Where then shall we look for the sanctuary of the new covenant? Paul by the use of the word, also, in verse 1 of Hebrews 9, intimates that he had before spoken of this sanctuary. We turn back to the beginning of the previous chapter and find him summing up his foregoing arguments as follows: “Now of the things which we have spoken, this is the sum: We have such an High Priest who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the Heavens, a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.” Can there be any doubt that we here have the sanctuary of the new covenant? There is here a plain allusion to the sanctuary of the first covenant. That was pitched by man, erected by Moses; this was pitched by the Lord, not by man. That was the place where the earthly priests performed their ministry; this is the place where Christ, the high priest of the new covenant, performs his ministry. That was on earth; this is in Heaven. That was very properly therefore called by Paul a worldly sanctuary; this is a heavenly.
This view is further sustained by the fact that the sanctuary built by Moses, was not an original structure, but was built after a pattern. The great original existed somewhere else; what Moses constructed was but a type or model. Listen to the directions the Lord gave him on this point: “According to all that I show thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.” Ex. 25: 9. “And look that thou make them after their pattern which was showed thee in the mount.” Verse 40. To the same end see Ex. 26: 30; 27: 8; Acts 7: 44.
Now of what was the earthly sanctuary a type or figure? Answer. Of the sanctuary of the new covenant, the “true tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man.” The relation which the first covenant sustains to the second throughout, is that of type to antitype. Its sacrifices were types of the greater sacrifice of this dispensation; its priests were types of our Lord, in his more perfect priesthood; their ministry was performed unto the shadow and example of the ministry of our High Priest above; and the sanctuary, where they ministered, was a type or figure of the true sanctuary in Heaven where our Lord performed his ministry. All these facts are plainly stated by Paul in a few verses to the Hebrews. Chapter 8: 4, 5: “For if he [Christ] were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law; who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle; for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount.” This testimony shows that the ministry of the earthly priests, was a shadow of Christ’s priesthood; and the evidence Paul brings forward to prove it, is the direction which God gave to Moses to make the tabernacle according to the pattern showed him in the mount. This clearly identifies the pattern showed to Moses in the mount, with the sanctuary or true tabernacle in Heaven, where our Lord ministers, mentioned three verses before. In chapter 9: 8, 9, Paul further says: The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all [Greek, holy places, plural] was not made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing; which was a figure for the time then present.” &c. While the first tabernacle stood, and the first covenant was in force, the ministration of the second tabernacle, and the work of the new covenant, was not of course carried forward. But when Christ came an high priest of good things to come, when the first tabernacle had served its purpose, and the first covenant had ceased, then Christ, raised to the throne of the majesty in the Heavens as a minister of the true sanctuary, entered by his own blood, says verse 12, “into the holy place [where also the Greek has the plural, the holy places] having obtained eternal redemption for us.”
Of these heavenly holy places, therefore, the first tabernacle was a figure for the time then present. If any further testimony is needed, he speaks, in verse 22, of the earthly tabernacle, with its apartments and instruments, as patterns of things in the Heavens; and in verse 23 he calls the holy places made with hands, that is, the earthly tabernacle erected by Moses, figures of the true.
This view is still further corroborated by the testimony of John. Among the things which he was permitted to behold in Heaven, he saw seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, Rev. 4: 5; he saw an altar of incense, and a golden censer, chapter 8: 3; he saw the ark of God’s testament, chapter 11: 19; and all this in connection with a temple in Heaven; chapter 11: 19; 15: 8. These objects every Bible reader must at once recognize as implements of the sanctuary. They owed their existence to the sanctuary, and were confined to it, to be employed in the ministration connected therewith. As without the sanctuary, they had not existed, so wherever we find these, we may know that there is the sanctuary; and hence the fact that John saw these things in Heaven in this dispensation, is proof that there is a sanctuary there, and that he was permitted to behold it.
However reluctant a person may have been to acknowledge that there is a sanctuary in Heaven, the testimony that has been presented is certainly sufficient to prove this fact. Paul says that the tabernacle of Moses was the sanctuary of the first covenant. Moses says that God showed him in the mount a great pattern according to which he was to make this tabernacle. Paul testifies again that Moses did make it according to the pattern, and that the pattern was the true tabernacle in Heaven which the Lord pitched and not man; and that of this heavenly sanctuary, the tabernacle erected with hands was a true figure or representation. And finally John, to corroborate the statement of Paul that this sanctuary is in Heaven, bears testimony, as of an eyewitness, that he beheld it there. What further testimony could be required? Nay, more, what further is conceivable?
So far as the question as to what constitutes the sanctuary, is concerned, we now have the subject before us in one harmonious whole. The sanctuary of the Bible—mark it all, dispute it who can,—consists, first, of the typical tabernacle established with the Hebrews at the exode from Egypt, which was the sanctuary of the first covenant; and, secondly, of the true tabernacle in Heaven of which the former was a type or figure, which is the sanctuary of the new covenant. These are inseparably connected together as type and antitype. From the antitype we go back to the type, and from the type we are carried forward naturally and inevitably into the antitype.
We have said that Daniel would at once understand by the word sanctuary, the sanctuary of his people at Jerusalem; so would any one under that dispensation. But does the declaration of Daniel 8: 14, have reference to that sanctuary? That depends upon the time to which it applies. Whatever declarations respecting the sanctuary apply under the old dispensation, they have respect to the sanctuary of that time; and whatever declarations apply in this dispensation, they have reference to the sanctuary of this dispensation. If the 2300 days, at the termination of which the sanctuary is to be cleansed, ended in the former dispensation, the sanctuary to be cleansed was the sanctuary of that time. If they reach over into this dispensation, the sanctuary to which reference is made, is the sanctuary of this time. This is a point which can only be determined by a further argument on the 2300 days. What we have thus far said respecting the sanctuary has been only incidental to the main question in the prophecy. That question has respect to its cleansing. Unto 2300 days then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. But it was necessary first to determine what constituted the sanctuary before we could understandingly examine the question of its cleansing. For this we are now prepared.
To Correspondents.
E. L. WILLIAMS: We believe that the course for the sinner to take, is marked out in Acts 20: 21: 1. Repentance toward God. 2. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. And following faith in Christ comes baptism for the remission of sins, as directed by Peter in Acts 2: 38.
W. ROMINE: Who makes the statement that “the Huns and Heruli were broken and swallowed up in the great revolutions which brought up and established the ten horns before the ten were all adjusted?” According to Machiavel, Hales, and Lloyd, the last of the ten kingdoms was established in A. D. 483; and according to Gibbon it was not till ten years after this, namely in 493, that the first of the ten kingdoms, the Heruli were plucked up. The second, the Vandals, was overthrown in 534, and the third, the Ostrogoths, in 538; which placed the little horn in position to take the saints times and laws into his hands. We think the events have transpired exactly as they should, to establish the prophecy.
W. A. DAINS: On Isa. 65: 25, “And dust shall be the serpent’s meat,” it is to be observed that the language undoubtedly refers to the new earth, and hence is proof that there will be beasts there. See also Isa. 11: 4–9. Verse 8 speaks of the asp and the cockatrice, or adder, margin; which shows that this class of animals will also be there. The inference from Ps. 104: 30, is that they will be there by a new creation. But they are rendered entirely harmless. The blood-thirsty and venomous nature will be entirely removed; for God says to the prophet, Isa. 11: 8, that “they shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain.” Now if the language, “Dust shall be the serpent’s meat,” means the same as the language of the curse addressed to the serpent in Gen. 3: 14, “Dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life,” then there would seem to exist, as you suggest, the difficulty of having the curse perpetuated in the new earth. But do the two passages mean the same thing? We do not find, as a matter of fact, that the words of Genesis have been literally carried out, or in other words that any of the animals now known as serpents really eat dust. We must therefore take the language to denote the terrible humiliation and abasement that was to be visited upon the serpent for the part he had been made to act in the deception of our first parents; just as the expression is often used at the present time: “His enemies were made to bite the dust;” or as in Ps. 72: 9: “His enemies shall lick the dust;” not that they were to bow down and literally take a mouthful of dirt, but only that they should be overthrown, and brought down to the ground. If this is so, we see that the language of Isa. 65: 25, is altogether different in its nature. It is not a denunciation of judgment and humiliation to be visited upon any classes of animals, but only a plain and simple statement of what, in the eternal state, shall constitute the sustenance of certain classes. The same verse speaks of the lion’s eating straw like the ox. Now the lion preys on other animals. Instead of this, in the future state, the lion will eat that which constitutes the food of the bullock. There will be no destruction of life. So with the serpent. Instead of living as it does now on quadrupeds, reptiles, insects, &c., it will make its food of dust. And this could be spoken without any reference to the figurative denunciation against the serpent in the garden of Eden. The language in both instances is indeed very similar; but we think the position must be taken that that of Genesis is not literal, while this of Isaiah most probably is; which constitutes the difference between the two declarations.
WM. CURZAN: We do not think there is difference enough in political parties respecting the Sabbath question, to influence us to give preference to one over another. The democratic party may for a time, from motives of policy, favor the German views of the Sunday question. But whichever party is in power, its influence is ultimately to be brought to bear against those who keep the commandments of God.
E. PUTNAM: We understand that the righteous are concerned in the events described in Rev. 20: 12. This is evident from the mention of the book of life; but45that book is produced, if we view it aright, not for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not their names are there, but to show to the universal race of mankind that their names are there. We believe this is the only occasion on which a public use is made of the book of life. It is elsewhere several times mentioned, but only to speak of some whose names are there, or to state some purpose of God concerning those who are written therein. But here, when the whole human race is together for the first and last time, when the final separation is about to take place, as described in Matt. 25: 31–46, and the Lord shall say to those on his right hand, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world,” then, so to speak, the roll of honor is publicly produced; and the wicked are caused to see who they are whose names are inscribed therein. With amazement they behold that they are the very ones whom they esteemed as the filth and offscouring of the earth, and that Heaven now puts superlative honor upon the ones whom they reviled, defamed, persecuted, and destroyed. And, seeing the justice of God, in destroying all who have not secured the record of their names in the Lamb’s book of life, and seeing that their own names are not there, and beholding the infinite reward of the righteous, whose names are there, they “gnash with their teeth and melt away.” Ps. 112: 10.
Immortal Flesh.
By Joseph Harvey Waggoner
OBJECTIONS have been raised against the hymn “Sweet hour of prayer,” because of the words, “In my immortal flesh I’ll rise;” because, say the objectors, “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God,” and it is wrong, therefore, to apply the term “flesh” to man in his immortal state.
As has been before stated in the REVIEW, “flesh and blood” is a phrase expressive of a mortal state, but the word flesh, when used alone, does not indicate a mortal state, but is used in the Scriptures applying alike to mortal and immortal. An examination of a few texts will prove this.
In Eze. 10, in the description of the cherubim, verse 12 says: “And their whole body,” margin in Heb. “flesh.” This ascribes flesh to the cherubim. This Hebrew word is the same that is translated flesh in such texts as Job 34:15. “All flesh shall perish together.” Ps. 16:9. “My flesh also shall rest in hope.” 38:2 “There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger.” And it is also used of beasts, as in Lev. 8:31. “Boil the flesh at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.” These are but a few of the instances of its use.
That the same word applies to man in his immortal state may be learned from Job 19:26. “And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.” This refers to the resurrection, and of course to an immortal condition. Also from Isa. 66, where the new heavens and new earth are introduced, and then it is said, verse 13, “From one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.”
We know as little of the attributes of “flesh” as we do of the essential elements of “immortality.” And we are always liable to err in our reasonings when we try to reason independent of the word of God concerning matters which are purely subjects of revelation.
J. H. WAGGONER.
Increase of Corruption and Crime.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
As a prominent sign of the last days, the word of God often speaks of the great prevalence and increase of wickedness. 2 Tim. 3; Matt. 24: 37; 2 Thess. 2: 7–10, &c. So prominent a feature of the times is this becoming, that many honest and thinking men are alarmed at it, and cry out, “What shall be done?” After stating the sad facts in the case, the Cincinnati Times exclaims:
“What can be done, we know not. We have for years exhorted to the same effect, but the response comes up, “Who cares?”
“Perhaps there is no other remedy than to let things rush on till they dissolve in their own corruption.”
This is a sad end to hope for, but is what will certainly come. In the same strain The Methodist says:
“The truth is, we are alarmed for the country. All the great centers of public life seem to be not merely decaying, but rapidly rotting. We hear of extensive frauds in the Custom-House; of division of spoils on a mammoth scale in the New-York city government, shameless in the face of detection and exposure; of the outright buying up of legislatures by great corporations; of combinations in Wall street, by which a single immoral firm pockets all the gold in the market, and shakes the whole nation to its center; and of courts and judges that seem to hire themselves as attorneys, and some of whom are said to be kept by the great land pirates as a gentleman keeps his coachman, or even as a hunter keeps his dog. The picture is frightful, but seems to be true—at least, it is served up almost every day in the newspapers as matter of fact.”
The Phrenological Journal takes up the alarm, and, in an article headed, “Our Government; Who have we for our Legislators?” tries to arouse its readers thus:
“It becomes honest men and patriots, men who love their country, to take a serious look at the present aspect of affairs. Prudent men are inquiring, ‘What are we coming to?’ Who are making our laws? And who are perverting them? Are we as a nation, ‘on the road to ruin?’ or are we still rising? Is justice to reign in our courts? or are our jury trials a farce?”
“Of late, some very bad men have been elected to very responsible offices. We find notorious drunkards sitting in our courts as judges; notorious gamblers elected to our State legislatures, and even to our national Congress! Some of our State officers are thieves and robbers. Assassins go unwhipped of justice. Rowdies and vagabonds perpetrate crime with impunity, looking to corrupt or lenient judges and to political influence to screen them from punishment.”
“If the evils pointed out be not stopped ere long, our great republic will break down and become worse than a monarchy, or worse than semi-barbarous Mexico, or bull fighting Spain, or priest-ridden and poverty-stricken Italy and Ireland.”
Here is a picture of our own boasted country as it is to-day. When men of the world become alarmed at its own corruption, is it not time for the church of Christ to awake and cry aloud? May the Lord come soon and save his people.
D. M. CANRIGHT.
Communication from Bro. Ertzenberger.
By James Ertzenberger
TO THE DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS ABROAD: As there are those among you who would like to hear and to know how your friend and Bro. Ertzenberger is getting along, I will try to answer through this good paper.
Since the camp-meetings of 1869 closed up I have spent nearly all the time at Battle Creek. I have been occupied with studying the English language and the present truth. Our dear Bro. G. H. Bell was my teacher of the English grammar, and I must say I had a good one. He was very anxious that I should learn as much as possible, but I have advanced very slowly. You know that the Germans are not as fast as the Americans. After remaining about seven weeks in his kind family, I was taken sick, and was obliged to go to the Health Institute. There I remained three weeks; and the Lord's blessing was with me.
Having recovered, I was again cordially invited to our beloved Bro. and Sr. White's, and I went; but my great privilege was darkened by suffering and trouble which commenced in my head. However I pursued my study again, but was obliged to stop very often. I felt bad. I often prayed, but it seemed as if the heavens were of brass. I found myself as the greatest sinner. My mind became clouded and my heart darkened. I felt troubled. Satan tried his mighty power to deceive me, and told me that there was no use and no help for me. But he is a liar, and I would not believe him. I knew the Saviour from my earlier life, and he was precious to my soul then; but at this time all seemed dark. I prayed and prayed, but found no relief until one evening while engaging in family prayers with my dear Bro. and Sr. White.
I felt better, but the struggle was not over. It was but a drop for a thirsty soul. I continued in prayer for help from on high until I felt better. Bro. and Sr. White and others also prayed for me. But this relief was but for a short season. I became sick again, and the sickness was worse than before with the exception that my mind was clearer.
The Health Institute again was the place for me to go. Calmly I gave myself up to the Lord, saying to him, “Here I am, sick and suffering, but in thine hands, take care of me.” And he did. Was the first time I was at the Health Institute a great blessing to me? The second was still more. The Lord greatly blessed me, physically and spiritually. The doctors treated me very kindly and carefully both times, and all were friendly. The Health Institute became a dear home to me, and I shall remember it, as well as the dear friends there who took so much care for me and manifested so much love and sympathy.
As I was restored, I again went to my home at Bro. White's, and could enjoy much better the great privilege of their good society. I felt much better than ever before, and had great reason to thank God. Oh! the heavens were not of brass, neither was it of no use nor too late to pray; no! no! But I had to go through affliction, and it was good. The Lord heard my feeble prayers, and, I firmly believe, those which were addressed to him in my behalf. He helped me greatly, he helped me, and shall I not be glad? Shall I not thank him? May the Lord also bless those who prayed for me.
Now I had to learn another lesson. As it was proposed to send me back to my native land, and to the dear brethren there about the first of June, I was greatly rejoiced. I longed to go there, thinking that my own climate would help me in my condition. But the time of returning had not come yet.
Our beloved Bro. W. suggested to me to stay longer in this country, to attend some of the camp-meetings46and to learn more. To stay longer was contrary to my expectations and longing desire. He spoke several times with me, but I answered very little. I felt greatly disappointed. But what is the best? What shall I do? What is the Lord's will? These were questions to me which I wanted to have answered.
Bro. W. brought the whole matter before the church at B. C., and the dear brethren there were requested to pray for me. I earnestly sought the Lord to show me my duty and to make clear my way. I yielded up to him every thing. As our dear Bro. W. the next Sabbath was asking me what I would do, I told him that I had no light yet, but that I was willing to follow as the Lord would lead me. The following week I received sufficient light as to know, that it was his will for me to stay longer. I asked him, if it was his will for me to stay longer, to give me much freedom and love to do it, but if it was his will for me to return, to lead my mind wholly to Switzerland. He answered my requests, and gave me such freedom and love to stay as I never had before. I could be no longer uncertain what to do, but determined to remain longer. I felt sorry for the friends in Switzerland who were expecting me. But I believe it will be for their good as well as for mine and that of the cause there. I wrote them and stated the case quite fully, and I hope they will be reconciled. I, for my own part, acknowledge the leading hand of God in this.
My mind soon was settled. As our dear Bro. and Sr. W. went to the West to attend the camp-meetings there, I came East to our beloved Bro. Andrews', at Rochester, N. Y., to study the truth more fully. I bade farewell to the dear brethren at Battle Creek with whom I had been about eight months. They had witnessed my suffering condition and felt deeply for me. They also showed me much love and sympathy during the whole time, and as I was visiting them for the last time the Lord greatly blessed me. I left them free and happy, and departed June 8. Several came to the depot to bid me good bye and God bless you. The train came and took me away, possibly to see the dear friends there no more on this earth. But I can say to them, I do not forget you; no, I love you and remember you in my feeble prayers. May the Lord greatly prosper and bless the dear brethren and sisters at B. C. Be of good courage and go forward. May he be your great reward for all you have done for me. And can I forget the Health Institute? No! it is very near to my heart.
I arrived safely at Rochester, and found at our dear Bro. Andrews' a hearty welcome and open door and hearts. I soon commenced study, and I must say, the Lord is helping and blessing me. My health is good still, and the truth becomes to me brighter and clearer. I feel more of the importance and of the magnitude of it. Oh, what a glorious truth! What a blessed work! I pray God to write his precious word in my heart and to convert my innocent soul. I pray him to prepare me for the great work which is before me, and for his soon coming.
I prize the truth. I love it. Blessed be God for this great privilege he granted me, to come to America, to study the present truth more perfectly. I knew some of it before I came; but now it seems to me as if I knew nothing. O Lord, open thou my eyes and fill my soul.
Brethren and sisters, it is good to trust in the Lord. It is good to follow his will. None shall regret it. I now can see that it was his will for me to stay, and I feel to thank him with all my heart. The Lord is good, and his mercy endureth forever. I had to suffer last winter. I now feel well, better than before. I had dark hours, but it has become light. I often prayed; the Lord answered in due time. Blessed be his holy name. Let us come boldly to him. Heb. 10: 22-27. The time is short. Probation soon will be closed. Let us awake. Let us make sure work. Let us be faithful. It is a blessed hope. It is a glorious reward for the overcomer.
I feel determined to pursue the good way. By the help of God I will continue. Salvation is worth everything. Soon the battle will be over. Jesus will come to take his ransomed home. May I be among them. May we all share in it. And when we shall meet no more on this earth, when we shall shake hands no more, may we meet in that land where will be no more separation. I ask you, I beseech you, let us pray one for another. Let us be faithful unto the end.
Remember me, as well as the dear friends in Europe, in your prayers. They have to battle and to struggle, as I learned by letters a few weeks ago; but the Lord is sustaining them. They wrote to me good news, and they send you their heartfelt thanks for all you have done for me and for them. They send you their Christian love and best greetings. And I heartily unite with them. May the Lord be with you. May the Lord be with us all.
Yours in the blessed hope.
JAMES ERTZENBERGER,
Rochester, N. Y., Main Street 313, July, 1870.
Practical Thoughts on Scripture Subjects.
By John Nevins Andrews
OUR RECORD FOR THE JUDGMENT.
This is being made up day by day. How solemn is this thought. We are ourselves preparing the record out of which we shall be judged. We shall tremble when the books are opened. But why not act with fear and trembling now while the record is being made up. Now we have the decision in our own hands, but then it will have wholly passed out of our control. Then we shall have to abide the result of our own conduct. How ought we ever to tremble lest we sin against God! How ought we to review each day's proceedings to see if they be all right. How ought we to correct our conduct with the deepest solicitude and care, lest we go on with our sins uncorrected to the Judgment. We cannot be too careful to make our record clean for the day of God.
THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST.
Surely this knowledge is of infinite value. Those who know Christ will be acknowledged by him at the great day. All other knowledge is comparatively of little account. To know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, we may with Paul gladly suffer the loss of all things. And those to whom the Saviour shall say, I never knew you, will be likely to estimate the knowledge of Christ of some value, when also it will be too late for them to acquaint themselves with him. Now it is possible for us to acquaint ourselves with him and be at peace. Let us not lightly esteem this most precious knowledge.
GOD WILL HELP.
The first thing in seeking God is to abase ourselves. Then we must reach out after him from the depths of our humiliation. God will help us when we do truly feel our need of him. We must be emptied of self; thus we may be filled with God.
J. N. A.
Meetings in Wisconsin.
By I. Sanborn
My last report closed June 7, at Kilbourn City. June 8, I went to Mauston, and spent the day with Dr. Russell. Having previously seen his article in the Hope of Israel, I felt that I must go and invite him to forsake error, and come again under the influence of the third angel's message, which I did with pleasure. He pressed me to stay all night, and he would get out a notice for me to preach in the evening, which I did; and was surprised to find their commodious schoolhouse well filled with attentive hearers. I pray that the Lord may lead him, and many others in and about Mauston, to take a humble place in the work of the third message, which is the only truth that can prepare a people to stand in the day of the Lord.
The next day we went to Burns Valley, LaCrosse Co., and spent five days preaching and visiting the little company that was brought out there last winter. The most of them are faithful and growing in grace, but some have turned back to Egypt.
Here for the first time, we met Bro. Charles Smith, and his estimable wife, of Minnesota. Bro. Smith has formerly been a Seventh-day Baptist minister; but they have fallen in love with the third message. His wife attended the camp-meeting at Kilbourn City, and I trust went home to fall into the ranks with her husband, to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. May the Lord help her, is my prayer, and help Bro. Smith to be useful in building up the cause of God where he lives, and in other places.
June 13, I went to Victory, in Vernon Co., where I found some in fanaticism, for whom, I labored to save them from the power of the enemy. Had one good meeting there, and went the next day to the Nora camp-meeting. We are happy to say, that by letter we are informed that those in the wrong at Victory, are coming out right. May the Lord bless them, and bring them out clean and free from all such deceptions, is my prayer.
The camp-meeting at Nora was a good one; but might have been better, if all upon the ground that professed to love the truth had been willing to confess and put away their sins of hatred and envy and jealousy laid up in their hearts. We hope they will yet do so.
Arrived home the 22d, and remained home five days, preparing to leave for the summer.
Tuesday, 28, I started to the Wisconsin camp-meeting. On account of our camp-meeting committee's failing to be on the ground in time to help make the necessary preparations, we labored under some embarrassment. Nevertheless we had a good meeting, all things considered. But the same unsanctified influence that hindered the good work in the Nora camp-meeting, came into the Kilbourn camp-meeting from southern Wisconsin, and partly hindered, yea, almost stopped the work. May the Lord pity and have mercy on all who thus stand in the way of sinners.
Since the camp-meeting, we have pitched our tent in the midst of Kilbourn City, and have had two meetings. We have had over one hundred out to hear each evening, and good attention is given. Pray that the Lord may give power to the word. To our brethren in Vernon Co., I would say, Be patient, and I will visit you just as soon as the Lord may open the way.
We may not be able to visit Vernon Co. with the tent; but if not, we will visit you as soon after as possible. We pray that you may be faithful in the Lord till the end, then reap the reward; “For ye shall reap if ye faint not.” May the Lord help you all is our prayer. Pray for us that we may have freedom in the word of the Lord, and that much good may be accomplished by the tent labor this summer.
I. SANBORN.
Kilbourn City, Wis., July 14, 1870.
To the S. D. Treasurers of Iowa.
By George I. Butler
I DESIRE to call attention to the following resolution passed by the Iowa State Conference of S. D. Adventists at its late meeting in Marion, as published in a late REVIEW.
“Whereas, Our State Conference Constitution makes it the duty of all S. D. Treasurers to report to the Conference Secretary once in three months; and,
“Whereas, There has been a neglect of this duty on the part of some, therefore,
“Resolved, That this Conference make it the duty of its Secretary to publish through the REVIEW, within four weeks after the time when these reports are due, the names of all delinquent churches.”
It is important in all public enterprises that the finances be carefully attended to, and that the public officers connected with them be able to fully understand their condition.47This is the reason why the constitution requires this of the Treasurers. The object is important; the duty, an easy one. The report is to be made to the Conference Secretary, so that he can tell just how much money is paid to the ministers and to the Conference Treasurer, and thus be able to keep an account with the churches themselves. The Conference furnishes blanks to all the church Treasurers, and it would not probably require five minutes’ time for any one of them to make their report. The first report will be required by the middle of September, and every three months thereafter. Let the Treasurer take his blank, fill in the name of the church, then the date. If he has sent any money to the State Treasurer during the three months just past, let him put down the amount opposite the words in the blank concerning it. If he has not sent any, let him simply draw a horizontal line opposite those words, for a report should be sent regularly, whether any money is paid or not during the preceding quarter. If he has paid any Conference money to any of our ministers during the preceding months, put in the amount; otherwise, draw the line as above, then sign his name as Treasurer of the church of which he is a member. Inclose it in an envelope, direct it to L. McCoy, Sigourney, Iowa, and the job is done.
Remember that the report goes to Bro. McCoy, the Conference Secretary, and not to Bro. Kilgore, the Treasurer. The money goes to the latter. This may take five minutes. It is very important for the interests of this Conference, that this be done. I have made the matter very plain, and yet I fear that some will not attend to it. If not, the Conference has made it the duty of the Secretary to make the delinquents known. Now lay this paper aside for future reference, if you should still be in doubt, so that you can understand just what to do, and be faithful in that which may seem to be small, but which is really very important.
I write this for the benefit of some who have had no experience in our system of doing business in the past, and for some who have been sadly delinquent.
GEO. I. BUTLER.
Report from Iowa Tent.
By George Ide Butler
We have been holding meetings in this place (Adel) a little over two weeks, and will give the friends of the cause a brief account of the same.
This place is situated about twenty-five miles west of Des Moines, the State Capital, and is the county seat of Dallas county, and contains something like 1200 inhabitants. We came here at a venture, not knowing a single person living here, because we desired to strike out into new ground where there was less acquaintance with and prejudice concerning our doctrine, and because this appeared to be a pleasant, place and of about the right size and location. We set up our new tent in a very eligible place near the court house and commenced our work. We found, however, before we had been here long, that there were some unfavorable features to contend with.
This community contains a larger proportion of avowed infidels by far than any place I was ever in. Many have told us that over half the population were such. It is not that we fear to meet any arguments they might bring that we consider this an unfavorable feature, but because the spirit of skepticism has permeated the whole community to that extent that it is very difficult to affect minds enough to make them move out, an unwillingness to take the Bible for authority in any thing.
Well, we have worked away as well as we could. Our audiences have generally ranged from one to two hundred, and the attendance has been pretty regular. But at times things have seemed very discouraging, and we were almost upon the point of leaving the place. Then things would brighten a little.
But of late things have seemed more encouraging. Our audiences are rather on the increase, and so we shall stay longer. Yesterday was the first Sabbath meeting we have tried to hold. About twenty-five were present. We had quite a spiritual meeting, considering it was the first effort of the kind. Quite a number wept. Several spoke; and, as near as we can learn, some ten intend to keep the Sabbath. However, such things are very uncertain so early in a course of lectures as this.
We have given the subject of the Sabbath quite a thorough examination already, and take hold of the immortality question to-night. The people are very kind and have already furnished us with homes. We propose to stay till we see the path of duty clearly open to leave. We expect God's blessing on our efforts because we are trying to do our duty. Our courage to labor on in the cause is excellent. May God's will be done, and his cause be advanced. Brethren we wish to be remembered in your prayers.
GEO. I. BUTLER.
Adel, Iowa, July 10.
From Bro. Morton.
By R. A. MORTON
BRO. SMITH: It has been more than a year since I made the first step toward a preparation to meet the Lord when he appears to receive those who have overcome. I feel thankful to him for the little progress I have made in overcoming my sins.
I am living about sixty miles from the brethren of Santa Rosa, Cal., with whom I have enjoyed many seasons of worship. I hope the Lord will build up a church in this place. Bro. Loughborough and Kellogg are doing all they can; but the harvest is great and the laborers are few.
Here I am surrounded with all open acts of unrighteousness. I feel no inclination to turn away from seeking the Lord. I am not sorry I have enlisted in his army. I am not sorry I have seen new beauties in his word. I am not sorry I have begun to love his holy Sabbath. Oh, that many might believe on the name of the Lord, and do all his commandments! Oh, that love to do the Lord's will, and not ours, would increase in the hearts of all his people, enabling them to overcome all their sins, and be fit members for the glorious kingdom of our Lord and Saviour at his appearing. It is my desire to live more devoted, more humble, and become purer in heart.
“Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” Matt. 5: 8. R. A. MORTON.