Review and Herald, Vol. 25, No. 19. (4/11/1865)

Review and Herald

Apr 11, 1865

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 11, 1865

Universal Obedience.

By E. B. Saunders

Bro. White : The following on Universal Obedience is quoted by Jonathan Edwards in his work on the Affections, from Stoddard's Way to know Sincerity and Hypocrisy. It will serve to show the narrowness of the way as our fathers viewed it above a hundred years ago. E. B. Saunders.

He that pretends to godliness, and turns aside to crooked ways, is an hypocrite; for those that are really godly do live in a way of obedience. Ps. cxix, 1-3. "Blessed are the undefiled in the way, that walk in the law of the Lord. They also do no iniquity." Luke i, 6. They were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments of the Lord blameless. But such as live in ways of sin are dissemblers; for all such will be rejected in the day of judgment. Matt. vii, 23. Depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Luke xiii, 27.

If men live in a way of disobedience, they do not love God; for love will make men keep God's commandments, and his commandments are not grievous.

If men live in a way of disobedience, they have not a spirit of faith; for faith sanctifies men. Acts xxvi, 18. Sanctified by faith that is in me.

If men live in a way of disobedience, they are not Christ's sheep; for his sheep hear his voice. John x, 27.

Men that live in a way of disobedience, are not born of God. 1 John iii, 9. "He that is born of God sinneth not."

Men that live in a way of disobedience are the servants of sin. John viii, 34. He that committeth sin is the servant of sin.

A course of external sin is an evidence of hypocrisy, whether it be a sin of omission or commission.

If men live in the neglect of known duties, or in the practice of known evils, that will be their condemnation; let the sin be what it will; let it be profaneness, uncleanness, lying, or injustice.

If men allow themselves in malice, envy, wanton thoughts, profane thoughts, that will condemn them; though those corruptions do not break out in any scandalous way. These thoughts are evidence of a rotten heart. Titus iii, 8. We ourselves were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

If a man allows himself, though he thinks he doth not, in malice and envy, he is a hypocrite; though his conscience disallows it, yet if his heart allows it, he is no saint. Some make pretences to godliness, whereby they do not only deceive others, but (which is a great deal worse) deceive themselves also; but this will condemn them, that they live in a course of sin, and so must go with ungodly men. Ps. cxxv, 5. As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the Lord will lead them forth with the workers of iniquity. If there be a great change in a man's carriage, and he be reformed in several particulars, yet if there be one evil way, the man is an ungodly man; where there is piety there is universal obedience.

A man may have great infirmities, yet be a godly man. So it was with Lot, David, and Peter; but if he lives in a way of sin, he does not render his godliness only suspicious, but it is full evidence against him.

Men that are godly have respect to all of God's commandments. Ps. cxix, 6. There be a great many commands, and if there be one of them that a man has not respect unto, he will be put to shame another day.

If a man lives in one evil way, he is not subject to God's authority; but then he lives in rebellion; and that will take off all his pleas, and at once cut off all his pretenses; and he will be condemned in the day of judgment. One way of sin is exception enough against the man's salvation. Though the sin he lives in be but small, such persons will not be guilty of perjury, stealing, drunkenness, fornication; they look upon them to be heinous things, and are afraid of them; but they do not much matter it, if they oppress a little in a bargain, if they commend a thing too much when they are about to sell it, if they break a promise, if they spend the Sabbath unprofitably, if they neglect secret prayer, if they talk rudely and reproach others; they think these are but small things; if they can keep clear of great transgressions, they hope that God will not insist upon small things.

But indeed all the commands of God are established by divine authority; a small shot may kill a man as well as a cannon ball; a small leak may sink a ship.

If a man lives in small sins, that shows he has no love to God, no sincere care to please and honor God. Little sins are of a damning nature, as well as great; if they do not deserve so much punishment as greater, yet they do deserve damnation. There is a contempt of God in all sins. Matt. v, 19. He that shall break one of the least of these commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called the least in the kingdom of God. Prov. xix, 16. He that keepeth the commandments, keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his way, shall die. If a man says, this is a great command, and so lays weight on it, and another is a little commandment, and so does not regard it, but will allow himself to break it, he is in a perishing condition.

The Formal Professors of the Last Days.

GOD has said "in the last days perilous times shall come, for men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy," having no reverence for God. "Without natural affections, truce-breakers, false-accusers." "Slanderers," striving always to ruin the characters of others, "incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God." Pleasure and sensual gratification are their God. "Having a form of godliness," destitute of the life of God in their souls, "but denying the power thereof; from such turn away;" do not imitate them, have no kind of fellowship with them, they are a dangerous people; and but seldom suspected because the outside is fair.

Is not this the very time referred to in the alarming passage quoted, when error puts on the semblance of truth, and religion itself, in forms of mere earthly aggrandizement, becomes one enormous, despotic, consolidated lie? When truth retires and is hidden, or subdued and stricken down in the popular churches in our land? Is it not the age when the religion of the New Testament is not the standard to be seen, but the dead forms of religion are exhibited in the churches? When we take the reflection of the gospel from such sources, as the standard of religion, do we not lose all sense of its native simplicity, power and glory? From past experience and history, can we hope for any reformation in the fashionable, worldly-conforming churches, which yet retain the pleasing forms of religion, but positively deny the power thereof? We may not know whether this age will ever awake to a sense of its departure from God, and of the degraded and slavish state of its piety; but we do know that this soiled, earthly, doubting, unbelieving, plodding, pale, careworn, self-aggrandizing form in which religion goes about in popular churches, is not the open, soul-stirring, noble, trusting, singing, rejoicing, angelic religion of the Bible. Hallelujah to God and the Lamb forever, for this heavenly light and knowledge! "These things," said our blessed Saviour to his disciples, "have I spoken unto you that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." There is a glory and power, a beauty and a depth of blessedness in the New Testament religion, that never has, and never can be seen or known in these formal churches. A belief of the truth that millions of professing Christians, having the form of godliness (believing

they are going to Heaven and wrapping themselves up in this terrible delusion) are dropping from the thresholds of their churches into endless ruin, calls for a firmness and power which characterized the apostles and early martyrs. Jesus could weep over Jerusalem, heal the diseased, sympathize with the mourners over the dead, but when he came in contact with a church which relies on forms and ceremonies for salvation, he could only say "Woe unto you hypocrites, for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones and all uncleanliness. Ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell." May the God of Heaven inspire those that have obeyed the truth, and have come out from among them, who will not touch the unclean thing, to demand an unconditional surrender of formalists, that they may become the loyal "sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty." No plea will stand in the judgment, for the unchangeable word of God is, "Come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord." And if there ever was a time when this injunction, "From such turn away," ought to be obeyed, it is now. May the great Ruler of the universe stop the business of apologizing for, or bolstering up dead churches, or formal professors of religion, by means of which millions are on the direct road to ruin. With what energy would a sainted Wesley rebuke this compromising conformity to the world. At what an expense of blood God hath set us free from the despotism of sin, and shall we again pass under the accursed yoke? "How turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage." How much we all need the baptism of the Holy Ghost that we may receive power to annihilate all mere dead forms, and in their stead, exhibit to the world a living Jesus, that cleanseth from all sin, and fills the soul with all the fullness of God.

Was it exhausted at the reformation, when it flashed out so gloriously and shook the world with its power? Why is it not seen in equal glory now? Why such a resurrection of refined pomp and gilded formalism; and such an exhibition of the church in the place of a living Jesus? May we call all true followers of Jesus by this means back to the rock and refuge of primitive simplicity and holiness!

Indeed without this baptism what are we doing? where is our efficiency? we are no better than petrified monks, and might as well be thrown back into the dark ages, preaching to the fish in the Atlantic. Oh, how many are to-day blindly kneeling to Bishops, and worshipping a Christless church! Would to God that a voice from Heaven, "awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead" would arrest them, and the living light of Jesus take possession of their hearts. With this living experience, no false form of religion could stand before the church. Ministers need this primitive fire, members need it; all need it and must have it in order to break up this body of death, and let in upon the church the light and freshness of God's eternal love.—Earnest Christian.

Pilgrims and Strangers.

By P. H. Cady

THESE all died in faith * and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. Heb. xi, 13.

A pilgrim and stranger, here sadly I roam, But I look for a kingdom which soon is to come, A home in that kingdom a mansion secure, If I but prove faithful, hold fast and endure.

A pilgrim and stranger, though foes should arise, To hinder my progress to my home in the skies, I'll meet them with courage and ne'er be afraid, While Jesus is with me I'll ne'er be dismay'd.

A pilgrim and stranger, I'll seek but to know The will of my God, and thus daily to show By example and precept, by word and by deed, I'm striving his counsels and precepts to heed.

A pilgrim and stranger, all vain show and pride, And the lusts of the flesh must all be denied, The honors of earth, its glory and fame Are but drops when compared with Jesus' dear name.

Though storms of temptation around me should rise, To darken my prospects and cloud all my skies, The Saviour has promised my foes to subdue; A pilgrim and stranger, I'm resolved to go through.

The shaking is coming, who will be prepared To stand in the battle in the day of the Lord? None but the true pilgrims and strangers to earth Shall enter those mansions of heavenly birth.

A pilgrim and stranger, oh then let me be, And patiently suffer my dear Lord with thee; Then with Ahra'm and Isaac, those pilgrims of old, I shall reign with the Lamb in the city of gold. P. H. CADY.

Importance of Rest.

In his excellent Herald of Health, Dr. Trall thus sagely advises rest: "How much has been written about water, air, food, exercise, dress, and other hygienic materials and influences, and how little about rest! As a remedial measure, rest is of vastly more importance than has been generally supposed. As a therapeutic means, its place is at the very head of the materia medica. Very little skill, comparatively, is required for a practitioner of the Hygeio-Therapeutic school to know when to do something, and what to do. But a vastly greater fund of professional knowledge is required to know when and how to let the patient alone. One-half the world is drugged to death when sick, and one-half of the remainder is fretted to death. We have frequently saved life by standing between the patients and their friends. The world has got a bad fashion of making a terrible ado, keeping up a constant consternation, nursing and fussing continually, while anxious relatives, sympathizing friends, mysteriously gibbering doctors, meddlesome nurses, and whispering watchers, add their mite of mighty influence to the wrong side, and all because somebody is sick and needs rest. And the whole mischief is traceable to a false dogma in medical science in relation to the nature of disease. The authors teach that disease is an entity, a thing which travels about, pervades the air, penetrates our dwellings, and finally attacks us; and this absurd phantasm is easily transmogrified by the ignorant and unthinking multitude (unthinking on this subject, we mean) into something analogous to a witch, a ghost, a goblin, spook, fiend, or demon, which nothing but the doctor's poisons, dealt out by the doctor's own hand or pen, can assuage, pacify, eradicate, exorcise, kill, or cure. The charms, incantations, and amulets of the ancients were not more silly, and the necromancy and pow-wows of the Indian tribes of the present day are not more ridiculous (and they are predicated on precisely the same false notions of the nature of disease) than are the dosing, and drugging, and slopping, and stuffing, and watching, and fretting of the regular physicians of to-day, and the patrons and nurses of their school. Nine out of ten of all the maladies of all the people of the world would get well in a few hours, or days, if left to themselves, with no other appliances than such as instinct would suggest, and common sense employ. Yet in nine cases out of the ten, the doctor is called, and if he be a drugopathic doctor, one-half his patients are in danger of a protracted illness, and one-half of these are sure of a ruined constitution, not because of the disease, but be-consequence of the drugs. When we visit a patient in the country, our greatest difficulty is to keep the friends quiet, when nothing but let-alone ativeness is needed. All are willing to do something; every one is anxious to lend a helping hand; and people generally estimate a physician's knowledge and skill by the extent or variety of his prescriptions. Few can understand the quietly-working, yet efficient remedial resources of nature when undisturbed.—Am. Phrenological Journal.

Then and Now.

PERHAPS there is nothing which will afford a clearer illustration of the condition in which the rebels now find themselves, than a comparison of the early messages of President Davis with his recent ones—especially his last appeal to the rebel Congress for assistance at their hands, which we have recently laid before our readers. Here is what he said in 1861:

"Your border States will gladly come into the Southern Confederacy within sixty days, as we will be your only friends. England will recognize us, and a glorious future is before us. The grass will grow in the Northern cities, where the pavements have been worn by the tread of commerce. We will carry the war where it is easy to advance, where food for the sword and torch await the armies in the densely populated cities."

How have these boastful predictions been realized? Four years have passed, and the border States are every one of them more loyal to the Union than they were before the rebellion, though it has totally destroyed slavery in Missouri, West Virginia and Maryland, and has nearly destroyed it in Kentucky. England has not recognized the Confederacy, and she will not, and the people and her Government are far more friendly to the Union, and less friendly to those who have been seeking to destroy it, than they were at the commencement of the rebellion. The venal British journals which for years persisted in representing the effort of the North to restore the Union as in vain, are now admitting that the South can prolong the struggle but a little longer, and are discussing the question, whether the victorious North will call England to account for the depredations which English vessels, sailing under the rebel flag, have committed on our commerce. "The grass will grow in the Northern cities!" Never has the population of many of the Northern cities—perhaps of nearly all the commercial centers of the North—increased more rapidly than during the four years of this rebellion. Has the grass grown in the streets of New York?—of Boston?—of Philadelphia?—of Chicago? Has it grown even in the streets of Cincinnati—of Baltimore—of St. Louis—cities whose prosperity has been supposed to be yet more largely dependent upon the south? Where is the Northern city whose pavements are not still worn by the tread of commerce?" The last boast, about carrying "the war where it is easy to advance," &c., is the most ridiculous and unfortunate of all. The rebels have not succeeded in carrying the war across Mason & Dixon's line more than three or four times, except in insignificant guerrilla raids like those of Morgan; and they were driven toward Richmond, after heavy loss, whenever they attempted it. They have never threatened a "densely populated" Northern city with the sword, and never with any torch save those of the cowardly incendiaries whom they hired to set fire to a few hotels.

All of these productions of the rebel President have been turned against the rebels. The border States are now looking to the States, free before the rebellion as their natural allies. England "recognizes" the North, and she will do it yet more clearly hereafter. The grass has grown in the streets of nearly every Southern city. We have carried the war where it was "easy to advance," and where it was difficult to advance, through the richest portions of the South; but seldom have we executed upon the cities of the South the threat of "sword and torch," made by the rebel President against those of the North.—Detroit Tribune.

Look out for Masked Batteries!

Beware of masked batteries! You know the mischief they work. They have various forms, and are located at various places; but they always work mischief. There are many of them, and for fear that they should be brought to bear upon you, we will point out some of them.

That screen, that you see as you pass the Saloon door, is a masked battery. You know this without being told; for why do men or boys go behind that screen, for anything that is honest or proper? Did you ever go near enough to read what is written upon it? "Come behind here, boys," it says, "and do what you are ashamed to be seen doing! Come behind here and be cheated, by giving your money for what will do you more hurt than good! Come behind here, and conceal a bad example! Come behind here, and see how mean a business we carry on; see how we mislead boys, and ruin men; how we get our living by doing evil to others; how we make drunkards and

promote poverty; how we wring the hearts of fathers and mothers by enticing their boys to ruin! Come behind here, boys, men, women, children, and see what the screen tries to hide."

Those little dog kennels, in the shop below, are masked batteries indeed. What kind of goods do men sell, whose customers have to go into those dirty holes and shut the doors? Better by far go into the lock-up. These holes are indeed masked batteries for men. More drunken men come out of these holes than go into them. Keep watch at the door, boys, and see who are the customers. Men with red faces and tattered characters enter there—men with "blue ruin" written all over them. They have faced masked batteries before. They think their disgrace is a secret, while everybody know that they have been "battered" till there is little left of them. Watch the door, boys, for nobody goes into those dog-holes except to conceal their shame.

The Methodists as They Were and Are.

Peter Cartwright says: When I joined the Methodist Episcopal church in 1801, her ministers and members were a plain people; plain in dress and address. You could know a Methodist preacher by his plain dress as far as you could see him. The members were plain, very plain in dress. They wore no jewelry, nor were they permitted to wear jewelry, or superfluous ornament, or extravagant dress of any kind, and this was the rule by which we worked, whether poor or rich, young or old; and although we knew then as well as we know now, that the religion of the Lord Jesus Christ did not consist in dress, or cut of the garment, yet we then knew, and know now, that the extravagant dress and superfluous ornaments engender pride, and lead to many hurtful lusts, directly at war with that humility and godly example that becomes our relation to Christ, that so pre-eminently becomes Christians.

Moreover, when we look around us, and see the perishing millions of our fallen race dying in their sins, for the want of a preached gospel, and that this gospel is not sent to them for want of means to support the missionary, may we not well question whether we are doing right in the sight of God in adorning our bodies with all this costly extravagant dressing? Would it not be more Godlike or Christianlike to give our money, laid out for these unnecessary ornaments, to send the gospel to the poor perishing millions, and would not the simple fund that might be created by disposing of the ornaments of the members of the Methodist church alone, send the gospel to hundreds of thousands who must perish in all probability, for the want of this little Christian sacrifice by the professed lovers of Christ? The apostle James says, "Whether ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."

—Autobiography of Peter Cartwright, p. 515.

The Way to Peace and Joy.

By C. H. Rogers

It is a plainly revealed characteristic of our nature to be ever seeking for happiness. It matters not what our vocation may be, or what our circumstances in life, there is a continual striving after this one great end. We would then ask, What, in the light of pure and undefiled religion, is the acme of the Christian's enjoyment? What constitutes his perfect happiness so far as this life is concerned, while surrounded with the cares and turmoils of this inconstant and giddy world? What is it that is most congenial to his tastes and feelings? Is it not a conscience void of offence toward God and toward all men? a willingness to become anything or nothing for the sake of Jesus? a humble sinking out of self into Christ? Is it not the putting on of that spirit of meekness and charity which beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things? that rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth? I answer, that I think when the child of God can humbly feel like this, then, so far as mortality is capable, he will be able to comprehend what is the exceeding love of God.

The question then arises, How are we to attain to this? There are certain duties laid down in the word of God which we must perform, the performance of which brings that peace which comes through obedience, and which will secure the favor of God. One of these is prayer, and the most necessary is secret prayer.

What is secret prayer? It is a communion of one's self alone with God, either silently or vocally. Says the apostle, "I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting." 1 Tim. ii, 7. I do not understand the apostle to mean here that we should at all times and under all circumstances lift up our hands and raise our voices in vocal prayer; but that we should always feel the force of the solemn declaration, "Thou God seest me." We should at all times commend ourselves to his kind care and keeping. Especially are we enjoined to seek our Lord in our closet, where he has promised to not only hear us while secretly communing with him, but reward us openly. Then, how precious should be the seasons when we can retire and pour our sorrows and griefs into the ears of One who is never weary of hearing our cries.

Why is it that the duty of secret prayer should be so arduous and repugnant to the feelings of so many, when we know that it is in the secret bower that a tender Father often reveals the glory of his shining face? when we know that he bids us meet him there, and daily receive that strength which we so much need to successfully cope with the adversary of all good?

The Psalmist often sought his God in secret; and if it was necessary for David, a man after God's own heart, to flee often to his secret chamber and intercede with God for daily strength to enable him to endure the buffetings of Satan, and the persecutions of unrighteous men, how much more necessary is it that we should do the same thing, in this time when Satan is working with all signs and powers and lying wonders; when men's hearts are failing them for fear, and when nations are trembling, thrones tottering, and principalities crumbling to decay?

Let us often be found in near communion with God. It is impossible to live with a conscience void of offense toward God and men, without often seeking this blessed secret intercourse with our heavenly Father. We have the example of our blessed Pattern to cheer us in this holy duty. At one time we find him going apart from his disciples, and continuing all night in the mountain in secret communion with his Father. And once again at solemn midnight he bowed in agony and prayed. Pause and think! think of the intense agony which called forth that heart-gush of anguish, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass." There he bowed, forsaken of those whom he loved, earnestly pleading with his Father for strength to pass through the bitter trial before him. Then an angel was sent to bless and encourage.

Thus it is with those who earnestly plead with God. It is the strong faithful crying, the earnest appeal, that brings the blessing from above; and while cares and sorrows oppress, and the heart seems riven with anguish, how sweet to go away and find that soothing solace with God and our Redeemer which can be found nowhere else! and then to know that while in this sacred nearness with our heavenly Father, he hears our feeble cries, and sends to our help and rescue angels to comfort and assure us of divine favor, and say to our troubled spirits, Be not afraid, thy Father is at the helm.

Then hail the secret bower, The calm and sacred hour, When God in soothing power Comes down in love. C. H. ROGERS. Mauston, Wis.

Going Home.

By Esther P. Warren

DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: While trying to press our weary way onward through the land of the enemy, what sweet consolation do we find in these words, Going home! Oh, how many times that one word, Home, has cheered me onward when trying to breast the cold storms and tempests of life, and many times does my heart rejoice that we are nearing our Father's house of many mansions, where we shall meet all the dear saints we have loved so well on this earth. Though some are separated by distance, and others have been snatched from us by the cruel hand of death, yet, thank the Lord, they will come again from the land of the enemy. Oh blessed thought! This truly cheers me on. We shall see them all, not one will be forgotten then. And the lonely ones too! What joy to them; for they, too, will be gathered. Dear brethren and sisters, these things begin to assume a reality they never before possessed, to me, at least. A few more trials and we shall be in sight of home, sweet home.

"Jesus loves me—that's enough To cheer me when the way is rough, To soothe, support and comfort me, When earthly hopes and comforts flee. Loved ones may fail in hours of need, But Jesus is a friend indeed."

Yours in hope of eternal life.

ESTHER P. WARREN.

Deerfield, Minn.

Honor.

By J. Clarke

“Before honor is humility.”—Proverbs.

Honor is obtained not so much by seeking for it, as by deserving it; that is, he who does what is good and praiseworthy at all times, with a noble wish to please his Creator, and obey his just and holy decrees, and this without pride or any desire of personal or selfish reward, such a person will in the end attain to honor, such honor as will eclipse all worldly grandeur; and even here the exemplary and holy person draws out the unwilling homage of those whose hearts are all stained with hypocrisy and sin.

The spotless character of Moses, the purity and dignity and excellence of Daniel, do to this day command the homage of the world; and scoffers often shrink back intimidated at the power and influence of these great and holy men, whose names adorn the sacred page, and to this late period bring with them such immense weight and power.

Compared with them, what is the influence of Cæsar or a Napoleon, or any character delineated upon the page of history? In vain do we seek among the gods and heroes of the ancients for such men as those we have mentioned, who being dead yet speak in tones of authority and love.

Such men as Moses and Daniel, forced their heathen contemporaries to do them homage, not by seeking honor, but steadily pursuing an upright and honorable course, and living a holy and spotless life. They silenced the mouths of the slanderers, and thus put to shame their enemies, while their good acts and holy lives attracted hosts of friends, and gave them honor and influence, extending far and wide.

J. CLARKE.

An Extract from History.

"Passing from inspired history to that which is uninspired, we find frequent notices of Sabbath-keepers during the first six centuries of the church. Mosheim mentions persons of this class in the second century; and Robinson says, that there were at Rome about that time a large number of churches observing the seventh day. Indeed, the notion that a change had been introduced as to the day on which the Sabbath should be observed, seems not then to have been entertained. In process of time, however, a custom arose of celebrating the resurrection of Christ by a religious meeting on the first day of the week.

No historical record, sacred or profane, has informed us of the first celebration of this day; nor is there any certain evidence that it was at first observed weekly. It seems to have been introduced as a voluntary festival to commemorate the resurrection, just as the sixth-day was observed to commemorate the crucifixion, and the fifth-day to commemorate the ascension. Though not regarded as the Sabbath."—Benedict's History of the Baptist Denomination, p. 919.

Hurt Not.

By R. F. Cottrell

HURT not the earth, the angel cries, But hold the winds of strife, Until the servants of our God Are sealed for endless life.

Let war and strife and tumult cease, And thus the way prepare, While earth enjoys a time of peace, The message to declare.

Arouse, ye chosen of the Lord, Your vessels now prepare, Be ready, all with one accord, The latter rain to share.

And let the warning message go, To all who will obey, Before the final, dreadful woe Of the tremendous day.

Let those who have in darkness been, Bound by the oppressor's chain, Enlightened and made free from sin, True liberty obtain.

Lord, sanctify and cleanse my heart, Accept me as thine own, And let me bear a humble part Until the work is done.

R. F. COTTRELL.

Death Before the Old Man's Face

THOUGH death is before the old man's face, he may be as near the young man's back.

A Good Word

A GOOD word is an easy obligation; but not to speak ill requires only our silence, which costs us nothing.

Refuge and Strength in Trouble

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble. Ps. xlvi, 11.

The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Ps. ix, 9.

What time I am afraid I will trust in thee . . . in God I have put my trust. Ps. lvi, 8, 4,

In your patience possess ye your souls. Luke xxii, 19.

The Prospects of Peace.

While the loyal North is rejoicing in the downfall of Richmond, the signal successes of the Union arms, and the apparent nearness of the complete overthrow of the rebellion, and the consequent peace, none have more reason to rejoice than the commandment-keeping people of God, and none can rejoice more understandly than they. They see in the prospect not only the immediate effects that others see, the cessation of slaughter and bloodshed, a mitigation of the crying evils that center in camp life, the relief of the nation from the terrible pressure of war, and the opportunity for hundreds of thousands now ministering to military necessities, to turn their talents, their attention, and their means to other and peaceful pursuits, but they see in it, a fulfillment of prophecy, an answer to prayer, a bright token that the great Shepherd of Israel is going before his flock. We therefore thank God for the visible manifestation of his hand in our national affairs.

But the people of God will, in the light of his word, avoid an evil into which others will very likely fall. They know that no permanent peace can again visit this earth. The days of its quiet are past. The prophet has declared, looking at this very time, that the nations were angry, and that anger will not subside. Tumult and distraction are largely mingled with the remaining brief chapter of her history. And while multitudes will see nothing in the close of the rebellion and the overthrow of slavery, but long years, perhaps ages, of prosperity and peace, to the student of prophecy it appears far otherwise. Peace now, to him does not mean repose nor security. It means activity in working for God and his cause. It means a little time in which to spread the truth, and prepare as many as possible for the still darker storms that are impending. Are we ready for the opportunities that Providence is apparently about to put in our hand?

There is in this a good foundation apparently being laid for the peace and safety cry that is to be the precursor of sudden destruction, and to be raised by those who read not the signs of the times. How natural to reason now in reference to this nation: Slavery is to be removed. The great cause of all our divisions and troubles is to be taken away, and disturb us no more. Our peace and prosperity must therefore be durable and permanent. "Lasting and permanent peace," is now the cry that is beginning to be raised by those who dream of a long continuance of human affairs. But how suddenly such hopes can be dashed to the ground time will determine.

And not only is the way opening for a peace and safety cry in this nation, but the same is beginning to be true of other nations. The emperor of the French is making some wonderful declarations in this direction. In his last speech he is reported to have said concerning the military movements of France:

"All expeditions are approaching an end. Our troops have left China; our army in Africa is being reduced; that in Mexico is on the way home; the garrison at Rome is under orders to leave; we will hereafter turn our attention to the pursuits of peace."

But notwithstanding these remarkable declarations respecting peace, we do not learn that there is any reduction of the standing army, or any lessening of the forces employed in the manufacture of munitions of war, or any less preparation by land or sea, for great warlike emergencies. The nations may assert peace as much as they please, they are watching each other with jealous eyes, and are waiting, it may be unconsciously, to take part in that great strife which the prophet was commanded to liken to a great whirlwind raised up from the coasts of the earth.

Yet it would be but natural to suppose that there must be some apparent grounds for the declaration of peace and safety; for it seems from the prophecy to be spoken in opposition to those who are proclaiming that the day of the Lord is coming upon the world.

Then let us not sleep. Let us be wise to discern the course of events and the fulfillment of the voice of prophecy, that the day of the Lord come not upon us unawares, or find us with the work we have to do, but half accomplished.

Continue reading: To the Scattered Sheep of the Little Flock