DEAR BRO. WHITE:—Brn. Sperry and Buck have been laboring in this vicinity, and I trust their faithful labors will long be remembered by those who are trying to keep the commandments of God. I truly thank God for the third angel’s message, and I rejoice much to hear from the saints scattered abroad. May the Lord help us all to be faithful, that at last we may receive a crown of glory, which the righteous Judge will give the faithful at his coming. We have many trials to pass through; but we have the blessed promise that we shall not be tempted above that we are able to bear. Then let us go on in the strength of the Lord: for victory will turn on Zion’s side. Let us do the best we can to sustain this glorious cause of present truth. The solemn time in which we live calls for much self-denial. I wish, for one, to live more of a self-denying life, that I may better imitate the Great Pattern. Pray for me and the remnant in Plattsburg. Though despised by this world, soon shall we gain the victory over the beast and his image, and stand upon Mount Zion, to sing the song that no man could learn but those who were redeemed from among men. O glorious thought! Shall I be there with that happy number who shall shout victory on the sea of glass. We have but little time to work for God, and prepare for the last conflict. We need to have on the whole armor and fight manfully the fight of faith, that we may be accounted worthy to escape all that is coming on the earth and stand before the Son of man.
Your unworthy brother striving for the Kingdom.
MOSES MOTT
Plattsburg, N. Y., Feb. 15th, 1854.
COMMUNICATIONS.
By Albert Belden
As Communications of esteemed Brethren sometimes contain expressions which we choose not to use, and sentiments which we would not advance, we would say, that we are not responsible for what appears under this head.
From Bro. Belden.
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—I fear that some of our dear brethren are in danger of being drawn into the snare and condemnation of the Devil, by the false reformations that are going on around us. A great work is now going forward here in Berlin and Kensington, Ct., among the Methodists and Congregationalists. Meetings have been held by day and by night for weeks, and large numbers are being gathered in.
Some are reasoning and doubting about this so-called work of God, feeling unprepared to deny that it is such; others believe there are true converts among them; some think they have nothing to do there; others have a mind to go and see; and a few take a firm stand against it as the work of Satan: thus I believe.
I believe the churches, as bodies, have fallen to rise no more, for the reason that they have rejected the testimony of Jesus in relation to his second coming; and he that will not hear this Prophet shall be cut off from his (the Lord's) people. Because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest unto me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. Hos. iv, 6. 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 begotten strange children: now shall a month devour them with their portions. Hos. v, 6, 7. Thus we see that this is a deceptive work.
And again: Isa. xvii, 10. Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength, therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants and set it with strange slips, &c. From what follows in this connection we learn that this strange work is near the harvest, and the rush of nations, when they shall become as the chaff of the mountains before the wind.
As we come into the New Testament, this work of deception is clearly brought to view and described, that God's people may not be deceived by it. In 2 Thess. ii, we find Paul instructing his brethren at what point of time they might expect their Lord to come; that it was to be after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness on them that perish: because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved. By receiving the truth then we are saved, and for rejecting it, they are rejected of God, and left to strong delusions, that they should believe a lie. Here then is something that compares with Hosea.
Again: 1 Tim. iii, 13. Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. Thus we see there is a class of teachers, deceived and deceiving others also. 2 Pet. ii, 1. But there were false prophets also among the people even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them. Then here is the same class that Hosea and Paul have spoken of, who rejected and denied the truth, and in so doing have denied the Lord; for Jesus says, I am the truth and the light; and they shall bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. If we will open our eyes can we not see that there is a perfect fulfillment of these things in our day. We are shown that it is at a time when their destruction is right upon them, and their judgment does not linger. Compare this with 1 Thess. v, 1-3. Here the same class are evidently referred to, who raise the cry of peace and safety, with which the majority are lulled to sleep and made to rest down upon a false hope of security; but sudden destruction is to come upon them, from which there is to be no escape. Jer. vi, 14, is to the point. It shows where the deception lies: in not declaring the truth as to their real and true position; but in dealing falsely, and healing the hurt, or wound, slightly, saying peace, peace, when there is no peace.
Jude in speaking of the same class, calls them the ungodly, and refers to them as trees whose fruit withers, without fruit; that is, their converts soon wither away and bear no fruit. A month devours them, a little while and they are gone: the stump from which they sprung being twice dead and plucked up by the roots. Now I would ask, Can any living sprout come from a tree thus dealt with? plucked up by the roots and twice dead: rejected of God and forsaken of him because they have rejected the truth, the fountain of living waters.
Satan is doing up his last work of deception; and may it not be expected that all the wonders of past ages will be exhibited before his final work closes. May the Lord help us to gird on the whole armor, that we may stand against the wiles of the Devil, and be able to discern between the righteous and the wicked, between them that serve God and them that serve him not; that we may escape all those things that are coming on the earth, and be prepared to stand before the Son of man at his appearing.
ALBERT BELDEN.
Kensington, Ct., Feb. 14th, 1854.
Trials, Restoration, and Christ’s Soon Coming
By Henry Emmons
From Bro. Emmons.
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—Respecting the little church here, I would say that the brethren have hired a large room in Chapman Hall, where we meet on God's Holy Sabbath. We have had some very sharp trials, but the little remnant are striving to be owned by our Elder Brother, and are waiting his return from heaven.
Your weekly visitor is quite refreshing to the dear saints here and abroad. The union of the real children here is growing stronger, and we should be very glad to have some of the traveling brethren come this way. The New Time people are trying to uproot the old land-marks of 1843-4. I heard one preacher say that the Midnight-Cry was only a false alarm; but the old land-marks can no more be moved, than the dashing waves of the ocean can move the massive rocks.
The aged pilgrim (of almost eighty years) who writes the above, has great reason to praise and bless his Heavenly Father for many, very many temporal mercies he has received, and special deliverances from dangers and temptations to evil; and also for the restoration of my eye-sight, having had two cataracts on both my eyes for some years. One of them after laying it before the Lord I consented to have an operation on in the presence of five or six physicians and it terminated well. In two or three days I could see plainly. Praise the Lord! The soon coming of Christ cheers my soul: for then if faithful, I shall see my dear Jesus, the 144000, and the untold millions who now sleep in the bosom of the earth. O glorious resurrection! Dear children, when you are tried with poverty, sickness or pain, and the loss of dear friends, remember these former things will soon be forgotten.
Yours in the Blessed Hope. HENRY EMMONS.
Boston, Mass., Feb. 19th, 1854.
Embracing Present Truth and the Sabbath
By W. J. Susk
From Bro. Susk.
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—It is with thrilling interest, that I reflect upon the present truth, by which God has brought me and my companion to see the necessity of our entire and immediate submission to his will and requirements. We are endeavoring to keep the Sabbath, although there are many to oppose, who set at naught the counsels of the Most High; yet with all the conflicting interests with which we are surrounded, God's truth stands out preeminently sublime, unshaken and unmoved, while the thick storms are gathering with blackness around the moral horizon, predictive of some future calamity, which is just about to break upon an ungodly world. May God in mercy protect his dear children from the impending storm, and fiery trials that are already beginning to deluge the earth. God will deliver his people. He will stand by them in the time of peril; for in the last days, perilous times shall come; but God has promised to deliver his children out of trouble, those that cease to worship the beast, and get rid of his mark, and the number of his name, shall soon, yea, very soon triumph over all the persecuting powers of the man of sin, and be fully prepared, by grace divine, to stand upon the sea of glass having the harps of God.
It has been but a few weeks since we had the privilege of listening to the third angel's message, and many other important truths connected with it. I had never heard a sermon on the subject of the Sanctuary or the law until presented by Bro. Case. Joy penetrated the soul, when the result of my investigations led me to say, that I would keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. There is a beauty and efficacy in truth, that throws a halo of pure delight and joy around every believers heart. There are four in this place beside myself and family who are endeavoring to keep the Sabbath according to the commandment. May God in his infinite mercy strengthen and protect the little band in Goodrich. May light from God's eternal truth brighten our pathway in our onward course to the City, that we, with all the sanctified of the Lord may gain a permanent and complete victory over the beast, his image, his mark, and the number of his name, that we may be numbered with the hundred and forty and four thousand, who have the seal of God in their foreheads, and are ready to meet Christ at his coming; for yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
Yours in the truth.
W. J. SUSK.
Goodrich, Feb. 14th, 1854.
GOOD ADVICE.
The following good advice is found at the close of one of the works of Dr. Taylor of Norwich, England. He says:—
"If in perusing this book you have discovered any truth you did not before understand, it is my earnest request, you would rather lay it up in your heart for your own use, than make it the subject of contention and strife, the fuel of party zeal, or the occasion of despising or censuring those who do not yet see it. And if you would enter into discourse about it, let it be with all moderation and coolness on your part; in the spirit of peace and mutual forbearance. Therefore never converse upon this, or any other point, with an angry man. Passion and heat blind the judgment: nor with a Bigot, who is determined for a scheme, and resolved to open his eyes to no further evidence. Whenever anger and bigotry appear in a conversation already begun, break it off; for, you cannot proceed to any good purpose, and will be in danger of catching a spirit which is quite contrary to the Gospel. Hold the Truth in Love. Fear God, and keep his commandments—despise [set light by] earthly things—restrain and regulate your passions—be constant in reading the Scriptures; fervent in prayer to God; kind and compassionate to all men; punctual and cheerful in every duty; humble in all your deportment; upright and honest in all your dealings; temperate and sober in all your enjoyments; patient under all afflictions; zealous in every good work; then with joy look for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, for he will assuredly appear to your everlasting salvation."
To Correspondents.
By Editor
1. In writing to this Office, let everything of a business nature be put on a part of the sheet by itself, or on a separate sheet, so as not to be mixed up with other matters.
2. Be careful to write all names of persons and places, plainly and distinctly.
3. In all cases give the name of the Post Office, County and State. When a Town or Village is called by one name, and the Post Office by another, be sure to give the name of the Post Office.
4. When the direction of a paper is to be changed, do not forget to name the Office to which it has been sent.
5. Let everything be stated explicitly, and in as few words as will express the writer's meaning.
6. In writing texts of scripture, be sure to copy from the Bible correctly. It is no small sin to carelessly mangle the Word of God, as some do.
If the above directions are complied with, we shall be saved much time and perplexity, and be less liable to mistakes in transacting the business of the Office.
At Home.
By Editor
We reached home the 21st, after an absence of 20 days, and found all usually well, excepting Bro. Masten, who is fast sinking with consumption. His hope in God is sure and steadfast. We found the business of the Office in an encouraging condition. Our short tour was full of interest, especially our meetings at Lincklaen. We confidently expect the cause to rise in Central and Western New York. Thank God for what he is doing for his people. We should be exceeding ungrateful not to praise him for what he has done for us. Poor health has been our greatest discouragement for the last six years. We are now able to speak twice a day from one to two hours in length, with ease. While calls for lectures increase, we cannot remain at home long.
Youth's Instructor.
By Editor
THE March number of this little sheet published at this Office, and edited by Miss Anna White, is just issued. We recommend it to our readers, for the use of their children, as a highly interesting and useful paper. It is strictly religious, free from the common trash and nonsense that too often finds a place in such papers.
Reader, have you children to train for heaven? You might find the INSTRUCTOR an important assistant in this work, and a blessing to your family. And while you need the help of the INSTRUCTOR, it needs your help as a subscriber. Send in your names, friends, and when convenient, the small sum of 25 cents in money or postage stamps, and we will send you the INSTRUCTOR one year in return.
New Tract.
By Editor
"HISTORY OF THE SABBATH" is the title of a Tract of 40 pages just published. It is No. 2 of the contemplated series of "Advent and Sabbath Tracts." Price $2 per 100—3 cents single copy.
Holding Meetings
By Editor
We now design holding meetings at Olcott, Orangeport, Barre and Mill Grove, soon. Will the brethren in all those places inform us immediately when it will be most convenient for us to meet with them. ED.
FOREIGN NEWS.
By Editor
THAT the present movements of the nations of Europe have an important bearing on the position of those who hold that Rev. vii, 1-3; xi, 15-19; xiv, 9-12, are having a partial fulfillment, we have no doubt. But, just what that bearing is, has been our anxiety to determine. The many speculative notions relative to the fulfillment of prophecy in the movements of Russia and other European nations, which have been presented by some professed Advent believers for the past six years, have been indeed disgusting, and calculated to destroy consistent faith. Of past fulfillment of prophecy we may speak with positiveness; but of the future, at least as far as it relates to the manner in which the preparatory scenes of the coming of the Son of man are to occur, it becomes those who are watching the signs of the times to speak with carefulness.
We have been solicited to give place in the REVIEW for the foreign news; but have hesitated to do so till it should be sustained and fully established weekly, and we first set before our readers our position relative to what bearing the movements of the nations of Europe have on the fulfillment of prophecy. There is no doubt remaining as to the REVIEW being sustained weekly. Our readers will see to this. We therefore, design hereafter to state our position, and give a careful selection from the foreign news, of all those important facts relative to the movements of the angry nations. We have space this week for only the following from the New York Tribune.
THE U. S. Mail steamer Baltic, from Liverpool Wednesday, February 8, arrived at this port on Monday morning at about 3 o'clock.
Intelligence from the seat of war indicates that important operations are at hand, but the news of the most vital consequence is the open preparation for war made by England and France. The following debate in the British Parliament, gives a view of the present position of affairs, and to which little can be added.
The Russian Ministers have left London and Paris, and instructions have been sent to the French and English Embassadors to withdraw from St. Petersburg. The Czar's last proposals are finally rejected, and negotiations are broken off. Count Orloff's Mission has failed.
GREAT BRITAIN.—The Russian Minister is understood to have withdrawn from London, and, in the meantime, will await, at Darmstadt, further orders from his government. In the House of Lords, on Monday 6th, the Marquis of Clanricarde brought forward his motion, "To call the attention of the House to the state of the country with relation to the question of peace and war."
FRANCE.—M. Kisscleff, Russian Embassador, left Paris on Monday evening the 6th, for Germany. At a Council held at the Tuileries, the Emperor strongly expressed the necessity, now that the negotiations are broken off, to prepare with vigor for war. In most departments of the military service, preparations are ordered to continue night and day. Immense orders for ammunition, arms and accoutrements are being executed with all haste, and the assembling, organizing and inspecting of troops goes on ceaselessly. Gen. Pelissier is selecting 20,000 picked men of the army of Africa, and 60,000 is set down as the amount of the French contingent. All might be ready for embarkation in one week. Candia was proposed as a rendezvous, but being too distant from Turkey, the island of Mitylene will probably be the chief depot. Great activity also prevails in the naval department. At Brest four sailing ships will be ready in a short time, and two steamers are only awaiting their engines. Levies of seamen arrive from all parts. The ocean squadron will soon be ready to sail, and the squadron of reserve be in a condition to re-enforce them, if necessary. At Toulon the ships-of-the-line Trident and Ville de Marseilles have been put in commission, and in about six weeks six other sail-of-the-line and a 60 gun frigate will be ready for active service. Prince Napoleon has returned to Paris from his mission to Belgium. The meeting of the Senate is deferred from the 27th of Feb. to the 2d of March.
THREE REGRETS.
"I regret that John Huss was not burned sooner than he was. "I regret that Luther was not punished in the same way. "And I regret that there was not found at that time a king wise enough to organize a crusade against Protestantism."
So writes the editor of the leading Catholic Journal in Europe, the Universe, and just now the special protege of Pius the Ninth. These amiable gentlemen certainly need the sympathy of all the faithful. They would do something worthy of Hildebrand, but they can't. One cannot but think of Bunyan's poor Giant Pope in the cave, growling at the pilgrims as they pass on to the city of God, but unable to do more. The old nature remains, the real genuine love of blood and bones; but alas! the tooth and claws, how time has played the mischief with them!—Cosmopolitan.
Appointments.
By Joseph Bates
We will meet with the brethren at Clarkson, Sabbath, March 4th, and will speak to the people on the subject of Spirit Manifestations, on First-day, if some convenient place can be obtained.
PROVIDENCE permitting there will be a Conference of three days at Plumb River, Jo Daviess Co., Ill., commencing March 10th, at 2 o'clock P. M., and continue over the Sabbath into the evening of the 12th. The brethren coming on the Galena and Chicago Union R. R., will stop at Nora, four miles east of the terminus of the road, and six mile north-east of Brn. S. Gillett and W. Bates', via Green Vale P. O. Nora is sixteen miles north-east of Plumb River.
If any of the Sabbath brethren in this region wish for a general meeting, if they will give me notice by the 10th of March, I will endeavor to serve them if it is practicable.
My Post Office address for the present will be Green Vale Jo Daviess Co., Ill., care of Wm. Bates. JOSEPH BATES.
Publications.
By Editor
THE Sanctuary and Twenty-three Hundred Days—76 pages—price 7 cents—postage 1 cent.
Review of O. R. L. Crozier on the Sabbath—48 pages—price 5 cents—postage 1 cent.
A Refutation of the Claims of Sunday-keeping to Divine Authority; also, a lengthy extract from the History of the Sabbath—40 pages—price 4 cents—postage 1 cent.
Signs of the Times—124 pages—price 8 cents.
Our collection of Advent and Sabbath Hymns—144 pages—price 30 cents—postage 5 cents.
Time and Prophecy—a Poem—120 pages, well bound—price 25 cents—postage 5 cents.
A Word for the Sabbath—a Poem—price 6 cents.
The First Day of the Week Not the Sabbath—32 pages—price 3 cents—postage 1 cent.
Volume I, II and III of the REVIEW, bound in paper covers—price 40 cents for Vol. I and II, and 80 cents for Vol. III.
Youth's Instructor, Vol. I, in paper covers—price 25 cents.
THE CHART—A Pictorial Illustration of the Visions of Daniel and John and their Chronology—price $2.
Tracts of 16 pages each can be sent by mail for one half cent an ounce, in packages not less than 8 ounces. We will send 50 and pay the postage, to one address for 50 cents.
A G E N T S.
MAINE. | S. Willey, Wheelock
N. N. Lunt, Portland. | CONNECTICUT.
S. W. Flanders, Canaan. | E. H. Chamberlain, Md'town.
Cyprian Stevens, Paris. | A. Belden, Kensington.
S. Howland, Topsham. | NEW YORK.
W. T. Hanniford, Orrington. | J. Byington, Buck's Bridge.
Wm. Bryant, Wilton. | A. Ross, Caughdenoy.
NEW HAMPSHIRE. | David Upson, Moreland.
J. Stowell, Washington. | R. F. Cottrell, Mill Grove.
S. Bunnel, Claremont. | John Wager, Orangeport.
MASSACHUSETTS. | L. Carpenter, Oswego.
O. Nichols, Dorchester. | A. H. Robinson, Sandy Creek.
O. Davis, N. Fairhaven. | E. A. Poole, Lincklaen.
L. Paine, Ware. | J. A. Loughhead, Elmira.
Wm. Saxby, Springfield. | John Hamilton, Fredonia.
VERMONT. | MICHIGAN.
R. Loveland, Johnson. | Albert Avery, Locke.
H. Bingham, Morristown. | Ira Gardner, Vergennes.
S. H. Peck, Wolcott. | David Hewett, Battle Creek.
Lewis Bean, Hardwick. | C. S. Glover, Sylvan.
H. A. Churchill, Stowe. | A. B. Pearsall, Grand Rapids.
E. P. Butler, Waterbury. | A. A. Dodge, Jackson.
Josiah Hart, Northfield. | Wm. M. Smith, "
R. G. Lockwood, Waitsfield. | PENNSYLVANIA.
W. Morse, East Bethel. | M. L. Dean, Ulysses
L. Titus, E. Charleton. | RHODE ISLAND.
Alonzo Lee, Derby Line. | Ransom Hicks, Providence.
E. Everts, Vergennes. | CANADA EAST.
H. Gardner, Panton. | B. Hills, Melbourne.
Business.
By Editor
SIMEON READ. (Soriba Corners.)—The REVIEW has been sent to your address regularly.
G. W. HOLT.—The REVIEW has been sent regularly to John W. West.
A. B. PEARSALL.—We sent you two morocco-bound books a few weeks since. Have you received them?
M. MOTT.—Your letter contained only a one dollar bill, and 50 cents worth of postage stamps.
W. J. SUSK.—We mailed you a Chart the 22d.
C. CORWIN.—We mailed you a Chart the 23d.
M. S. AVERY.—Please state to what use we shall put the money you sent.
Letters.
By Editor
D. Perry, S. W. Rhodes, E. J. Paine, H. Barringer.
Receipts.
J. Craigue, J. Hakes, W. Crumb, A. Coon, J. Crandall, T. Wright, S. P. Swan, E. D. Cook, M. Rock, H. W. Chapin, each $1,00.
S. Swan, H. Emmons, W. H. Rapp, E. A. Ford, Wm. Briggs, A. P. H. Kelsey, M. E. Cornell, each $2,00. J. M. Miller, E. S. Lewis, each $3,00. I. Abbey, A. E. Gridley, each $5,00. W. I. Susk, E. Scoville, G. Hoxsey, I. Burdick, O. A. Wheeler, each $1,50.
J. P. Rathbun $1,93. J. W. Marsh $2,50. H. Hilliard $1,75. C. Corwin $2,46.