Earlier text: More Objections, or the Cross in the WayA Covenant by Sacrifice.
By R. F. Cotterell
THE work of human redemption and salvation is a work of sacrifice. Christ has made the great sacrifice; and he bids us take up the cross and follow him. And unless we do this, he assures us that we cannot be his disciples. Therefore, when the great gathering day comes, the command is, “Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.” Ps. 5 : 5. The saints—those who will be gathered when the angels are sent forth to gather the elect—are such as have made a covenant with God by sacrifice. A sacrifice costs something. David said he would not offer a sacrifice to God which cost him nothing. I remember hearing the question raised, in a conversation between two ministers, whether anything could be properly called a sacrifice except the slaying of an offering. This is not its only scriptural sense. It is used otherwise in both Testaments. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” Ps. 51 : 17. “But to do good and to communicate forget not; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” Heb. 13 : 16. When the Philippians sent of their goods to supply the necessaries of life to the apostle Paul, he declared their action to be “an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God.” Now we have the opportunity to offer sacrifices to God equally acceptable. We can serve the cause of God, blessing and saving men, by the use of those things which he has put into our hands. It may cost us some self-denial to surrender to God what he has intrusted to our care as stewards. He gives us our living out of his goods; but we are apt to think we need all we have and more. We are little disposed naturally to make a sacrifice. If we had an abundance, a thousand times more than we could use, how liberal we would be! This would not be a sacrifice. The thought is deceptive. The person that has a great abundance is no more inclined to be liberal; and if he was, he would know little of real sacrifice. For what purpose was the account of the poor widow and her two mites put upon record? Was it not to teach us to “trust in the Lord and do good”? Is the reader making a covenant with God by sacrifice? Some have for years rejoiced that God has given them the truth. It has come to them by sacrifice—the sacrifice of the Son of God, and a sacrifice on the part of those whom God has used as instruments—and they have not yet learned that God requires them to make a sacrifice to give the truth to others, that they may be saved. “Talk of following Christ, yet making no sacrifice! not giving of their abundance, even to save their fellow-men!” Be not deceived. “If any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” Some think they are too poor to give even a small amount of means in the cause. In such cases it will often be found that they are not too poor to use means for useless and hurtful indulgences. They find means to indulge the appetite with those things which are neither food nor drink; but are an injury instead of a benefit. Those who indulge in tea and butter, or largely in sugar, are not benefited thereby, but certainly injured. They find means to make a costly offering to perverted appetite. Can they not do something in the cause of God and perishing humanity? Can they not at least sacrifice these idols? This would be something, if they did no more. But if they would cease to sacrifice to idols, they would have something with which to serve God. Let us each ask ourselves, Are we making a covenant with God by sacrifice? R. F. COTTERELL. The Camp-Meeting in Michigan.
By George Ide Butler
WE earnestly second the suggestions of Bro. Smith in behalf of a general rally at this meeting. When the appointment was made, putting this meeting earlier than usual, we were in some doubt whether it would suit the friends in Michigan. But as we have heard no complaint, we suppose it is not specially objectionable. In many respects it will be better. As it has generally been held, it has come after much wearing labor, and after taking a long night and day trip from Maine to Michigan, so that those who performed the principal part of the labor were much wearied. Now it will be much better in this respect. It will be also much better on account of the school commencing earlier than last year. So we hope all will be satisfied with the time of the appointment and make a general rally to attend. Those of us who belong to other Conferences are in the habit of looking to old Michigan to take the lead in all that pertains to the prosperity of this cause. It is no small compliment to the people of this State that it can be said truthfully that there is no other place where the truth is accepted so readily, and where there is such an ear to hear. The western camp-meetings have fully proved, even to the most skeptical, that this cause is moving forward. The time has come for a general, forward movement to fully commence. Our camp-meetings are a sort of spiritual thermometer, which shows the spiritual temperature of the body, and how the spiritual pulse is beating. We want to see Michigan put herself at the head of this forward movement and take the lead as usual. We shall not soon forget the last year's camp-meeting at Battle Creek, and how nobly the friends of the cause rallied to the aid of the school. It was an inspiring moment long to be remembered. We want this meeting to be the most important one ever held by our people in any State. It may be made so if the people of Michigan will rally as they should to attend it. Sister White will be present. Possibly, Bro. White will be there also. Others will be present to help carry the burdens and impart instruction. God is moving upon the hearts of the people all over the land. It is hard to overestimate the importance of such a meeting as that. All Heaven is interested in its prosperity. We want the people of Michigan to realize its importance and make a general rally. Let us have one hundred tents upon the ground. Let the preaching brethren labor to have those present over whom they have influence. Bring your unconverted friends with you. There were instances in our western camp-meetings where persons came full of prejudice, and who had declared they never should receive this doctrine, but when brought under the influence of the meeting, they broke down, confessed their sins, and were baptized and went home rejoicing. This is as it should be. Last year there were peculiar difficulties in the way at your meeting among the brethren themselves. But thank God those things are largely cleared away. Now let us step in and see if God will not work for us abundantly. Come, brethren and sisters in Michigan, turn out to this meeting and take hold of the work of God afresh. You have the exalted privilege of acting the leading part among our Conferences. Fill your place, lest others overtake and pass you. Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, July 8, 1874. A Glorious Illustration.
By Chas. A. Russell
A SHORT time ago, the Rev. Dr. ———, of Auburn, N. Y., visited the village where I live, and during his stay gave a lecture on temperance. In the course of his remarks, he said in substance as follows:— In the time of the Millerite excitement, when the day arrived for the world to burn up, one fellow put on his ascension robe and started for a certain hill near by. In crossing a low piece of ground, he discovered a crack or seam in the earth caused by excessive dry weather, and the idea struck him that the earth was going to split open, and he was puzzled to know which was the safest side to be on, but finally decided to stand astride the seam. The Rev. Doctor said “he was bound to go up anyhow.” This narration seemed to please the most of the audience wonderfully, especially the ministers present; but to me, it seemed as ridiculous and irreverent as it was doubtless untruthful. A short time afterward at the same house (Methodist), several ministers being present, one of them, the Methodist minister from Allegan, referred to the narration of the Rev. Doctor from N. Y., and called it a glorious illustration. The language of Paul in Titus 2:13, came to my mind: “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ,” &c. The inspired servant of God was led to speak of the appearing of Jesus as glorious. Calls it that blessed hope; and held it up before the church as an incentive to godliness, and as the time of reward. But a professed under-shepherd can speak of it in an ironical manner, and another call his illustration glorious. Are not such fulfilling the words of our Saviour in Matt. 24:48, 49? How true and timely is the second angel’s message of Rev. 14, announcing the fall of Babylon. What must be the condition of the professed church when they can all unite in heaping contempt upon the doctrine of the Lord’s coming. What a contrast between the language of such and that of inspiration. 1 Thess. 4:13–18; chap. 5; 2 Tim. 4:6–8; Acts 1:10, 11; Rev. 22:20. In regard to ascension robes, there has been a reward of fifty dollars offered for several years to any person who could produce good evidence that an ascension robe was made and worn for that purpose by any person in 1844. About a year ago, I was talking with a person who said he saw one. He affirmed several times that he saw it, but after a little cross-questioning acknowledged that he did not see it, but said that his wife’s mother did. Then said I, you admit that you have lied about it, for you said a moment ago that you saw it. He squirmed a little and walked off. Doubtless somebody saw Adventists making some kind of under-garments, and reported that they were ascension robes, and this puts words into the mouths of those who are to fulfill 2 Pet. 3:3, 4. CHAS. A. RUSSELL. Report of the Minnesota Camp-Meeting.
By George I. Butler
THIS meeting convened, according to appointment, Thursday morning, and was a large meeting. Forty-three tents, I think, were up, besides the large tent, and between four and five hundred on the ground in constant attendance. It was by far the largest meeting ever held in the State. The increase during the past year in the Conference has been truly gratifying. Twelve new churches were admitted, with an aggregate membership of about two hundred and twenty, and more than one thousand dollars in S. B. have been pledged. This is exclusive of the additions to the old churches, which in some instances were considerable. When the circumstances of the Conference are considered, this increase is nothing less than astonishing. There has been no experienced laborer in the State at all for the past year. A few licentiates have been doing what they could. The T. and M. Societies have been instrumental in much of this. And the whole thing plainly shows that God has been moving upon the hearts of the people by his Spirit. It seems like a spontaneous work almost. Many of these new members were at the camp-meeting, who had never before attended a Seventh-day Adventist meeting, and many of these put to shame the old members by their readiness to give of their means. Some of them put down their hundreds and fifties for this and that object, with the greatest apparent interest. Thus this strange work goes on. There must be a power in this truth when such results are seen. Five of these churches were Swedes, raised up by the labors of Bro. Chas. Lee. Our hearts became greatly attached to many of these. They were among the most liberal on the ground. Nineteen hundred dollars were pledged on the Pacific printing press, and one thousand pledged for a tent fund, and three new, forty-foot tents ordered. Bro. Lee was ordained to the ministry by the laying on of hands. The weather was exceedingly warm some of the time, but otherwise very pleasant. Bro. D. P. Curtis was with us again this year. As the readers of the REVIEW may remember, he has been a minister of the S. D. Baptists for many years. But for fifteen years, more or less, his mind has been exercised over those questions connected with the advent movement, and a growing conviction has been forcing itself upon his conscience that here was special truth for the last days. He sees the work moving on almost without laborers, and he freely expressed himself, that his mind was convinced that God is in this special movement. He has not thus far connected himself with us by uniting with our church. We have had no desire to urge him in this direction. But we understand him to say that he shall soon express himself clearly in the Recorder and REVIEW. In sentiment he is an Adventist. We hope that God will bless this dear brother and enlarge his field of usefulness. There was not all that freedom in our spiritual meetings at first that we desired to see. But toward the close things lightened up very much. Monday was a very profitable day. Heartfelt testimonies were given, and some started out for the first time to walk in obedience to the law of God. Eighteen were baptized. Altogether the meeting closed very encouragingly, and we call it a success. The testimony of sister White was very highly appreciated at this meeting, and much of the meeting's success is attributable to it. God is making her attendance at the camp-meetings this season a great blessing to his cause. The brethren and sisters went away to their homes much encouraged and strengthened, and more determined than ever to labor in the vineyard of the Lord. Thus ends the last of the five Western camp-meetings. They have been seasons of much wearing labor, but of special encouragement. There must be not far from one thousand new members added to the cause in these five Conferences alone during the past year, and but few old and experienced laborers in the whole five. The financial strength has increased to a corresponding extent. Is this not truly marvelous? And is not the Lord showing us by this his readiness to help? I cannot doubt this. This work moves forward as we should think God's cause would. I can but regard these five camp-meetings as the most encouraging, on the whole, which I ever attended. Thus the Lord makes up for the weakness of human efforts. Forty-four new churches received in five States, and ten new tents purchased and running the present season, while most of the old laborers are away in other fields! Truly God is moving upon the hearts of the people.
GEO. I. BUTLER. The Cause in Pierce and St. Croix Counties.
By John McMillan
The lonely ones in the vicinity of River Falls, in the two counties, have reason to thank God and take courage from the visit of Eld. John Matteson. While we all united in asking God’s blessing to accompany the presentation of the truth, we also all took part in preparing the ground for the seed. Six meetings were appointed in the Proctor school-house, five miles south of River Falls, and three meetings at the hall in Pleasant Valley, ten miles north-east of River Falls. In the former place, two sisters have been having a regular prayer-meeting for over a year, where the writer would meet with them as often as circumstances would permit. In the meantime, five others have embraced the Sabbath, and were baptized on the 13th inst. by Bro. Matteson. A good attendance and deep interest accompanied the meetings, and much prejudice is removed. A church of seven members was organized by the name of the River Falls church. At Pleasant Valley the attendance was small, owing to almost constant rains; but a deep interest was manifested by those who attended. Bro. Matteson visited some of his countrymen, of whom there is a large settlement east of here. They talked freely, and received tracts. St. Croix County is rich in money and intelligence, but the god of this world is fast blinding their minds. Who will canvass this field for the Lord? Pleasant Valley, St. Croix Co., Wis. The Atonement.—No. 22.
By John H. Waggoner
REDEMPTION is, like salvation, used in more than one sense. We are said to be saved from sin, and to be redeemed from our vain conversation. Salvation is properly saving, or keeping from; and redemption, bringing back from. The great salvation through Christ is from death—the second death. The great redemption is also from mortality and death—the first death. Hence Paul says we are groaning for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of the body. This is accomplished in the resurrection. This restores to us what we lost in Adam. In consequence of sin, he died, having conferred his own mortal, perishable nature on his posterity. The penalty of transgression was death. “Thou shalt surely die,” were the words of the great Lawgiver. And thus it is still. “The wages of sin is death.” The loss of life is the extreme of all loss; for when a man loses life, he has no more to lose. And therefore the gift of life is the greatest of all gifts, as all others are dependent on this. Hence this is ever considered the great boon of the gospel—the gift of the second Adam. He has “brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” “The gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.” “That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” We have considered the principles of government and of justice, and have seen how redemption through Christ stands related to them. Also the means by which the work is effected, namely, his death. We have considered the unscriptural view which makes the penalty of the law to consist of a three-fold death—temporal, spiritual, and eternal. The penalty was death, and the sentence pronounced upon Adam illustrates the meaning of the term. As man was made of the dust of the ground, so he was, for his sin, to return to the ground out of which he was taken; for, saith the Lord, dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. This was the sentence; and thus we find the penalty of the law executed by the carrying out of this sentence upon the man who was made of the dust of the ground, and upon no other. The sentence must have been pronounced against, and the penalty executed upon, the very person or being who was guilty of rebellion against God. That which sinned was to die, and that which died returned to the dust. Again this is illustrated by the death of Christ. He died upon the cross; he laid down his life; he poured out his soul unto death; his soul was made an offering for sin. And that identical being who died on the cross was buried, was laid in the tomb, and was raised from the dead and left the tomb the third day. This makes the subject of death a plain one, easy to be understood by man, to whom it is threatened. It needs no theological gloss—no scholastic mysticisms to present the truth to the common reader; indeed, by these glosses and mysticisms the truth has too long been obscured. So also we may say of eternal life; it is given at the resurrection when the man is brought from the grave. “When Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” “The trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” Then the last enemy of the people of God, death, will be destroyed. Thus in life through Christ, we get the victory; and eternal life is the hope of the gospel. “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.” “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” And as death is swallowed up in victory in the resurrection of the just, so this is called “the resurrection of life.” Some of the prerogatives of this resurrection are pointed out by Paul in 1 Cor. 15: 42–57. “It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption; it is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.” “As we have borne the image of the earthly, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.” “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” Then shall the saints triumph over death and the grave. Then shall they shout, “Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” And then “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.” There is blessedness, there is joy, there is glory, far beyond our conception; as it is written, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” “No more fatigue, no more distress,
No sin nor death can reach that place;
No tears shall mingle with the songs,
That warble from immortal tongues.”
Reader, is there not infinite value in the atonement? Is not the blood of Christ precious? Does not the eternal inheritance, the far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, present attractions to your heart beyond all else of which your heart has conceived? Does not eternal life in the kingdom of God appear a boon most precious? Then join with all the saints in blessing God for the rich provision through his Son, and for the word, the Holy Book, wherein alone such matchless grace and such endless joys are revealed. Without the revelation of God’s will, how uncertain, how dark, would all appear? Without this, who should teach us the knowledge of God? who should acquaint us with the principles of morality and truth, by which we may honor and please our Creator? who should lead the fallen, erring one to a remedy for sin, wherein justice and mercy should harmonize? Only eternity can reveal, and only immortalized beings can realize, how great is our indebtedness to God for his word. Happy the man who can say, “Holy Bible, book divine,
Precious treasure, thou art mine.”
But to them who despise the riches of his grace, and scorn his counsel and will none of his reproof, there is another revelation in the word of God. He has not only sent redemption to his people, but prepared for his enemies a doom commensurate with their crime. Briefly, then, let us notice the subject of retribution. We have seen that obedience to the law, and acceptance of the gospel, are necessary to salvation; that salvation on any other terms would be derogatory to the character and government of God, it follows39 necessarily that they who reject these terms cannot be saved. The penalty of their sins hangs over them, soon to descend upon their guilty heads; for in strict justice God reserves the wicked to the day of Judgment to be punished. 2 Pet. 2: 9. And as eternal life is the gift of God, so they who do not seek it through the Son, must of necessity receive the wages of their sin, which is death. “He that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” There are, however, two resurrections in the Bible; for what the impenitent lose involuntarily by the sin of Adam, will be restored to them without regard to their will and action. Besides the resurrection of life, already noticed, there is “the resurrection of damnation.” They who have part in the first resurrection are blessed and holy: on them the second death shall have no power. They are raised in power, in glory, in incorruption, while “they that sow to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption.” Gal. 6: 8. They will be subject to the second death. Once they die on account of Adam’s sin; from this state they are raised by Christ. But the second time they die on account of their own sin; and from this death there is no redemption. No hope is held out for those who fall under its power. No resurrection morning dawns upon the darkness and gloom of the second death. In examining the type of the scapegoat, we found the devil confined in the abyss for one thousand years. At the end of that period, all the inhabitants of the grave are called forth, the wicked of all ages stand up in life, and the great enemy of God and man is once more among the victims of his deceptions. He has borne the heavy burden of many sins placed upon his head, but his punishment yet awaits him. The Judgment has been sitting, and its decisions remain to be executed. But with the certainty of destruction before him, his malignity is not abated. His hatred to the ever-glorious Son of God and to the saints, who, through the blood of their Master, have overcome his deceptions and his power, leads him to instigate the risen nations to raise their arms once more against their Maker. Vain effort! Those who now think they can oppose his power with success, find then how fatally they have been mistaken. “And fire came down from God out of Heaven and devoured them.” As once this earth was overflowed with water, then it will be overspread with fire. This is that “day of Judgment and perdition of ungodly men,” to which this sin-cursed earth is “kept in store.” This is that terrible day “that shall burn as an oven: and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.” High ascends “the smoke of their torment,” who have often mocked at the judgments of God; for “the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs; they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.” Ps. 37: 20. And as it is written that the Lord “smote Egypt in their first-born, and overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea; for his mercy endureth forever;” Ps. 136: 10, 15; so in the terrors of that great, that burning day, we behold the power of Jesus’ blood; for he suffered “that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.” Heb. 2: 14. And with him all his works are destroyed. 1 John 3: 8. This ends the world’s great controversy. The Bible is eminently a practical book; its object is to make the man of God perfect, and to thoroughly furnish him unto all good works. When “everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power,” is visited upon the wicked; when the righteous are introduced “to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away,” the record of the great future is briefly given. No elaborate description of that eternity of joy is offered; for words cannot describe all its glories; nor could our minds, always having associated with meaner things, appreciate the description. But we are permitted by faith in the sacred revelation, to look beyond the scene of terror, which we have been considering. The fury of the crackling flames exhausts itself; where the seething fires burned deep and fierce they languish for want of prey. As the smoke rolls up from the earth, there is revealed to our view a scene both grand and lovely; its surpassing beauty words cannot express; but above it all a voice is heard, “Behold, I make all things new!” And now awakes the universal chorus: “And every creature which is in Heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.” The universe again is free from sin. Redemption’s work is done. Beyond lies the vast ocean of eternity, all radiant with glory. Happy are they who secure an interest in the atonement through faith in our great High Priest and obedience to his Father’s will, and are made partakers of this eternal glory; to enjoy the presence of God and the Lamb, and all the sanctified, in our Father’s mansions. J. H. WAGGONER. The following verses, written by a Christian lady, of Long Island, to Rev. J. Emery, city missionary, will afford encouragement to other workers in the Master's vineyard:— Go, man of God, bear precious seed,
And cast it by the world's wayside;
And in due season thou shalt reap
A glorious harvest far and wide. Go, labor on in Jesus' strength,
Thy earnest work is not in vain;
Soon shall your longing eyes behold
The golden fields of ripening grain. Oh! weary not, whate'er oppose,
Although your progress seems but slow,
The full production of your toil
On earth, may be, thou'lt never know; But in the final harvest home,
There may be some whom you will meet,
Acknowledge you the instrument
In leading them to Jesus' feet. Then labor on, thou man of God.
Thy Heaven-sent mission to fulfill,
An object noble, grand indeed,
To do thy heavenly Master's will. Oh! may you do his will on earth,
And when removed to Heaven's bright clime,
All those whom here you led to God,
As jewels in your crown shall shine. And when the Saviour thou shalt see,
And lowly bow before his throne,
His words will fall in accents sweet,
Servant of God, well done—well done.—Sel. Report of Labor.
By J. H. Rogers
Since reporting last, held meetings with the friends at Montevallo, Vernon Co., Mo., June 11–15. The tract and missionary work was engaged in with a disposition to work. Two covenanted to keep the “commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” They were brought up in the Roman Catholic faith. From this place, I went into the south-west part of the county where there was a Disciple church which had outgrown their faith, and was fast taking their position on present truth. They had heard a little on the Sabbath question. Visited with them extensively till Sabbath. Commenced meetings; gave four discourses, explaining the messages, &c. Closed Sunday night. They voted to keep the Sabbath. There are five families of them. I never saw people appear more ready to receive the truth and obey it. Returned to Nevada the 22d. Spent two days with this church. Oh, that our brethren and sisters would engage themselves so busily in the work of the Lord that they would not have time to attend to any of Satan’s drudgery! Leaving them in a good degree of courage and hope, came on my way to Lee’s Summit, and, with a load of friends, on the 26th, went twenty-five miles to hold a quarterly meeting with the Lincoln church in Johnson Co., Mo., which proved to be one of encouragement to all. Three were baptized, and the ordinances were celebrated evening after the Sabbath. The Spirit of God was present. I appreciated this meeting and enjoyed it very much, as I had felt the pressure of cares and labor resting heavily upon me for a few weeks past. As this church has a good degree of experience, being the place where Bro. Lawrence labored so faithfully a few years since, hope they will “keep the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace.” Returned home July 1, to arrange matters with the T. and M. secretary and prepare to join Bro. Chaffee on the 8th with the Northwestern Kansas tent for a few weeks. Hamilton, Mo., July 3, 1874. WM. COTTERILL
By Wm. Cotterill
Commenced meeting at Laura, Miami Co., May 27. Held twenty-four meetings. Quite an interest was manifested to hear, and quite a large number were convinced of the truth, some of whom said that they should try to keep the Sabbath of the Lord. There was bitter opposition manifested in a secret way. I expect to return after harvest, the Lord willing. Many expressed themselves that we had the truth, but it was very hard to get them to move out. I desire to be humble, fully consecrate myself to the Lord, and work in the Lord's vineyard. The harvest truly is great, but where are the laborers? I baptized one at Laura. The Lord was present to bless in attending to this ordinance. A Testimony from Colorado
By Sister L. Bental
SISTER L. BENTAL writes from Colorado: I reached home in safety from the Iowa Camp-meeting, with a thankful heart for the ever watchful care of our Heavenly Father. In answer to many prayers, God's Spirit is striving mightily with my family. I extend my heartfelt thanks to the brethren in Iowa for their hospitality and kindness to me. I am deeply thankful for all the admonitions and warnings I have received, and most especially for those from sister White. It is my determination to live up to all the light I have, and to bring all my faculties into conformity to the will of God. It is now two years since I commenced keeping the Seventh-day Sabbath. Sister Stalkes and myself accepted the truth under the teaching of sister Amy E. Dartt. We have met with a good deal of opposition, but our trust has been in the God and Rock of our salvation, and thus far he has helped us to bear the cross and be firm in the truth. We often long for the companionship of those of like faith, and the privilege of attending an Adventist church; but we trust that ere long we shall enjoy the society of the redeemed. Sabbath Work in Claiborne County
A BROTHER writes from Claiborne Co., Tenn., June 10, 1874: I am trying to do all I can for the cause. I sent a package of tracts east last summer among my friends and relatives. I visited them November last, and read and talked more or less with them for three weeks. Now there are five or six keeping the Sabbath. Among the number is my mother, over seventy years of age. I learn that there are as many more about convinced. I believe it a good field for labor. The people seem to be very anxious to hear one of our ministers.