p. 21 | Review and Herald, Vol. 20, No. 3. (6/17/1862)

THOUGHTS ON THE REVELATION.

CHAPTER II—CONTINUED.

The Seven Churches.

VERSES 18-29. And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write, These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet like unto fine brass; I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works, and the last to be more than the first. Notwithstanding, I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication, and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts; and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira (as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak,) I will put upon you none other burden; but that which ye have already, hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations. And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers; even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Thyatira signifies sweet savor of labor, or sacrifice and contrition, which seems descriptive of the church of Jesus Christ during the 1260 years of Papal persecution. This age of dreadful cruelty, and martyrdom of the true church, improved her real condition. "I know thy works, and charity, and patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first." How necessary to the purity and prosperity of the church, has been persecution and affliction! and how corrupting and destructive to holiness has been worldly prosperity!

"Jezebel," says Wm. Miller, Lectures, p. 142, "is a figurative name, alluding to Ahab's wife, who slew the prophets of the Lord, led her husband into idolatry, and fed the prophets of Baal at her own table. A more striking figure could not have been used to denote the Papal abominations. See 1 Kings xviii, xix, xxi. It is very evident from history, as well as from this verse, that the church of Christ did suffer some of the Papal monks to preach and teach among them. See the History of the Waldenses."

Watson's Bible Dictionary says:

"The name of Jezebel is used proverbially, Rev. ii, 20."

The Comprehensive Commentary, upon verse 23, "I will kill her children with death," &c., says:

Children are spoken of, which confirms the idea that a sect and its proselytes are meant.

The death here mentioned is doubtless the second death, at the close of the 1000 years of chapter xx, when the righteous retribution from the Searcher of "the reins and hearts" of men will be given. And, further, the declaration, "I will give unto every one of you according to your works," is proof that the address to this church prophetically looks forward to the final reward or punishment of all accountable beings.

The expression, "I will put upon you none other burden," may have been incorrectly applied to the reception, and living out of the present truth by the aged. Truth is not a burden to any accountable beings. We suggest that reference is made to the false teachings of Jezebel, or the Roman church, and that a prophetic allusion is here made to the influence of the reformation in exposing the corruptions of the Papal system, which gave the church rest from the burdens under which she had suffered. The days of tribulation were shortened for the elect's sake. Matt. xxiv. "And the earth helped the woman." Chap. xii, 16. "They shall be holpen with a little help." Dan. xi, 34.

"Hold fast till I come," saith the Son of God. This unqualified expression has reference to his second, personal appearing. We find the following threatening to the church of Ephesus. "I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." This is a conditional visitation of punishment for neglect of duty, and can have no reference to Christ's second advent. Again, the church in Pergamos have a like threatening,—"Repent, or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth." These conditional threatenings apply to periods of time when the church could not scripturally look for the second advent of Christ. But the unqualified exhortation, "hold fast till I come," addressed to the church in Thyatira, has no threatening connected with it. It is thrown in as a matter of encouragement to the faithful, hence must refer to the glorious second appearing of Jesus Christ. It should here be borne in mind that this fourth state of the church reaches down to within sixty-four years of the present time. The signs in the sun and moon were fulfilled in 1780, eighteen years before the close of this period; and in reference to these signs the Saviour said, "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth near." Luke xxi, 28. The time had come for the church to look up and expect her coming Lord in the clouds of heaven; hence it is said to some in Thyatira, "Hold fast till I come."

The end mentioned in this address, can refer to but one thing, and that is the end of the Christian age; hence we conclude that the address touches upon the leading events connected with the people of God during this long period, then glides to the end, expressing the victories of the overcomers.

The morning star is the same as the "day star" of 2 Pet. i, 19. During the saint's weary night of watching, the sure word of prophecy, the Bible, is a light in a dark place; but at the voice of God the day will dawn, and the overcomers will have that visible assurance that the day of glory is opening, represented by the morning star.

CHAPTER III.

Verses 1-6. "And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write: These things saith he that hath the seven spirits of God, and the seven stars: I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die; for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received, and heard, and hold fast and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments, and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment, and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."

Sardis signifies, song of joy, or that which remains. If we are correct in the application of the first four churches, then Sardis represents the nominal churches for the last half century or more. This church has a name that it lives, but is dead. Look at the exalted position and name which the nominal churches have had among the nations of the earth. Look at her high-sounding titles, and the applause she receives from what is called the world. The nominal churches have the name of the churches of Jesus Christ, and have the credit of doing much for the world. But they are dead to the pure principles of the gospel, and to good works as taught by Christ and his first ministers.

During this period of the church the message of the second coming of Christ is proclaimed, and the duty to watch for that event is enjoined. Those who do not watch will be overtaken by Christ's coming as by a thief, verse 3, while those who do watch are "not in darkness that that day should overtake them as a thief." 1 Thess. v, 4.

There are a few names even in Sardis, which have not defiled their garments. These come out of the different branches of Babylon, and unite upon the glorious theme of the second advent of Christ, leaving their denominational tenets behind, and form the church of brotherly love.

Verses 7-13. "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth, I know thy works; behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it; for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly; hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh, will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out; and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God; and I will write upon him my new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."

Philadelphia signifies, brotherly love, and expresses the position and spirit of those who received the advent message up to the autumn of 1844. As they came out of the sectarian churches, they left party names and party feelings behind, and every heart beat in union as they gave the alarm to the nominal churches and to the world, and pointed to the coming of the Son of man as the consummation of the true believer's hope. Selfishness and covetousness were laid aside, and a spirit of consecration and sacrifice was cherished. The Spirit of God was with every true believer, and his praise on every tongue. Those who were not in that movement know nothing of the deep searching of heart, consecration of all to God, peace, joy in the Holy Spirit, and pure, fervent love for each other, which true believers then enjoyed. Those who were in that movement are aware that language would fail to describe that united, happy state.

The Son of God is the rightful heir to the throne of David, and is about to take to himself his great power and reign, hence is here represented as having the key of David—a figure of power. The throne of David, or of Christ, on which he is to reign, is the capital of his kingdom, the New Jerusalem now above.

The opening and shutting can refer only to the change of ministration from the holy to the most holy of the heavenly sanctuary, at the end of the 2300 days, in 1844. It was then that the ministration in the holy place closed, and the ministration in the most holy for the forgiveness of sins, and to cleanse the sanctuary, was opened by him that hath the key of David. For a full exposition of this point, see work entitled, The Four Universal Kingdoms, the Sanctuary, and Twenty-three Hundred Days.

Behold I set before thee an open door. Compare this with Rev. xi, 19. We can apply texts of this class to no other events than to Christ's entering the most holy in 1844, and opening his ministration there, where the ark of ten commandments is, hence, since that time the Sabbath, with the whole law of God, has been present truth in a special sense.

Compare with the above texts, Dan. vii, 13, 14; Ps. ii, 8, 9; Rev. xi, 15; Matt. xxv, 10. That Christ receives the kingdom, takes the throne of David, before his second advent, is plainly taught. This union is represented by the marriage of Matt. xxv, 10, and is called "the marriage of the Lamb," Rev. xix, 7. Since 1844, has been the patient, waiting, watching time. "Here is the patience of the saints, here are they that keep the commandments of God." Rev. xiv, 12. "Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord, when he will return from the wedding," &c. Luke xii, 35, 36.

Those who keep the word of Christ's patience, will be kept from the hour of temptation which is to try all the world. Those who now live in patient, faithful obedience to the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ, will be kept in the dreadful deciding hour before us. See chap. xiii, 16, 17.

The personal appearing of Jesus Christ is also expressed in this address—Behold I come quickly! This shows the application of the testimony to the church in Philadelphia, to that period when Christ's second advent may be scripturally looked for, and shows the absurdity of that theory which makes the seven addresses to the churches, narratives of matters of fact

which occurred, or were to occur, in seven of the churches of Asia Minor, in John's day. There are no such expressions in connection with the first three churches, from the fact that they did not reach down near to the end.

In this address the overcomer has the promise of being made a pillar in the temple of God, to go no more out, which here must mean the church (see 2 Cor. vi, 16), where he is fully established in the truth, and sealed. And let it be distinctly understood, that these are all marked direct for the New Jerusalem above, and not for Old Jerusalem where our Age-to-come friends think of going. God save us from that mark. These have written upon them, GOD, NEW JERUSALEM, because they are the property of God, purchased by the blood of his dear Son, to be taken to the New Jerusalem. How glorious the promise!—"I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and I will write upon him my new name."

Verses 14-22. And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the beginning of the creation of God: I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot. I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love I rebuke and chasten; be zealous, therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Laodicea signifies the judging of the people, or according to Cruden, a just people, and fitly represents believers in the third message in the great day of atonement, or judgment of the house of God, while the just and holy law of God is taken as their rule of life.

They are described as being neither hot nor cold. As a body they have not that zeal, devotion, and those good works which are taught in the Scriptures, and yet their efforts to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus are such that they cannot be said to be cold. They are lukewarm, a condition offensive to the faithful and true Witness.

They say they are rich and increased in goods and have need of nothing. They say this, because they believe their condition in spiritual things, and their standing before God, is such. They are under a most terrible deception, as shown by the declaration, "and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." They are not hypocrites. The words, "and knowest not," vindicate them from all charge of hypocrisy. They honestly think their condition very good, when it is very bad. This is a period of dreadful deception in spiritual things, hence pointed testimony is called for to arouse the deceived to their real danger, and to continually warn the people of God to be free from Satan's deceptive power. The very climax of deception, in which Satan may most exult, is a spirit of fear for the result of the plain and pointed testimony which the deceptions of this period of the church call for. Ministers should cultivate a love to speak forth the reproofs of God's word, and the people should cherish a love for the plain testimony.

The people, and especially unconsecrated professors, love smooth things. They love to be deceived. "A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means, and my people love to have it so, and what will ye do in the end thereof?" Jer. v, 30, 31.

The true Witness counsels the people of God of this time to buy of him tried gold, which may represent true faith; white raiment, which may represent grace from him to enable his people to live a spotless life; and to anoint their eyes that they may see, which may represent the influence of the Holy Spirit upon the mind which will remove the dreadful deception upon it, so that they may correctly understand their true position and duty at this time.

He stands at the door of the heart knocking for admission, but spiritual blindness on the part of the lukewarm shuts him out. He pleads for admission, and promises those who will hear his voice, and open the door, that he will come in and sup with them, and they with him. In this appeal to the lukewarm, the Son of God uses most touching figures—figures which illustrate his matchless love for his people who are thrown upon the deceptive perils of the last days, and then closes his special message to them with the soul-inspiring promise of the highest exaltation—"To him that overcometh, will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne."

In this appeal the true Witness sets forth (1) the terrible deception of the lukewarm, (2) their danger, and fate if they then remain, (3) the requisite zeal in repentance, (4) his willingness to impart to them great blessings, and (5) points them, on conditions that they overcome, to a seat with him on his throne in the kingdom. This is enough! O God, let thy Holy Spirit strike this message home to the heart of every Laodicean. Amen.

SEPARATION FROM THE UNGODLY.

By M. E. Cornell

In order to maintain a devotional frame of mind, the eminently pious have ever found it necessary to keep separate from the world. Wesley, Clarke, Baxter, Fletcher and others, were very particular on this point. The sentiments of Dr. Adam Clarke are expressed in his comments on Ps. i, 1. He says:

“1. He who walks according to the counsel of the ungodly will soon, 2. Stand to look on the way of sinners; and thus being off his guard, he will soon be a partaker in their evil deeds. 3. He who has abandoned himself to transgression will, in all probability, soon become hardened by the deceitfulness of sin; and sit with the scorners, and endeavor to turn religion into ridicule.”

If any Sabbath-keeper should be tempted to attend any of the places of amusement of the present day—the circus, fairs, festivals, or other gatherings of those who love pleasure more than they love God, I would commend to them a careful and prayerful consideration of the following scriptures. Ps. xxvi, 4–6; Ps. cxxxix, 19–21; Prov. i, 10, 15; Prov. iv, 14, 15; Prov. xxiv, 1, 2; Isa. xxxiii, 14–17; 2 Cor. vi, 14, 18.

It is risky business to mingle with those who are not children of light, for then we are in danger of being overcome by the spirit that works in the children of disobedience. Concerning this, Thomas Fuller gives the following good advice:

“If thou beest cast into bad company, like Hercules, thou must sleep with thy club in thine hand, and stand on thy guard, I mean if against thy will the tempest of an unexpected occasion drives thee amongst such rocks; then be thou like the river Dee in Merionithshire in Wales, which running through Pimblemere, remains entire, and mingles not her streams with the waters of the Lake. Though with them, be not of them. . . . And if against thy will thou fallest amongst wicked men, know to thy comfort thou art still in thy calling, and therefore in God's keeping, who on thy prayers will preserve thee.”

M. E. CORNELL.

SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT.

By A. S. Hutchins

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” The affections of the heart, twine closely around its treasure, whether it be laid up in heaven or upon earth. And the words of our life are an index pointing directly toward that treasure; “for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Hence if our treasure is in heaven, our conversation will be there, “from whence also we look for the Saviour.” The attractions of heaven as far exceed those of earth, for the real Christian, as the light of the shining sun does the dim rays of the most distant star.

Now is the time to heed the divine injunction, “exhorting one another: and so much the more as ye see the day approaching.” Now is the time for the people of God to speak often one to another. The Lord hearkens and hears, and a “book of remembrance” is written. O let not your conversation be upon this poor dark fading earth, with its honors and riches, fashions and follies; its* charms and excitements, its pleasures and vanities.

If the blessed hope is yours, you have a treasure full, sure, satisfying, inestimable and eternal, which will draw your heart upward to God, his dear Son and holy angels, to heaven and heavenly things, like a holy and powerful magnet. You can talk of the exceeding great and precious promises, of the “far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;” of the incorruptible crowns, the palms, the robes, the harps of music and the songs of the redeemed.

You can speak of the great City, the holy Jerusalem, “having the glory of God,” of its light, its pure gold, its wall with twelve foundations; of the gently flowing river of life, “clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.” You may talk of the real tree of life, on either side of the river, bearing its twelve manner of fruits; of the earth made new, blooming in its Eden beauty, of the immovable

kingdom, of the “many mansions,” of inheriting all things, of eternal life amidst unfolding beauties and unspeakable glories, with all the blood-washed throng where nothing can mar our happiness nor interrupt our peace or endless rest.

“Beautiful rest, all wanderings cease, Beautiful home of perfect peace.”

“And there shall be no more curse; but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him.” Rev. xxii, 3.

“Thro’ all eternity to thee, A joyful song I’ll raise; But O, eternity’s too short To utter all Thy praise.”

Let us not forget to talk of the pathway of life, and of the required obedience to the commandments of God. “Ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sitteth in thine house, and when thou walkest in the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” Deut. xi, 19. Truly God’s people have something of solid worth to talk about. “They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; to make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.” Ps. cxlv, 11, 12. A. S. HUTCHINS.

TENT MEETINGS IN MICH.

By John Norton Loughborough; Moses Hull

Bro. White: We presume you are anxious to hear from our meetings here, so we will write a few words this morning. We got to this place just in time to advertise in one of the county papers—"The Republican,"—the other had gone to press. This feature of advertising in the county papers we think will wonderfully add to the interest of tent meetings, especially in the fore part of a meeting. If we put our faith "into a nut shell," probably but few would look after it. If we act as though we had a message which we wanted the world to hear, they certainly will be induced to come if for no more than curiosity at first. Curiosity often leads to interest.

We pitched our tent according to appointment. The first evening we had a congregation of two hundred; the next evening four hundred; the next evening six hundred; the next eight hundred. Monday evening—which is generally the poorest night in a week for meetings,—we had between six and seven hundred; last night eight hundred again. Several loads of people come four or five miles every night, after working hard all day. The people give almost breathless attention. Although the tent has been up but five days, we have already sold over $7,00 worth of books. We cannot of course tell the result, but hope to have the prayers of the brethren, that we may preach the word aright, and that the blessing of the Lord may be with us. We will close by giving the following extract that appeared in the yesterday's issue of the Eaton County Argus:

"Tent Meetings are being held in our village by Elds. Loughborough and Hull of the Second Advent persuasion, from Battle Creek. They are largely attended and a good deal of interest is manifested by the hearers. We heard there one of the best exposures of modern Spiritualism on Sunday last we have ever heard or read. Evening meetings are announced to continue through the present week."

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, MOSES HULL.

REPORT FROM THE ILLINOIS TENT.

By Isaac Sanborn, Wm. S. Ingraham

BRO. WHITE: Since we last wrote you we have preached eight times more at Princeville, and baptized ten, leaving a church there of thirty-five members, besides many who are almost persuaded to obey the truth. May the Lord help them, is our prayer.

The tent is now pitched in Elmwood, about twenty miles south-west of Princeville, in Peoria Co., Ills. We have preached six times, to large congregations, which are increasing every evening, both in numbers and interest. The prospect here for a good work is certainly flattering. Pray for us, brethren, that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men, and that the word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified. 2 Thess. iii, 1.

ISAAC SANBORN.

WM. S. INGRAHAM.

P. S. Our P. O. address will be Elmwood, Peoria Co., Ills., until further notice is given. I. S.

LOOKING BACK.

By Joseph Clarke

Lot's wife became a pillar of salt. Why? She looked back. The hosts of Israel fell in the wilderness. Why? They looked back wishfully for Egypt again.

But there are many kinds of looking back, some right, some wrong. Let us notice some of them.

1. When the individual pants for the occupations, pleasures, treasures, friends, &c., left behind; as was the case with the wife of Lot, it proves that the deliverance is not appreciated, nor valued, nor the deliverer loved, nor the danger realized. Such a case is desperate, and calls for God's immediate disapprobation.

2. When the individual rescued, looks back, and recoils with a shudder, at the thought of the danger he has escaped, thus enhancing the sense of gratitude he feels toward his deliverer; this is right.

3. A looking back, to discover past sins, and errors, into which he may have fallen, that he may repent, and ask God for Christ's sake to forgive them; this is right, when directed and influenced by the good Spirit; but sometimes, Satan takes hold of this business, in the garb of an angel of light, and urges to despair and remorse, or drives to fanaticism or madness. Let us beware of Satan's devices.

4. A kind of looking back, which presents old difficulties, animosities, mistakes, errors, old leaven of bitterness and envy, which has probably been on hand a long time, rankling and festering; such a looking back as this, is evidently wrong and dangerous.

Habits are stubborn things, but bad habits must be broken off, and this habit which many have of dwelling upon darkness, is weakening to themselves, and others.

Had Samson known and realized his danger, he would not have submitted to Satan's arts. But there are other and various modes of weakening ourselves, and our brethren, and of these this one stands pre-eminent; of dwelling upon the dark side of events, and the darkest side of the acts of the weak and the lukewarm. Such need more of our forbearance, more of our love, more of our charity and effort; and toward ourselves, God does not require us to condemn, with bitter, despairing, despondent feeling, but so to hate the sin, as he does; turn from it with broken contrite heart, looking to Jesus for pardon, until his love comes down into the soul, causing cheerfulness, and courage in God.

Look up to Jesus dear brother! Look away from this gloomy earth, and learn of him to love the weak, and bear them on your wings of faith, to where Jesus pleads. See what he can do for them.

It is an easy thing to love an angel of light. It is easy to admire the lovely ripe christian, whose very presence brings a purer holier atmosphere. But to love one of the least, the weakest of the flock; to nurse the diseased and sickly, to bind up the wounded; this requires patience and self denial. To help the angels drive away the evil spirits from the oppressed, half-despairing saint; to cherish him as the nurse does her charge, who in his delirium, becomes almost intolerable; this requires manly fortitude, and the God-like virtues, forgetting the present tribulation, merging all such considerations, in the prospect of a brighter crown, and a soul rescued by your instrumentality, from the horrible pit and the miry clay.

Forbear then to look back, in an evil manner. It is Satan's plan to weaken you, and destroy your usefulness, and weaken your brethren. JOSEPH CLARKE.

THE DEGENERACY OF THE UNITED STATES.

By Uriah Smith

UNDER the heading of "Anti-slavery Agitators," we find the following compilation of statements in the Recorder of May 29, 1862. They are declarations from some of the noble men who graced the early days of this republic, and show how they regarded the subject of slavery, even though they were natives of, and residents in, slave States. Compare these sentiments with the blasphemous and insane ravings of pro-slavery demagogues of the present day on this question, the whitewashed villainy of many of the pulpits of our land in relation to it, and the strenuous efforts put forth to foster and extend this diabolical system, and mark the contrast. To him who reads the signs of the times, these things are significant. They give us something of an idea of how rapidly the dragonic spirit of this nation has of late years developed itself in accordance with the prophecy in Rev. xiii, 11. U. S.

ANTI-SLAVERY AGITATORS.

There is not a man living who wishes more sincerely than I do to see a plan adopted for the abolition of slavery.—Gen. Washington, Apr. 12th, 1786.

"The scheme, my dear Marquis, which you propose as a precedent to encourage the emancipation of the black people in this country from the state of bondage in which they are held, is a striking evidence of the benevolence of your heart."—Washington to Lafayette, 1788.

"It is the most earnest wish of America to see an entire stop forever put to the wicked, cruel, and unnatural trade in slaves."—Meeting at Fairfax, Va., July 18, 1774, presided over by Washington.

"I tremble for my country, when I reflect that God is just. His justice cannot sleep for ever."—Jefferson's Notes on Slavery in Virginia, 1782.

"The King of Great Britain has waged cruel war against human nature itself, violating its most sacred rights of life and liberty, in the persons of a distant people who never offended him; captivating them and carrying them into slavery in another hemisphere, or to incur miserable death in their transportation hither."—Jefferson's original draft of the Declaration of Independence.

"After the year 1800 of the Christian era, there shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in any of the said states" (all of the territories then belonging to the United States).—Jefferson's Ordinance of 1787, unanimously approved by Congress and signed by Washington.

"We have seen the mere distinction of color made, in the most enlightened period of time, a ground of the most oppressive dominion ever exercised by man over man."—James Madison.

"We have found that this evil has preyed upon the very vitals of the Union, and has been prejudicial to all the States in which it has existed."—James Monroe.

"The tariff was only the pretext, and a Southern Confederacy the real object. The next pretext will be the negro or slavery question."—Andrew Jackson, May 1833.

"Sir, I envy neither the heart nor the head of that man from the North who rises here to defend slavery on principle."—John Randolph, of Roanoke.

"The people of Carolina form two classes, the rich and poor. The poor are very poor; the rich, who have slaves to do all their work, give them no employment. The little they get is laid out in brandy, not in books and newspapers; hence they know nothing of the comparative blessings of our country, or of the dangers which threaten it; therefore they care nothing about it."—General Francis Marion to Baron De Kalb.

"So long as God allows the vital current to flow through my veins, I will never, never, never, by word or thought, by mind or will, aid in admitting one rood of free territory to the everlasting curse of human bondage."—Henry Clay.

Alluding to the time the above sentiment was uttered, Thomas H. Benton says: "That was a proud day. I could have wished that I had spoken the same words; I speak them now, telling you they were his, and adopting them as my own."

"We consider the voluntary enslaving of one part of the human race by another as utterly inconsistent with the law of God, which enjoins that 'All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.'"—Resolutions unanimously adopted by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of the United States of America.

DIPTHERIA.

By M. A. Green

BRO. WHITE: As I read of the ravages of diptheria, published in the Review of May 6, I thought, Can it be that the nature of this fearful disease is understood? or are the people left to suffer from physicians' prescribing something, not knowing whether it is the thing needed or not? and my sorrowing heart would gladly tell a little of my own experience if perhaps it might benefit some one. After the death of our little boy, whose obituary was published in last week's Review, being convinced that more was necessary than had been done for him, we sent to Hermon, about twenty miles distant, where were three physicians, and Dr. Wesley Rice came here. He said the disease did not run high, like a fever, but ran low, and the sufferer needed stimulants. In many cases they were absolutely necessary from the first appearance of the disease. Although he did not talk very encouragingly respecting our little girl, he left medicine and orders, saying he could do no more if it was his own child, except to increase the stimulants. His orders were strictly followed most of the time, and the child recovered. There have been three other cases near by. Dr. R. visited one, and the others obtained his medicines, used them faithfully, and recovered. I cannot find out that he has ever lost a patient. Although my trust is not in man, I believe the Lord blesses the right use of means as much for the recovery of the sick as for any other purpose. Why not?

The medicine and directions we had were as follows:

Tincture of chloride of iron, to be mixed with soft water, half and half, for swabbing the throat, to be used once in six hours. Ten drops of the same in a tea-spoonful of water, to be taken once in four hours. A tea-spoonful of brandy fixed in warm sling, once in four hours. A quinine powder every night and morning, and if necessary to keep her from sinking, we might give a

large spoonful of brandy every half hour. We sometimes swabbed the throat oftener than our orders.

I have written this in sympathy for sufferers from this dread disease. If you please to publish it, may God's blessing rest upon it.

I will only add that I am still trying to keep the Sabbath of the Lord; have tried to pray that God would sanctify to my good the afflictions through which I am called to pass. I have found much consolation in the words of Jesus where he says, "I am he that liveth and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore; amen, and have the keys of hell and of death." O I rejoice in the hope that the time is coming when death and the Devil will be destroyed, and Jesus shall have the victory forever, and the redeemed shall return and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads.

M. A. GREEN.

Fine, St. Law. Co., N. Y.

SEEK THE LORD.

By S. Elmer

Seek now the Lord, ye meek of earth Who have his judgments wrought, Ye may be hid, since Jesus hath A full salvation bought.

Seek him, ye wretched wandering souls, Who have despised his grace; A fearful storm is gathering fast, Go seek a hiding place.

Seek him while mercy's voice is heard, Beseeching you to come, Ere justice draw his glittering sword, And seal the sinner's doom.

Seek ye the Lord while he is near, Now, while he may be found, Lest you should call and be not hear While sorrows press around.

Seek him before the righteous Judge Shall fix the firm decree, That whoso'er is filthy found, Shall ever filthy be!

O haste, and God's commandments keep, And find his promise sure, Then should the earth's foundation shake, Your souls may rest secure.

And though the fearful thunders roll, And the red lightnings glare, You'll safely reach a Father's home, And find a welcome there. S. ELMER.

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