Earlier text: THE STATE OF THE DEADWe notice in the Herald of Oct. 9th an article in favor of the Sabbath, from one N. T. James, who claims that his words are words of inspiration, and who is evidently under the leadings of a spirit of virulent fanaticism. This article, notwithstanding the evidence it bears of the writer's condition, the Herald coolly inserts from beginning to end; and we have been led in our own mind to query concerning the reason for so singular a course. It is not usual for the Herald to admit into its columns writers of such a stamp. We would judge no man; but at the same time we shall be permitted to state plainly how, to us at least, the matter looks. Was not that article given in order to associate the Sabbath movement, in the minds of the readers of that paper, with what is wild and fanatical; thereby to prejudice their feelings and close their ears against it? So it looks. But, some one may say, you do not know that it is so; and you have no right thus to judge. Well; but it looks so; and we are not to blame for noticing how it looks. If such was not the Herald's intention, it wrongs itself; for it thereby lays itself open to suspicion of a very unenviable nature. But if such was the intention, no censure can be too severe. This suspicion is fostered by the course which the Editor of the Herald recently took in the case of a drunken vagabond, whom he accidentally fell in with, who chanced to be a believer in the destruction of the wicked. In the course of their conversation, the unsophisticated toper plead in palliation of his manner of life, his belief in the final end of all the ungodly. This case the Editor adduced as showing the tendency of that doctrine. We were glad to see him faithfully belabored for this, by I. C. Wellcome, a few weeks afterward. We think the present case is equally open to censure on the same ground. Had the article been concerning the traditionary dogmas of Sunday-keeping, or an unconditional immortality, which the Herald has incorporated into its religious creed, we are confident it would never have secured an insertion. But if, indeed, no sinister motive is involved in this thing, the Herald is still open to the exhortation of the Apostle, to avoid even the appearance of evil. THAT this portion of the testimony of Jesus applies to the present time, while the Bridegroom is gone to the marriage, there can be no doubt in the mind of any who read the connection. It applies to those who profess to "wait for their Lord." But is it heeded? Are the rich among us making wholehearted efforts to sell that they may give to the cause of truth? See the languishing state of the cause at the present moment; suffering in every department. Witness the repeated calls for help, and almost entirely unheeded. Behold the ripening harvest! opening to every laborer many chances to work for the good of souls, his own salvation and the glory of God; yet who is burdened? Do those who have this world's goods cry to God to open the way? Do they lay all on the altar, and then Elijah-like pray that it may be consumed? We know the majority of them do not. They are not willing to sacrifice. What they have is the Lord's, and he says, "SELL," but they make excuses; "cannot get more than half or two-thirds its former value, and we don't want to throw away our property," &c. Thus the cause suffers on, but the Lord will soon leave these unfaithful stewards and raise up those who will gladly sacrifice for the truth. If they are not willing to use their means in such a cause now, when help is needed they will in a little while throw it to the moles and bats, and they will be lost with it. Some have sold and sacrificed for a season, but now are getting weary. Others have sold and bought again, and still the cause suffers on. The loudest appeal for help does not in the least trouble many of these worldly professors. They have been warned again and again, but heed it not; they are dying, and they grasp their earthly treasure with a death grasp. They know their Master's will, but do it not. Alas for them! it will soon be said, They are joined to their idols, let them alone. But what right have we to admonish on this subject? My answer is, The word of God requires it. A little boy eight years of age, when asked by the minister why he believed that the seventh day was the Sabbath, answered, "It reads so in the Bible." The minister was confounded. So we say on the subject of selling, and sacrificing, and not being weary in well doing. "It reads so in the Bible." O ye rich men, I tremble for you. What will ye do in that day? O make haste to "sell that ye have" and transfer it to the bank of heaven before it is too late, and your eyes greet the dreadful words, Bank shut! Too late! Too late! O make the deposit now. Lay up your treasure where it will be safe. Send it on before you. Exchange this world for that which is to come. Prepare for yourselves a shelter from the coming storm, and friends that will receive you to everlasting habitations.197M. E. CONNELL. BRO. SMITH: The goodness of God to me, especially within the few months past, constrains me at this time to write a few lines for the encouragement of those of like precious faith. The last of August, while in Monterey, I was brought very low by sickness. I was soon greatly reduced in strength, so much so that I could help myself but little, and I could get but little rest by day or night for several days. The state of my health previous to this time, together with so sudden an attack of disease, left me but little reason to hope for a recovery unless the Lord should especially interpose in my behalf. I then felt like committing my case to Him who is our refuge, and strength, and a "very present help in time of trouble." The prayer of faith was offered in my behalf; the Lord heard the cries of his children, and graciously answered. I was strengthened to arise from my sick bed and walk, and to join with the dear brethren and sisters in giving glory to his ever blessed name. From this hour I began to amend. Truly, gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful. "I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live." Ps. cxvi, 1, 2. I trust this affliction will yield the "peaceable fruits of righteousness" unto me. By it I feel instructed and profited. And here I wish to add my firm conviction that the church of God is about to enjoy the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as it has not before. Shall we all be ready for it, brethren and sisters? We shall if we heed the counsel of the faithful and true Witness. O, let each of us awake and arise, and put on the whole armor! The reward of eternal life is about to be given to the overcomers. The pilgrim's home is near. "The battle's almost o'er,
The race is almost run;
Then with our glorious conquering King,
We'll sit down on his throne!" A. S. HUTCHINS.
Battle Creek, Nov. 7th, 1858. LAMB-LIKE VOICE.
By M. E. Cornell
EXTRACTS FROM THE RECORDS OF THE SUPREME COURT OF OHIO, CONCERNING SUNDAY LAWS.
"We must always keep in mind, that it is no part of the object of the act to enforce the observance of a religious duty. The act does not, to any extent, rest upon the ground that it is immoral or irreligious to labor on the Sabbath, (Sunday,) any more than upon any other day. It simply prescribes a day of rest, from motives of public policy and as a civil regulation; and as the prohibition itself is founded on principles of policy, upon the same principles, certain exceptions are made, among which are "works of necessity and charity." In saying this, I do not mean to intimate that religion prohibits works of necessity or charity on the Sabbath; but merely to show that the principles upon which our statute rests, are wholly secular; and that they are none the less so, because they may happen to concur with the dictates of religion. Thus the day of rest, prescribed by the statute, is the Christian Sabbath, yet so entirely does the act rest upon grounds of public policy, that, as was said in Bloom V. Richards, 2 O. S. R. 391, 392, it would be equally constitutional and obligatory, did it name any other day, and it derives none of its force from the fact that the day of rest is Sunday. For, as was also said in that case, no power, whatever, is possessed by the legislature over things spiritual, but only over things temporal; no power, whatever, to enforce the performance of religious duties, simply because they are religious—but only, within the limits of the constitution, to maintain justice and promote the public welfare." "Unless then, we keep constantly in mind, that the act rests upon public policy alone, we will be in great danger of giving it a wrong construction; and instead of reading it in the light of the constitution, which prohibits all religious tests and preferences, find ourselves led away from its meaning by the influence of our own peculiar theological tenets." "What is the object of the statute? We do not suppose that any part of its object was to punish persons for not observing the Sabbath, in a particular way; this would be persecution, and as the Legislature have no power under our constitution to pass such a law, it would be a nullity. How far then, can the Legislature go in this matter? No farther than to protect that portion of the community who observe the day as hallowed to religious exercises, from disturbance and annoyance." "It is the glory of our country that the right of belief in any particular religious tenets—without molestation on account thereof, is granted to every one; but this principle can only be preserved by extending it equally to the unbeliever. It is the same great indivisible principle that alike protects humanity, the birth-right of the whole, which each with equal reason may claim, should he believe any religious creed whatever; or should he disbelieve the whole." On the point of enforcing religious obligation by law, Judge Caldwell says: "The pernicious and ruinous consequences of enforcing religious principle by legal enactment have been so well tested, and are so apparent, that any decision of the kind should not be regarded. Indeed, if I were to attempt to present the error into which I think the court have fallen in this decision, in its strongest light, I would do it by a reference to the action of the courts, and legislative bodies, not only in Europe, but in some parts of this country, in its early settlement, in attempting to enforce the observance of the Sabbath (Sunday) by law. It always has, and always will produce, a pharisaical and hypocritical observance of a religious duty, and creates a spirit of censorious bigotry, and tends powerfully to destroy every religious feeling of the heart." The circumstances calling forth the above sentiments should here be mentioned. The Supreme Court pronounced a decision in regard to the violation of Sunday, which Judge Caldwell dissented from, claiming that it was unconstitutional. But subsequently the decision was reversed by the Supreme Court without a dissenting voice. The time has not yet come for the "mark of the beast" to be enforced, consequently they are yet restrained; although we see the spirit manifested more and more. The low muttering of the dragon-like speaker is heard; and it is ominous of the approaching Sunday decree, which prophecy shows must certainly come. The two-horned beast has a dragon's heart, and out of the abundance of that heart, his mouth will certainly speak. May these little workings of the dragon spirit admonish the remnant of commandment-keepers to be ready for the dreadful voice that is soon coming against them. M. E. CORNELL.
Republic, Ohio, Oct. 17th, 1858. MR. SEL.'S ARTICLES.
By M. E. Cornell
WHILE traveling from place to place I have often been asked, Who is it that writes so much in the Review, signing his name Sel.? They remarked that he did not appear to be very firm in the present truth; for his language was not like the rest, &c. Of course we have to inform them that "Sel." is placed to articles selected from various authors known and unknown, the majority of whom lived before the present truth was understood. And I must confess that I also have had some trial about this Sel. monopoly; not because there are not many good things in those articles, but there is a lack of vitality in them. The fire of present truth is not there. The same ideas written out by those fully in the Third Angel's Message would be far more interesting. But where is the fault? It surely is not in the Editor; for he has made several calls for articles from the living, preachers and others. For one I must confess that I have been too negligent in this matter. I have excused myself on the ground that others were far more capable; but if the ten talents are buried, the one must be improved. Bro. Smith needs a greater variety of original matter to select from, so that he will not be under the necessity every week of poring over the old musty papers and books of Babylon in search of scraps, free from fables, to fill up the columns of the Review. My conviction is that our Editor has not been rightly used. "Why don't they write?" is still the question. Come, brethren, let us repent, and pray the Lord to fill us with heavenly fire, that we may write in the language of Canaan; and then pour in a perfect avalanche of short, pointed articles and reports of what the Lord is doing, and drive Mr. Sel. into his own appropriate place; viz., a small corner. Portage, Wood Co., Ohio, Nov. 1st, 1858. To all of which we respond, Amen.—Ed. Truth in the Keeping of Minorities.
THE true course of historical development is not always with the majority, whether in the church or in humanity in a more general view. It is sometimes with the minority, and that a very small one, while the great body is corrupt. In the church of Sardis, Christ had "a few names who had not defiled their garments," while the church in general "had a name that it lived and was dead." Truth must not be put on the issue of a popular vote. If we cannot acknowledge her except in a majority, we must inevitably have gone with "the world of the ungodly," and pronounced Noah a wrong-headed agitator. We must have decided the idolatrous nations to be in the right, and the solitary emigrant from Ur in the wrong. We could not surely have sided with Elijah when in the cave of Horeb he was, to all appearance, left alone, and "all Israel had forsaken the covenant of the Lord;" nor with Jeremiah "in the pit," or "the low dungeon," against the elders, princes, and fathers of the Jewish church and government. How could we have espoused the cause of the Baptist or of the Redeemer himself, against all the dignitaries of the ancient church, or have taken part with early Christianity, when the Jews called it heresy, and the Greeks despised it as foolishness, and the Romans denounced and drove out its professors as atheists and enemies of the human race, and it was everywhere spoken against, and its most illustrious teachers were accounted as the filth of the earth and the offscouring of all things? Yet Christianity was as true, and holy, and divine then, when the wise men after the flesh, the mighty, and the noble were all on the other side, and none but the foolish, the weak, the base and despicable things of the world were to be found among its disciples—as it is now, when it animates the civilization of the world and (nominally at least) controls the power of the mightiest nations, and rivers, cities, islands, and cathedrals are called after the once despicable names of its early ministers. O, we must seek some truer test of truth than the popular voice or the approval of the world in any form, or our very allegiance to truth may turn out to be nothing better than servility to man, and our high hopes of acknowledgement and reward at last be confounded by that terrible question, "Hast thou done these things at all unto me, even unto me, saith the Lord?"—Sel. The Right Performance of Duty.
I MUST not venture on a duty unless I bring God to it, nor rest satisfied, unless I carry God from it. Hear David's precept, O seek the Lord, and his strength, seek his face for ever more. Be sure thou rise not from duty before the countenance of God rise in mercy upon thy soul. It must be Christ that shall meet thee; or else it will be no ordinance of comfort to thee. What is the chariot if thy beloved be not in it? Oh, blessed is that soul that ever prays, hears, receives, and carries Christ to all, enjoys Christ with all, and seeks Christ among all. Lord! in all my approaches to thee, let me go out in thy strength, and return in thy presence.—Sel. LIFE.—The bread of life is love; the salt of life is work; the sweetness of life, poesy; the water of life, faith.—Mrs. Jameson. "O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!" Luke xxiv, 25. THERE have been periods in the history of the church and of the world, in which (on account of some great event affecting the condition of man) there is such an important bearing upon the vital interests of mankind, as to call the attention of God himself to the subject, to such a degree as to reveal the main facts to his people hundreds of years previously. Such periods are called eras, and time is reckoned from some era, as we reckon time from the birth of Christ, or from the deluge, or as the Jews reckon from the departure from Egypt, or from the return from the Babylonish captivity. The creation of the world was a remarkable era, the deluge was another, and the first advent of Jesus Christ, his humiliation, his crucifixion and ascension, was the most remarkable and astonishing event, or era, recorded in history, because of its bearing upon man's future destiny. But there is an era just before us; viz., the second advent of Jesus Christ, which promises to eclipse all previous eras, so that they will seem as small events compared with this; and though mankind mock at the idea, as they did at Noah who foretold of the deluge for 120 years; though impious scoffers rail as they did at Jeremiah who foretold the captivity of the Jews in Babylon; though the visible church reject the idea as the Jewish church did his first advent; yet come it will, for the word of the Lord is sure. Ever since the fall of our first parents, there has been a disposition on the part of man to reject the word of the Lord: his warnings have been slighted, his invitations despised, and his offers disdainfully rejected by the vast majority of our race, even until now; and it would seem even necessary that a full stop should soon be made to the wickedness of man, for the cup is nearly full. The deluge was foretold by Noah amid contempt and scorn, yet it came as pre-determined. The deliverance of the Hebrews from Egypt was effected by a series of miracles, extending through forty years, according to the word of God, in spite of the opposition and heartlessness of the rescued captives, and they were established in the pleasant land, freed from the oppressor's lash. Thus God fulfilled his promise to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; but the word and promise of God was rejected, and one generation perished in the wilderness. Even so was the word of the Lord rejected by them in the time of Isaiah and Jeremiah, and the Babylonians came and carried them into captivity; and at the end of this seventy years of exile, when warned to flee from Babylon, very many of them rejected the call, and were engulfed in the destruction which afterwards befell that wicked city and nation. But the first advent of the Messiah, the most remarkable event recorded in history since the creation to the present; this event so often spoken of, and so clearly described by the prophets; this event so well attested by his miracles, his teaching, his example of purity and patience, was ignored by the then only visible church. It is true a few acknowledged his divinity, but only a few. O wonderful, willful ignorance! O blind envy! adamantine obduracy! The first advent of Jesus was too humble, too lowly for the soaring Pharisee; the prophecies were too mysterious for the wise lawyer and the ambitious scribe, too deep for the rapacious, money-loving Jew; and so the meek and lowly Jesus was rejected, despised, spit upon and crucified. On this occasion, having arisen from the dead, Christ addresses his mourning followers as above quoted, "O fools, and slow of heart to believe," &c. But why fools? because they did not implicitly believe what the prophets had spoken of him. O then, if Jesus laid such stress upon what the prophets had spoken, what must be the guilt of those who wholly omit to read or understand the prophecies of the Old and New Testaments? Why were these revelations of the plans of Jehovah made to the prophets of the old and new dispensation, if they were forever to remain sealed? No, they are to be unsealed, before the events transpire, to the wise who shall understand. But there is a practical application of this subject to the present state of things, which is solemn and fearful; viz., the present generation are acting over again the same skeptical part as to his second coming that the Jews did to his first advent, 1800 years ago. Yes, the visible churches in their hatred to Adventism, and in their opposition to the law of God; in the contempt cast upon his holy Sabbath from week to week, in the face of the light now shining everywhere; in their efforts to put the Sabbath under foot, and to set up a pagan festival in its stead; in their efforts to darken the page of prophecy which sheds such a flood of light upon the second advent of the Messiah, are acting a part ten-fold more aggravated and fearful than that enacted by the Jewish church 1800 years ago. Why? Because we have ten-fold more evidence of his second coming, and of its time and manner, and of the accompanying circumstances, than the Jewish church had of his first advent. In proof of this, let any candid person examine carefully the evidences of the advent of Christ and of his life, sufferings and death, which were in possession of the Jewish church at his first coming, and compare it with the light now shining upon the page of prophecy in both Old and New Testaments; and such a person after carefully and intelligently weighing the comparative evidence, must certainly admit that the light now beaming upon and from prophetic scriptures, is far, very far greater, than could have been realized either in the days of Noah or of Jesus Christ. We have the same prophecies which they had, and besides we possess the awful history and final end of those who rejected them, and the general experience and history of those nations mentioned in the Bible, together with the accredited history of the fulfillment of many of the prophecies. Thus we have numerous data and stand-points from which to view the future, and a vast mine of cumulative evidence daily increasing; we possess the prophecies of Christ himself, and by his apostles, clear and well defined; we have the signs of the times, and all point with awful precision to the all-absorbing event, to that great day just looming up before us. Now too, the human intellect is cultivated, the mind enlarged, the means of knowledge are greatly increased, and the facilities for the investigation of truth are greatly enlarged and spread abroad; and such is man's present power of investigation, that nothing material is seemingly too high or too deep for his study. Height and depth, length and breadth, are accurately measured, and by means of skillful and scientific combinations and arrangements, his eye penetrates the depths of space, into other spheres; he brings suns and systems into his range of thought; he pries into the earth, and dissects its materials; he analyzes the very air we breathe; he tames the lightnings; almost annihilates time and distance, and performs unnumbered wonders; but alas! when he turns to the page of prophecy, or the law of God, one is obscure, and the other is done away. The word of God and the practice and precept of the church, are seen to be at such points of opposition, and at such variance that one or the other must be set aside; and there are so many magnets on the side of man's precept, that the silent and severe word of God, is lost sight of and forgotten or ignored, and the natural mind at once leans upon its kind. Truth is darkened and obscured; light is taken for darkness and darkness for light; and so is enacted over again, the blind part of the Jews of old, who were blind and deaf, but thought they saw and heard. These are not random thoughts; they are well attested facts. And startling though they may be, we should know them, should bear them in mind. They remind us of the corruption of the age; they warn us of its perils and dangers. We must stand aloof from spiritual Babylon, must come out of her or be partaker of her sins, and receive of her plagues. Rest assured, dear brother or sister, that it is not a light thing to serve the Lord, to keep his commands, and have the faith of Jesus. We must leave their assemblies, must protest firmly against their Sabbath desecration, their mock baptism and other errors, and must bear plain witness in regard to Christ's second coming, and the awful plagues impending over the wicked. All are wicked who trample upon God's law, be it done ever so solemnly. One point here claims our attention in regard to the eras in the past; as in the days of Noah, God by Noah called loudly for a reform previous to sending the deluge upon the earth; so it was previous to the first advent of Christ that John the Baptist preached repentance. He called the leaders of the Jewish church a generation of vipers, and this gave great offense; he rebuked king Herod, and this faithful199 dealing cost him his life. It was against the crimes of the professed church, and those in high places, that he hurled the thunders of truth, against hypocrites, who were sitting in Moses' seat, expounders of the law, scribes, Pharisees, priests and Levites, white-washed with apparent sanctity; against such he pointed his sharpest arrows of reproof. The ancient prophets of the Lord began with these elevated sinners when a reform was called for, and whenever in the past the church departed from the standard of purity and became corrupt, then God has raised up faithful reprovers; and whenever such reproofs have been rejected by those to whom they were sent, the judgments of God have immediately followed. This offensive word, repent, has often been the stone of stumbling over which corrupt churches and false prophets, and lying teachers, and thoughtless nations, with their reckless rulers, have stumbled, and fallen, and expired. So now a reform is called for; reprovers are raised up who preach repentance. Repent, repent, they say; turn, turn, O house of Israel, from your idolatrous pagan rites. O ye corrupt churches, repair the breach, restore the ancient paths, prepare, prepare for the coming of the Lord; but all in vain. This offensive word, repent, has the same effect now upon these confused organizations, that it had when it fell from the lips of John the Baptist in the wilderness of Judea. But a grand era is now quickly coming. The day of God's wrath is near, it hasteth greatly. It will be an era fraught with awful importance to the wicked; but to the righteous it will be a bright, a glorious day. To the wicked it will be a day of tempest, of hail, and of pestilence; but to the righteous, a day of deliverance, of joy and rejoicing, an era from which through eternity they will date immortality and eternal life. How remarkable that any with the prophetic scriptures open before them, with their fulfillment recorded on almost every page of profane as well as sacred history, can still reject the testimony of the prophets. How strange that the second advent of the Messiah can be doubted in the face of such proof! Oh awful thought! that men are now ripening for the seven plagues spoken of in Rev. xvi. "Babylon is fallen. Come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and receive not of her plagues." Rev. xviii. J. CLARKE. BABEL BUILDING.
By Cornelia Rice
How cheered the sons of Noah were,
While they were building Babel,
And shouts rang out upon the air,
Because that they were able
To build and climb on brick-work frame,
That years to come might read their name. What disappointment sad they see,
As they confounded were!
And groans, instead of joyous glee,
Now rang upon the air!
For, how to speak, they had forgot—
Filled with dismay, they left the spot. And now the men of modern days
Are building up their Babel;
And shouts of joy and songs of praise
Ring o'er the Atlantic Cable.
But soon the elements with heat
Will melt, and all their plans defeat, They've chained the lightning in its course,
They've bottled up the steam;
And now, behold, the iron horse
Becomes an agile team.
With lightning speed the chariots run,
While man exclaims, See what I've done! How little do they realize
The "preparation day!"
That all these signs, before their eyes,
Speak, Christ is on his way!
Soon he will come to try their works,
And give to each their just deserts. But this is not the only tower
That's built on Shinar's plain—
I hear the workmen from their bower,
I turn and look again.
They're singing loud of God and heaven,
And telling of their sins forgiven. But how they tug and toil to lay
A platform of their own!
For that "old law" has passed away
Jehovah wrote on stone.
They think they see a flaw therein,
And now to keep it would be sin! Again, for them to wait so long
For Jesus to return,
It seems is altogether wrong—
A shorter way they learn:
Death is the gate to endless joy,
Which leads to bliss without alloy. Since they have found a shorter way
To gain their fancied rest,
They can defer the judgment day,
And so they think it best.
For why the judgment of the Lord,
Since each at death receives reward? And now they sing the siren song,
The earth will long remain;
And thousand thousand years roll on,
Ere Christ will come again.
He'll not come yet, is all the talk,
And those that look for him they mock. But soon this man-made tower must fall;
It's built upon the sand;
Untempered mortar's in the wall—
We know it cannot stand.
Alas the crash! it must be great,
For it decides the builders' fate. O, would they hasten to be wise,
And cease at once to build;
And lift their hearts, their hands, their eyes,
To Zion's holy hill;
Where Jesus pleads his precious blood,
And thus escape the avenging rod.
Cornelia Rice. "Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another." BRO. SMITH: I noticed in the last Review a letter from Bro. Wheeler, stating something of his labors in our place, and that one had decided to keep the Sabbath. Well, it was blessed to see one decide to keep all the commandments of God and stand alone; but this dear sister was not long to stand alone: her husband, and four other heads of families have embraced the Sabbath since Bro. Wheeler left. It appears that these dear souls were starving for the truth, and had been crying to the Lord to send them the light. It has come, and they seem to rejoice greatly in the light. We also feel to rejoice for what the Lord has done in this dark place. We thank the Lord that he permitted Bro. and Sr. Wheeler to visit us and labor for us and this dear people. I think the Lord has other jewels yet in this place. Be encouraged, dear lonely pilgrims. We have been here in this dark place four years and many have been our tears, and prayers, and groanings before the Lord that he would raise up some, even one, to go with us. Thank his dear, precious name, he has seen our tears, heard our prayers, and raised up more than one to journey with us to mount Zion. We were greatly blessed in attending a late conference, and once more meeting with Bro. and Sr. White, and Brn. Loughborough and Wheeler. O, the blessed privilege of meeting and mingling our tears, prayers and testimonies with God's remnant people. The strong, truthful testimony from those precious of the earth did us good. We are encouraged. We know this is God's cause, and will triumph. Your brother trying to please the Lord,
C. B. PRESTON. Glenmore, N. Y., Oct. 28th, 1858. P. S. Could not Bro. A. Ross, or Bro. Arnold, or Bro. Chase, from Jefferson Co., visit us and receive a blessing by watering others that are thirsty.
C. B. P. A Testimony for the Sabbath
By Ruth E. Webster
BRO. SMITH: I have for some time past had a desire to address, through the Review, the brethren and sisters in Christ, who are trying to keep the commandments of God. While on a visit to Bro. Solomon Welcome's, in Almond, last April, he put in- to my hand a little work entitled, "A word for the Sabbath," which I took and read with great interest, at the same time laying my mind open to receive instruction. I prayed God to lead me into all truth. Bro. S. then handed me another, entitled, "The Law of God," which I read and considered a convincing argument, a work founded on Bible truth, in favor of the Sabbath of the Lord. I was satisfactorily convinced that the law is binding on man, and will be until the end of time. I at once commenced keeping the seventh day unto the Lord, and was blessed in so doing. Since that time the Bible seems almost like a new book to me. When I read its sacred pages I find many precious promises for the encouragement of those who love God and keep his commandments. I desire to be among the true and faithful. I rejoice that I ever heard the Third Angel's Message. O that I may live so as to be counted worthy to be numbered among the jewels of my Master when he shall come to gather his elect from the four corners of the earth. Yours in Christian bonds,
RUTH E. WEBSTER.
Oasis, Wis., Oct. 21st, 1858. BRO. SMITH: I feel that I would like to speak once more a few words through the Review. Since I returned home from the tent-meeting at Crane's Grove, Ills., my time has been nearly all occupied in preparing to move. I am going to locate at Koskonong, and am nearly ready to go. I feel anxious to get into the wide harvest-field once more. Truly the harvest is great and the laborers few. The Third Angel's Message is everything to me, and the only hope I have of getting the victory over the beast, and his image, and his mark, and the number of his name, is in keeping the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus. Rev. xiv, 12. The Third Angel's Message has been doing a thorough work in the hearts of some in this part of Wisconsin, while they have taken hold anew, and resolved to go through at the expense of their all. I believe the Lord is beginning to work for his people in this State once more. I have just taken up one of the Advent Messengers, published at Ann Arbor, Mich., Sept., 1855, (for I have some of them about my house,) in which I read the appointment of two conferences which were held in this State in October, 1855; and it has caused me to reflect upon the past. I am desirous to remove every thing out of the way that I have had any hand in placing in the way of the Third Message. I attended both of those conferences; one at Eldorado, and the other at Koskonong; and it was there resolved by the majority present to withdraw sympathy and support from the Review. The majority were in favor of having another paper established, and most of us sent our aid to the Messenger until it went down. I believe many of us were honest, but deceived. Many looked for the Review to go down, but God had his hand to the work and sustained the Review, and kept alive the Third Angel's Message. His frown was upon us, and we began to die spiritually, and the doctrine of the future age came in by degrees. Many sympathized more or less with that; the spirit of the world took hold, and family altars went down, and death and devastation followed. In the Winter after our conferences, Bro. Bates came to Wisconsin in search of honest ones. He met with a cold reception from many, and much opposition. I advertised him in the Messenger, which caused him sorrow of heart. I wish to say that the letter I sent to the Messenger against Bro. Bates, was uncalled for; and if I had not sympathized with the future age, and partaken of that spirit, I should not have done it. I desire to confess all my errors, and be found without fault before the throne of God. Rev. xiv, 5. There is need of more labor in this part of the State than we have at present. Can Bro. Ingraham come this way, and spend a few weeks? I think much good would result from his labors here. I feel that what is done must be done quickly; for soon it will be said, He that is unjust, let him be unjust still, and he that is filthy, let him be filthy still. Your brother striving to overcome. Hebron, Wis., Oct. 24th, 1858. Extracts from Letters.
By Editor
Sister P. Barrows writes from Bridgewater, Vt., Oct. 22d, 1858: "Love for the cause of my Redeemer induces me to write. I am trying to make my way through to the kingdom, but feel the need of a deeper work of grace in my heart, more faith and love, and that holy zeal which characterized the apostles. I am thankful for the privilege of hearing through the Review of the advancement of the Third Angel's Message. I want the paper continued to me as long as I stay on this mortal shore." Bro J. Whitmore writes from Jackson, Mich. : "I am still striving for the kingdom which is just in sight. Although I make slow progress, I rejoice that we are so near home. The good ship will soon come to port. Our way is onward. The path is strait and narrow; but wide enough to walk in if we step carefully, and keep our eye upward to the heavenly Sanctuary where Jesus is pleading for us. "I feel thankful for the Review and Herald. It brings cheering news weekly of the wonderful work of God. My prayer is that he would soon gather in all his elect." OBITUARY.
By James H.; Mary Titus
FELL asleep, Oct. 4th, 1858, our only child, Alvah N. Titus, aged two years and six months. "The loved, the bright, the beautiful,
From earth must pass away;
And bitter are the tears that fall
Above the senseless clay.
"Alas! 'tis hard to part with thee,
Our darling little boy;
Yet well we know 'tis promised thee
To rise to perfect joy.
"Oh we shall miss thy joyous laugh
And shouts of childish glee;
And listen oft with throbbing heart
For thy footsteps light and free.
"And oft in slumber shall we meet
Thy small mouth's rosy kiss,
And waken with a bitter pang,
Thy twining arms to miss.
"A vacant place is at our board,
A void is in our heart;
Our child, our loved, our beautiful,
'Tis hard with thee to part!
"To lay thy little form away
Within the silent tomb,
Then turn and leave thee slumbering there,
In darkness and in gloom.
"Yet Alvah, darling, short thy stay
Within that narrow bed;
Thy little form will scarcely feel
Corruption's withering tread,
"Ere thou shalt hear thy Saviour's voice,
Arise, ye dead, and sing,
Where is thy victory now, O grave?
And where, O death, thy sting?"
JAMES H., & MARY TITUS.
Perry, Mich.