It is an awful thing to be found fighting against God. And in no way can we more fully manifest our hostility against him, than by opposing the holy, just, and good law which he has given us. But open hostility and contempt of his law involves nothing like the awful responsibility of insidiously opposing it under the profession of friendship. The man who openly violates the law of God, setting it at defiance, throws away his own life; but he can have no influence to ensnare those who are disposed to be obedient. On the contrary, they shudder at his bold iniquity, and shun his example.
But an awful responsibility rests upon the man, who, professing to be a friend of God and a teacher of those who would know the way to his kingdom, and yet would subvert his law by teaching that it has been abolished or changed. Such men shut the kingdom of heaven against men; they neither go in themselves, and those who would, they hinder. Hence the solemn warning of our Saviour against breaking the Commandments, and teaching men so. Matt. v, 19.
He was certainly speaking of a law already known, and published in the Hebrew language; and he as certainly teaches the perpetuity of every jot and tittle of that law in all coming time, down to the passing of the heavens and earth, and the coming of the kingdom of heaven. And he makes the teaching and observance of that same pre-existing law a necessary qualification for entering into that kingdom. Verses 17-20.
Yet men professing to be the servants of Christ, and to be looking for the kingdom promised to the faithful and obedient, can close their eyes to such plain, positive and unequivocal testimonies of the Son of God, and teach men that God's law has been abolished or changed! And why? Because, that in consequence of the great apostasy, they find themselves observing a law which conflicts with the law of God, and which was invented by the Devil to drown men in perdition. And to make void the law of God, and to establish that of the Man of Sin, behold their numberless turnings and twistings!
If Paul's spirit was stirred within him, when he saw the city of Athens wholly given to idolatry, what would be his feelings, could he now see the professed Christian world, and witness their multifarious and discordant inventions to abolish, alter, and evade that holy, just, good and spiritual law which he, the Apostle to the Gentiles, declared was not made void, but was established by the faith of the gospel? How would he regard their wresting of his words, in other parts of his writings, to prove that what he said of the law in his epistle to the Romans, was false?
I have been led to these reflections by some articles in the Advent Herald of Jan. 17th, 1857. I give some extracts:
"Again Paul declares, [Heb. vii, 12.] The priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change in the law.' Now he does not say all the law was abolished or done away, but changed. Now what does the word changed mean? I answer, to alter or revise over. Do we find it so? Let Paul tell what is abolished, and Christ, what is revised over. See Col. ii, 15. 'Blotting out the ordinances against us, nailed them to his cross!' Verse 16. 'For this reason let no man judge or condemn you in meat, drink, or an holy day, or the Sabbath.' Verse 17. 'Which are a shadow of good things to come.' The only shadow on the tables of stone is the seventh-day Sabbath remember. We will refer to Christ's own words, for he is the Mediator of a better covenant established on better promises for the law under the new covenant. Matt. xxii. 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, this is the first and great commandment, and the second is like unto it.' On these two great fundamental principles, love to God and love to man, Christ has hung, or fixed his law."
Out of five professed quotations from the Scriptures, only one is quoted correctly. Such random work would be less reprehensible, if the sense were not perverted. But I think I perceive some difference between a change in the law, and a change of the law; especially since Paul explains it in verse 18 to be a "disannulling of the commandment going before." The change of the law of which the Apostle speaks, is no less a change than the annulling, or abolishing of the typical law of the Jewish dispensation, and the introduction of the antitypes belonging to the gospel dispensation. The hand-writing of ordinances was blotted out. God never made a law and afterwards changed it.
Again, our writer professes to find "the Sabbath," in the singular number, in Col. ii, 16. No Greek scholar dares translate the text so. It is plural, sabbath-days, or sabbaths. These sabbaths were the annual festival sabbaths of the Jews, which were, as Paul says, "a shadow of things to come." The antitypes of these feasts did not all come at once; but when the first one, the passover, was fulfilled—when "Christ our passover" was sacrificed for us, then commenced their fulfillment, at the commencement of the gospel age, and hence all the shadows were nailed to the cross. The feast of Pentecost was fulfilled when the Holy Spirit was poured out; we are now in the antitypical atonement; and the feast of tabernacles will meet its antitype in the future. But the weekly Sabbath has no antitype in the gospel day to which it points, but it still points back to the creation.
But our writer argues that something was abolished, and something else revised over, when the gospel was introduced. He says, "Let Paul tell what is abolished, and Christ, what is revised over." Now let us suppose that he means to be understood that the ceremonial law was abolished, and the ten commandments revised over. But this will not do; for he quotes Paul to the Colossians to prove that the Sabbath of the ten commandments is abolished, not "revised over." Then if Paul abolishes all the ceremonial law and the Sabbath of the decalogue, there is nothing left for Christ to "revise over," but the nine commandments, which all admit to be unchangeable laws. But the object of our writer, evidently, was to prove that Christ revised over the Sabbath commandment, by a change of the day. If he did so, it was labor lost; for all the shadows were nailed to the cross. "The only shadow on the tables of stone is the Seventh-day Sabbath remember." Only think of Christ revising over a shadow! But did he revise over the nine? How then are we now to keep them? Shall we show our love to God by breaking the first three, and to our neighbor by breaking the last six? The fact is, it is an impeachment of the wisdom and knowledge of the great Law-giver to say that he ever made a law of any kind, and afterwards revised it over. Shadows reached their destination, and were blotted out; and that at the very point where infinite wisdom had before determined that they should cease. There is no revising over in all his plan. He needs no second trial to make a perfect law; and such a law he had in the days of David." Ps. xix, 7.
But our writer quotes the words of Christ in Matt. xxii, to show what is revised over. These words of our Saviour are quoted from Deut. vi, 5, and Lev. xix, 18; and though they have passed from the Hebrew to the Greek, and from the Greek to the English, they stand the next thing to verbatim. They are not revised over like our friend's quotations from Paul. And besides this, there is nothing said about revising over any thing; nor is there the least intimation of such a work.
The lawyer did not ask, What will be the great commandment on which you are about to hang your new law? but, Which is the great commandment in the law? The two great principles, love to God, and love to men, were no new principles. They were as old, at least, as the books of Moses, from which they were quoted. Neither is there the least hint that Christ hung any thing new upon them. Said he, On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. All the ten commandments, and all the teachings of the ancient prophets, had been hanging for ages on these two principles; and they hang there still, notwithstanding all the efforts of sinners to abolish or revise over the fourth commandment.
We will now notice the effort of another writer in the same No. of the Herald, to creep around the law of God. He says,
"Gen. ii, 2, 3, simply states a fact, that God rested, or sabbatized the seventh creation-day. Ex. xx, commencing with the 7th verse, the children of Israel are commanded to 'remember the Sabbath-day.' The 10th verse says the seventh day is the Sabbath. But how shall they know which day is the seventh? (it being generally conceded that the true Sabbath was lost during the sojourn in Egypt, if it had been observed before.) 'O,' says the Sabbatarian, 'God wrought a miracle to point out the true day.' Exactly so! But are you very sure he did not give them a special day to be observed as a sign to them, while the legal covenant lasted only? Are you sure that the day given them, and enjoined in the fourth commandment, coincides with the paradisiac rest day? 'Certainly,' says the Sabbatarian, 'for Ex. xx, 11, gives as a reason why the children of Israel should rest on the seventh day, that God rested on the seventh day, and therefore blessed, and hallowed it.' Let us look at that again. After finishing the work of creation in six days, God had rested on the seventh day. And as he had rested on the seventh day, so he saw it good that his people should rest one day in seven, and accordingly assigned that as a reason for giving a law to that effect."
What this writer says is "generally conceded," is not conceded by any advocate of the Sabbath that I know of. It is one thing to admit that the Sabbath had been neglected by Israel while under task-masters, and quite another to say the day had been lost.125But in referring to the fourth commandment, how artfully he evades the fact that the very seventh day Israel were required to keep holy, was the Sabbath (Rest) of the Lord their God. The very day on which he rested when he made the world! Says he, "The 10th verse says the seventh day is the Sabbath." How convenient for his theory to stop there! He wants us to believe that the Jews did not keep the Creator's Rest-day, but the seventh day from the first fall of manna. If this verse had said that the Sabbath was "the seventh from the first of falling manna," how nicely it would have fitted his theory! But the Lord says, The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work. On what day is work forbidden? Is it the day on which God rested? or that "one day in seven" which "he saw it good that his people should rest?"—"the seventh from the first of falling manna?" This last day is nowhere named in the Bible. If none had desired to evade God's law, it never would have been dug up.
And now, candid reader, observe the dexterity of this writer. A reason is given in the fourth commandment; and he would have you believe that God assigns his working six days and resting the seventh at creation, as a reason for his giving them a command to rest on some other seventh day. Is it a reason for giving the command? or a reason why the people should rest? i. e., because God rested on that day. In it (God's Rest-day) thou shalt not do any work. For in six days, &c.
But our writer is very confident, and says,
'The priesthood ceased when a priesthood arose after the order of Melchisedec. The sign was taken down when he made another covenant with his people, nailing the old one to his cross. And here we call upon Sabbatarians to meet this point, or cease to fight against God, by making test questions of things which by divine limitation have long since passed away.'
The new covenant is much talked of by those who oppose God's law. But what is the new covenant? Jer. xxxi, 33. 'But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel.' What is it. I will abolish my law and make a new one? No. I will revise over my law? No. What then? Let the Lord by Jeremiah answer. 'I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts.' The very thing which he called his law in the days of Jeremiah, he promised to put in the hearts of his people under the new covenant. I truly fear that many who boast of the new covenant, are not included within its conditions; because they do not love God's law—it is not in their hearts.
But our writer has
'One word with reference to the first day of the week. If the church of Christ had commenced counting their days of the week, the day following that on which Jesus became the head stone of the corner, much confusion would have been obviated, and the Christian Sabbath would have been called seventh in order, which it as truly is in reference to the preceding six of labor, as the day on which God rested, was the seventh creation-day, or the Sabbath of the legal dispensation, the seventh from the first of falling manna.'
Yes; and if we commence counting on Tuesday, Monday is as truly the seventh. What a pity that the primitive church, guided as they were by the Holy Spirit, had not foreseen and obviated so 'much confusion' as has arisen from their neglect! And how unfortunate too for our friend's theory, that God did not command the Jews to rest on the seventh day from the first of falling manna! but told them which day his Rest-day was, and commanded them to rest on that, because he had rested on it. And above all, how extremely unfortunate, that neither Jesus nor his apostles left on record one plain text to prove that the first day is the Christian Sabbath! How many have chided with the apostles, like J. W. Morton, because of their neglecting to furnish them with that one text! Said he, 'Never did Rachel mourn for her children, as I mourned for that one text; but, like her, I could not be comforted, because it was not!'
Could we bring together, and view at a glance, all the foolish theories that men have invented to justify themselves in the violation of the fourth commandment, it might excite the gravest to a smile. But there is another thought which should cause us to weep. We can but pity those who throw away their lives, and provoke the wrath of God, by these inventions. Could we but see them as angels do, we certainly should weep. If angels rejoice when a sinner repents, how must they feel when they see those that have loved God, then give themselves up to be led by the Devil, and wage an unequal warfare with the King of heaven.
'Did men but know it in their reckless strife,
They're laboring hard to lose eternal life.'
I would beseech all to consider well whose wrath you dare, before you venture to assail the law of God. And on the other hand, remember the declaration of Jesus, that whosoever shall do and teach these commandments, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. And to those who have already entered the field against the law of the Most High, I would say in the language of another,
'Better 'twould be, ye fighters of the law,
If your own weakness, verily, ye saw;
If ye would hear the teachings of God's word,
And live obedient to all ye heard.
Better 'twould be to be God's holy will,
And own the Sabbath precept binding still.
Before ye make, in all ye do and say,
Such wretched work to have it done away.'
If God has a law, be assured that he will judge the world by it; and those who knowingly and willingly transgress it, will surely be condemned. And if the Bible is the word of God, the ten commandments are his law; for they constitute the only code of moral laws recorded in it. R. F. C.
Mill Grove, N. Y., Feb. 10th, 1857.
Ed. Advent Herald, Please copy.
Letter from Bro. Bates.
By Joseph Bates
BRO. SMITH: Since I wrote you from Otsego the 8th, inst. I have been holding meetings in several school districts in Monterey and some of the towns adjoining in Allegan Co. About every school-house is open for religious meetings, hence the doctrine of the second advent of the Lord Jesus is freely received by those who have ears to hear. I still find it extremely difficult to make a portion of my hearers believe that it has been announced to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people that Christ is coming. Those who do believe that this announcement is in the past, with the appointed time to cleanse the Sanctuary, are fully prepared to believe the Third Angel's Message has followed, and many have commenced the examination of this glorious doctrine, and some more in this region have embraced the message in full, and others are coming to the same determination.
In one of the school districts in M. we commenced a series of meetings on the evening of the 14th, and continued until the evening of First-day, 18th, notwithstanding the extreme cold weather at the time, the most of the church in M. attended every meeting, traveling from six to ten miles out and home. Their prayers, and spirited exhortations, and singing, both before and after preaching, stirred up the people in the district, and some deep and hearty confessions were made, and strong desires to hear and examine more fully this important subject, while some others fully decided to keep the Commandments of God, and the Faith of Jesus.
On First-day morning, [mercury 30 degrees below zero,] some of the Brn. in the time of service cut and sawed out the ice some three feet thick, and found water of sufficient depth, wherein seven souls were buried with Christ in baptism. The church attended to the ordinances of the Lord's house, and were much strengthened and blessed of the Lord. Bless the Lord O my soul, and all that's within me bless his holy name, that his mighty and potent arm is stretched out in answer to the cries of his people, and they are rising from their delusive "lukewarm" state to open the door of their hearts and let the Saviour in.
Jan. 20th came to Waverly, Van Buren Co. Since, have held meetings at Pine Grove Mills, Johnstown, Lake Mills and Waverly, and close this evening at Brandywine Creek school-house; all within a compass of about twelve miles. Those that come out to hear, listen attentively. Six have decided to keep the Sabbath of the Lord, while some others are halting between two opinions, admitting that we have the Bible truth, but not yet prepared to take their stand on the Lord's side.
The church is in a scattered state, deprived of the privilege of getting together often without some extra exertion. But the work of the Lord around them has awakened them to fresh zeal and courage, and the stumbling-blocks we trust are being removed so that they may rise with the remnant.
JOSEPH BATES.
Waverly, Jan. 28th 1857.
THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM.
THE blessed Saviour gave as a sign of the near approach of the end the following: "This gospel of the kingdom must be preached in all the world for a witness to all nations; then shall the end come."
Is this the gospel in its common acceptation? Or is it a particular part of the glad tidings? It seems to be a reference to the question of the disciples.—"What shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world?" The first sign given, then, is "this gospel of the kingdom," &c.
Does not "this gospel," refer to the glad tidings of Christ's coming to set up his everlasting kingdom? Did not the Saviour mean to say, that just previous to his coming, there would be a general proclamation of his coming? That it is not the ordinary proclamation of gospel truth, is clear from the fact that in that sense it was preached to the world in the apostolic age. First, on the day of Pentecost, it was published to devout men out of every nation under heaven. Of course, they would carry it abroad.
Then Paul affirmed in his day, that "the gospel" was "preached to every creature which is under heaven." Col. i. 23. That glad tidings was, "To you is born in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Luke ii, 10, 11. But "this gospel of the kingdom," proclaims "the hour of his judgment is come." Rev. xiv, 7. This last, is the everlasting glad tidings of the kingdom or reign of Christ. It is to be proclaimed by the flight of the messenger or angel who bears it, to every kindred, nation, tongue and people. When this is accomplished, "then shall the end come."
Is this everlasting glad tidings now preached in all the world for a witness to all nations? So far as we have the means of knowing, it is. Within the last few years, there has been a continuous effort by the believers in the speedy coming of the Lord, to send light on this subject to the whole world. And so far as the opportunity has offered, publications have been sent to every English and American Mission in the world. These publications have gone to the various parts of the four quarters of the earth, and various islands of the sea.
The English Adventists have, also, for the last twenty odd years, been engaged in the same work, and their efforts have sounded through the world.
Joseph Wolfe, some ten years since, went through the interior and southern parts of Asia, proclaiming the coming kingdom of the Lord.
Something like 20 years ago, an English Missionary wrote, that it was believed that about this time (about 1844) Christ would come. The recent account of the emigrants from Norway, of the spread of the doctrine in that country, is but a sample of its spread over the world.
A young man in this city, who has recently returned from a whaling voyage around Cape Horn, relates the spread of the doctrine in the Pacific, and on the western coast of South America. It will show at the same time how our enemies have assisted in spreading the cry. "We can do nothing against the truth but for the truth."
The Whale ship, William C. Neyl, of New London, Ct., fell in with a New Bedford ship, sometime in the month of February off Cocas Island. The crew of the New London ship received from the New Bedford vessel, the news from the United States. Among many other things they were told that "Miller predicted the end of the world on the 23d of April."
They were on their homeward voyage, and the latter part of March, they put into the port of Talkahonna, on the coast of Chili. It was a Spanish Catholic settlement. But when they arrived, they learned the same story had been circulated there, which had met them on the ocean. They were in port on the 23d of April. When the day arrived, the whole community were in a state of consternation, and during a dreadful thunder-storm, which occurred that day, they were in momentary expectation of the coming of Christ. Mr. Wardell, our informant, says that the thing was understood far back in the interior; and that persons from a hundred miles back in the country had been brought together at the town for the occasion. It is thus the New York Sun has given light to the world, and sent it to the regions and places we could not have reached.
But it will be asked, if the news that such a truth is preached, is a sufficient proclamation to fulfill the prophecy. The answer is, If it was sufficient in the days of the apostles, it is now. That it was then, is clear from Acts xix, 8-10. Where Paul preached as taught in Ephesus two years, so that all they in Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of Jesus. They could not all have heard a sermon, but they heard the sound of the gospel. In this sense I have no doubt but the gospel of the kingdom is preached in all the world.—Signs of the Times.
The Lord's Long Suffering, and Signs of His Coming.
By H. S. Gurney
THE Lord does not procrastinate his promises, as some estimate procrastination; but is long-suffering, for your sakes, being not willing that any should perish, but that every one should come to repentance. 2 Pet. iii, 9. (Syriac version.)
How often I have thought of the goodness of God in waiting for us to move in the right way. Although he cannot make allowance for sin, yet his condescension is manifest while he extends the call, saying, "Turn ye, turn ye: why will ye die"—not willing that any should perish. We see a manifestation of God's benevolent purposes in regard to his people, revealed by the three angels' messages of Rev. xiv, 6-12. Herein is a judgment revealed, and a warning to escape the many snares of this world, and take a position in keeping the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus.
As in the days of Noah, so the world must be faithfully warned while God works by signs in heaven and earth to show that the warning is from heaven. We are taught, speaking of the signs in the sun, moon and falling stars, that when these things shall begin to be, to take courage, and lift up our heads, for our deliverance draweth nigh.
History of our own times records the events as they were fulfilled, with the general impression that those were the signs foretold by the Saviour in order to arouse his people to a sense of duty in warning the world of a coming judgment; but here is a solemn thought; Noah by his faithfulness condemned the world. Are not the people of God now required to take as conspicuous a stand as did Noah? and will not the same results follow?
As we near the closing scene, and evidences are accumulating on every hand, the Lord condescends in still greater love, and by a chain of prophecy in regard to the church, points out a people in the end of church history, [Rev. iii, 14-22.] and in mercy reveals their state, saying, "Because thou art lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am about to vomit thee from my mouth." (Syriac.) Brethren, escape for your life; tarry not.
Let us not lose sight of the goodness of God in revealing to us our true state, whatever means he may employ, nor forget that whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, but remember that he has been long-suffering, not willing that any should perish, but that we should come to repentance. The true Witness calls us to be zealous and repent; the long suffering of God is waiting for us to repent; therefore the command to anoint our eyes, that we may see our faults clearly, in order to understand our duty. Our eye has not been single to the glory of God. Selfish interest has borne rule to a great extent, which has eclipsed our vision and unfitted us for the solemn duties resting upon us, as brought to view in the last warning message. "As many as I love, I rebuke. Be zealous and repent."
But I fear there are those who, instead of viewing this plain dealing in the light of God's mercy to them, will be offended, and make an attempt to justify themselves in their blindness and poverty, saying they are rich, &c. Are such watching the state of their own hearts? Are they sure that the love of this world has not gained a seat there? Do they enjoy communion with God? Do they understand that it is not a small matter to be a Bible Christian?
In relation to the second advent being an event now to be expected, the Scriptures afford any amount of proof. The signs of the times are echoing evidence that the second advent doctrine is from heaven. The prophetic periods seem to defy every attempt to make them end any where except in 1844. Not a few have proved their folly in attempting to prolong the days.
The two classes of servants [Matt. xxiv, 45-51] stand among the most prominent signs of the Lord's coming. One class are giving meat in due season. They see the sword coming and raise their warning voice. They foresee the evil and hide themselves. They proclaim the fulfillment of prophecy. Another class riseth up in opposition, saying My Lord (a class of religionists) delayeth his coming: where is the promise of his coming?
Are not these scriptures fulfilling before us? The great portion of those religionists do not hesitate to unite with the most degraded in society in their "feasts of charity," [Jude 12.] for the adorning of their houses of worship. They "eat and drink with the drunken," and their portion is with hypocrites and unbelievers. O their end! their dreadful end!! God save the remnant from uniting with the evil servants' in any of their various forms or principles of opposition to truth.
We see from the above that although it is not stated that the faithful servant is proclaiming the Lord's coming, the fact that the evil servant says, My Lord delayeth his coming, proves the sentiment of the faithful, and he is justified while the evil servant is condemned. Says Jesus. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
I will quote the following words of Jesus expressing my faith at this time. "This generation shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled." We are now learning the full strength of the parable of the fig-tree, and with the same certainty that we may know that Summer is near, we may know that the kingdom of God is near. "The wise shall understand." "A wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment; because to every purpose there is time and judgment."
Yours waiting for the kingdom of God.
H. S. GURNEY.
Jackson, Mich., Feb. 3d, 1857.
Returning to the Ranks.
By Editor
Bro. Stephen Smith writes from Unity, N. H., Jan. 31st, 1857: “Bro. Smith, I feel zealous to repent of all my wrongs; therefore permit me to speak through the Review to the brethren. I am well aware my course the past two years has been a great grief to you. I left the work connected with the Third Angel's Message, and embraced the '54 time theory. The brethren connected with the Third Message faithfully admonished me; but I heeded not their counsel, but chose to take my own way, and the effect has been that I met with a sad disappointment. I lost fellowship with all the different parties of Advent people, except the Messenger. I have disbelieved that we were in the time of the Third Angel's Message, and I have had doubts of our having had
the First and Second Angels' Messages. I have had enmity in my heart against the Review, and its former conductors. I have had particular hatred towards Bro. and Sr. White, and should have been glad to have had the Review and all connected with it come down. Hence I lent my influence to the Messenger, went to looking for the motes in my brother's eye, and continued to pursue this course till within a few weeks past.
“When I heard the counsel to the Laodiceans, it arrested my attention, and I began to turn my thoughts within. O how blind I have been. I am wretched, and miserable, and poor, and naked, sure enough; and knew it not till this message found me.
“Now, dear brethren and sisters, I humbly confess that I have been actuated by a revengeful and retaliating spirit in this my past course towards you. I ask your forgiveness for the grief that I have caused you. And I ask your counsel and prayers that God will forgive me, and that he will let me have a part with you in this last message of mercy to the world.”
COMMUNICATIONS.
By J. A. Wilcox
"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another."
From Bro. Wilcox.
BRO. SMITH : I can truly say for one that I am trying to take heed to the counsel of the true Witness, to the Laodiceans; for I solemnly believe it is the last message of mercy to God's dear people in this mortal state. I feel it is important indeed for me to earnestly heed the injunctions of the true Witness to buy gold tried in the fire and white raiment that I may be clothed, and eye-salve that will enable me to see my own heart in the light of God's word; and more especially do I feel the great importance127of taking earnest heed when I realize in some degree the sad and fearful result consequent upon disobedience, if we are not zealous and repent.
I am trying by the grace of God to do my first works. I want to rise out of this lukewarm state which I have been in for two or three years at least, and God in his tender mercy is blessing my efforts. I have felt for a few weeks past like committing all my ways to God, and I can say, so far as I have done so, he has directed my steps. O yes, I feel peace and joy in believing, which the world can neither give nor take away.
For the last two or three years, at times I have felt to mourn over my low state, and I have, during that time, experienced some severe trials and temptations, which have caused me to halt between two opinions, hardly knowing how it would turn with me. I have been very near giving up all pretensions to religion several times, and have felt like going away into some distant land among strangers, and enjoy the vain pleasures of the world as well as I could; but praise God, I have been prevented by his tender mercy from taking the fatal step.
I would kindly say for the encouragement of those dear brethren and sisters who are tempted and tried, The Lord has kindly promised he will not suffer us to be tempted and tried above what we are able to bear; but with the temptation will make a way for our escape. This cheering promise has been verified to me. Praise the Lord! The apostle Peter has told us, Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you. Our dear Saviour was tempted and tried in all points as we are, and yet without sin. Should we his professed followers think strange of trials and temptations? O I want to enjoy more and more of this peaceful Spirit, so that I may endure hardness as a good soldier of Christ, and exercise long patience towards them that trespass against me.
I have learned by happy experience within a few months past, it is not a vain thing to trust in God. He has given me grace to rise above many trials and temptations, when I had at times almost despaired of overcoming. To him be all the glory.
For one, my mind is fully made up to go through to the end and see the King in all his beauty. Decision in serving God is truly a good thing. I find since I decided to serve him with all my heart, (let others do as they may,) I am better prepared to withstand trials and temptations. I do not expect the time will come when it will be safe to lay by the armor of God for one moment, till Jesus comes and brings deliverance to the dear saints; therefore it becomes very necessary to heed the injunctions of Christ, to watch, for the Devil is going about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour; and unless we are on our watch, we are in danger of being overcome and fall out by the way. I mean to be a perfect overcomer with them that are good.
From your brother in Christ, hoping for immortality. J. A. WILCOX.
WE LOVE.
By Mrs. R. Smith
We love; for Jesus loves,
We love his image here,
We love to meet, we love to pray,
And hold each other dear.
We know it's of the Lord,
Or we could not unite
With those ne'er seen before
In bonds of sweet delight.
By this shall all men know,
One family we are,
O could they know our joys
And with us in them share!
There's hope, we know there's hope,
That mercy lingers yet,
Or we should cease to feel,
Their miseries forget.
We'll feel as Jesus feels,
We'll love and pity too,
We'll weep, we'll pray, we'll plead,
And tell them it's for you.
This love we'll not give o'er
Though we endure their hate,
'Twill urge, O come to Christ
Ere it shall be too late.
'Twill bring us at their feet
In attitude of prayer,
'Twill cry, O Lord forgive,
And these, yet longer spare.
He says, I hear your prayer,
I'll save if they will come,
O then to God return,
And have in heaven a home.
Mrs. R. SMITH.
Unity, N. H. Jan. 27th 1857.
Are we Waiting for the Saviour?
By John D. Morton
THIS should be the earnest inquiry of every one professing the Third Angel's Message. Are we waiting for the Lord from heaven? If we are waiting, then we are ready to meet him. Imagine for a moment that the Saviour is now coming, that we see the cloud on which he sits. The cloud is nearing, and we behold the Saviour in his glory, the dead are raised. Would we be ready to be changed? I am afraid not. I am afraid we would say, Lord why hast thou come so soon? We are not prepared to meet thee. Then why should we be so impatient to have the Saviour come, if we are not waiting for him? We have a great work to perform before we shall be prepared to meet him.
The Saviour says, [Luke xii, 33-36,] Sell that ye have and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Let your loins be girt about, and your lights burning, and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for the Lord when he will return from the wedding, that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
Now if we would be waiting we must sell that we have, and help to speed on the last message of mercy. Do we believe the Saviour is soon coming? Do we believe that Jesus is now blotting out our sins or our names from the Lamb's book of life? Do we believe that the Saviour's work in the Sanctuary will soon be finished? Do we believe that the Saviour will soon come to raise the righteous dead, and change our vile bodies and fashion them like unto his glorious body? Then let us show our faith by our works. Show to the world that we are expecting the Saviour.
Be zealous and repent, and buy gold tried in the fire that we may be rich, and white raiment that we may be clothed, and eye-salve that we may see. I believe that it will take all we possess to buy this gold tried in the fire, white raiment and the eye-salve.
May the Lord help us, one and all, to cut loose from the world, to have a sacrificing spirit, to sacrifice for the cause of truth, that we may be waiting for the Saviour. JOHN D. MORTON.
Delhi, Mich., Feb. 5th, 1857.
Living Devoted to Truth
Bro. H. A. Wetherbee writes from Duplain, Mich.: "We are like some of the rest of the brethren, having no meetings to attend, and nothing but the Review to show us our situation in matters that seem to us to be of more importance than any thing else in the world. Myself and companion are trying to live128more devoted to the cause of truth than we ever have before."
H. M. KENYON
By H. M. Kenyon
From Bro. Kenyon.
BRO. SMITH: I feel that we are truly living in a grand and awful time. I have some serious reflections when I consider that we are drawing to the close of this world's history; that soon probation will end, our great High Priest will leave the Sanctuary, and he who is filthy will so remain, and he who is holy will be so still. I feel that I have much to overcome if I am ever counted worthy to stand on mount Zion with the 144000. But this is what I am striving for. I feel a strong determination to hold out to the end, that I may receive a crown of life at the appearing of Jesus.
The church here seems to be rising, and praise God, some are beginning to be free. We have had some blessed seasons of late in meeting together to worship God. We have begun to feel a little of the joys which are laid up for God's dear children.
O blessed hope I believe we shall soon receive what we so earnestly look for now. I feel like bringing all my tithes into the store-house of the Lord that I may get ready to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord.
May God grant that we may all stand to our post till Jesus comes. Amen.