p. 148 | Review and Herald, Vol. 7, No. 19. (2/7/1856)

"The Letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth Life."

By John Byington

Bro. Smith:—It seems necessary at this time to urge the people of God to the work of keeping all the commandments of the Lord. I see it stated in the Review that our Brn. are rising in spirituality. It may be of some importance not only to look at the letter, but also the spirituality of all the commandments. I have no doubt but we might so observe the letter as in the sight of men to appear to keep them, and in the sight of God at the same time be transgressors. I once heard an individual in telling his experience say, while under conviction, he heard a sermon in which the preacher attempted to prove from the word of God that all men had been guilty of breaking all the ten commandments. The man thought he would fail in the attempt, but after hearing him through he had to admit he had proved his point and he found himself a guilty sinner before God.

This will appear when we see that God's law is designed to reach the thoughts, motives and intents of the heart. A few passages of scripture will make this clear. 1 John iii, 15. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer. Matt. v, 28. But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. Col. iii, 5. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

These passages show that while these things are in the heart, though at the time they may not be acted out in life, the individual is guilty before God. Though we may not be at work with our hands on the Sabbath, yet we may be talking of worldly matters, laying plans in our minds for worldly business, and thus in the sight of men be Sabbath-keepers, but in the sight of God be Sabbath-breakers.

There is a remedy that will make the heart right. While we reject the Spiritualism of the day, or Satan's work, still we believe man is susceptible of the direct influence of the Holy Spirit; and unless the Spirit of God dwell in us we cannot keep our minds from evil. We then should pray much that God may cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

John Byington.

Buck's Bridge, Jan. 25th, 1856.

THE WORD.

By James White

THE following communication is from an esteemed friend. We give it entire, in a form most convenient for our reply.

M. H. "Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light unto my path." Such was the language of the Psalmist. It is known to all that the use of a lamp or candle is to enlighten or to give light. But in order to receive any benefit from the lamp, its rays must reach us. So it is with the lamp of the word; we must possess a teachable spirit in order to be benefited by its light. We must be willing to believe and embrace whatever it teaches, regardless of our pre-conceived ideas of truth."

REPLY. With the above we fully agree, and would rejoice to see such sentiments written upon the hearts of all professing to be Bible Christians. How true the remark, "In order to receive any benefit from the lamp, its rays must reach us." Many see much light at a distance in the future, but little where they now walk. The mind and interest is taken from present truth and present duty, to dwell upon the future age. Says David, "Thy word is a lamp to my feet." As a burning-lamp to our feet, God's word shines the brightest always on our present position. And it is Satan's object to attract the mind to some false light in the future, and cause us while running after that, to stumble and fall. The sad experience of hundreds who have embraced what is called the age to come, to the rejection of the present truth verifies the above.

M. H. "Why has the church fallen into so many errors since the days of the apostles? Is it not because she has not walked in the light of the word? Surely it is not because the Bible or its Author changes. No, they are alike unchangeable. But frail, erring mortals, refuse to be guided by its light, seeking for counsel to other sources for light and wisdom. Are we even now walking in this light? It is to be feared that many of us are unshrouded in error's night, and why is this but because we do not search the Scriptures? And if we do, is it not rather to seek for proof to substantiate our peculiar theories, than to find what they teach? I fear it is even so. Brother, friend, is not this fully unbecoming the follower of Christ? He has commanded us to 'search the scriptures.'"

REPLY. We do well to go back to the days of the apostles, and learn from those who received the gospel from Christ in its simplicity and purity. Learn from the teachings and acts of the apostles, then come along down through the history of the church, and we may learn the causes why so many errors have come into the church. If the Word had been preached, as the apostles preached it, and obeyed, as the apostolic church obeyed it, there errors would have been kept out. And mark the means employed in the correction and guidance of Christ's earliest witnesses. They were not left alone with the written word, without the Holy Spirit, and the gifts. Campbellism was not known among them.

The "mystery of iniquity" began to work in the church in Paul's day. It finally crowded out the simplicity

of the gospel, and corrupted the doctrine of Christ, and the church went into the wilderness. Martin Luther, and other reformers, arose in the strength of God, and with the Word and Spirit, made mighty strides in the Reformation. The greatest fault we can find in the Reformation is, the Reformers stopped reforming. Had they gone on, and onward, till they had left the last vestige of Papacy behind, such as natural immortality, sprinkling, the trinity, and Sunday-keeping, the church would now be free from her unscriptural errors.

But will the letter of the Word alone, do this work? Look at the sect called Campbellites, who have selected the lovely name of Disciples, and who profess to follow the Word most strictly, but reject the influence of the Holy Spirit and the gifts. They have the truth on many points, but perhaps no class are farther from the truth in regard to the Law of God, or who possess a spirit more unworthy the name, Disciple, (learner,) than they. They boast of their knowledge of Bible truth, and are puffed up, as if they had reached the very summit of divine truth.

Look at the different classes of those who receive the title of Adventists. Perhaps no people have ever arisen who have been more cut off from man's wisdom than they. But losing the spirit of their mission and work, and rejecting, instead of seeking to restore, the gifts, they have been left to follow human reason in searching the Word, and it is a fact that there is more confusion of sentiment among them, more of Babylon, than in any other sect under heaven. We have the course of these before us, and the result of their course thus far. What have we to hope for the result of such a course in the future? As we have looked at these, and seen their case growing more and more hopeless, we have become discouraged for them. As far as they adhere to the Word, we bid them God speed. Without the Word we are all lost. But to reject the gifts and the teachings of the Holy Spirit, it is to reject a portion of the Word, put out our light, and call down the frown of Him who set them in the church. Such remind us of those "virgins which took their lamps (the Word) and took no oil with them. Matt. xxv.

The means that Heaven devised for the unity of the church, and for her purity in life and doctrine, are ample. If they had been complied with, the church would have remained pure. We give one testimony to the point, and shall refer to others.

"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." Eph. iv, 11-16.

God has set gifts in the Gospel Church, [Mark xvi, 15-20; Acts ii, 1-4; 1 Cor. xii, 27-31; Eph. iv, 11-16.] and there is not a shade of scripture proof that they were given for a limited period in the gospel age, to be removed; but otherwise, they were given for the perfecting of the saints, [Eph. iv.] and were to remain till the Church should be perfected. And more, the prophecy of Joel, quoted by Peter, [Joel ii, 28-32; Acts ii, 1-22,] furnishes sufficient grounds for faith that in the "last days the gifts will be restored to a living, pure church, who share the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit.

M. H. "Many are the false steps that we as a people have taken. And why is it but because we have been following other teachers, and departing from the simple teachings of the word. Are there not now many of us advocating theories that are not taught in the Bible? Yes, theories which are contrary to sound doctrine. See with what tenacity we advocated 6 o'clock as the time to commence the day. Was it because the Bible taught it? And are we not advocating other theories which are as contrary to the light of the lamp as that was? I fear so. Some of the brethren are, I fear, walking in paths which are not lighted by the lamp of truth."

REPLY. It is doubtless true that some have taken many false steps, and continue to do so, and will have to retrace them sooner or later; but that this is the case with us as a people, we do not believe. We believe that as a general thing, our brethren have embraced the truth for the truth's sake. The REVIEW and its friends have never claimed infallibility; but have had, and still have, unbounded confidence in the work of God, under the third message, and that whatever errors the body might have, God would in his own time correct.

That some are 'departing from the simple teachings of the Word,' in regard to our present position and present duty, and are forming theories of the future upon unfulfilled prophecies, is true. But that the body have in any way left the plain teachings of the Holy Scriptures is not true. Never were the Holy Scriptures prized by the remnant as now. When the Bible testimony for commencing the day at sunset was presented in as clear light as other subjects have been presented in the REVIEW they gladly embraced it. And we believe they would change on other points of their faith if they could see good reason to do so from the Scriptures. But to change for the sake of having something new, or fall under an excitement, gotten up by prejudice, and act more from humor than reason and religion, and change views hastily on fundamental truth, and turn a complete religious summerset, we would not recommend any one to do. It reminds us of Jude's illustration of certain ones: 'Clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars,' &c.

But who have 'tenaciously advocated 6 o'clock as the time to commence the day?' Bro. Bates presented the strength of evidence for 6 o'clock at an early date, and the few then keeping the Sabbath conscientiously embraced it, as the best light they had on the subject. It was published in the REVIEW. We think that but two persons have ever advocated 6 o'clock time in the REVIEW, they occupying but little space. However true this may be of some, it is not true in regard to the REVIEW. We never viewed the question settled by plain testimony as other subjects have been in the REVIEW, therefore have been silent. The subject troubled us, but we acted on the principle to hold on to our present position, till we could see a better one.

The communications received on the subject advocated both sun-set and sun-rise time, both being urged with sanguine assertions, and no testimony offered as proof but what could be met with serious objections.

While the majority in the East have observed 6 o'clock time, Bro. R. F. Cottrell and others have observed sun time. The Publisher of our Chart, and many others who were first in the Message, have been unsettled on the question. And till of late, it has been regarded as a difficult point to settle. The brethren West have generally been with us on this question. Eld. D. P. Hall told us about a year since when we were with him in Penn., that he had preached to the church at Eldorado, Wis., and found no difficulty in convincing them that 6 o'clock time was right. The recent remark of J. M. S. that brethren West have differed with brethren East on this point gives a false impression.

We have all reason for humble gratitude that the clear light has come out on this subject. Those who have walked according to their best light, are worthy of praise rather than censure; and those who have been unsettled, but have patiently waited till the subject is made so clear that all can move on in union, have acted an admirable part. But he who would make capital to himself out of this matter, and try to raise himself up, by pulling down others, must be regarded as a religious bigot.

We take this opportunity to express our views, not designing our plain remarks to apply especially to our worthy correspondent, whom we regard as laboring under prejudicial influences. For want of room we are obliged to divide the article and give the remainder next week. J. W.

THE STATE OF THE CHURCH.

THE universal deadness of the nominal churches has been the subject of many and severe comments by men of her own communion, who being unable to overlook the fact have been free to acknowledge and deplore it in the plainest terms. They have puzzled their brains to ascertain the cause of this state of things, forgetting that it is impossible for any church at any time, which refuses to keep pace with the unfolding truth of God, to still retain the power of vital godliness. If they stop, God moves on without them. The popular churches have stopped. They have rejected as plain a message as need be given to the world, and in consequence of that rejection it has been recorded against them, Babylon is fallen! The Louisville Recorder thus speaks:—

"Though we have (at least among Protestants) no human priest or sacrificial altar, yet among us the social element and power of the Church has become cramped, ice-bound, or entirely destroyed. We have become an assembly, not of living actors, but of silent, passive hearers. The Church has become mere listeners to preachers—a roll of names baptized, permitted to take the Lord's Supper, and expected to enjoy good preaching. Like the door on the hinges, they come and they go. They are prayed for, and sung to, and preached to; and often sung and preached to sleep, if not to death. Thus, year after year, is this continuous round, this dead flat, over which not a breath of emotion passes to disturb the dull and decent monotony. The minister seeks not, and the Church strives not, to 'grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body fitly joined and compacted by that which every joint supplieth according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.' But relying on the preacher—when he is gone all is gone—the glory has departed."

Genesis 2:2 and the Seventh Day

On Gen. ii, 2, which in our version reads, "And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all the work which he had made," the Bible Unionists who are now preparing a new version of the English Scriptures, remark: "The work of creation was evidently completed on the sixth day, and the seventh was devoted to rest. It should, therefore, have been translated, 'On the seventh day God had ended his work.'"

A Temporal Millennium Not Yet

A TEMPORAL MILLENNIUM NOT YET.—An exchange speaking of the present days of the world, calls them "times of moral debasement, political excitement, wars, convulsions and general prostration of the spiritual power of the churches."

Prayer.

By John Byngton

Bro. Smith :—Permit me through the Review to ask one or two questions on the subject of prayer. Our Saviour says, "When thou prayest enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut the door, pray to thy Father which is in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."

Now does this precept of our Saviour require us to leave other employment, and the company of others and go into some secret place and spend a portion of our time in prayer? If so, should we not have set times every day for that object; and if so, if neglected, we cannot be keeping the Faith of Jesus. Do all our brethren and sisters do it? Watching unto prayer is the life of the Christian. John Byngton.

PROOF TEXTS.

By John Norton Loughborough

[From the Work entitled, An Examination of the Scripture Testimony Concerning Man's Present Condition and his Future Reward or Punishment, by J. N. Loughborough]

Below we give a list of texts in which some of the important words relied upon as strong proof of the immortality of the soul are used (such as soul, spirit, &c.,) and their corresponding Hebrew rendering in the margin.

Texts in which the pronouns Me, Myself, He, His, Him, Himself, Yourselves, They, Themselves, are used, in the margin the word soul is used in their stead.

TEXTS.	MARGIN.
Common Version.	Hebrew.
Num. xxiii, 10. Let me die the death of the righteous.	Let my soul die.
Jud. xvi. 30. Let me die with the Philistines.	Let my soul die.
Ps. cxxxi, 2. I have behaved and quieted myself.	Quieted my soul.
Ps. xlix, 19. He shall go to the generation of his fathers.	The soul shall go.
Ps. cv, 18. He was laid in iron.	His soul came into iron.
Prov xvi, 26. He that laboreth.	The soul of him that laboreth.
Prov. xiv, 10. His own bitterness.	The bitterness of his soul.
Micah vii, 3. He uttereth his mischevious desire.	The mischief of his soul.
Prov. vi, 16. Seven things are an abomination unto him.	Of his soul.
Job xviii, 4. He teareth himself in his anger.	His soul.
Job xxxii, 2. Justified himself.	His soul.
Jer. li, 14. The Lord of hosts hath sworn by himself.	By his soul.
Amos ii, 14. Neither shall the mighty deliver himself,	The his soul.
Lev. xi, 43. Not make yourselves abominable.	Your souls.
Josh. xxiii, 11. Take good heed therefore unto yourselves.	Your souls.
Job xxxvi, 14. They die.	Their soul dieth
Isa xlvi, 2. Themselves are gone.	Their soul.
Isa. xlvii, 14. Not deliver themselves.	Their souls.
Esth. ix, 31. Decreed for themselves.	For their souls.

Texts in which the word person is used, and the rendering in the margin is soul:

Instances where himself and life occur in the text and are rendered life, person and living soul in the margin:

We have already stated that the primary signification of the word soul was the whole man. These many instances we have referred to above prove what we have claimed. Life is sometimes meant by the soul.

Let those who suppose the soul is immaterial read the following texts:

We will now quote an instance where the expression dead body occurs. Translators tell us the original Hebrew for dead body is meth nephesh.

| Num. xix. 11. He that toucheth the dead body of any man. | Dead soul of man. |

See the following texts, in which the expression dead body occurs. Remember as you read them that those dead bodies spoken of are dead souls. Num. ix, 10; Lev. xxi, 11; Num. vi, 6; xix, 16; 2 Chron. xx, 24, 25; Ps. lxxix, 2; Ps. cx, 6; Hag. ii, 13.

"THE CITY OF THE SKIES."

By J. M. Church

[From an unpublished Poem, entitled "The Town and its contrasts."]

"And I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."—Rev. xxi, 2.

IN Patmos' isle, a vision came To John, belov'd on high, A city fair, far in the air, Above the azure sky. A home, be sure, that city gives To him who happy dies, Sweet place of rest, to mortals blest, The city of the skies!

No scene of town we've sought to paint, That air-poised place doth know, No weed of world nor fragrant flower Within its gardens grow. What! lovely flowers not blooming there, Nor shrubs whose sweets we prize? Be sure 'tis true, all strangely new, The city of the skies!

No sighs, for dear departed friends, There choke and clog the breath, For in the New Jerusalem There's no such curse as death! It is a bride in white robes cloth'd, With sweetly radiant eyes, Fresh from the perfect hand of God, The city of the skies!

Its lofty jewel'd battlements, Watch'd by angelic host, Have names of followers of Lamb Engraved upon each post; Their bonds by golden reed mark'd out, Twelve thousand furlongs rise, And it is long and broad alike, The city of the skies!

The walls of purest jasper are, While streets of gold in mass Shine forth intensely beautiful, Like planes of polished glass. A home, be sure, that city gives, To him that happy dies, Sweet place of rest, to mortals blest, The city of the skies!

Foundations strong of jasper walls, With precious gems bedeck'd, Send back to gates of priceless pearl The glories they reflect. Nor beams of sun, nor beams of moon, To glories such give rise. God and the Lamb illuminate The city of the skies!

The night which oft we deem so fit For 'rapt romantic spell, With moon and stars in calm blue sky, The poet loves so well— Is never known within the walls That round that city rise, That happy rest, to mortals blest, That city of the skies!

The crystal waves of life's pure stream, With current deep and calm. Their sources find in bosom sweet, Of God and of the Lamb!

On river's bank, in golden streets, The trees of life arise, That monthly yield thee luscious fruits, Oh city of the skies!

'Tis 'neath those trees the blessed roam, Feeling no fear of rod, Which often here in wretched world Permitted is, by God. For sorrow never can exist, Nor shade of anguish rise, To him who treads thy happy courts, Bright city of the skies!

Round throne of God, and throne of Lamb, Ever a seraph throng, With swelling note and sweet accord, Chant forth the glad "new song." As gaze they on God's glorious face With rapture beaming eyes, For God thou seest face to face, Sweet city of the skies!

The world wherein our lot is cast Supplies a faithful guide, To lead us on with trusting step, To blessed Jesus' side. For if we well the mercies use And well the tears and sighs, We'll reach thy snow-white gates of pearl, Dear city of the skies!

Give ear! ye denizens of world, A Saviour's blood is free, Bathe, freely bathe your aching hearts In that redeeming sea. Then when you pass death's portal dark, Will greet your wondering eyes, With sparkling wall and glittering gates, The city of the skies!

The glorious city here so beautifully described, is to descend "from God out of heaven," [Rev. xxi, 2,] and be the metropolis of the kingdom that shall be established "under the whole heaven."—ED. REVIEW.

The Lord Our Support and Stay

By H. Hilliard

From Bro. Hilliard.

I CAN say amidst all the trials and sorrows which in God's mysterious providence I have been called to pass through the past season, that the strong arm of the Lord hath been and still is my support and stay. I feel truly that those who keep the Commandments of God, and have faith in Jesus, are the friends my sorrowing heart seeks after and longs to meet with from time to time. How blessed to feel that the Lord is our shepherd; we shall not want.

The enemy of all righteousness is going about seeking whom he may devour, but we are to resist him and he will flee from us. The people of God are truly a tried people; particularly so at this time in this vicinity. As the chaff is separated from the wheat, so are God's people brought out to stand firm for the truth. While I look back on the past two years of my life and realize how slow I have been to embrace the pure truth of God, (some of the time but little more than assenting to it,) I feel truly ashamed that I have not been more active and ready to every good word and work. May I improve time present and future that I may be one of that number who may be able to enter in at the strait gate, and enjoy the rest with the saints of God, is the prayer of an unworthy brother.

H. HILLIARD. St. Law. Co., N. Y., Jan. 24th, 1856.

Extracts of Letters.

BRO. DAVID CHASE writes from Columbia Co., Wis., to the brethren and sisters:—"I have thought of the blessed seasons I used to enjoy with some of you in the East when I associated with you, and felt my heart moved with deep love and desire for your prosperity. I think of my obligation to you for much valuable instruction in the present truth, and the ardent love manifested towards me. Then I have thought of the love that God and Christ have manifested towards us in that while we were enemies, poor, miserable, blind, naked and much defiled, God our heavenly Father gave his only begotten Son to die in our stead that we might escape eternal death, and lay hold on eternal life through faith in Jesus; that faith that works by love and purifies the heart and overcomes the world. May we see through this view of God's love to us, our obligation to love God.

"Let us remember what inspiration has taught us: But whoso keepeth his word in him verily is the love of God perfected, hereby know we that we are in him. Let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth. By this we know that we love the children of God when we love God and keep his commandments, for this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments, and his commandments are not grievous.

"I fondly hope the paper may be well sustained, and may arise with the clear light of truth, and shine with increasing light, like the rising sun."

Sister MARY E. HASKELL writes from Princeton, Jan. 28:—"To the little band of Sabbath-keepers in Hubbardston, and my husband and self in this place, the Sabbath of the Lord our God is still a delight, and we do feel it more and more to be the holy of the Lord, honorable; and to praise and bless his holy name for the light which he has given us upon it; and not only upon that, but also upon the Third Angel's Message. And permit me to add that we find 'meat in due season' in the columns of the Review and Herald. Thanks be to God for its blessed influence upon the hearts of the poor scattered flock in these last days of trial and of peril.

"The cause of truth is advancing in this vicinity. Two have recently been added to our little church in Hubbardston, and the attention of another has been aroused to its investigation. Believers have been strengthened and are coming up upon higher and holier ground.

"Three Sabbaths in the month of December we were blessed with the faithful labors of our beloved broth

er Barr; and since that time have been privileged with a visit from sister Skinner and brother Saxby of Springfield, by whom we were first presented with light upon the Sabbath; as well as some others from a distance of like precious faith. And at our meetings we truly had a heavenly sitting together in Christ Jesus and his Spirit was present with us and that to bless. Glory to God! To his great and holy name be all the praise, the honor, and the glory, world without end.

"My dear brethren and sisters let us hold fast a little longer.—Let us be patient—let us be faithful and purify ourselves even as he (Christ) is pure. Let us also 'endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ,' and may the Lord give us understanding in all things, and when Jesus comes grant us an abundant entrance into his everlasting Kingdom."

Proof of Immortality.

Dreams are, in some degree, a proof of immortality,—as an evidence that the mind is not so fettered by the body as to be incapable of a separated and higher existence.—True Wesleyan.

Dogs and other brutes "dream!" Is that "in some degree, a proof of immortality?" Does it prove "that the" dog's "mind is not so fettered by the body as to be incapable of a separated and higher existence?" Yes, just as much and as truly as man's dreaming does. Mind, in all created beings, is the result of a living organism. Till our dreamers can show us mind where there is no such organism they cry in vain "O Baal save us!" To the law and testimony, if any man speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Where is "the law and testimony" that saith man has an immortal mind? No where. Then "let him who hath a dream tell a dream; but he that hath" God's "word let him speak it plainly: What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord."—[Bible Exam., Feb. 1.]

COMMUNICATIONS.

By Editor

From Bro. Hamilton.

BRO. SMITH:—I have taken the Review and Herald for one year, and I want to receive it still; as I do not like to be without it. We have none of like precious faith, except one family, to commune with. The Review, generally, is not a welcome messenger here: pride and popularity run too high.

It is one year last June since I received light on the Sabbath question. I attended a meeting in Tyrone, held by Brn. Cornell and Loughborough. They brought so much light on the prophecies and Sabbath question, that I took the Bible to determine by that Book the truth of the matter, and could find no First-day Sabbath there. I concluded with myself to keep the Sabbath of the Bible let the case be as it might.

I have been and still am put down by the people of other orders; but this don't trouble me any. The Bible is the text-book that we shall be tried by. We should be very glad to have some one of the preaching brethren call and give a discourse here. It may cause some to hear for themselves. I want the Review, for I receive much light from it.

That the cause may prosper and light increase, is the prayer of your unworthy friend. HUGH HAMILTON. Genesee Co., Mich. Jan. 27th, 1856.

NOTE.—There are very many cases similar to that of our aged brother above: very many who when they have been led to search the Bible for themselves, have been unable to find any support for the traditions of the day. And we say confidently, Let any one who is honest enough to acknowledge the truth when he sees it, and humble enough to OBEY it after he has acknowledged it, search the Scriptures for himself, and he will find no First-day Sabbath there. There is but one objection to the Sabbath which we have been unable to remove. It is one which we shall never try to remove, and that is—THE CROSS. All others we will answer satisfactorily to any candid mind. But whosoever would make up his mind to live out the religion of Jesus Christ, must make up his mind to bear the cross also; for a religion without a cross will lead anywhere but to heaven. We would say, then, Agitate the truth throughout the community. Stir up investigation. Urge upon them an examination of these questions; and confine them to the Bible, which they profess to follow as the true source of light and truth.—ED.

A Testimony from a Scattered Believer

By L. H. Rior

From Sr. Rior.

Bro. Smith :—My heart rejoices when I read the letters from the dear scattered ones. I find that there are others that are alone as well as myself. O how precious it would be to us if we could converse face to face occasionally with some of like precious faith. I feel very thankful to the Lord that he ever gave me a disposition to leave human instruction and keep his holy Sabbath.

I am striving to overcome every evil or worldly thought, word, or action. Paul says, the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

I wish some of the preaching brethren would come to this place. L. H. Rior. Medina Co. Ohio, Jan, 29th, 1856.

SELECTIONS.

“They shall take away his power to consume and destroy it unto the End.”

From our exchanges we gather the following facts concerning Popery and its attempt to enforce the new dogma of the immaculate conception.

“DECAY OF POPERY:—One of the most sufficient facts as to the coming doom of Popery is its increasing weakness in its old strong holds. Even at Paris it is declining. The number of priests in that city in 1790 was 5000. As the population has doubled, the present number, to keep up the relative proportion, ought to be 10,000; whereas it is now but 800.”

“THE SCRIPTURES IN SPAIN:—In a single town in Spain, there are, it is stated, nearly four thousand persons who have abandoned papal worship, and who assiduously study the holy Scriptures as their only rule. In other towns there are many persons, including not a few of the clergy, who protest against the tyranny and superstitions of the Church of Rome.

In relation to the new dogma, the Genesee Evangelist says,

“The Pope was too much in a hurry with his recent addition to the creed of his faithful followers. They were not all ready for its reception; and it is becoming evident, that it meets with warm resistance from many individuals scattered throughout the realms of the Popedom, whom it will be difficult to subdue, or to exclude, or even to reduce to silent dissent. In France, where, according to the concordat between the Government and the Pope, a document like the late decree in behalf of Mary’s immaculate conception can not be published even in the parish churches without the approval of the supreme civil authority; it has never yet though it is now nearly a year old, obtained the approbation of the Emperor, or of his Minister for Public Worship and Instruction. Nor, as we are given to understand, is it likely to receive their authorization. While this lasts, the Popery professed in France must differ in a very important respect from that of the Papal States in Italy.

There is a dogged resistance to the new dogma, and that in very high and influential quarters.” And it is said that an Archbishop of Paris has written “an address” of “wonderful boldness and vigor, which for freedom of thought and expression is worthy of the stauntest Protestant alive.”

On this subject, Dr. Cumming, of England says; “In France, Napoleon III., it is said, has authorized the circulation of the Protestant Bible amid the ranks of the French army; whole communes are renouncing Romanism; and the Parish church at Villefavard, where mass was celebrated, is now, I understand, a Protestant church. A Roman gentleman told me that in Rome, nine tenths of the population are hostile to the present Hildebrandic domination exercised by a camarilla of miserable priests under Pio Nono; that one third of them, at least, are Protestants searching the Bible for truth; and, that if the French bayonets were withdrawn—that stain upon French greatness—Pio Nono would not occupy his throne for many hours afterwards.”

Again he says, “Italy is a vast volcano, like its Vesuvius, ready to explode, its miserable rulers at their wit’s end how to keep their serfs, ecclesiastical serfs they may be, but serfs still, in a state of subjugation. Rome, the capital of Christendom, as it vaunts itself, is propped up, not by Austrian bayonets, which, bad as it might be, would still be the bayonets of an ultramontane daughter—a loyal child of the Roman Catholic Church; but by the bayonets of Republican France, that never yet accepted ultramontanism.

“What do you think of the story of that stupid dogma called the Immaculate Conception, or the determination come to, that the virgin Mary never was born a sinner, that she was at her very conception infinitely pure and spotless? It was just the Pope at his wit’s end, trying to make a little capital in Christendom, in order to lead the nations, beginning to be sick of his supremacy, to dream that he had recovered the long-lost power of creating new dogmas still. But instead of being a triumphant achievement, it has proved a contemptible failure.”

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