VERSE 39. Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.
The system of paganism which had been introduced into France, as exemplified in the worship of the idol set up in the person of the goddess of Reason, and regulated by a heathen ritual which had been enacted by the National Assembly for the use of the French people, continued in force till the appointment of Napoleon to the provisional consulate of France in 1799. The adherents of this strange religion occupied the fortified places, the strongholds, of the nation, as expressed in this verse.
But that which serves to identify the application of this prophecy to France, perhaps as clearly as any other particular, is the statement made in the last clause of the verse, namely, that they should “divide the land for gain.” Previous to the revolution, the landed property of France was owned by a few landlords in immense estates. These estates were required by the law to remain undivided so that no heirs or creditors could partition them. But revolution knows no law; and in the anarchy that now reigned, as noted also in the eleventh of Revelation, the titles of the nobility were abolished, and their lands disposed of in small parcels for the benefit of the public exchequer. The government was in need of funds, and these large landed estates were confiscated and sold at auction, in parcels to suit purchasers. The historian thus records this unique transaction:—
“The confiscation of two-thirds of the landed property of the kingdom, which arose from the decrees of the Convention against the emigrants, clergy, and persons convicted at the Revolutionary Tribunals. . . . placed funds worth above £700,-000,000 sterling at the disposal of the government.”—Alison, Vol. iv, p. 151.
When did ever an event transpire, and in what country, fulfilling a prophecy more completely than this? As the nation began to come to itself, a more rational religion was demanded, and the heathen ritual was abolished. The historian thus describes that event:—
“A third and bolder measure was the discarding of the heathen ritual, and re-opening the churches for Christian worship; and of this the credit was wholly Napoleon’s, who had to contend with the philosophic prejudices of almost all his colleagues. He, in his conversations with them, made no attempts to represent himself a believer in Christianity, but stood only on the necessity of providing the people with the regular means of worship, wherever it is meant to have a state of tranquillity. The priests who chose to take the oath of fidelity to the government were re-admitted to their functions; and this wise measure was followed by the adherence of not less than 20,000 of these ministers of religion, who had hitherto languished in the prisons of France.”—Lockhart’s Life of Napoleon, Vol. i., p. 154.
Thus terminated the reign of terror and the infidel revolution. Out of its ruins rose Bonaparte, to guide the tumult to his own elevation, place himself at the head of the French government, and strike terror to the hearts of nations.
VERSE 40. And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him; and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.
After a long interval the king of the south and the king of the north again appear on the stage of action. We have met with nothing to indicate that we are to look to any different localities for these powers from those which, shortly after the death of Alexander, constituted respectively the southern and northern divisions of his empire. The king of the south was at that time Egypt, and the king of the north was Syria, including Thrace and Asia Minor. Egypt is still, by common agreement, the king of the south, while the territory which at first constituted the king of the north, has been for the past four hundred years wholly included within the dominions of the Sultan of Turkey. To Egypt and Turkey, then, we must look for a fulfillment of the verse before us.
Is it a fact that at the time of the end, Egypt did push, or make a comparatively feeble resistance, while Turkey did come like a resistless whirlwind, against “him,” that is, the government of France? We have already produced some evidence that the time of the end commenced in 1798; and no reader of history need be informed that in that very year a state of open hostility between France and Egypt was inaugurated. The downfall of the papacy, which marked the termination of the 1260 years, and, according to verse 35, showed the commencement of the time of the end, took place on the 10th of February 1798, when Rome fell into the hands of Berthier, the general of the French. On the 5th of March following Bonaparte received the decree of the directory relative to the expedition against Egypt. May 3, he left Paris, and set sail the 19th, with a large naval armament, containing 40,000 soldiers and 10,000 sailors. July 5, Alexandria was taken, and immediately fortified. On the 23d the decisive battle of the pyramids was fought, in which the Mamelukes contested the field with valor and desperation, but were no match for the disciplined legions of the French. Murad Bey lost all his cannon, 400 camels, and 3000 men. The loss of the French was comparatively slight. On the 24th Bonaparte entered Cairo, the capital of Egypt. Thus the king of the south was able to make but a feeble resistance.
At this juncture, however, the situation of Napoleon began to grow complicated. The French fleet, which was his only channel of communication with France, was defeated by the English under Nelson at Aboukir; and on September 2 of this same year 1798, the Sultan of Turkey, exasperated that Egypt, so long a semi-dependency of the Ottoman empire, should be transformed into a French province, declared war against France. Thus the king of the north came against him, in the same year that the king of the south “pushed,” and both at the time of the end, which is another conclusive proof that the year 1798 is the one which begins that period.
Was the coming of the king of the north, or Turkey, like a whirlwind in comparison with the pushing of Egypt? Napoleon had crushed the armies of Egypt; he essayed to do the same thing with the armies of the Sultan, who were menacing an attack from the side of Asia. Feb. 27, 1799, with 18,000 men, he commenced his march from Cairo to Syria. He first took the fort of El-Arish, in the desert, then Jaffa (the Joppa of the Bible), conquered the inhabitants of Naplous at Zeta, and was again victorious at Jafet. Meanwhile a strong body of Turks had intrenched themselves at St. Jean d’Acre, while swarms of Mussulmen gathered in the mountains of Samaria, ready to swoop down upon the French when they should besiege d’Acre. Sir Sidney Smith at the same time appeared before St. Jean d’Acre with two English ships, reinforced the Turkish garrison of that place, and captured the apparatus for the siege, which Napoleon had sent round by sea from Alexandria. A Turkish fleet soon appeared in the offing, which, with the Russian and English vessels then co-operating with them, constituted the “many ships” of the king of the north.
On the 18th of March the siege commenced. Napoleon was twice called away to save some French divisions from falling into the hand of the Mussulman hordes that filled the country. Twice also a breach was made in the wall of the city; but the assailants were met with such fury by the garrison, that they were obliged, despite their best efforts, to give over the struggle. After a continuance of sixty days, Napoleon raised the siege, sounded for the first time in his career the note of retreat, and on the 21st of May commenced to retrace his steps to Egypt.
“And he shall overflow and pass over.” We have found events which furnish a very striking fulfillment of the pushing of the king of the south, and the whirlwind onset of the king of the north, against the French power. Thus far there is quite a general agreement in the application of the prophecy. But now we reach a point where a difference of opinion exists. To whom do the words, “he shall overflow and pass over,” refer?109To France or the king of the north? The application of the remainder of this chapter depends upon the answer to this question.
From this point two lines of interpretation diverge. Some apply the words to France, and endeavor to find a fulfillment in the career of Napoleon. Others apply them to the king of the north, and accordingly point for a fulfillment to events in the history of Turkey. If neither of these positions is free from difficulty, as we presume no one will claim that it is, absolutely, it only remains that we take that one which presents the fewest.
Respecting the application of the prophecy to Napoleon, or to France under his leadership, so far as we are acquainted with his history, we do not find events which we can urge with any degree of assurance, as the fulfillment of the remaining portion of this chapter; and hence do not see how it can be thus applied. It must, then, be fulfilled by Turkey, unless it can be shown (1.) that the expression “king of the north” does not apply to Turkey, or (2.) that there is some other power besides either France or the king of the north, which fulfilled this part of the prediction. But if Turkey, now occupying the territory which constituted the northern division of Alexander’s empire, is not the king of the north of this prophecy, then we are left without any principle to guide us in the interpretation. And we presume all will be agreed that there is no room for the introduction of any other power here. The French king and the king of the north, are the only ones to whom the prediction can apply. The fulfillment must lie between them.
Some considerations certainly favor the idea that there is, in the latter part of verse 40, a transfer of the burden of the prophecy from the French power to the king of the north. The king of the north is introduced just before as coming forth like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and many ships. The collision between this power and the French we have already noticed. The king of the north with the aid of his allies, gained the day in this contest; and the French, foiled in their efforts, were driven back into Egypt. Now it would seem to be the more natural application to refer the “overflowing and passing over” to that power which emerged in triumph from that struggle; and that power was Turkey. We will only add that one who is familiar with the Hebrew assures us that the construction of this verse is such as to make it necessary to refer the overflowing and passing over to the king of the north, these words expressing the result of that movement which is just before likened to the fury of the whirlwind.
Visit to Boston.
By John Nevins Andrews
In consequence of the feeble health of Bro. and sister White, they decided that it was not consistent for them to attempt to fill their recent appointment for Boston. That the friends there should not be too much disappointed, it seemed best that some one should go in their stead. And as no other one could consistently do this but myself, the lot fell to me.
The few days which I have spent in Boston have been days of much interest to me. Our meetings were characterized by solemnity and interest, and the presence of the Spirit of God. The word of God seemed to take hold upon the people. My own spirit was refreshed, and I trust that others were encouraged also. Bro. Haskell rendered efficient service in preaching the word. Bro. Crandall also aided in the services of the meetings.
There seems to be a good degree of interest with our brethren to help in the work of sustaining meetings in Boston, and of helping forward the cause of truth. Some, indeed, have become separated in their feelings from the body. But we think this, with a part at least, is the result of misunderstanding which we trust will not always continue. There seems to be an ear to hear with those who are not identified with the truths which we cherish. I hope in a few weeks to return to Boston to labor there for a season in connection with the preparation of the Sabbath History. J. N. ANDREWS.
An Instructive Incident.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
The other night, while coming from Saginaw to Battle Creek, I wished to change cars at Lansing. I must make good connection in order to reach my appointment in Iowa. By-and-by the conductor came and took up the tickets for Lansing. Soon the train stopped, and I heard them call out, “Lansing,” and off I got, and on went the train. But lo, and behold, it was North Lansing, instead of Lansing! There was no hack or any other conveyance. It was three miles to the cars I wished to take, and they were to go in twenty minutes! They told me it was no use to try to reach the train. I must stay all night. But my resolution was taken in a moment; I would try. I could but fail any way. So off I started up the track alone in the dark with a heavy satchel. All can well imagine that I did not feel very comfortable under these circumstances. All this resulted from a mistake of my own. I did not design to do it. I honestly supposed that I was doing right; yet this did not relieve my difficulty in the least. I had to bear the consequences just the same as if I had done it deliberately. I could but have bitter reflections over what might have been had I used proper caution. Thus brooding over this and other sadder mistakes which I have made in life, I hurried on, walking and running alternately. Of course I had but faint hopes of being on time; yet I did hope. Finally I reached the depot where I should have stopped at first. On, on, I pushed sweaty and weary. When I was within a mile of the depot, I was told that probably the train had not gone. This inspired me with new strength. Another half mile, and I met the hack returning, and found the cars had not gone yet. I knew that every minute was now precious. I ran with all my might till I could hardly get my breath. When within forty rods of the depot, I saw the train standing there lighted up, apparently about ready to start. One minute more and I might even now miss it. So I exerted myself to the very utmost. I think I must have been within eight or ten rods of the cars when the old engine began to puff and the bell began to ring! Must I get so near the prize and then lose it after all my effort? It seemed to me I could go no farther nor get one foot before the other. But that would not do; so I summoned all the strength I had, and ran a little faster. In another moment I landed on the steps of the car, and was moving off!
The first thing I did was to take care not to catch cold after such an effort. This I did by walking to and fro in the car till I became cool and rested. But the feeling of relief, of success, of victory, which came over me, abundantly paid me for all my effort.
REFLECTIONS.
This incident brought to my mind many very profitable reflections:
1. Mistakes. How very sad it is to make mistakes. Once made, they must be suffered. No amount of honesty or ignorance will change the consequence in the least. Men are constantly making mistakes and suffering for them. Here is one who made a mistake in his business; here is another who made a mistake in his calling; and there is a third who made a mistake in his marriage. All are sad and unhappy. They must bear it now. Yet in many cases mistakes may be corrected in time by energy, perseverance, and the blessing of God. But how terrible will be that final and great mistake which it will appear at the Judgment thousands have made! What anguish and hopeless despair will then fill the souls of such!
2. Indecision. Had I lost only one minute by indecision on the start, I would have been too late! Prompt action is often necessary to success. When the Spirit of God is striving with us, we must yield to it, lest by indecision and delay we grieve it from us, and we be left in the dark to go to ruin.
3. Weight. Could I have laid aside my overcoat and satchel, how much more easily, swiftly, and surely, I could have run that race! I nearly lost the train by being weighed down and hindered by them. I could then fully appreciate Paul’s advice in Heb. 12:1. How truly this illustrates the condition of many who are trying to run the heavenly race. See them sweat, and toil, and worry, and almost get discouraged by the little progress they make. What is the matter? They are all loaded down with these weights, and are unwilling to lay them aside. There is great danger of such.
4. How perilous to stop to rest or to dally by the way! These precious moments once lost can never be regained, and the loss of them may be our ruin.
5. The farther we travel and the nearer we come to the final end of our journey, the more tired and weary we become, and the harder it seems to go forward. How exceedingly bad I should have felt had I failed and given out when so near the object of my effort! But how terribly will that soul feel who has run well till near the end of the journey, and then failed. Yet thousands will do this—will fall in the sight of the prize.
6. What deep satisfaction, what feelings of relief, what holy joy, will the final overcomer feel! The happiness of that one hour will abundantly make up for all the toil and sorrow endured in the whole of life’s struggle. May we all finally reach the heavenly train.
D. M. CANRIGHT.
Appeal to the Bible.
Not long since, a Roman archbishop in Chili gave the following counsel to his flock:
“When any Protestant,” said he to the faithful, “offers you a book of devotion and exalts the Bible to the stars, at the same time opposing the true faith and Christian practices, on the ground that they are without Scripture warrant, tell him to point out in his Bible where infant baptism is enjoined by precept or example a THING WHICH THEY PRACTICE AS WELL AS WE.”
“—And he might have added—Tell them to point out the passage which speaks of immortal souls. We remember how lame Dr. Cumming was in his discussion with Mr. French on Romanism on these points. They were almost the only points in which his adversary had the advantage of him. Shall we who accept the Bible for our rule of faith, believe and teach what we fail to find in it? If we may, the Romanist may do the same, and the pope be right after all.”—Advent Christian Times.
“—And he might have added further—Tell them to point out the passage which commands them to keep Sunday for the Sabbath, “a thing which they practice as well as we.” And this they have done, more than once, to the great discomfiture of those who were called to meet the issue. It is pitiable to see Protestants allow their prejudices to goad them on in the observance and defense of an institution which can show no other claim to our regard except that the papal church is its mother and paganism its father. “Shall we who accept the Bible?” &c.
To Correspondents.
J. E. SIMONDS: The record in Genesis is necessarily so brief, a period of about twenty-five hundred years being passed over in its fifty chapters, that it is not strange that many things are omitted. Among these it may easily be supposed that the birth of daughters to Adam and Eve, and the marriage of Cain, are included.
THOS. McKEE: See article in REVIEW, No. 8, present volume, entitled, “The Third Day since these Things were Done.”
A Good Name Will Shine Forever
A GOOD name will shine forever.
Corruption in High Places.
REV. Mr. McAllister in the late Philadelphia National Reform Convention, said:—
The dishonesty, the profanity, the drunkenness, the licentiousness, of a large proportion of our public men, are simply notorious. They are the most tangible point of our political malady. They are the outward manifestations, to which we cannot be blind, of a diseased system. It is hard to select a specimen of the rottenness of our political life. A bill presented not long since for payment on the floor of the New York Legislature may serve as an example. The Legislature had appointed an investigating Committee who spent between two and three months in New York City. The sum total of their expenses was $4,334, of this $2,640 were for parlors in the Metropolitan Hotel, about $500 of the balance were for brandy and wine, about the same for cigars, and some two or three hundred for theatrical amusements, leaving only some $300 or $400, apart from the charges for rooms, that by any possibility could have been spent in doing the proper work of such a Committee. It is some satisfaction to know that the bill wasn’t paid out of the public treasury—at least, not directly. Many far worse things than this have been made public. Still it remains true, as the Nation recently said, that no denunciation of the condition of the civil service of the United States, which has ever appeared in print, has come up as a picture of selfishness, greed, fraud, corruption, falsehood and cruelty, to the accounts which are given privately by those who have seen the real workings of the machine. The worst of it is, the people know it all, and yet look on with apathy. They seem to think that our corrupt condition is a necessity of republican government. And so it must be, only each year becoming worse than ever before, until the inevitable crash and ruin come, unless we enact into law the national desire for honest officers of government. We must have a civil service reform that will shut out from positions of trust, the morally unfit as well as the mentally incompetent. And there is no such thorough reform of this kind as that which the amendment in our society will work. We propose to strike at the very root of this alarming evil in our body politic, by having the nation re-organize constitutionally, as the fountain of all its laws, that divine law which declares that “he that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.”
In the same Convention, REV. H. H. George also spoke respecting our national corruption, and the means by which it is proposed to remedy it, as follows:—
Again, the fearful corruption threatening to engulf our land cannot be stayed but by the nation’s returning to God. That alarming corruption prevails in the land no one need to be told. The wheels of government are clogged with bribery and political dishonesty. Its baneful influence is felt beyond the sphere of politics. A New York preacher said, recently: “If the condition of this city should spread itself all over the country, the Republic would go to pieces in ninety days.” Says another: “It has come to be that it is easier for the camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for an honest man to gain and retain political power.” But wide and deep as this deluge of corruption may be, “the Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea,” and should the Christian people arise in their strength to right the ship of State and anchor it to the throne of God, all would be safe.
And, finally, every movement for good that has been inaugurated in this land will be authorized and backed up by the success of this reform. The cause of temperance will succeed when the fountain of law is purified, when law-makers and administrators shall throw their influence and example upon the side of temperance. The desecration of the Sabbath shall be arrested, when the Sabbath shall have proper Constitutional safeguards thrown around it, shall be respected and protected in high places; but never until the Bible be recognized as the supreme law of the land, and President and Congressmen shall be men educated and sworn to observe its precepts, shall we have a Sabbath-keeping land. The Bible shall be kept in our schools, when the Constitution of the land shall explicitly recognize it as supreme law, and guarantee its unrestricted use in all our institutions. At least, then, all friends of the Bible, all lovers of Christianity, and all sympathizers with our Christian institutions, should unite their strength in this national reform as the sublimest movement of the age, and one that is as certain to go forward as the sun to roll on in his majestic course. Nor will it stop with making its impress upon the civil institutions of this land, but onward, and still onward, as with a divine momentum, it shall deepen and widen till those great voices in Heaven shall be heard saying, “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ.”
Righteousness.
By A. S. Hutchins
The Scriptures represent righteousness as obedience to God's law. “And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us.” Deut. 6: 25. “Righteousness exalteth a nation.” Upon the righteous the Lord looketh with delight. “For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.” Ps. 11: 7. And again, “The Lord loveth the righteous.” To such how comforting his promises. “Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him; for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.” Isa. 3: 10.
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled.” Matt. 5: 6. “He that walketh righteously and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; he shall dwell on high; his place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks; bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.” Isa. 33: 15, 16.
Dear brethren, it is now our especial work to seek “righteousness,” seek “meekness,” that we may be hid in the day of the Lord's anger. Zeph. 2: 1–3.
Let us perseveringly do this, and humbly walk with God, in all things obeying him; and then soon shall be heard a voice from Heaven, of the most enrapturing sweetness and thrilling loveliness, “Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.” Isa. 26: 2.
Pilgrims, bound to the city of God, fresh courage take, and onward press. “Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” A. S. HUTCHINS.
They Are not Time-Keepers.
By A. C. Bourdeau
In the Scriptures, man in death is represented as sleeping, and in the resurrection, as awaking and rising. The period that man sleeps in death is compared to the shadow and darkness of night, in which they dwell in the dust, and the grave is their resting-place; and the time of the resurrection of the saints is compared to the morning and to the day dawn. The Lord then “turneth the shadow of death into the morning.”
Many passages attest these facts. From their decease, the saints sleep in the narrow chambers of the dead till they wake in the morning of the first resurrection to receive the gift of immortality and to live eternally with the Lord in his kingdom. The wicked dead, who have not accepted salvation through Christ, continue to sleep until the redeemed of the Lord have lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. Then they awake to receive their retribution, and to die the second death in the final conflagration.
Again, while the Scriptures clearly substantiate the doctrine of the sleep of the dead, they also clearly represent that man in death is totally unconscious, and exercises no power of mind. “His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” Ps. 146: 4; Job 14: 20, 21; Eccl. 9: 5, 6, 10; Ps. 115: 17.
This is reasonable and conclusive; for in sound sleep, thought is suspended, and we have no idea of anything that transpires under the sun. There is no light, no darkness, no disappointment, no lapse of time, no waiting through a long night, to those that sleep soundly. They are not time-keepers. And, knowing this to be a fact by repeated experience, we lie down to sleep for a whole night, as it were, for a little moment. Thus it is in regard to the sleep of the dead. In Phil. 1: 20–24, Paul understood that at the resurrection it will to him be precisely as though he departed to be with Christ the very moment he died. There is no waiting through long ages, to the dead. They are not time-keepers. A. C. BOURDEAU.
The Things That Make for Peace.
By Beecher
How much would neighbors rise in value, and how much would neighbors rise in beauty, if all should lay aside habits of criticism, and neighborhood scandal, and petty feuds, and ridicule! And if men should study the things that make for peace, and the things that make for happiness, everybody trying to make everybody else happy, what a revolution there would be!—Beecher.
Religion Improves Good Manners
RELIGION does not destroy, but improves, good manners, and teaches us to honor all men.
Peru, Iowa.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
THURSDAY, Feb. 28, Bro. Littlejohn and myself came to Chicago. The train being late, we missed connection, and so rested all night at C. Rode all day Wednesday and the night following. Thursday morning, Mrs. Canright joined us as we passed Monroe. That evening we rode 14 miles by stage from De Soto to Winterset, over most terrible roads. Tired enough we were, therefore, when we arrived at Bro. Todd’s, at Winterset. Friday the roads were so very bad that it took us four hours to go nine miles to Peru. We feared that our meetings would be a failure; but we were very happily disappointed. That evening our little house was well filled, many coming from miles around. We stayed over two Sabbaths, and, if possible, the roads grew worse to the last; which means much in Iowa. Yet the attendance was surprisingly large most of the time. One fair evening, all could not get into the house. We both enjoyed very good freedom in speaking. We visited from house to house more or less every day. Much of the time our fare was not very hygienic, and we had to ride several miles after night meetings; yet we felt well, and Bro. L. improved in health. He spoke on the subject of health, and it seemed to be well received.
We found every one holding on, and the meetings well attended. The Bible-class and Sabbath-school have prospered well. During our meetings this time, six more families came out upon the Sabbath, making twenty-one families, and a few in other families who are now keeping the Sabbath in this place. There are some sixty children and youth belonging to these families who are now thrown under the influence of the truth. We feel a great anxiety for them that they may be properly trained. Nearly one hundred, including children, attended our last Sabbath meeting. Most of these will attend every Sabbath. We re-organized the Bible-class and Sabbath-school.
We sold a good amount of books, and obtained several subscribers for the REVIEW, Reformer, and Instructor. At our last meeting, money, materials, and labor, were readily subscribed to seat and paint the house, fence the lot, &c. It pleased us much to see their readiness in this matter. We hope to visit them again as soon as this work is done, and hold further meetings. We still hope for others here.
We did not dwell on practical subjects as much as we designed to. We wish to prepare them for organization as soon as we can. There is much to be done for them yet in many respects. They need to reform in their habits, and learn to bear the cross and become Christians indeed. Oh! that we had some faithful helper, some Aquila or Priscilla (Acts 18), to come and teach them the way of the Lord more fully! This they now need more than preaching. Is there no one to do this kind of work? It is very evident that a work thus begun in a new place should be followed up. I am more and more convinced that it is poor policy to leave such places for new fields. We now go to Washington.
D. M. CANRIGHT.
Have Faith in God.
By L. E. Miller
An incident in my experience of late has given me great encouragement to still labor on in the blessed cause of my Lord and Master. In company with some of like precious faith, I made a visit to one of the dear sisters whose companion had long stood opposed to the work of God. We became much interested in his case, and covenanted together to make him an especial subject of prayer. Although the prospect looked dark before us, we trusted not in human agency, knowing that the Lord hath the hearts of all men in his hands, and can turn them as the rivers of water are turned; and, glory be to the name of Jesus, his heart was softened, and I saw the tears freely flowing, and before we left, he took a decided stand for the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and it was said of him, “Behold, he prayeth.” His companion who had so long struggled alone amid great opposition was filled with praise and thanksgiving. She said, “The Lord hath done great things for me; I will praise his holy name.”
Faith in God, with unceasing prayer, opens the windows of Heaven, and, oh! what showers of blessings descend upon his waiting children. What battles it has fought! What glorious victories it has won! Oh! the precious promises of God which are given unto us that we may become partakers of the divine nature!
Lone Christian, look up. Be not weary in well-doing; for in due time you shall reap if you faint not. The service of the Lord pays us as we pass along through the enemy's land, and by-and-by we shall reach the golden shore where no tears shall dim those glorious mansions, and we shall delight ourselves in the abundance of peace.
L. E. MILLER.
Council Bluffs, Iowa.
TAKE MY HAND.
By Sarah F. Sharpe
Saviour, take my hand, and lead me
In this rugged, narrow way;
With thy loving arm to guide me,
I shall never go astray.
For without thee I am nothing,
With thy aid alone I stand;
All my strength is perfect weakness,
Come, dear Jesus, take my hand.
Let me feel that I am truly
Led by that dear hand of thine,
Which was wounded sore to save me;
Come what will, I'll ne'er repine.
Take my hand, kind Friend, in mercy,
Let me know that thou art near;
Then, though worldlings mock and chide me,
I shall never shrink or fear.
Take my hand, dear Lord, I pray thee,
Let me walk close to thy side;
Then the wily foe can never
Turn my steady feet aside.
When thou comest in bright glory,
With a holy angel band,
Comest for thy waiting children,
Blessed Jesus, take my hand.
SARAH F. SHARPE.
Sandusky Co., O.
Chicago, Ill.
By John Matteson
I HAVE now labored about two weeks in this place among the Scandinavians. The number of attendants is not large; but some are anxious to learn the way of life. We have a comfortable hall for meetings, and our friends bear the expenses willingly. This is a difficult place to keep the Sabbath, yet some have decided to keep all the commandments of God. Pray for us, that the Lord may give strength and wisdom to gather in souls for the kingdom of God.
JOHN MATTESON.
100 S. Sangamon St., Chicago, Ill.
H. F. PHELPS
By H. F. Phelps
Minnesota.
We were very agreeably surprised about the first inst., to receive a letter from Bro. Van Horn, giving us notice of his appointed meetings in this State. Two of these are in the past. At an early hour this morning, we bade farewell to this dear servant of God as he started to another appointment. High water, mud, and at the present hour, snow and sleet, with high wind, make the outward prospects look dark; but 'tis faith that looks beyond the clouds and the storm. And so we pray that God will bless and aid in these meetings, and that nothing may hinder in the fulfillment of all these appointments.
In the two meetings past, at Greenwood and Pine Island, the Spirit of God was present to enable us to look beyond the watchman to the great Head of the church. The Spirit of God certainly aided in the presentation of the divine truths of the word, and we are sure it reached the hearts of some; yes, of many. We should have been glad to have seen more of this church present. High water, no doubt, prevented some. To all who did not attend, I would say, You lost much. But do not become discouraged. The cause of God is onward; and let us try to keep pace with it. We hope to see the cause rise in this State. We believe it will. God has sent us help, and we will have faith that it is the kind of help that we need most.
And now, dear brethren and sisters, courage in the Lord. Let us rise, in the strength of Israel's God, above all our trials, and all hindering influences, and every man begin to work over against his own house, to remove the rubbish, and build the wall; and the work of God will certainly move on, and good will be done. Shall we do this? is the question for us all to answer. For one, I say, I will. May the Lord help me to keep this resolution without wavering.
H. F. PHELPS
Defiance, Ohio.
By C. G. Daniels
LAST summer, Bro. St. John paid us a short visit, and helped us much in the Lord. In September, we attended the camp-meeting in Ohio, and presented our case to the Conference and to the Lord. Our prayers were again answered, and Bro. Van Horn was sent to us in the Lord’s own good time. He faithfully proclaimed the truth to the people so far as he had time to do. During his short stay with us, he organized a church of ten members. Since then, three more have been added to our number. We have regular Sabbath meetings, and the Lord meets with us by his Spirit, and all seem to have a mind to work. We believe if we continue to walk in the light, the Lord will add to our number such as may be saved.
C. G. DANIELS.
Defiance, Defiance Co., Ohio.
Lost Opportunities.
By A. I. Chipman
Does a day ever pass, upon which we can look back without feelings of regret that we have done so little to promote the happiness of those with whom we have associated? The world is full of sin and suffering. Many a heavy heart is made still heavier by the thought that no one cares for them. A kind word or pleasant smile would often encourage the desponding, or help to lift the cloud from some troubled brow. Perhaps some proof of friendly interest, some expression of love and good will, might reclaim a wanderer who, through temptation, had strayed from the path of rectitude and peace.
The world is one vast field of labor, and in it all can find something to do; something exactly suited to their abilities, and the circumstances in which they are placed. And yet how many of us go through the labor of the day, our thoughts absorbed in our own selfish interests, thinking only of our own trials, temptations, and discouragements, without even reflecting that others may have as great discouragements as we have, or even greater.
If the heart is filled with love to God, and to those around us, and glows with a strong desire to do something every day for Jesus, there will be no room left for gloom and despondency. In the great day of final reckoning, we shall not only be held accountable for the sins committed, but for the good left undone, for all the golden opportunities allowed to pass by unimproved.
May the Lord help us all to make a wise use of the time he has given us, that when Jesus comes, we may have our work done, and well done, and we be permitted to enter into the rest which remains for those who love his appearing. A. I. CHIPMAN. Battle Creek, Mich.