Earlier text: SECRET PRAYER SUCCESSFULLY MANAGEDREVIEW OF ELDER RUSSELL.—No. 4.
By M. Hull
ELDER R. next attempts to show that Jesus Christ has been crowned king, and quotes Zech. ix, 9: "Behold thy King cometh unto thee. He is just and having salvation; lowly and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass." If this proves that Christ has been crowned king, it proves too much for Mr. R.; for he says "Christ was not coronated until after his ascension." But if this text locates the time of his coronation at all, it would place it at the time Christ rode into Jerusalem. But Zechariah says nothing about the time when Christ should have been crowned; it only says "thy King cometh." If simply calling Christ king would place a crown upon his head, then verily Christ was crowned at his birth, for at that time the wise men say, "Where is he that is born King of the Jews." Matt. ii, 2. It is an easy matter to prove that Christ was anointed, but it cannot be proved that he was crowned, at the time he ascended to heaven. It cannot be proved that he was seated on David's throne at that time. The elder needs to learn that there is a vast difference between the coronation and anointing of Jesus Christ. While we admit that there is a kingship connected with the priesthood of Jesus Christ, it is not the kingdom that he has the promise of when his foes are made his footstool; nor is it the kingdom which is given to him when he comes in the clouds of heaven. See Dan. vii, 14. Mr. R.'s main object in his writing and preaching is to prove 1st, That the Israelites were God's chosen people or nation. 2d, That the ten commandments were exclusively Israelitish—that they belonged exclusively to the Jews. 3d, That that nation has been cut off and a new nation established. 4th, That the old law (the ten commandments) perished with the old nation; and 5th, That a new law has been introduced for the benefit of the new nation. But if we weigh some of the above positions in the scale of truth, I apprehend that we shall find MENE MENE TEKEL inscribed in large letters upon them. Let us see. 1. While we admit that the Jews were God's chosen people, we do not believe that they kept the law because they were chosen as Mr. R. teaches. But they were God's people upon the condition that they kept the law. Proof. Ex. xix, 5, 6. "Now therefore if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people; for all the earth is mine; and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, an holy nation." 2. Instead of the ten commandments' being exclusively the national law of the Jews, they are God's laws, and when any people adopt them as theirs, they place themselves under the government of God, and thus become God's peculiar nation or people. Otherwise God is a respecter of persons. Acts x, 34. Hence God's having rejected the Jews from being his peculiar people does not destroy the law by which they were (or could have been) governed, but shows they did not obey it. But if God's having rejected the Jews, destroys the law, would not his rejecting the Gentiles as a nation, destroy the gospel? 3. While we do not deny that the old nation has been rejected and a new one raised up, we must take the position that the old nation was rejected for violating God's laws, and the new nation are God's peculiar people upon the condition that they comply with rules by which the Jews refused to walk. In Matt. xxi, 43, after giving the parable of the wicked husbandmen, our Saviour says to the Jews, "Therefore I say unto you, the kingdom shall be taken from you and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." We learn from this (1.) That the Jews were rejected from being God's peculiar people. (2.) That another people take their place, and (3.) That this other nation are bringing forth fruits which the Jews refused to bring forth, and hence were overthrown. Now what are the conditions? We have already found that the Jews could be God's peculiar people or holy nation if they would keep his covenant of ten commandments. Again, God commanded the Jews to be holy [Lev. xix, 2], and showed them that the ten commandments contained the principles of holiness by telling them that they would be a holy nation if they would keep them. Ex. xix, 5. When Peter writes to the strangers scattered abroad, i. e., the Gentiles, he tells them [1 Pet. ii, 9], "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation." Here the new nation is an holy nation; just what the old one could have been if they had kept the law. Eld. R. will not dare to say that the principles of holiness have changed; that God is more lax in his government now than he was when the Jews were his peculiar people. But we are not yet done with this. In 1 Pet. i, 14, there is a command to the strangers to be holy, based upon the law which Mr. R. says was exclusively Israelitish, and perished with the rejection of that nation. "Be ye holy in all manner of conversation, because it is written, Be ye holy for I am holy." Is it possible that Peter is quoting an old obsolete, Jewish commandment, and urging Gentiles to obey it, a commandment which never was binding upon the Gentiles? and if it had been, was abolished several years before Peter wrote this epistle, and had never been re-enacted!! No, no. This commandment was written for all God's people, in all ages of the world; and when the Gentiles became God's people, it was as really binding upon them as it was upon the Jews before the kingdom was taken from them. But as I cannot protract the argument on this point, for positive evidence that the Jews were rejected for violating God's law, see Jer. viii, 13–16; xxvi, 4–6; xliv, 10, 11; Hosea iv, 6. 4. That the old law perished with the old nation, and a new law was given by which to detect sin in this dispensation, we do not believe for the following reasons: First, It has been proved that the Jews were cut off for transgressing the law. But if the Law was so imperfect that God saw that it was not fit to live and maintain a jurisdiction over his creatures, and hence abolished it, why was it wrong for the Jews to transgress it? The Jews did not show any more disrespect for the law in transgressing than God did in abolishing it; hence God and the Jews were co-workers. Second. If the law which the Jews transgressed could have been destroyed, the Jews by the destruction of that law would have been restored to the favor of God, and not have been cut off. Third. Mr. R. said in his debate with the writer in Fairfield, Iowa, that "no man had a right to keep the law until he was circumcised." But on this matter there is a difference of opinion between Paul and Mr. R.; for Paul says [Rom. ii, 26], "Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?" Thus Paul understood that others beside the Jews had the privilege of keeping the law. Again, in Rom. iii, 19 we are informed that the whole world is guilty before God in consequence of having violated the law. In Rom. viii, 4, Paul informs us that Christ died that "the righteousness (precepts, Whiting,) of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit." This could not be the case if the law perished with the Jewish nation. Fourth. But grant elder R. his position, and he has made sad havoc of every moral principle in the universe; for he says (p. 40), "The law (i. e., the new law) starts in these words: 'Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.'" Again, he says on the same page, "Laws were issued and subjects submitted thereto on the day of pentecost." This law takes the place of the ten commandments. Now we have got rid of the ten commandments, let us see what we have to take their place. The first commandment in the elder's new law (the one which takes the place of that one which says "Thou shalt have no other gods before me") is, "Repent." The second is, "be baptized," and the third (for there are only three) is, "Save yourselves from this untoward generation." I now ask you, dear reader, Are you willing to swop the decalogue for these three commandments, not one of which contains a moral principle? In the above position Eld. R. has given birth to a new theological child. He says, "The laws were issued for the new nation—the citizens of the new kingdom to obey." Thus according to R., they are citizens of the new kingdom before they repent, are baptized, or save themselves from this untoward generation. I hope this child by the time it gets rid of its swaddling bands will teach its father (Mr. R.) that he has been doing wrong for the last thirty years when he has been baptizing flesh and blood into the kingdom of God. "Surely the legs of the lame are unequal." Let me close this article by beseeching the elder to desert his sinking ship. O cease to drink of the muddy waters of such a theory. Flee to the ark of God, and thus prepare for an inheritance in the kingdom of God when it shall come. REPORT OF MEETINGS.
By John Norton Loughborough
BRO. SMITH: Since I left Battle Creek I have tried to keep myself busily employed in the vineyard of the Lord. The meeting appointed for Northern Ills. was held with the Round Grove church, in the school-house near Bro. Wick's. As the school-house was small, the brethren had made a bower of green bushes over the door, and arranged seats to accommodate about as many outside as the house itself would hold. We had good congregations both Sabbath and first-day. We did not see so many brethren from other places at this meeting as we had hoped, owing to the shortness of the notice. The Lord gave freedom in bearing a plain testimony on the unity of the church and perpetuity of the gifts. On first-day the seats and school-house were well filled, and we had unusual liberty in speaking on the conditions of the inheritance in God's kingdom. Matt. xxi, 43. Our own heart was cheered by this meeting, and the church seemed strengthened. We were much encouraged while there by a letter Bro. Andrews had just received from his sister in England, who is now keeping the Lord's Sabbath. She told of an independent minister with whom she had been talking, who had about made up his mind to keep and teach the Sabbath. From Round Grove we went with Bro. Lathrop to Crane's Grove, where we spent a day very agreeably with the brethren and sisters, and in the evening had considerable freedom in speaking to them on the unending character of the law and Sabbath, even as taught in the New Testament. Went from Crane's Grove to Mackford. Found the tent had come all in good order. The tent was pitched, and meeting was commenced sixth-day evening. Quite a goodly number of brethren and sisters assembled at this meeting which was one of deep interest, and we trust will profit those who were assembled. Bro. Steward was unavoidably detained, so that he could not join us at Mackford. Bro. Allen of Illinois (who is laboring with success in Wisconsin), was with us and joined us in the labors of this meeting. On first-day two were baptized by Bro. Allen. Last sixth-day we pitched our tent in this place. Although we have given but six discourses, there is a great interest awakened. People think they never saw so much truth before. We cannot tell how the matter will turn, but know of no other way than to preach the truth straight out, and let that and the Spirit of the Lord work in the hearts of the people. Bro. Steward is here with me, and Bro. Baker of Mackford is taking charge of the tent. More soon. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
Marquette, Wis., July 2, 1860. BE RECONCILED TO GOD.
By E. Macomber
We pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. This language used by Paul is applicable to many of the professed followers of Christ in our day. Dear reader, it may apply to you. How is it with you? Are you reconciled to God? You may not be a professor. If not, take upon you now the yoke of Christ; for he has said, My yoke is easy and my burden is light. To be reconciled to God is to be humble, to be obedient to all the requirements that we find in his blessed word. His word, as we read, is a lamp to our feet, and a light to our path. It guides us in all the duties that are enjoined upon us. Then if we are reconciled to God, we shall esteem it a great pleasure to obey. The blessed Saviour became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things in earth, and things under the earth. Jesus our Saviour saith unto Thomas, I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh to the Father but by me. Now if we are reconciled to God we are reconciled to Christ our Lord, and as he has marked out the way for us, we need not err therein. Thank the Lord for his word, precious record, daily bread! While the world is being ensnared by the allurements of Satan in the weaving of the web of politics, in appearing as an angel of light to the friends of the departed, touching the tenderest chord of sympathy, in the alluring cup of intoxication, in the clay pipe, burning incense to Baal, the mouth filled with the poison weed, tobacco, and being drowned with the cares of the world, and seeking the applause of mortal man, are there not those among the professed advent people that are guilty of these besetting sins, with many others that might be mentioned? See to it, dear reader, that you are not thoughtless of these things. Cleanse yourselves from the filthiness of the flesh, perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord. SOME are ready to cavil and object, whenever the future residence of the redeemed from the earth is represented as a literal, material place; not remembering, it would seem, that this is the usual representation of the place in the Scriptures. And they appear to forget, too, that man, in his original glory, walking and conversing with his Creator, was a being with a body as well as a soul; that he rejoiced in communion with the Lord, in the literal Eden where he was originally placed, and from which, after he sinned, he was driven. What do we sinners want more than original immortality and glory, with uninterrupted and everlasting enjoyment of God's presence and favor? If, by the resurrection, all the effects of sin are perfectly and perpetually removed, and our bodies, like our Lord's, shall be glorious and incorruptible, shall we complain and cavil because there is nothing better? Do we demand a premium for having sinned? Do we require to be better conditioned than if we had never transgressed? Where has God promised to make sinners better and happier than man would have been if sin had not been committed? If man was originally perfectly holy, perfectly happy, free from all disease and disquietude, and blessed with familiar communion with his Maker; why should we feel such a shrinking from the idea of having a local habitation, adapted to the spiritualized, yet—of necessity—still material body, with which all will be furnished in the resurrection state? The new heavens and the new earth will undoubtedly be indescribably and inconceivably beautiful and glorious; but they will be earth and heaven still. The reader is earnestly advised to do himself the favor to read Dr. Chalmer's Sermon on the New Heavens and the New Earth. As all may not have at hand the Sermon referred to, it may be expedient to give some portions of it, that the reader may be informed of the Doctor's view of this subject: "It were venturing on the region of conjecture to affirm, whether, if Adam had not fallen, the earth that we now tread upon, would have been the everlasting abode of him and his posterity. But certain it is, that man at the first, had for his place this world, and, at the same time, for his privilege, an unclouded fellowship with God, and, for his prospect, an immortality, which death was neither to intercept nor put an end to. He was terrestrial in respect of condition, and yet celestial in respect both of character and enjoyment. His eye looked outwardly on a landscape of earth, while his heart breathed upwardly in the love of heaven. And though he trode the solid platform of our world, and was compassed about with its horizon—still was he within the circle of God's favored creation, and took his place among the freemen and denizens of the great spiritual commonwealth. This may serve to rectify an imagination, of which we think that all must be conscious—as if the grossness of materialism was only for those who had degenerated into the grossness of sin; and that, when a spiritualizing process had purged away all our corruption, then, by the stepping stones of a death and resurrection, we should be borne away to some ethereal region, where sense, and body, and all in the shape either of audible sound, or of tangible substance, were unknown. And hence that strangeness of impression which is felt by you, should the supposition be offered, that in the place of eternal blessedness, there will be ground to walk upon; or scenes70 luxuriant to delight the corporeal senses; or the kindly intercourse of friends talking familiarly, and by articulate converse together; or, in short, anything that has the least resemblance to a local territory, filled with various accommodations, and peopled over its whole extent by creatures formed like ourselves—having bodies such as we now wear, and faculties of perception and thought, and mutual communication, such as we now exercise. The common imagination that we have of paradise on the other side of death [Chalmers is certainly speaking of the resurrection state, as the previous paragraphs show], is that of a lofty, aerial region, where the inmates float in ether, or are mysteriously suspended upon nothing—where all the warm and sensible accommodations which give such an expression of strength, and life, and coloring to our present habitation, are attenuated in a sort of spiritual element that is meagre, and imperceptible, and utterly uninviting to mortals here below—where every vestige of materialism is done away, and nothing left but certain unearthly scenes that have no power of allurement, and certain unearthly ecstacies, with which it is impossible to sympathize. The holders of this imagination forget, all the while, that really there is no essential connection between materialism and sin; that the world which we now inhabit, had all the amplitude and solidity of its present materialism, before sin entered into it; that God so far, on that account, from looking slightly upon it, after it had received the last touch of his creating hand, reviewed the earth, and the waters, and the firmament, and all the green herbage, and the living creatures, and the man whom he had raised in dominion over them, and he saw everything that he had made, and behold it was all very good. They forget that on the birth of materialism, when it stood out in the freshness of those glories which the great Architect of Nature had impressed upon it, that then “the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.” They forget that appeals that are made everywhere in the Bible to this material workmanship: and how from the face of these visible heavens, and the garniture of this earth that we tread upon, the greatness and the goodness of God are reflected on the view of his worshippers. No, my brethren, the object of the administration we sit under is to extirpate sin, but it is not to sweep away materialism." This renewed and immortal man, composed of a spiritual and a material nature united, must now have an appropriate residence. Chalmers shall speak again: "And we do hail the information of our text, that after the dissolution of its present frame-work, it will again be varied and decked out anew in all the graces of its unfading verdure, and of its unbounded variety—that in addition to our direct and personal view of the Deity, when he comes down to tabernacle with men, we shall also have the reflection of him in a lovely mirror of his own workmanship, and instead of being transported to some abode of dimness and mystery, so remote from human experience, as to be beyond all comprehension, we shall walk forever in a land replenished with those sensible delights, and those sensible glories, which, we doubt not, will lie most profusely scattered over the ‘new heavens and the new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.’” But will not this be Mahometanism? "But though a paradise of sense, it will not be a paradise of sensuality. Though not so unlike the present world as many apprehend it, there will be one point of total dissimilarity betwixt them. It is not the entire substitution of spirit for matter, that will distinguish the future economy from the present. But it will be the entire substitution of righteousness for sin. It is this which signalizes the Christian from the Mahometan paradise—not that sense, and substance, and splendid imagery, and the glories of a visible creation seen with bodily eyes, are excluded from it—but that all which is vile in principle, or voluptuous in impurity, will be utterly excluded from it. There will be a firm earth, as we have at present: and a heaven stretched over it as we have at present; and it is not by the absence of these, but by the absence of sin, that the abodes of immortality will be characterized. There will be both heavens and earth, it would appear, in the next great administration—and with this speciality to mark it from the present one, that it will be a heaven and an earth wherein dwelleth righteousness!" This long extract will be welcomed in this connection, not only for the beauty and eloquence of its composition, but for its perfect relevancy to the subject in hand. This is the way to interpret Scripture; not according to the fancies of men, but according to the teachings of Inspiration. This discourse of Chalmers is eminently valuable, as well for the correctness of its philosophy, as for the evident scripturalness of its divinity.—Our Lord's Great Prophecy, by Buck. Sister R. P. Wilson writes from Lisbon, Iowa: “I feel to thank God for his goodness to me in that he has permitted me to see the harmony in his precious truth, and given me a heart to strive to live it out. My determination is, by the grace of God, to keep all his commandments and the faith of Jesus, that I may have a right to the tree of life. While I write I feel to praise his holy name that he has counted me worthy to be persecuted for keeping his holy Sabbath. Our blessed Redeemer was persecuted in the most shameful manner, and are we better than he who suffered that we might have eternal life? O that we may be willing to suffer for his sake, and count it all joy, knowing that our blessed Saviour will soon come and take us home, if we hold out faithful unto the end. Then we shall walk the golden streets of the New Jerusalem. What a glorious thought, to be forever with the Lord! Pray for me that I may stand with the little flock on mount Zion, for the prayer of the righteous availeth much.” Bro. L. Gardner writes from Osceola, Clark Co., Iowa: “I wrote you to send me a few numbers of the Review for investigation, and I find their teaching in harmony with the Scriptures. I can cheerfully recommend this little sheet to all who are seeking after71 truth, as a good guide to piety. It will help the brethren to come into the unity of the faith. I thank the Lord that he directed Brn. Hull and Cornell this way, and that we have heard a few sermons of truth. Though there has never been a messenger within five miles of this place, there are ten Sabbath-keepers here now; and the Review is received as a welcome visitor. With pleasure we read the letters from the brethren scattered abroad, and can sympathize with them in their persecutions, while the cry of Mormon, Millerite, Infidel, &c., is the cry raised against us here. May the Lord help the honest to lay aside all prejudice, and investigate present truth, come out of Babylon, and keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. May we, brethren, be united in one mind, and prepared to meet the Lord at his coming; for he that shall come will come and will not tarry. Heb. x, 37. Let us continue to keep all the commandments and abide in him, that when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. John ii, 28. Be ye also patient, stablish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. James v, 8.” Sister L. S. Cole writes from Eaton Rapids, Mich.: “Some time has elapsed since I first felt a desire to write a few lines for the Review. My greatest comfort here below is in seeking the truth, and striving to keep the commandments, and do the whole will of God. I have been trying to consecrate self, and all, upon the altar, for some time past, but fear that the surrender has not been complete, or faith would ere this have done its work, and Christ within, the hope of glory, would have reigned in my heart without a rival. Not far from ten years ago I embraced the Advent faith, and soon (although brought up a Friend) desired baptism; but the way has not been opened as yet for the ordinance, and so I remain; and I have many times thought that there was wisdom in this also, more especially since most of the class with whom I embraced the Advent faith have become no-Sabbath in belief. One year ago last winter I commenced keeping the Sabbath, without any near to join with me. Many about here believe it to be the right day, but for the most of them it is not yet convenient to keep it. Would it be practicable for the tent to come this way, or if not, for some of the traveling preachers to come and tell us the truth? Should they come I want to obey the command of baptism. How glad would I be to join with the brethren and sisters in worshiping God, but of this privilege I am now deprived. Still I am not without courage, or comfort, and soon expect to meet them where congregations ne'er break up, and Sabbaths have no end.” Sister N. Lowell writes from Washington, N. H. “I love all who believe the present truth and keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus. I have the Review to read, and am much interested in the truths it contains, and with the impressive and heart-cheering letters and communications of the brethren and sisters, with which it is filled. I have often felt a desire to speak through the Review, but have neglected it, partly on account of poor health, and because I thought I could not edify any one; but we read that they that feared the Lord spake often one to another, and the Lord hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. I now feel it my duty to give in my testimony, feeble though it be, on the side of truth. If we cannot write or talk as well as some, we have all something to do to be prepared to meet the Lord. Time is short. We must not be idle. If we have but one talent let us improve upon that, lest it be taken from us. Our Saviour says, He that confesses me before men, him will I also confess before my Father and the holy angels. I am not ashamed to confess him before the world. I am not ashamed to own my Lord, or to defend his cause. He has done so much for me I have great cause to love him more than all this world. He is the chiefest among ten thousand, and the one altogether lovely. I desire to keep all God's commandments and have the faith of Jesus, which I think is to believe in him, and live up to all his requirements. One is to love God with all our heart, and our neighbor as ourselves. Our Saviour says, This is my commandment, that ye love one another as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this: that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. “I have been a believer in the advent doctrine ever since 1848, and have been striving to keep the Sabbath of the Lord about seven years. I firmly believe that the last message of mercy is now being proclaimed to the world, and my prayer is that many may be brought out by it into the truth. I feel to praise the Lord, and to rejoice greatly that he has been so merciful to us, as to lead my youngest daughter and her husband into the truth, and give them willing minds to come out from the world and keep the true Sabbath. I feel that my prayers have been answered in their behalf. My heart would rejoice to see more of my friends led by the Spirit of God into the truth and prepared to meet the Lord when he comes.” Sister L. C. Hutchins writes from Ganges, Mich.: “The Lord called me out of the world before I embraced the third angel's message, or had heard it. I had long felt that I needed a deeper work of grace in my heart. About five years since I had been reading works upon the doctrine of sanctification left by one of our ministers, and was led to see the scripturalness of the doctrine, and how far short, not only the professing world came of that holiness without which none shall see the Lord, but how far I myself was. I had ever been singular in my profession and dress, but I felt that God would have a peculiar people, zealous of good works, and if I would be one, I must arise and shake off worldliness. The following winter Bro. Cornell lectured at Newark. I thought it my duty to prove all things, and hold fast that which is good; and so I read the publications, and was convicted and convinced, but waited for others before I avowed my convictions to any one. Meanwhile the Spirit pressed home to my heart the question, Will you keep the Sabbath of the Lord? Will you call it a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable? I resisted, read and reflected upon the claims of the first day. Nearly a year passed in this manner, when ill health seemed to warn me to 'set my house in order,' and I set about the work in earnest. I re-read the publications and laid them aside and took the Bible, determined to disprove them if they were untrue, or receive them if true. Lest I should be found violating God's command I set apart the seventh day for the purpose of investigating. While I was halting between two opinions, dreading and unwilling to proceed alone, and feeling that woe was me if I tarried, unable to pray, because the conflict was renewed, and God's face was hid from me—my sister, Miss A. C. Hudson, came to me; when I presented my views and resolution to devote the seventh day to the investigation of its claims, she joined me; and we have been since endeavoring to walk in all the commandments of the Lord, blameless. I feel that God has been very merciful in giving me some one to go with me, and not requiring me to go alone. My prayer is that God will speed on the message, that the church may arise and come up to the standard of the Lord. “I have thought much lately of the question in Solomon's Song, ‘Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon the arm of her beloved, clear as the sun, fair as the moon, and terrible as an army with banners?’ Surely such will the church be when she truly keeps the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. The world seem to shun meeting and conversing with the commandment-keepers. After one or two conversations they will keep aloof and try to injure by circulating false reports, &c. &c. I have thought that those who can present scripture for all they say are indeed prepared as an army with banners. “I am highly interested in Nos. 1 & 2, Vol. 16, of Review. Think them exactly what is needed by the circumstances; but find when I present the truth, that it seems generally to be only ‘for a witness.’ Yet I will try to labor on content, if at eventide I may receive a penny.” Bro. B. McCormic writes from Sumner, Wis.: “I have just returned from a visit in Bad Axe Co., Wis. Found a number of Adventists that had been brought out under the preaching of Elders Sheldon and Higgins. They were ignorant of our position on the law and Sabbath. Through the solicitation of friends we gave two lectures on the law and Sabbath, which we think had a good effect. One young man walked eight miles after performing his day's work to attend one of the lectures which was on third-day evening; he manifested much interest, said he was surprised to see the amount of evidence we had in favor of the Sabbath, subscribed for the Review and declared his intention to give the subject a thorough investigation. We gave him what books we had, together with our Bible Student's Assistant, posted him on the no-law and no-Sabbath heresy, as well as we could, and left him with the conviction that he would come out on the Lord's side, and keep his holy Sabbath. Some others seemed to be convinced. Two more subscribed for the Review. We think there is as good an opening for a tent-meeting in that Co. as in any part of the State. Could not the Wis. tent go there this summer? If any of the messengers should pass through that part of the State, inquire at Viroqua, which is the county seat, for C. W. Pitcher, or R. Lamb, Sumner, Wis.” Sister S. Lyon writes from Elgin, Iowa: “It cheers my heart when I read the welcome-messages contained in the Review from those of like precious faith. Although we never have seen each other's faces, yet we are brought nigh by the blood of Christ, which cleanses from all unrighteousness and the effects of the traditions that have been handed down to us from the Roman apostasy. I praise the Lord that the light of present truth ever dawned upon my dark mind. It is a little over two years since I commenced keeping the Sabbath; and my peace has been like a river, and I can say with the psalmist, ‘O how love I thy law; it is my meditation all the day. My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness. Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts. Great peace have they that love thy law; and nothing shall offend them.’ “I will once more raise the Macedonian cry; Will any one of the messengers of present truth come into this part of the moral vineyard of the Lord. Will not the Iowa tent come to Elgin in its travels in Northern Iowa? I believe there are many honest souls here who will receive the truth with joy. Some here are waiting for some one to come this way to administer the ordinance of baptism. The Review is all the preaching we ever have here. O may the loud voice of the third angel's message reach every honest heart here and elsewhere, is my prayer. Once more I ask, Will not some of the ministering brethren come this way, that the few who are here may be formed into a society, that our united efforts may be blessed by the Author of all good. “P. S. Can any of the lovers of present truth send me some second hand books or papers to distribute among my neighbors. Direct to Samantha Lyon, Elgin, Fayette Co., Iowa.” I'LL lift mine eyes unto the hills,
Whence help will soon descend;
The Lord that made the heaven and earth,
Is able to defend. He's willing too, he'll never let
Thy foot be moved astray:
And since he never slumbers, he
Can keep thee night and day. The Lord preserves his people, in
His shade they're all secure,
The sun nor moon nor all beside,
Can ever harm them there. He'll shield thee well from every ill,
Thy soul he'll keep from sin,
From this time forth thy goings out
And all thy comings in. M. E. S. MEETINGS IN GREENFIELD, N. Y.
By A. S. Hutchins
DEAR BRO. SMITH: Agreeably to request, Bro. Sperry and myself attended the meeting at the dedication of the house of worship in this place, June 8-10. This house was built by a sister (a widow), who felt that God desired a house here for the benefit of his people and for the accommodation of such as have a desire to hear his word preached. It is plain and convenient, and of suitable size for this place. At an early hour the first day of the meeting, the house was well filled with attentive hearers. The next day (Sabbath) we were happily surprised and greatly encouraged to find our congregation so large, and manifesting so much interest in the unpopular truths of God’s word. First-day again the house was crowded. On Sabbath morning our hearts were rejoiced to meet Bro. and sister Wheeler, who were on their eastern tour. Second-day morning Bro. and sister Sperry left for the central part of the State. Bro. and sister W. remained with us one week longer and aided much in presenting the solemn, sacred truths of the last message of mercy. The last three weeks I have been alone doing what I could in my feeble state of health, in preaching and visiting from house to house. And I think I may safely say the interest in this section has gradually increased to the present. Congregations on first-days have been as large as could have been expected, considering the number of Sunday-schools, prayer-meetings, and preaching by different denominations near us. One week ago last Sabbath, three confessed the Bible Sabbath, and resolved to keep it hereafter. Others are almost persuaded to keep it, while more are quite interested in the meetings and the word spoken. While the church here, hitherto scattered and much discouraged, seem to manifest an interest to arise with the rising and spreading message of mercy. O may the Lord give them the decision of character and grace requisite to stand in this evil time. Four have followed the example of their Lord in the ordinance of baptism. I would not here be understood that we have no opposition, for the opposing spirit with some moves briskly. And if they can say here, as a Methodist said in Vt., “I enjoy my mind first rate when I oppose you” (or equivalent to this), I think I shall leave some of this people in a very happy frame of mind. May the Lord grant that we may all have “another spirit,” one which yields peace and happiness by following him fully, and that we may be brought into the land of promise and possess it forever and ever. To-morrow, if the Lord will, I leave for Jamaica, Vt.
A. S. HUTCHINS. P. S. The church hope to see Bro. and Sr. Wheeler here on their return.
A. S. H.