Then we inquire, has Babylon, or the nominal churches, fallen? The answer is, Yes. No fact can be plainer. Their own testimonies establish it. What period does this fall date from? Answer: the year 1844. This is as evident as the fact that the churches are fallen. It is also a startling fact, that since 1844 has been the period for the rise of foul spirits. Here we do not have to refer the reader to volumes of history to show the fulfillment of prophecy relative to Babylon, but to well-known facts under his observation in his own State, town and neighborhood. What a tremendous sign that the day of God hasteth greatly! Will you not believe?
Let it here be understood that we speak of the church as a body. That God has ministers and people in Babylon who are striving for heaven amid the moral darkness that envelopes her, we fully believe. This is evident from the fact that after the angel [Rev. xviii, 1–3] proclaims the fall of Babylon, and that she has become a hold of foul spirits, &c., the voice from heaven [verse 4] says: "Come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."
What a moment of extreme interest is the present. The pouring out of the vials of God's wrath is the great event before us. A little space is left God's people to flee out of Babylon, and thereby "be not partakers of her sins," (the most prominent of which are modern witchcraft and necromancy,) and "receive not of her plagues." The tenderest feelings of the heart go out after God's people now sitting in darkness: our spirit yearns over them. O God send out light and truth, and save them speedily! O, blessed Saviour, bring the sheep and lambs to thy fold before the wolves devour them!
[Concluded in our next.]
LOOK UP.
By Mrs. R. Smith
BY MRS. R. SMITH.
Lone Pilgrim, cease that mournful sigh—
Look up! redemption draweth nigh.
Have loved ones gone, does earth look drear?
Look up! shed not that bitter tear.
What though the heart is saddened now,
And shadows gather on thy brow,
And grief the bosom heaving still—
Look up! submit to Heaven's own will.
Do trials, unexpected, rise?
Look up! and view the glorious prize;
Let not life's sorrows press you down—
Look up! prepare to take the crown.
Lift up your head, rejoice and sing—
Look up! by faith behold your King.
He soon is coming, heed his call—
Look up! and make your God your all.
He'll come, all troubles here to end,
He'll come, a never-failing friend,
He'll come to take his children home—
Look up! and pray, Lord quickly come.
Wilton, N. H.
THE REMNANT, OR 144,000.
By S. T. Cranson
BY S. T. CRANSON.
Will they be sealed among the literal Jews?
This is a question of importance to those who are looking for the coming of the Lord. Some are expecting the return of the Jews to Jerusalem, others suppose that ten tribes were lost, and will be found in the last days, and will compose a part of the 144,000. But we shall have to differ from them.
Let us find the origin of the twelve tribes, and trace their history, and we shall find no difficulty in determining where and when the 144,000 will be made up.
The origin of the twelve tribes of Israel is shown in Gen. xxii, 15-18. The promise was made to Abraham, that in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because he had obeyed the voice of the Lord, [Gen. xxii, 18,] and the same was made, or confirmed unto Isaac, [Gen. xxvi, 29,] the son of promise. Afterwards the Lord appeared unto Jacob, the son of Isaac, on his return from exile to his brother Esau, by night, and after wrestling all night till break of day, the angel was about to depart, but Jacob said, I will not let thee go except thou bless me. And he said unto him, what is thy name? And he said, Jacob And he said unto him, Thy name shall no more be called Jacob, but Israel; for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. Gen. xxxii, 24, 28. The name of Jacob being changed to Israel, all his posterity were called the children of Israel—the house of Israel—all Israel, the whole house of Israel—house of Jacob. And nowhere is one tribe called all Israel, &c. Let this be distinctly understood.
Israel had twelve sons who were heads or representatives of the twelve tribes of Israel, called the tribe of Judah, the tribe of Benjamin, &c. There is one thing to notice here: they were required to keep a correct genealogy of each family, so that a distinction might be kept between the tribes; and every man was required to know to which tribe he belonged; otherwise they were to be cut off from Israel, or were put from the priesthood. Neh. vii, 64. The son of the stranger, if he would join the congregation of Israel, must be circumcised, and identify himself with some one of the tribes, and abide by the same laws. Lev. xxiv, 22; Num. ix, 14, 15; xv, 15, 16, 29. After many years, the Lord brought the children of Israel into Canaan, and divided the land according to the number of the tribes of Israel, giving each tribe a portion except the tribe of Levi; because the Lord had chosen the tribe of Levi to the priesthood, and they should live by the tithes and offerings of the other tribes. Josh. xiii, 14, 33; xviii, 7. After the children of Israel had taken possession of Canaan, they were governed by Judges, who were appointed by the Lord, till the days of Samuel; when Israel desired a king. 1 Sam. viii, 4, 5. From this time until the death of Solomon, the twelve tribes were united and governed by one king. After the death of Solomon, Rehoboam, son of Solomon, went to Shechem; for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king. But Rehoboam refused the counsel of the old men, and took the counsel of the young men, and answered them roughly; therefore Israel rebelled against the house of David, and made Jeroboam king over Israel. And there were none that followed the house of David but the tribe of Judah only. 1 Kings, xii, 1-10; 2 Chron. x. After Rehoboam was rejected, he returned to Jerusalem and strengthened himself, having Judah and Benjamin on his side. From this time the house of Israel was divided into two kingdoms, called the kingdom of Israel and the kingdom of Judah; as the Lord declared to Solomon, before his death, saying, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee and will give it to thy servant; yet the Lord promised a part of the kingdom to the house of David. 1 Kings, xi, 11, 12, 13, 31.
Now mark the history of Israel; after the ten tribes revolted from the house of David, Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David, if this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam, king of Judah.—Whereupon the king took counsel and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, it is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O, Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan. And this became a sin; for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan. And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the house of Levi. 1 Kings, xii, 26, 31. It seems that Israel never repented of their sins, and so God removed Israel out of his sight in the days of Hoshea, king of Israel. 2 Kings, xvii, 1-23.
From this time the kingdom of Israel was no more. Some have supposed that the ten tribes were lost, or went off somewhere in a far country, where they never have been found, and in the last days they will be brought back again to their own land; or, there will be sealed among them, 120,000 which will make so many of the 144,000, or the remnant who will stand on Mount Zion singing the new song. Rev. vii, 2-8; xiv, 1-5. But this view does not appear correct to me. Where does the Bible tell us that the ten tribes were lost? The Bible says, "in the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria took Samaria and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes. So Israel was carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day. 2 Kings xvii, 6, 23. The Bible tells us plainly where they went; so we know; and if we know where a thing is, it is not lost. The fact is, the twelve tribes always existed from the days of David to Christ. It may be asked, How do you make that out? We ask, who were the true Israel? Were those who sinned in the wilderness and were cut off, or, were those the true Israel who remained obedient? Those who were obedient, of course.
We have just seen that Jeroboam made Israel to sin, and they were cut off; but there were some who did not sin, and they left Jeroboam, and these were the true Israel. When Jeroboam put away the Levites from being priests, and made the lowest of the people, priests, contrary to the law, [Num. iii, 10,] then the priests and Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him. (Rehoboam,) out of all their coasts; for the Levites left their suburbs and their possessions, and came to Judah and Jerusalem; for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest's office unto the Lord. And he ordained priests for the high places and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made. And after them, out of all the tribes of Israel, such as set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel, came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the Lord God of their fathers. So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam, son of Solomon, strong, three years. 2 Chron. xi, 15-17.
So we see that all who feared the Lord went to the house of David; and these were the true Israel; in this way the twelve tribes were kept along. Had not the tribe of Levi gone over to the house of David, what would have been done for priests, the tribe of Levi being lost? We find something more definite, if possible, to show that the twelve tribes remained: the kingdom of Judah was carried away to Babylon, and remained seventy years in captivity; when Artaxerxes issued a proclamation that all they of the people of Israel and of his priests and Levites in his realm, which are minded of their own freewill, should go up to Jerusalem with Ezra; [Ez. vii, 13;] and many, even all Israel, returned, though there was but a remnant. Ez. ii, 7; vi, 16, 17; Neh. vii, 13.—So the priests and the Levites and the porters and the singers, and some of the people, and Nethinims and all Israel, dwelt in their cities.
The blessings of the gospel and the Messiah, were promised to the twelve tribes as well as to one tribe; and according to the promise, Christ came to his own, and his own received him not. John i, 11. If there were not twelve tribes at his first advent, how could the promise of God be fulfilled? "A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed." Acts iii, 22, 25.
This prophet was Christ, and the promised seed.—God gave the promise to Abraham; and it was renewed69at Mount Sinai unto the twelve tribes of Israel; and here we see a fulfillment in the coming of the Messiah to his own. This is evident from what Paul said, Acts xxvi, 6, 7. "And now I stand and am judged [for what? Paul,] for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: [The twelve tribes:] Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come."
Where would be the propriety of Paul saying the twelve tribes instantly serving God if ten tribes had been lost? James dedicates his epistle to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. Now if ten tribes were lost, how could James, with any consistency, write to the twelve tribes? The existence of twelve tribes in the days of the apostles cannot very well be doubted.
But here is a seeming difficulty with some of our friends, since all distinction between Jew and Gentile is done away in Christ, where there is neither Jew nor Gentile, to know when the 144,000 are sealed, where they come from, but when rightly understood, all is plain. Before Christ, the literal seed of Jacob was called Israel, but not so since Christ.
"For he is not a Jew which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh: but he is a Jew which is one inwardly: and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. For they are not all Israel which are of Israel: neither because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, in Isaac shall thy seed be called; that is, they which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Rom. ii, 28, 29; ix, 6-9; Gal. iii, 29. By these quotations we see the New Testament definition of Israel. The Jews rejected Christ and were broken off, because of unbelief, and the Gentiles were graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive-tree. See Rom. xi. So the Gentile believers became Israel, and in this way the house of Israel is kept up, and will remain till Jesus comes again. Now we can see where to find the remnant. A remnant is a small piece, and the last end of any thing. The remnant are the few who are alive at the coming of Christ. See 1 Thess. iv, 16, 17; Rev. xii, 17; xiv, 1-5; xvi, 2, 3.
Tompkins, Mich., Aug. 1853.
THE SEVENTH-DAY SABBATH
By Editor
NOT ABOLISHED!
A REQUEST!
THOSE who teach that there is no Sabbath for the gospel dispensation, are requested to give us one plain text from the New Testament that teaches, "without note or comment," that the seventh-day Sabbath has been abolished. When any one will do this, we will notice it in the REVIEW.
THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK
By Editor
NOT THE SABBATH!
ANOTHER REQUEST!
THOSE who teach that the Sabbath has been changed from the seventh to the first day of the week, are requested to give us one text from the New Testament that teaches such a change; or the example of Christ and the Apostles, recorded in the New Testament, favoring such a change. When any one will point out such a text and such example, it shall be given in the REVIEW.
To the Brn. in Wisconsin.
By Editor
DEAR BRETHREN:—We have just received a letter from Bro. M. E. Cornell, who has recently visited you, dated Aug. 14th, from which we take the following:
"Many in Wis. are dissatisfied with you for not giving a longer notice for the Koskenong meeting. They think you have neglected them. Many are much disaffected, or have been."
This is the first intimation we have had of this matter. You have good reason to think we neglected you, until the matter is explained. You should have stated your grievances to us at once. This would have given us a chance to have given satisfaction.
Bro. Phelps invited us, in behalf of the Brn., to attend your conference. He stated the time, and then gave us the liberty to change the time to suit our convenience. We then expected to go to Wisconsin, but were not fully decided. We waited to decide the point, and to be able to arrange our appointments through Michigan, before giving the appointment of your meeting. Our time of going west was delayed by sickness and death in our family. Finally, we decided not to go further west, than Michigan. Then we gave the appointment of your meeting at the time stated by Bro. Phelps. And we never thought of the notice being too short till we received Bro. Cornell's letter. We now see it was too short. It must have been a great trial to you, which is a grief to us. We will try to be more careful for the future, as long as we conduct the REVIEW. Will you forgive us?
The mistake did not arise from a willingness to neglect you. We were then almost overwhelmed with cares, perplexities and grief. The care of the Office, trials from abroad unjustly thrown upon us, and in our own house a dear natural brother, sick and dying with the consumption, carried us very near the grave. In that state of things, many things were done imperfectly; the appointment of your conference was among the number.
Dear Brethren: We must act in union. If this statement is not satisfactory, please inform us immediately. Let us hear from you.
The Weekly Sabbath. Page 161
By W. M. F.
From the Sabbath Recorder.
# THE MINE EXPLORED.
On opening a work, recently purchased, with the above title, I am led to exclaim, in the popular appreciation of the passage in Job: "Oh, that mine adversary would write a book;" for, in this instance, I could confidently add: "Thine own mouth condemneth thee, not I; yea, thine own lips testify against thee." The full title of the book is, "The Mine Explored, or Help to Reading the Scriptures." It is made up, principally, of Scriptural references to scriptural subjects, and is published by the "American Sunday School Union."
We are informed in an introductory note, that "it was written by the late Benjamin Elliot Nicholls, M. A., of Queen's College, Cambridge, (Eng.) and was originally published by the (London) Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. It has required no material alterations to fit it for the purpose of the present publishers. It has a value for religious teachers of all grades, for Bible Classes, and for advanced members of Sunday Schools, which will not fail to be discerned by the diligent and discriminative reader. It recommends itself to the student of the Holy Scriptures, as affording great facilities to the reading, marking, learning, and inwardly digesting, their precious truths." And further, the reader is advertised that "no books are published by the AMERICAN SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION without the sanction of the Committee of Publication, consisting of fourteen members from the following denominations of Christians, viz., Baptist, Methodist, Congregationalist, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Lutheran, and Reformed Dutch."
With this introduction, that all its contents are certified and endorsed by nearly all the evangelical denominations in the land, and as it purposes to afford "great facilities" to the student of the Scriptures, and as it is not any part of its object to obscure or withhold any matter connected with Scriptural authority for any Scriptural institution I, therefore, make advantage of their chapter on the "Weekly Sabbath," to show what authority they derive from the Scriptures, and what a specimen these First Day sticklers find in the Scriptural Mine for sanctifying the Rest-Day. Be it as they have made it.
The Weekly Sabbath. Page 161.
When was the Sabbath first appointed to man? (Gen. ii. 2, 3.)
Were the Jews reminded of the duty of its observance before the giving of the Fourth Commandment, and on what occasion? (Ex. xvi, 22-26.)
How were the Jews reminded of the antiquity of its institution in the Fourth Commandment? A.—By its being spoken of as an ESTABLISHED festival and by the reference made to God's having hallowed the seventh day, at the creation of the world.
What additional sacrifices were offered on that day, morning and evening? (Num. xxviii, 9, 10.)
Was there any assembly of the people for public worship? (Gen. xxiii, 3.)
Mention some passages, by which it may be shown that it was a spiritual service which was required of them. (Isa. lviii, 13, 14; Ps. xcii, the title of which is remarkable.)
What punishment was threatened for its neglect? (Ex. xxxi, 14.)
Is there any instance of this threat being executed? (Num. xv, 35.)
In enumerating the sins of the Jews, what did their rulers and prophets say in a peculiar manner brought upon them God's displeasure? (Neh. xiii, 18; Jer. xvii, 21; Ezek. xx, 24.)
The restoring and ascertaining the Sabbath was the first point of religion that was settled after the children of Israel came out of Egypt, as being of the greatest moment, and this in relation to the original institution, for the law at Mount Sinai was not then given.
To this, all Seventh-day Baptists can cry, Amen! Amen! The Mine has been explored, and what is found? Not an iota for the First Day of the Week—not an atom for "Lord's Day"—not a mark for the so falsely called "Christian Sabbath."—Nay, had there been the most distant Scriptural allusion to a change of the Sabbath, or the slightest authority to maintain man's subterfuges for the substitution, would not these sticklers have given it, if they legitimately could? Their own paucity of proof betrays them. Their own position condemns them. Such a production is a sufficient confutation of their pretensions—such a labor is a sufficient triumph for us. We can afford to pass it round, and ask them to eat their own words. We want no greater triumph.
W. M. F.
MISREPRESENTATIONS.
By Joseph Bates
The following letter, and statement of facts are given by the writer, that honest seekers after truth, and Sabbath-keepers may not be deceived by Elder J. V. Himes' misrepresentations.
ELDER J. V. HIMES, SIR:—A few days since I was shown a letter from Elon Everts, of Newhaven, Vt., dated July 13th, 1853, to a friend of his in Rochester, N. Y., from which I send you the following extract; viz., "Yesterday I saw Mr. Himes. He says, that Bro. Bates was, firstly, the sealing angel ascending from the East. And went about sealing the brethren before he got the Sabbath. And enjoined caution on those brethren not to speak to any body but their own fraternity. And afterwards he got the Sabbath for a seal."
Will you please answer by return of mail, and state from what source, and when, you received the above information. My address, until about the seventh of August, will be at Milan, Ohio.
Respectfully yours, JOSEPH BATES.
The Sealing Angel and Sabbath Truth
By Joseph Bates
The above letter I directed to Elder Himes at Boston, Mass., where his paper, the Advent Herald, stated that he should preach the first Sabbath in August.—As my letter (so far as I know) remains unanswered, it seems duty for me to make the following statements:
1. Elder Himes says: I was "firstly the sealing angel ascending from the east, and went about sealing the brethren before I got the Sabbath." I will here give an extract from a work which I published in Jan. 1849, entitled "A Seal of the living God," which will show my views on the point in question.
Rev. vii, 2. "And I saw another messenger ascending from the rising of the sun, having a seal of the living God, and he cried with a loud voice to the four messengers to whom it was given to injure the earth and the sea." Whiting's Trans.
"ANOTHER MESSENGER: how shall we understand this? Answer: men and women which are moved upon by the word and Spirit of God to execute his will here upon this earth. Why cannot this messenger or angel mean an invisible one? Answer: because we never hear invisible angels or messengers preaching with loud voices to men. See the text, also, Rev. xiv, 7, what the Advent people cried with loud voices in 1842 and 1844. These in Chap. vii are some of the same messengers that have continued to pass on through the three messages in Rev. xiv, and are now keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." Page, 17.
It is well known that the great majority of advent teachers that did not believe in the sealing work of the servants of God in 1849, taught then, and still do, that the angels of Rev. vii, 1, 2, are symbols of earthly governments and men. This, as stated in the foregoing extract, was what I then believed in common with them. In May, 1849, I published a tract, entitled, a "SYNOPSIS OF A SEAL OF THE LIVING GOD." On the first page of which I acknowledged the change in my views of Rev. vii, 1, 2, as follows:
"Since writing the Sealing Message, I have been satisfactorily convinced that the exposition which I then gave of the four messengers standing on the four quarters of the earth, and the ascending, sealing messenger, was incorrect. The difficulties which then prevented me from seeing the clear light on this subject, [as I stated on pages 65, 66, of the Seal,] have since been removed and I now praise the Lord for the clear light that shines; viz., that the four messengers instead of being the four principal governments of earth, are four literal angels commissioned by God to execute his purpose in the destruction of the wicked, by his four sore judgments; (or winds;) viz., sword, famine, noisome beasts and pestilence.
"ANOTHER MESSENGER.—Literal, like the four in the 1st verse, having charge of the sealing of the 144,000, and also power to prevent the four angels from letting a wind blow; until the servants of God are all sealed."
2. He says that I "enjoined caution on those brethren not to speak to any body but their own fraternity."
I have no knowledge of any such teaching. If there are any brethren in this truth that I have ever so taught, they will remember it. Let them speak.
3. "That afterwards I got the Sabbath for a seal." My answer to this statement is, that I have been endeavoring in all good conscience to keep the Sabbath according to the commandment; [Ex. xx, 8-11,] since March, 1845. In 1847 I published a pamphlet, entitled "The Seventh day Sabbath." Since that time I have published and taught it more publicly. Hence, it may be seen that instead of teaching the sealing work before I got the Sabbath, that I kept and taught the Sabbath more than three years before I knew what the sealing work was. JOSEPH BATES.
Akron, Ohio, Aug. 23d, 1853.
COMMUNICATIONS.
By A. S. Hutchins; C. W. Sperry
From Brn. Hutchins and Sperry.
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—We wish to say for the encouragement of the dear brethren and sisters scattered abroad, that the cause of truth is rising and spreading, and the number of such as "Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy," is increasing in the Counties of Franklin and St. Lawrence, N. Y., as also in many other places.
We came into this State July 7th, since which time we have held thirty meetings, principally in the above named Counties. Sabbath and First-day July 9th, and 10th, we held a Conference at Chateaugay.—Sabbath and First-day, 16th and 17th, also 30th and 31st, we held a Conference at Norfolk. The last Conference held at N. was one of deep interest, and we think of much profit to all the brethren present. At Buck's Bridge and at Potsdam we met with the dear brethren in a number of very interesting meetings. A few faithful, humble, lovers of truth, have recently embraced the third angel's message there, and others are searching for truth. O, may they remember the instruction of David: "All thy commandments are truth."
Last Sabbath and First-day we held a Conference at this place. This meeting was signally blessed of God, the brethren were strengthened and encouraged, and some who have not heretofore kept the Sabbath of the Lord resolved no longer to observe the Sabbath of the Papal Church. While in St. Lawrence Co., we visited brethren and friends in Lisbon, Louisville, Massena, Hopkinton and Parishville. At most of these places with others that might be named we found those who were anxious to hear the evidence of our faith, and free to acknowledge that the Spirit of God has left the nominal Churches, and that they must look somewhere besides among these fallen bodies for the life and power of the Christian religion.
Some places through which we passed where an anxiety was expressed to hear on the subject of the immediate coming of Christ, and the commandments of God, we could not stop to hold meetings.
While passing through Hopkinton, on our way West, we called at the house of a Bro. Thomas Meacham, told him we had called by request to talk with him on the coming of Christ, and the commandments of God. He never had seen the chart before; but he with his family, listened with interest to our remarks, and being a man of deep experience in the things of God, he was very much inclined to favor the truth as presented to him. He said he had been aware for years that God's people must stand out free from the sectarian and sectional Churches and organizations. Our season of prayer with him was sweet. Three weeks later, on returning we found him satisfied that the seventh day is the Sabbath, and means by the grace of God assisting to keep it according to the commandment. May God bless this aged pilgrim and strengthen him to do duty. He wishes you to send him the paper.
At this place we met with sister Witherel, recently from Oswego, whom we found keeping the Sabbath alone. She informed us that several of her neighbors were desirous to hear lectures on the subject of present truth. We could not stop there to lecture for want of time. We think this place should be remembered by the traveling brethren as they pass that way. The present prospect is that the Lord will soon raise up faithful souls there who will keep all his commandments, with the dear sister now standing alone on the truth there.
In view of the rapidity with which the cause is progressing, we can say, take courage dear brother for the "faithful and wise" servant will soon receive his reward. Yes, thanks be to God!
"The Lord is coming! Sound it forth
From East to West, from South to North,
Speed on! Speed on! The tidings glad,
That none who love him may be sad."
A. S. HUTCHINS.
C. W. SPERRY.
Bangor, Franklin Co., N. Y., Aug. 8th, 1853.
Ready for Christ’s Coming
By N. W. Rockwell
From Bro. Rockwell.
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—Having no other way of communication with the dearly beloved scattered remnant, only by writing, I have taken this way of expressing my love to them all, hoping that we shall be found ready and waiting for the coming of our Lord.
Have we on the whole armor of God? Have we the mind in us that was in Christ? Are we ready to meet persecution, tribulation and temptation in all the various forms that the wicked can invent? Depend upon it, our faith will be tried, and unless it is more precious than gold that perisheth, we shall be found wanting, in the hour of temptation which shall come on all the world to try them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
The time mentioned by Malachi, when he says: Then shall ye return and discern between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not, is near.—The servants of our God will be sealed in their foreheads. Then hatred, cruelty, revenge, and all the malignant passions will be manifested, and practiced without restraint by the enemies of our Lord. While all the Christian graces will shine forth with greater luster among his people, who keep his commandments. Then can the dividing line be seen. There will be no neutralists then. They that believe the Lord, he is God will serve him, and delight in his law, and keep all his commandments, which are holy, just and good. No halting then between two opinions. That time is past, and Christ has performed his last office work as High Priest, and Mediator, and now comes to judge the world. If we stand, in that day we must stand without a mediator between us and the Father. Judge ye, whether we shall need on the whole armor of God. Let us give heed to the true Witness, which saith: "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 eye-salve, that thou mayest see." Rev. iii, 18.
May the Lord enable us to see clearly the things that make for our peace, and seek a preparation to meet him at his coming.
If any of the dear brethren pass through this region, will they call here if possible?
Your brother, in tribulation, hoping to overcome, that I may inherit all things.
N. W. ROCKWELL.
East Farnham, C. E., July, 1853.
Conversions and Baptisms in Ohio
By Albert H. Robinson
From Bro. Robinson.
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—I would like to say a few words through the Review by way of encouragement to my brethren and sisters in the Lord, and tell them what he is doing for us here in Sandy Creek, Boylston and Lorain. As many as can, meet together once in two weeks. Within the last four weeks, seven have confessed the truth, and others that are not yet identified with us are convinced that we have the truth, especially that the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord our God.
Last Sabbath and First-day Bro. Lawrence was with us. The Spirit of the Lord attended the word spoken, and there were hearts to receive it. After public meeting, on First-day, six willing souls went forward in the ordinance of baptism. The Spirit of the Lord rested upon us while at the water side, particularly upon those that went forward. Bro. Lawrence, with the brethren and sisters, then returned to the place of meeting to further attend to the ordinances of the Lord's house. We had a melting time.
Dear brethren and sisters, I feel that it is time that we were living wholly to the Lord. How careful should we be to have every word we speak be for the glory of God, that we may present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto him, which is our reasonable service. While I write these lines, my mind is directed to some of the sayings of Jesus. After giving the signs which should come to pass before his second advent, he says, take heed to yourselves lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting,72drunkenness and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. Let us watch and pray that we may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and stand before the Son of man.
Your brother, striving for the kingdom,
ALBERT H. ROBINSON.
Sandy Creek, N. Y., Aug. 15th, 1853.
A Testimony for the Seventh-Day Sabbath
By Ashael Chapman
From Bro. Chapman.
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—I am much interested in the Review, and wish it continued to me.
The advent of the blessed Saviour into our world again, is a subject that interests me very much.
I had for the last twelve years entertained the view of the no-Sabbath doctrine, on account of the silence of Christ and all his apostles in relation to the first day as a Sabbath, and regarding the observance of the seventh day a Mosaic institution, abolished at the cross. After a year spent in the investigation of the Sabbath question, a careful examination of the first-day claims, the seventh day claims and the no-day theory, I have come to the conclusion that God's holy Sabbath has never been abrogated; that the day has never been changed by divine authority; and although the earth is round, all men, everywhere, are required by our heavenly Father to keep it holy.
I can say that I am glad to find, after a long and careful examination, that the bible testimony is plain, pointed and perfectly satisfactory. I am led to wonder that the abundance of Old and New Testament authority for the observance of the seventh day should have been overlooked by me so long. I have great reason to praise God for his holy Sabbath day. I would not part with it for worlds. O, blessed day; sweet to my taste. I sometimes hear others call the Sabbath a yoke of bondage. I feel to pity such. I would recommend to them to prove God in the observance of the Sabbath according to Isa. lviii, 13; then if they find it a hard law I shall be greatly mistaken.
I am alone in the observance of the Sabbath here, no one being nearer than Waukau, four miles distant.
We were favored with a call from Brn. Waggoner and Steward in the Spring, and last week Brn. Loughborough and Cornell visited us. May God bless them abundantly.
ASHAEL CHAPMAN. Eureka, Winnebago Co., Wis., July 18th, 1853.