SPEAKING of the "embarrassments" and "possible results" of the revival now in progress in San Francisco under the leadership of Moody and Sankey, the California Christian Advocate gives the following timely hints on future pulpit ministrations: "The work appears to have been hindered by the unthoroughness and generalizing habit of the pulpit. The ministry of San Francisco is exceptionally scholarly and able; but the too prevalent style of preaching has ranged along the summits of abstract thought and unapplied doctrine. Moses has been in the mount, half-deafened by the thunder, half-blinded by the lightnings, while the people feasted and reveled and danced about their golden calves far below. Moses should have descended with the tables of the law, and called all who were on God's side to separate themselves and gird on their swords."
"The ministers of this city and this coast, if not too dull to learn, have received a lesson on preaching which ought to need no repeating. The gospel has approved itself 'the power of God.' Shall we ever, ever, ever go back to the weak and pitiable expedients of men? Shall we ever again hear or see pulpits desecrated by themes announced to the ears of an unhealthy curiosity? Is not God's word rich, and full, and varied enough? We have somewhere read a little poem about the devil and a saint going a-fishing. The devil was to furnish the bait, and the saint to haul in the line, and the partners were to divide even. If we remember rightly, the senior partner in the end got all the fish. And so it will always be."
The Patchwork of Modern Science
A PHILADELPHIA scientist frankly says in the Christian Register: "Our science of nature, like our science of man, is a patchwork of half-stated, half-worked-out sums on a slate; and we are kept as busy with the sponge as with the pencil."
AN IMPRESSIVE PHENOMENON.
By William Penniman
The Christian Herald of Jan. 6, 1881, says: "An impressive phenomenon was witnessed at Pittsburg, Pa., on Dec. 23. Until after noon on that day darkness settled over the city so dense that it was necessary to burn lights in the houses and stores, and even to light the lamps in the streets. Snow several inches in depth lay on the thoroughfares, and deadened the noise of vehicles and the footsteps of pedestrians.
The darkness and silence together had a strangely solemn effect, and many citizens were seriously alarmed by the thought that the day of Judgment had arrived. Later in the day the darkness lifted, but a day is fast approaching when for the impenitent there will be real cause for alarm. Of this day we are fully warned (Matt. 24:29), but how many there are who live in carelessness, disregarding the warnings, and neglecting the refuge offered them." WM. PENNIMAN.
Hold to the Colossal Gospel
THERE is food for thought in what Spurgeon said in a recent sermon delivered while he was suffering great bodily pain: “When a man gets to cutting down sin, paring down depravity and making little of future punishment, let him no longer preach to you. Some modern divines whittle away the gospel to the small end of nothing. They make our divine Lord to be a sort of blessed nobody; they bring down salvation to mere salvability, make certainties into probabilities, and treat verities as mere opinions. When you see a preacher making the gospel small by degrees and miserably less, till there is not enough of it left to make soup for a sick grasshopper, get you gone. . . . As for me, I believe in the colossal; a need deep as hell and grace as high as heaven. I believe in a pit that is bottomless and in a heaven that is topless. I believe in an infinite God and an infinite atonement, infinite love and mercy; an everlasting covenant ordered in all things and sure, of which the substance and the reality is an infinite Christ. Christ is all; Christ is unspeakable, the speakable gift of God. Hold to that, or you will not thank God as you ought.”
Then, speaking of thankfulness, he added: “I have known what it is to thank God with all my heart for being able to move my limbs and turn in bed. Perhaps you have enjoyed perfect health; do you thank Him for that? To be out of the hospital, to be out of the lunatic asylum, to be out of prison, to be out of hell, do we ever glorify God for these things?”
A Genuine Revival Trims Personal Lamps
By Editor
Few men are more given to hitting the nail on the head, and so putting the fact that everybody can see how it was hit, than our friend, Rev. Theodore L. Cuyler, of Brooklyn. "What we need," he says, "is not the blaze of a few powerful electric lights in certain conspicuous places, but the steady shining of every lamp in the whole church of Christ over the land. Brooklyn is not lighted by two or three calcium-burners in its public squares, but by innumerable lamps distributed into every street and alley. A genuine revival means a trimming of personal lamps."
Christian Settlement Opportunities in Oregon
MRS. H. W. MILLER, Oakland, Oregon, desires to communicate with any of the brethren living in Oregon who know of a place where a man with small means could make a living. They desire to locate in the spring where they can have the society of those of like faith.
Strength Drawn Out by Hot Water
MEN are frequently like tea—the real strength and goodness are not perfectly drawn out until they have been in hot water.
Our Publications in England.
By Editor
Any of the books, pamphlets and tracts issued at this Office may be obtained of Eld. J. N. Loughborough, Ravenswood, Shirley Road, Southampton, England, who will furnish catalogues and prices in English money, and receive subscriptions for all our periodicals.
THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
By Editor
PUBLISHED WEEKLY, AT OAKLAND, CAL., FOR THE
# MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS
A twelve-page Religious Family Paper, devoted to a discussion of the Prophecies, Signs of the Times, Second Coming of Christ, Harmony of the Law and Gospel, with Departments devoted to Temperance, The Home Circle, The Missionary Work, and the Sabbath-School.
PRICE PER YEAR, . . . . . . . . . . . $2.00
In clubs of five or more copies to one address, to be used for Missionary work, each . . . . . . . 1.50
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
—OR—
REVIEW AND HERALD, Battle Creek, Mich.
MISS ELIZA THAYER, Secretary N. E. Tract Society, So Lancaster, Mass.
ELDER J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, Ravenswood, Shirley Road, Southampton, England.
MRS. A. P. VAN HORN, Beaverton, Or.
RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS,
By Editor
Published and for sale at this Office, and by "Review and Herald," Battle Creek, Mich.
History of the Sabbath and First Day of the Week 10: the period of 6,000 years. By Eld. J. N. Andrews. 528 pp. $1.00
The Sanctuary and the 2300 Days of Dan. 8:14. By Elder U. Smith. This work explains the past Advent movement, and makes plain the present position of those who wait for the Lord. 352 pp. $1.00
Thoughts on Daniel, critical and practical. By Elder U. Smith. An exposition of the book of Daniel, verse by verse. 384 pp. $1.00
Thoughts on Revelation. By Elder U. Smith. This work presents every verse in the book of Revelation with such remarks as serve to illustrate or explain the meaning of the text. 352 pp. $1.00
Life of Wm. Miller, with portrait. This book gives interesting sketches of the Christian life and public labors of this pioneer in the Advent movement in this country. 416 pp. $1.00
Life of Elder Joseph Bates, relating his experience of twenty-five years on ship-board, with incidents of his rise from cabin-boy up to master and owner. The closing chapters relate to his labors in the ministry and in the cause of temperance and other moral reforms. Fine tint paper, 352 pp. $1.00
Life Sketches of Elder James and Mrs. E. G. White. The early lives and Christian experiences of both are given in this volume. Their subsequent history is so connected with the cause, that this book gives an outline of the rise and progress of our people and our cause. $1.00 With fine steel portraits of both. $1.25
Thrilling Incidents in the political Life of Francesco Urgos, while a soldier with Garibaldi, including his perilous escape from the tyrants of Rome, and his subsequent travels in Africa and Syria. 328 pp. $1.00
The Biblical Institute. This work contains a synopsis of the lectures given at the Battle Creek College by Elder U. Smith, and at Biblical Institutes. 352 pp. $1.00
The Nature and Destiny of Man. By Elder U. Smith. This work treats on the great questions of the condition of man in death, and his destiny beyond the resurrection. 356 pp. $1.00
The Spirit of Prophecy: or, the Great Controversy between Christ and his angels, and Satan and his angels, in four volumes. By Mrs. E. G. White. These volumes cover the time from the fall of Satan to the destruction of sin and sinners at the close of the one thousand years of Rev. 20. Each, 400 pp. $1.00 Vol. I. Old Testament Facts to Christ. $1.00 Vol. II. Life and Ministry of Christ. $1.00 Vol. III. The Death, Resurrection and Ascension of Christ, with the Lives of his Apostles. $1.00 Vol. IV. (In preparation.) $1.00
The Constitutional Amendment: A discussion between Elder W. H. Littlejohn and the editor of the Christian Statesman, on the Sabbath. 384 pp. $1.00
Spiritual Songs. A book of hymns and tunes. 537 hymns, 147 tunes, 416 pp. $1.00 Morocco, gilt. $1.50
The Song Anchor. A popular collection of songs for the Sabbath-school and praise service. 164 pp. 35 cts. Bound in muslin. 50 cts.
The Bible from Heaven. By Elder D. M. Canright. An argument to show that the Bible is not the work of men, but in deed and in truth the work of God. 300 pp. 80 cts.
The Soul and the Resurrection, showing the Harmony of Science and the Nature of the Soul and the Doctrine of the Resurrection. By J. H. Kellogg, M. D. 75 cts.
The United States in the Light of Prophecy: or, an exposition of Rev. 13 : 11-17. By Elder U. Smith. Dealing with our own land and applying to our time. Of surpassing interest to every American reader. 200 pp. 40 cts.
Thoughts on Baptism. By Elder J. H. Waggoner. The subject viewed in the light of the Bible and History. 186 pp. Bound in flexible cloth. 35 cts. Paper covers. 25 cts.
A Word for the Sabbath; or false theories exposed. A poem, by Elder U. Smith. 60 pp. 30 cts. Glazed paper covers. 15 cts.
Bible Lessons for Little Ones, No. 2. Flexible cloth. 15 cts.
Bound Volumes of Review and Herald. Each $2.00.
The Youth's Instructor for 1879. Firmly bound. $1.00.
Bible Lessons for Little Ones. A Sabbath-school book designed for the use of beginners, and prepared with special regard for the wants of very young children. In flexible cloth, 84 pp. 15 cts. In paper covers, 84 pp. 10 cts.
Gems of Song. A vest-pocket song book containing hymns only. A choice collection. 96 pp., 119 hymns, bound in flexible cloth. 15 cts. In paper covers. 10 cts.
TEMPERANCE TRACTS.
By Editor
TEN CENTS will secure a select package of stirring Temperance Tracts, containing one hundred pages of facts, figures and pointed arguments against intemperance in all its forms. The following constitute the package:—
Alcohol, What is it?—True Temperance.—Tobacco-Poisoning.—Tobacco-Using a Cause of Disease.—Tobacco-Using a Relic of Barbarism.—Evil Effects of Tea and Coffee.—Ten Arguments for Tea and Coffee Answered.—The Cause and Cure of Intemperance.—The Drunkard's Arguments Answered.—Alcoholic Medication.—Principles of Health Reform.
TWENTY-FIVE CENT PACKAGE.
A larger package, costing 25 cents, contains 248 pages in eighteen tracts. In addition to the above eleven, it has the following Health and Temperance Tracts, which are larger:—
Wine and the Bible.—Alcoholic Poison.—Moral and Social Effects of Alcohol.—Pork; the Dangers of its Use.—Tea and Coffee.—Healthful Clothing.—Dyspepsia.
ONE DOLLAR PACKAGE.—HEALTH BOOKS.
In addition to the above, we will send the following valuable Health Books for one dollar:—
Diphtheria (new edition illustrated), price 30 cents.—Healthful Cookery, 25 cents.—Proper Diet for Man, 15 cents.
Address, PACIFIC PRESS, Oakland, Cal.
Quarterly Meeting Postponed by Rain
By Editor
WE had expected reports from the Cal. T. and M. Society quarterly meeting for this paper, but owing to the rain-storm no meeting was held. The report of labor for the past quarter will be given next week.