Bro. Huntington has called our attention to the two following texts of Scripture, as they stand quoted on the first page of the Advent Review for Nov. 25, which, as he very justly remarked, are made to tell “a palpable falsehood.”
‘And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God graven upon the tables.’ Ex. xxxii, 15, 16.
‘And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.’ Ex. xxxiv, 28, 29.
By giving a portion of this last verse in this connection, the pronoun ‘he’ in it is made to relate to God in the previous quotation. And this is evidently the design, as appears from remarks made in that article. But this pronoun ‘he’ relates to Moses, as will be seen, by the text which is as follows:
‘And the Lord said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel.
And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights: he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.’ Ex. xxxiv, 27, 28.
This is an example of the way in which those writers use the Scriptures to prove ‘two laws,’ the christian Sabbath, &c.
C.
REMARKS.—Some weeks since we noticed that a writer in the Advent Watchman, stated that Moses wrote the commandments on the second tables of stone. It then occurred to us, that as “a drowning man will catch at a straw,” we should now see the no-Sabbath men repeating this error presented in the Watchman. We, therefore, wrote a short article, headed, “Who wrote on the second tables of stone,” published in the REVIEW AND HERALD of Dec. 9th, in which we proved that God wrote on the second tables of stone. No one who read the testimony we then presented, will dare say that Moses wrote on the second tables.
As we expected that others, whose vain reasonings and unfairness in opposing the Sabbath of the fourth commandment have been exposed, would catch at this straw, we deemed it duty to correct the error in season. And we were not disappointed; for the Harbinger of Dec. 11th, came out with the above article. As we have once pointed out the error referred to, we shall not do it again; but will state a few facts:
1. Our object in the article upon The Two Laws, in quoting the two texts mentioned by C., with others, on “the first page of the Advent Review for Nov. 25th” was, as stated in the article, to show that “the law of God, or ten commandments, was written with the finger of God, on two tables of stone, which were called the tables of the covenant.” And for giving the two texts referred to, in connection, with no other motive than to bring out God’s truth, we are charged with handling the word of God deceitfully. It is stated by C. that by placing the two texts in connection, as we did, they are made to tell “a palpable falsehood;” for it makes the word “he,” in Ex. xxxiv, 28, refer to God instead of Moses. Now, any one who will read Ex. xxxiv, 1, 10—27, 28; Deut. x, 1—4, will see that the word “he” refers to God, and, that instead of our making the word of God tell “a palpable falsehood,” C., and “Bro. Huntington” have, in their haste, made an egregious blunder.
2. But, admitting that we designed all that we are charged with by C., why did he not correct the error in a Christian spirit, instead of coming out with this bitter article, headed “A Palpable Falsehood”? Is this speaking the truth in love? See the motto of the Harbinger.
3. Admitting that we were in error on this point, and that the word “he” refers to Moses, and that we had honestly erred in placing the two texts together, how manly, how Christian like it would have been in C. to correct the error in words of Christian kindness, instead of charging us with making God’s word lie. Should not those who talk much of the unchristian spirit of Sabbath-keepers act a better example?
4. But it is a fact that we have been correct in this matter. And for taking a position which all, after investigating it, will say is correct, we have been treated in an abusive manner by C. The honest, conscientious reader of the Harbinger will not long sustain that paper in pursuing such a wicked course.
Once we highly esteemed O. R. L. Crozier, and loved him as a brother in Christ. When he observed and taught the Sabbath, the spirit he manifested was kind, and his teachings were in tenderness and love. Alas! What a change. His effort against the Sabbath having been met and exposed, he now resorts to the meanest work of Satan, to abuse and raise prejudice against us, and harden those who are bound by the no-Sabbath heresy. Will he now confess his abuse, or shall we see more of the same from his pen in the Harbinger?—Having shown that C’s. charge is false, until he confesses his wrong, the charge of “Palpable Falsehood” rests on himself.
H. E. SPENCER
By H. E. Spencer
From Sister Spencer.
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—With feelings of deep regret that I have not been more self-denying, and thereby had more to advance the cause of truth, I sit down to write. We received the Review and Herald yesterday. I have watched with anxiety for the Paper, (which it seems to me we ought to have weekly,) and wondered why it did not come. I welcome its appearance with joy, and when I read its pages, I am stirred up to more engagedness. When I read the labors of love of those that have left all, and gone out to win souls to Christ, to sound the solemn notes of the third angel, I am led to inquire, what have I done in this work? For, surely, I must have something to do. Have I done all that was in my power to do? No, I can see that I have not, and am sorry I have not been more faithful.
My heart rejoices to see the cause of truth prosper, to read the thrilling testimonies of those who have just broken loose from the Sabbath of the Pope, and become willing to be, or to do anything for Christ's sake. Yes, willing to become identified with the poor and despised people of God that are keeping all the commandments, and have all manner of evil spoken against them falsely for Christ's sake. But we are told to "rejoice and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."
I feel a deep sense of gratitude to God for his goodness to me in calling after me this once more, and I feel as though it was the last time. In 1843 and 1844, I was looking for the Lord to come to take his children home, although I was young I realized something what I must be to be ready to meet him in peace. But after the passing of the time, I knew not what to believe, for I certainly thought the Lord would then come. But I thought I would serve God, thinking that time would soon end, every day might be the last; but as time continued, I began to grow careless, and still more careless, until love of the world, pride and fashion crept into my heart, and I lost all the life of religion, gave up my profession, and joined with the gay pursuers of happiness in the perishing things of this world. I was in this condition when I heard of the message of the third angel. But we lived thirty miles from any one that kept the Sabbath.
My uncle Chandler Preston and Bro. Hyatt would occasionally visit us, and talk the truth, and I believed it to be the truth; but had not strength to come out and take a decided stand, surrounded, as I was, by my young associates, and no one near to encourage me.—At length I came to Bro. Hyatt's on a visit, and when there, I heard the truth more fully presented by Bro. Bates, which arrested me, and I determined from that to live no more to myself, but devote myself to Him who gave his life for me. And many rich blessings I have thus far received. O, I want to be wholly prepared to work in the vineyard of the Lord.
H. E. SPENCER
Williamstown, N. Y., Dec. 1st, 1852.
Obituary.
By Hiram Bingham
It devolves upon me to communicate an unwelcome message. Our beloved Sr. Betsey, wife of Bro. A. R. Morse, fell asleep in Jesus, on the morning of Dec. 8th, at half past seven, in the fifty-fourth year of her age. She had nearly prepared breakfast, when probably an artery burst, and, in a moment, life was extinct. The bereavement, is a severe affliction to Bro. Morse, yet he mourns not as one without hope; for she sleeps in Jesus.
Brethren from Sutton, Hardwick, Wolcott, Stowe and Waterbury, attended her burial. Bro. Butler improved from these words: "Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them." Rev. xiv, 13.
"This aching head is at rest,
Its thinking and aching are o'er;
This quiet immovable breast
Is heav'd by affliction no more."
Morristown, Vt. HIRAM BINGHAM.
Death of Deborah L. Collins
By O. Davis
DIED in Dartmouth, Nov. 24th, Deborah L., daughter of Philip and Nanoy Collins, aged 13 years and 13 days, of canker-rash, after an illness of two and a half days.
Our dear Bro. and Sr. Collins have been called upon to submit to the afflicting dispensation, of parting by death from their only daughter. The sweet consolation of a hope that she sleeps in Jesus, is theirs. They seem to be perfectly resigned to the will of God, and feel that his purposes are ordered in wisdom. May they be remembered by the church in their affliction.
O. DAVIS.
Fairhaven, Mass.
Appointments.
THERE will be a Conference at Ashfield, Mass., at the house of Bro. M. Edson, to commence Friday, Jan. 7th, at 2 o'clock P. M., and continue several days. A general invitation is extended. If any of the traveling brethren can see it their duty, I should like to have them attend this meeting with me.
FREDERICK WHEELER.
WE design meeting with the Brethren at Clarkson Jan. 1st and 2d.
JAMES WHITE.
Tracts.
By Editor
THE REVIEW OF O. R. L. CROZIER.—This Tract of 48 pages, is completed. It contains the review of Crozier, which we published in the REVIEW AND HERALD Vol. II, Nos. 11 and 12, also, a short extract from Bro. Andrews' Letter No. 2, published in Vol. III, No. 2.
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