is trying to arise. I think we have made some advancement. We have of late been made to rejoice in seeing that the Lord is searching out his people and bringing some to the knowledge of the truth. Two have recently embraced the Sabbath. Others are searching to see whether these things are so. Yours hoping to be sanctified through obeying the truth.
E. D. Scott.
Parma, Mich., Aug. 30th, 1858. A Sister from Allegan, Mich.
By R. S.
In answer to your inquiries concerning the wearing of hoops and other useless articles of dress, I, for one, do not think they are becoming women professing godliness. My heart has been pained within me many times to see this conformity to the world by those who profess to be a separate people, zealous of good works. By their fruits ye shall know them. Dear sisters, let us not give a lie to our profession, or bring a reproach upon the cause of our Master, for such unscriptural apparel. As the outside is an index to the heart, it becomes us to adorn ourselves in modest apparel, and with a meek and quiet spirit, which Peter informs us, is in the sight of God of great price. My desire and prayer to God is that we may be followers of that which is good, and meet with the redeemed on mount Zion. From your sister.
R. S.
Allegan, Mich. Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another. BRO. SMITH: Brother Phelps and myself went from the debate to brother S. Myers, where he preached twice and I four times. Truth had a good effect there. Some of the no-law, age-to-come folks came out and resolved to keep all of the commandments of God. While we rejoice to see some honest ones embracing the truth, we mourn to see so much of the dragonic spirit manifested. Some seem to be143 willfully ignorant of the present truth, and have resolved, come what will, to persist in their present course. They seem to think they can flatter their Saviour with the excuses they are choosing in the stead of obedience. But the King says, They shall not taste of my supper. I wish they could realize the importance of the truths they are resisting. They are making lies their refuge, but the "hail-storm" of God's wrath will sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters will overflow the hiding places. May we live so that we may be sheltered in that day.
M. HULL. TO YOUNG THEOLOGIANS.
By Wilder
Young theologians, wisely set apart
To learn the rules of theologic art,
A few brief words let me address to you.
I have the pulpit now, and you the pew;
And all can see at but a single glance,
How seldom laymen get so good a chance;
And Dr. Wayland, with his views of teaching,
Would have some laymen take a hand at preaching.
Avoid, I pray you, all approach to rant,
Or to the meanest of all vices, cant.
Thought, and not noise, the understanding fills;
It is the lightning, not the thunder, kills;
And simple truth, in simple words expressed,
Has been, is now, and ever will be, best.
Sermons, like wells, should small circumference sweep,
Be short in their diameter; but deep.
And public prayer, as in the Scriptures taught,
Beyond a cavil, always should be short.
Had good St. Peter, in his hour of need,
Stopped to recite the Calvinistic creed,
As he was sinking through the yielding wave,
The Galilean sea had been his grave.
The royal pronoun WE, but seldom touch;
Quote the original not over much;
For with due deference and submission meek,
We all prefer good English to poor Greek.
Wade not too long through shallows to begin,
But over head and ears jump bravely in.
Have but one "lastly;" let that come about
As soon as thought and feeling have run out.
But "finallies" and "in conclusions," send,
As was suggested, to one common end.
With your attainments ever keep in view
That "common people" know a thing or two;
And can discern between those shops that group
All of their wares upon the outside stoop,
And less pretentious ones, whose alcoves deep
Their valued fabrics in good order keep.
Be chaste in manner; throw aside the vile,
Florid, high-sounding, and "spread eagle" style.
Get wisdom, learning, all without pretense;
And with your gettings, get good common sense.
The broad-brimmed beaver and the white cravat,
Gold-headed cane and all such things as that,
Have had their day; the people now will search
For the TRUE MAN, in Physic, Law and Church.
[Wilder's Poems] Christian Dress and Worldliness
By L. A. Bramhall
DEAR SISTERS: Why wait ye one for another and let Bro. Byington's question concerning dress remain unanswered? Ill health alone has prevented my entering my feeble protest against the articles there mentioned being recommended to the church that expect to stand when Jesus shall appear. He says, "Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way." What think ye? As we near the end, is "the way" so broad that we can deck ourselves in the fashionable attire of the day? That we may "not be conformed to the world" is the prayer of your unworthy sister.
L. A. BRAMHALL.
Parma, Mich., Aug. 25th, 1858. We have been waiting for a general expression from our sisters in answer to Bro. Byington's question in REVIEW No. 12. The following responses have been made which we give in the order in which they were received. BRO. SMITH: I notice Bro. Byington's request in the Review, No. 12. Permit me to say. Any article of dress worn with respect to health, comfort, economy, or convenience, cannot justly be condemned. But conforming to the world in their fashions, varying from the above principle, must be destructive to the christian faith; therefore "immodest." The moment we try to keep up appearances with the world or those conforming to it, holiness is departing from the heart and the Spirit of God is grieved. As light is opposed to darkness, so is pride to holiness. On the above principle, why may not "hoops be recomended to the church generally" in this season of the year, when used with moderation? In regard to "sleeves which are the largest at the little end," I have never had any experience; I see no reasons why they are justifiable, either in regard to convenience or economy. Hence, as they are not limited to due bounds, wanting in the restraint which christianity requires. I therefore conclude they are immodest. A lover of the whole truth.
ANN E. GURNEY.
Jackson, Mich., Aug. 8th, 1858. Nailed to the cross.
By Cornelia Rice
This seems to be the most conclusive argument of the opposers of the Sabbath; as they hereby get it out of the way; the ten commandments are nailed to the cross; still some how or other nine have escaped crucifixion. This is all well enough, but the fourth, by unanimous consent, should remain nailed there. But why are we dissatisfied with the memorial God has given us of creation? No better reason can be given than was given by the Jews when asked by Pilate, Shall I crucify your King? they answered, We have no king but Cæsar. The answer is now, We have no Sabbath but Sunday. The ancient Jews crucified the Lord of the Sabbath because they would not have this man, Christ Jesus, to reign over them; his professed people would crucify his Sabbath because they will not be brought under its restraint; and I often think when they bring up the plea "nailed to the cross," that their own mouth condemns them; for they witness themselves that they are the children of them that slew the Saviour. And if any should ask me the reason I stay
From the place where the people assemble to pray;
It's because I've no ear for the fables there told,
While the words of the Lord are like "apples of gold."
The great moral law to the cross they have nailed,
That the Rest-day of God may thereby be assailed;
And the day of the Pope they blasphemously say
To God, and repeat it, is thy holy day.
The plain Scripture truths by their creeds they deny;
For sleeping in Jesus is made to imply
Praising God with the angels in some brighter sphere,
And the first resurrection, experienced here.
That the Son is the Father, we too must concede,
And not "God was with him" as the Scriptures read.
Thus the words of our Saviour they plainly deny
When he says that "my Father is greater than I."
The coming of Christ is at death, too, they say;
Thus his second coming transpires every day;
To die is to live, and to sleep is to wake,
And when we read one thing, the opposite take.
Such heterodox creeds must ere long pass away,
As the darkness recedes at the light of the day;
And the remnant shall stand girt about with a shield,
And the sword of the Spirit successfully wield.
Cornelia Rice.
Folsomdale, N. Y., Sept. 2d, 1858. JOHN BARVOUR
By John Barvour
BRO. SMITH: I am still striving to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and find great peace in so doing. I am glad that I ever was brought by the goodness of God to see the present truth. About three years ago last February I, for the first time, heard the Advent doctrine, and by it was brought to feel the need of an interest in the blood of Christ that I might be prepared for his coming, and saved with the rest of his people. I was listening to the word of the Lord as it was preached by Brn. Ingraham and Hutchins in this place, and O how glad I am that I ever was permitted to hear the Third Angel's Message, and that it brought conviction home to my heart, and that it was followed up by the Holy Spirit until I was willing to yield obedience to all of the requirements of God. How thankful I am that God was so merciful to me as to pluck me as a brand from the burning, and place my feet on the Rock of ages, where if I stand a few more days, I, with you, and the rest of the people of God, shall be permitted to sing the song of Moses and the Lamb on Mt. Zion. Christ has gone to prepare a glorious home for those that love him and keep his Father's commandments. O I long to be there. I long to see the heavens blaze with the glory of the coming of the Son of man, when the sleeping saints of all ages shall be waked and brought forth to life and immortality, and the living saints will all be changed. I am determined by the help of God to hold out faithful to the end, that when Christ who is my life shall appear, I may appear with him in glory. Yours in hope of gaining victory. Ulysses, Pa., Aug. 30th, 1858. Holding Up the Commandments of God
By F. M. Palmiter
BRO. SMITH: My heart overflows with love to God for his truth. While perusing the pages of holy Writ, I feel to say, Good is the word of the Lord. It is good to wait on the Lord. All that the Lord hath said we will do and be obedient. I can truly say that the Lord is my hope and strong tower; he is the hope of Israel. Straying into a camp-meeting a day or two since which was held not far distant, I heard it asserted from the stand that the church was purer now than in the apostles' days; that we had yet to see the sun darkened, stars fall &c.; that our souls were Gods' immortal breath; that thousands were now wailing in hell; that the judgment was yet to come, &c. I took my Bible hoping to be made more familiar with it by following their quotations, but it was useless. Precious Word! how art thou hidden! My soul longs more than ever for the word of the Lord, and I feel to praise the Lord to-day that he has a remnant people, and faithful stewards abroad in the land, who are holding up the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus, and are not afraid to show the house of Israel their sins. I trust that there are many Marys who sit at their Lord's feet, inquiring earnestly, Lord what wilt thou have me to do, that I may be a co-worker in the vineyard, and a pattern to all of the faith I profess, and who do not covet the Babylonish garment (costly array) and ornaments which adorn the professed followers of Christ at the present day. Let us pattern after holy women of old, covet earnestly the best gifts, strive for the purity of the primitive church, that we may be clothed with power. It is for us, praise the Lord! Let us not rest short of it. Your sister in hope. F. M. PALMITER. Verona, N. Y., Sept. 4th, 1858. Preparing for Mount Zion
By Benjamin Farnham
BRO. SMITH: I wish to say to the friends through the Review that I feel thankful to God for the truths of the Third Angel's Message as far as I understand them. The clear light now shining gives me to see the frailties of my nature. I see what I have to overcome in order to stand on Mount Zion with the Lamb. I wish to make clean work in this day of judgment. It is high time to wake out of sleep, put on the whole armor and be prepared to stand in the day of the battle of the Lord. Time appears to me to be near its close. We have but a little longer in which to work. O my brethren, let us gird up the loins of our mind and address ourselves with new vigor to the journey. Mount Zion is just before us; the new earth with all its Eden loveliness opens to our view. What a contrast there will be between the new earth and the old one. We are now subject to disease and every evil, but there all will bloom in eternal health and vigor. There will be no more growing old nor dying, no more parting with friends, no more tempting Devil. The wicked cease from troubling, the tongue of slander forever silent, the weary forever at rest. O glorious thought! I long to be there, and be forever at rest. Dear brethren, I feel that heaven is a good place. It is worth our while to sell all and buy the field. We feel that the testimony for the church is about to be revived here. The shaking has commenced that we think will separate the precious from the vile. We pray, Lord spare thy people and give them another year. May we all bestir ourselves, and sacrifice for God. Those who make a covenant by sacrifice will be hid in the day of his wrath. Yours in hope.
BENJ. FARNHAM.
Caledonia, Aug. 28th, 1858. Pressing On to Heaven
By Josephine O'Neil
Bro. Smith: My heart's desire is to be a christian. I am trying in weakness to keep all the holy, just and good law of God. I want to live so that it will not condemn me. I find that it is a great thing to live a christian. I am glad the light of present truth ever found way to my heart. It has been about five months since I made up my mind to go with God's people. It was crossing for me to give up the world and the things of the world, and be accounted as the offscouring of all things, but I thank the Lord that I can now say I am willing to hear the reproach of the truth if I can only gain the smiles of Jesus. O brethren and sisters, do let us be up and doing, working while the day lasts, for soon the night cometh when no man can work. Let us have our loins girt about with truth, that we may be able to stand in the time of trouble. I feel like pressing onward. I want to see the end of the race, and Jesus and the holy angels. Let us take new courage. Never think of stopping here. I mean to make heaven my home. Sister P. D. Lawrence writes from Fairfield, Me., Sept. 5th, 1858: "More than one year has passed since I have seen a brother or sister in the truth, or heard a prayer, or any sweet singing on the coming of Jesus. I know he is soon coming; for his word declares it: 'This is my song.
Cheers the heart when joys depart
And foes are pressing strong.' 'Surely, they are gaining strength, and I too must be diligent to gain strength to withstand in this evil time, that having done all, I may stand. 'I thank my heavenly Father for the comfort the Review brings; it is my only companion in my loneliness, though I trust I walk and talk with God sometimes. I will try and hold fast his truth and trust in his mercy." Are you in depths and doubts, staggering and uncertain, not knowing what is your condition, nor whether you have any interest in the forgiveness that is of God? Are you tossed between hopes and fears, and want peace, consolation, and establishment? Why lie upon your faces? Get up, watch, pray, fast, meditate, offer violence to your lusts and corruptions; fear not, startle not at their crying to be spared; press unto the throne of grace by prayer, supplications, importunities, restless requests; this is the way to take the kingdom of God. These are not peace, are not assurance; but they are part of the means God hath appointed for the attainment of them.—Sel. The Sabbath From the Beginning
The Sabbath was sanctified and set apart for God from the beginning. It has indeed been objected that there is no subsequent mention of the observance of the Sabbath by the Patriarchs; but not to say that there are intimations of a division of time into weeks (Gen. viii, 10, 12: xxix, 27.) it might for the same reason have been thought that the Jews did not observe the Sabbath from Moses to David, since in the history of all that time there is no mention of that day. Those who object to the institution of the Sabbath from the beginning, admit that if the divine command was actually delivered at the creation, it was addressed no doubt to the whole human species alike, and continues, unless repealed by some subsequent revelation, binding on all who come to the knowledge of it.—Old tract.