DEARLY BELOVED IN THE LORD:—Are we not living in the time when they that fear the Lord speak often one to another? Yes brethren we are, and the Lord hearkens and hears, and a book of remembrance is being written. How necessary, then, that we speak as the oracles of God, those blessed oracles which contain the memorial of the great work of creation, even the Sabbath of the Lord our God. I do feel to thank and praise the name of the Lord that there is a remnant, a little flock, that are willing to bear the scoffs of a wicked world, the wrath of the dragon, and the frowns of near and dear friends, remembering if we would reign with Christ, we must also suffer with him. But let us examine ourselves that we suffer for righteousness' sake, and not as evil doers. O, let us awake, and be the children of the day; let us not sleep as do others, but let us watch and be sober, having our loins girt about with truth, and our lamps trimmed and burning, as those that wait for their Lord when he shall return from the wedding.
We are a few scattered ones among the vast multitude of the thoughtless, the wicked and the deceived, who are rushing on with speed into the great gulf of everlasting destruction, from whence there is no escape. We should look well to our footsteps that we keep the straight and narrow path. The prize is worth a struggle. We should realize the responsibility that we are under; for to whom much is given, much is required. Let us therefore be diligent to make our calling and election sure. Let us speak to one another through the Review, comfort and exhort one another; for we see the day approaching. May brotherly love continue, and we avoid the spirit of the Laodiceans; and may the Lord guide us into all truth, bring us into the unity of the faith, seal us with his holy seal, and save us in his kingdom, is the prayer of your unworthy sister, waiting for the consolation of the true Israel,
MINERVA CALKINS
Climax Prairie, Mich.
The Law and the Sabbath
By Nathan Davis
From Bro. Davis.
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—I read the Review with pleasure, and am far from believing that the law of God is a dead letter to us, or that it has lost its force, so that we may break the Sabbath, and not be found guilty before God; for 1 John iii, 4 says; "whoso192ever committeth sin transgresseth also the law; for sin is the transgression of the law." And again we read, "whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point he is guilty of all." So we find that we must obey the commandments, the fourth not excepted.
Bro. Bates was here last Fall, and held meetings, explaining the third angel's message, and soon appearing of Christ, from the Chart. We would be very glad to hear again on the present truth.
Yours striving for eternal life, NATHAN DAVIS.
Sullivan, Sul. Co., Ind., March 1853
A Sister’s Hope in Present Truth
By Fanny J. Owen
From Sister Owen.
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—The Review is to me a welcome messenger. Situated as I am, being alone, the truths it contains are very precious. The excellent letters from the dear brethren and sisters are very interesting. I feel to thank and praise the Lord, that, through the labors of Bro. Holt, and other kind friends, I was ever led to investigate the subject of present truth. It has been about a year since I commenced, in my humble way, to keep the Sabbath in connection with the other commandments, and I find that in so doing there is great reward.
I feel that we are living in a very solemn period of time, when the last warning message of mercy is being given to a sinful world; when the last leaves of prophecy are unfolding to our view. Seeing then that these things are so, let us seek righteousness and seek meekness that we may be hid in the day of the Lord's anger. O, let us be watchful and prayerful, having on the whole armor, and like unto servants who wait for their Lord. All my desire is, that I may live in such a manner that I may gain an entrance with the dear saints into the glorious kingdom, where we shall range with delight over the bright celestial plains, where we shall be permitted to eat of the fruit of the tree of life, and drink of the water of the river of life, where sorrow and sighing will flee away and all tears will be wiped from our eyes, and we shall forever dwell in the presence of our Lord.
Your sister, in patient waiting for redemption,
FANNY J. OWEN.
Catharine, March 25th, 1853.
Letters from the Brethren and Sisters
By Sarah Griggs
From Sister Griggs.
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—To me it seems quite appropriate to devote a part of the Review to letters from the brethren and sisters. It is, indeed, cheering to one depressed in spirit, not having the privilege of meeting with those of like precious faith, oftener than once in three or four months, to read of their faith and love for God's holy law, their rejoicing in the third angel's message, and ardent desire for the full salvation, and entire conformity to the image of the lovely Jesus.
O that the Lord would give us more fully to realize the solemn time in which we are living. May God keep his children unspotted from the world unto the day of redemption, and bring out all the honest-hearted and raise up a people to shew forth his praise.
I was glad to see your timely warning of "Dangers to which the remnant are exposed." We are truly living in perilous times, and,
> "Satan with malicious art,
> Watches each unguarded heart.
> But from Satan's malice free,
> Saints shall soon victorious be."
I long for the time to come, when "the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: and sorrow and sighing shall flee away."
SARAH GRIGGS.
Avoca, March 24th, 1853.
HE SLEEPS IN JESUS.
By Sarah B. Belden
A sketch of the experience and last sickness of Robert F. Harmon.
My dear brother, Robert F. Harmon, died of consumption, in Gorham, Me., Feb. 5th, aged 27 years. At the age of thirteen, he was converted under the first course of Lectures on the Second Coming of Christ, delivered by William Miller in Portland, Me. His faith in the immediate coming of Christ, and in the divine origin of the Advent movement, remained unshaken up to 1845. At this time he was placed under very trying circumstances. Many of the Advent people were giving up their past experience; and on the other hand, there were those who were teaching that Christ spiritually came in 1844, and contended that one of these two positions must be taken, Christ had spiritually come, or the Advent movement had not been right. My brother could not believe the glorious appearing of Christ was merely spiritual, and not being able to fully define his position, was influenced by some of the leading ones among those who had given up their Advent experience, to question the great movement. From that time, his faith and interest in the Advent was seen to gradually die away; yet he ever manifested a firm purpose to live a Christian life.
Last July he was taken suddenly ill, and was a great sufferer until his death. At the first of his sickness, his mind seemed beclouded, and he was distressed with doubts and fears. He spent much time in earnest prayer to God for a preparation to meet the event that was evidently before him. Light and peace gradually broke in upon his mind; also faith in the speedy coming of Christ revived, and he soon saw the force of the Sabbath of the Lord, and heartily embraced it, and greatly rejoiced in it. He now saw clearly, and acknowledged the application of the three angels of Rev. xiv, two in the past, and that this is the period for the third, presenting the commandments of God. And as he acknowledged this, convictions of past unbelief and its consequences, seemed to press upon him.
Only a few weeks before he was taken sick, he united with the M. E. Church. None of us knew this, until he saw the work of the two angels in the past, and, of his own accord, mentioned the subject, and confessed his error. He expressed his firm faith that the Lord called the Advent people to leave the churches, and that he had erred in returning to the church again. He was very anxious to retrace his steps, and requested father to inform the minister that he wished his name taken from the church book. The Methodist minister immediately visited him, and heard his request to leave the church, from his own mouth. He then seemed perfectly free. The minister spoke of the clearness of his mind, and, as he left, said to mother, "That is a triumphant soul." From this time till he fell asleep in Jesus, he continued free from doubts, happy in the love of God. During the period of his protracted sickness, six months of which time, I have cheerfully watched over him, he has ever manifested great patience, and resignation to the will of God.
The funeral was attended by our dear Bro. Wheeler of Washington, N. H., who, through the kind providence of God, was in the State, where we could secure his services. He gave a short discourse from I Thess. iv, 13, 14, and the sorrowing heart was greatly cheered by the hope of the resurrection, when we shall, if faithful to the end, meet him who is torn from us by death, clothed with immortality to die no more.
SARAH B. BELDEN.
Rochester, March, 1853.
L I N E S
By A. R. S.
ON THE DEATH OF ROBERT F. HARMON.
He sleeps in Jesus—peaceful rest—
No mortal strife invades his breast;
No pain, or sin, or woe or care,
Can reach the silent slumberer there.
He lived, his Saviour to adore,
And meekly all his sufferings bore.
He loved, and all resigned to God;
Nor murmured at his chastening rod.
"Does earth attract thee here?" they cried,
The dying Christian thus replied:
While pointing upward to the sky,
"My treasure is laid up on high."
He sleeps in Jesus—soon to rise,
When the last trump shall rend the skies;
Then burst the fetters of the tomb,
To wake in full, immortal bloom.
He sleeps in Jesus—cease thy grief;
Let this afford thee sweet relief—
That, freed from death's triumphant reign,
In Heaven will he live again. A. R. S.
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The Old Testament as a Christian Guide
By John Hamilton
From Bro. Hamilton.
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—I find when conversing with professed disciples of Christ upon keeping the Sabbath of the Lord our God, some take the position that the commandments were given to the Jews, and are done away; others, that all the Old Testament scriptures are to us as a dead letter, under the gospel dispensation; and that Christians are not to be guided by them. And thinking that the Review might fall into the hands of some of the same opinion, I thought to give a few passages of scripture, showing that the Old Testament scriptures as well as the New, are still the guide of the children of God.
Christ says, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets; I am not come to destroy but to fulfil." "Whosoever, therefore, shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven." See Matt. v, 17-19. We see the commandments are found in Ex. xx, and as Christ says, not one jot or tittle of them are gone; for the heavens and earth yet remain. Therefore, they are still the lamp to guide our feet.
The Saviour again says, [Matt. xix, 17,] "But if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments."—How important that we should know what the commandments of God are! Again, [John v, 39,] "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me." Also, Acts iii, 18-21, shows that neither the law or prophets can be done away before the coming of Christ.
Let us now hear the great teacher to the Gentiles. Rom. iii, 31. "Do we make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea we establish the law." Hear him again in the same letter. Chap. xv, 4. "For whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope."
This is but the language of every one that is striving to live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Let us listen again to the words of our Saviour, spoken to his servant John on the isle of Patmos. Rev. xiv, 12. "Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Who does not wish to be found with that blessed company. Let all such be careful to keep all the commandments of God. For Jesus says, [Chap. xxii, 14,] Blessed are they that do his [the Father's] commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Yours in the love of the truth,
JOHN HAMILTON.
Fredonia N. Y., April 4th, 1853.
Answers to Questions Delayed
By Editor
Brn. A. Stone and J. B. Frisbie—We hope to give the answers to your questions in the next REVIEW. We regret the delay.
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS:
By Ellen G. White
It may be my duty to briefly notice the article from A. N. Seymour, in the Advent Harbinger for March 26th. Mr. S. thinks there is a contradiction on the forty-third page of my little pamphlet, entitled Christian Experience and Views.—I there stated that a cloud of glorious light covered the Father, and that his person could not be seen. I also stated that I saw the Father rise from the throne, &c. Here Mr. S. finds a glaring contradiction. But it seems to me that a child may understand this. The Father was enshrouded with a body of light and glory, so that his person could not be seen, yet I knew that it was the Father, and that from his person, emanated this light and glory. When I saw this body of light and glory rise from the throne, I knew that the Father moved, which was the cause of the body of light and glory rising, therefore said, I saw the Father rise. The glory, or excellency of his form, I never saw—no one could behold it; yet the body of light and glory that enshrouded his person, could be seen. I really think that Mr. S. has manifested a disposition to catch at words, and will leave it for others to judge whether such a course becomes a minister of Christ.
Mr. S. then asserts that I stated that I saw "Satan by the throne that the Father had left." Here I will give my own words. "Satan appeared to be by the throne, trying to carry on the work of God." I will give another sentence from the same page. "Then I turned to look at the company who were still bowed before the throne." Now, this praying company was in this mortal state, on the earth, yet represented to me as bowed before the throne. I never had the idea that these individuals were actually in the New Jerusalem. Neither did I ever think that any mortal could suppose that I thought that Satan was actually in the New Jerusalem. This Mr. S. is disposed to put in the worst light, and then goes on to ridicule the idea of Satan being in the New Jerusalem.
But did not John see the great red dragon in heaven?—Certainly. "And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns." Rev. xii, 3. Here seems to be as good a chance for Mr. S. to ridicule, as that which he has taken. What a minister to be in heaven!
But let this view that Mr. S. ridicules be compared with Hosea v, 6, 7. "They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the Lord; but they shall not find him; he hath withdrawn himself from them. They have dealt treacherously against the Lord; for they have begotten strange children; now shall a month devour them with their portions." This certainly shows that the Lord changes his position in some way, and presents good reasons to believe that Satan would at some period get up counterfeit conversions.
E. G. WHITE.
HENRY LYON
By Henry Lyon
From Bro. Lyon.
Elder Seymour comes out hard and harsh and does all he can to prevent persons embracing the present truth. But the work is going forward. It is of God and cannot be put down, amen.
There is but one band of theirs in this eastern part of the State, and a few scattered ones like sheep upon the mountains without a shepherd. All I know are weak and sickly, and ready to deny their past experience.
The more I examine our position, the plainer it looks. It presents a strait, harmonious chain of events, and I see plainer the path of duty. We have laid all on the altar, and trust in God to direct us. I see the necessity of coming out from the world and being separate. I want to be just what God would have me to be. I am thankful that he has shown us poor sinners this last message. We have a great work to do, and only a short time to do it in. May God help us to be faithful.
HENRY LYON
Plymouth, Mich., March 15th, 1853.
Review Subscription and Conference
By Editor
D. DANIELS.—Have sent the REVIEW to Wealthy Snow, Chicopee Falls. Will now send as you direct, to Chicopee.—We will hold a Conference with you in August if possible.
Names Erased from the Books
By Editor
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