“If we live up to the best light we have, is it not all that can be required of us?” Such is the question that is often raised by individuals when an attempt is made to enjoin upon them the claims of the fourth commandment. ‘If a man lives up to the best light he has, is not that all that will be required of him?’ We unhesitatingly answer, Yes. But to those who would make this a plea for shutting their eyes to the plain light of God’s word, or living in violation of any of his plain requirements, where there is a possibility of its conflicting with their worldly interests or popular standing, we have a word more to say.
1. Has not God given us a standard by which we are to develope characters suitable for an entrance into his everlasting kingdom? He has.
2. Has he not expressed his will in terms which the simplest may easily understand? All must admit that he has; for God would not impose upon any of his creatures requirements expressed in a doubtful or ambiguous manner.
3. Have you not the word of God before your own eyes? The answer must still be, Yes.
Consider, then, the foundation upon which the plea rests. “The best light you have.” Have you not the Bible? Yes. And is not the Bible, according to your own confession, plain and unmistakable in its requirements? Yes. Can you be said to be living up to the best light you have, till you have thoroughly examined that word, to learn your duty, seeking at the same time the aid of God’s Holy Spirit to enlighten your understanding? No.
Now it would seem that the commandments of God are too plain to be mistaken by any one. The moral law is simple, concise, and direct in all its requirements; and we declare, without fear of contradiction, that no effort would ever have been made to show that law abolished, no effort to show a change in it in one single particular jot or tittle, were it not for its precept touching the Sabbath day. The world, we admit, has arrived at a very unfortunate pass for those who would observe the ten commandments “in letter and in spirit too;” for whoever would do this must take a course distinct from, and opposite to, the customs, even the religious customs, of the present time. And hence the efforts which have been made, multiform and subversive of each other, to so modify the commandments either in their meaning or their requirements, as to adapt them to the prevailing religious practices of our own days. They reverse the order of the Almighty, and endeavor to conform the law to their actions, rather than their actions to the law. Says Dymond in his essays on morality, “One of the most powerful causes of the slow amendment of public institutions consists in this circumstance, that most men endeavor rather to justify what exists, than to consider whether it ought to exist or not.” What better exemplification of this declaration can be found than in the prevailing practice of Sunday-keeping? We judge not harshly in this matter, but speak from experience and observation. And here we will state again what we have often stated heretofore, our firm conviction that no person can thoroughly examine the Sabbath question, and with perfect honesty of heart, and perfect purity of motive, unbiased by any consideration, extraneous to an all-absorbing desire to follow truth and Christ for its and his own sake,—impossible, we say, for any one to examine the question under these circumstances, and reject the seventh day.
But says one, “I have examined the Bible on this subject. I believe sincerely, and I cannot see that the Bible teaches the perpetuity of the seventh day as the Sabbath. In this conclusion I am honest and sincere.” You may be. We do not say that every one who does not keep the Sabbath, thinks or understands that the Bible teaches it. There are doubtless very many who sincerely think that the Bible lays upon us no such claims, and consequently that the service is as superfluous as it is unpopular. Are not such then living up to the best light they have, and is not their course justifiable in the sight of God? We cannot say it; for the Bible specifies certain particulars in which men are liable to deceive themselves on such points. All that we can say is, Let every one in view of them, examine his own heart, and determine for himself whereabouts he stands.
You know, reader, that the Saviour speaks of some who love darkness rather than light, and who will not come to the light lest their deeds should be reproved. The coming of the light in such cases is their condemnation. John iii, 19, 20. Again, the Apostle speaks of some whom the god of this world hath blinded, whose foolish hearts are darkened. 2 Cor. iv, 4; Rom. i, 21. Again we read of others of whom it is said that the light that is in them becomes darkness. And such cases draw out from the Saviour’s own lips the exclamation, How great is that darkness! Matt. vi, 23.
The light we might have, is the light we have; therefore to live up to the light we have, and to the light we see, are two things. A man may shut his eyes and see nothing; whereas he might open them and see a great deal; and while he is groping his way along with eyes closed, he is walking up to all the light he sees, but not to all the light he has; for this latter condition supposes that he will have his eyes wide open, and make use of all the means of light within his power. But does a man think he shuns responsibility by shutting his eyes to the light that blazes full upon his pathway? We recently heard of a man who would not read the Bible. And he justified, or sought to justify, his course on this very ground: no light, no responsibility; as though by refusing to come to a knowledge of the truth, he could avoid the condemnation of its violation. Deluded soul! Does he not know that the duty of coming to the light and seeking a knowledge of the truth, is equally imperative with that of obedience after the knowledge is received? A similar course some have pursued concerning the special subjects of Present Truth. Such, of course, are not living up to the light they have.
But how with those whose light has become darkness? We know there are individuals whose minds seem to be enveloped in gross darkness, and who seem to be growing darker and darker, retrograding instead of advancing. They may be sincerely following the best light they see. They may really not be able to understand that the Bible teaches so and so, in matters which are perfectly plain to those who are standing in the counsel of God. But are they walking up to the light they have? We believe there will invariably be found in the cases of such individuals, a point of time when they did reject, willfully and dishonestly, some truth that was presented before them; and from such a step, a bee-line into darkness and error is not difficult to find or follow. From that point their condemnation commences. A small movement is sufficient to switch a train from the track; but ever beyond that it is on the wrong track. The course must be retraced, the rejected light acknowledged, the heart set right. Multitudes may be found in almost imperceptible gradation, all the way down from those standing in the clear light, to those who are enveloped in gross darkness. Where their period of condemnation commences, or how many of the masses we come in contact with, have seen and rejected, we cannot say. God who knoweth the hearts of all men, can judge rightly in this matter.
Those who are thus groping their way in darkness, may be honestly living up to all the light they now see. Is this sufficient? No. The guilt of their previous rejection still rests upon them. For no one can innocently reach that state. It is not without the consent of the mind that truth is rejected and darkness succeeds to its place. It is not till some selfish or unworthy motive is allowed to triumph over principles of strict integrity. It is only those who do not like to retain God in their knowledge, that are given over to a reprobate mind; [Rom. i, 28;] only those who do not resist the god of this world, that have their minds darkened by him.
Who then can be said to be living up to the light he has? Not the one who has taken no pains to come to the light; for in this he neglects his duty; and not he surely who has seen the light, and refused to receive it. Let not this plea, then, brethren, that a person is living up to the best light he has, and that is all that is required, stifle investigation. We are not prepared to accept such an excuse. Hold up the light to those around you. It is their duty to see it. They may reject it if they will. But still the solemn work must go forward. The message we bear is a testing message. Decisions upon it will be final. May the Lord enable many to see the light, and having seen, to be swift to obey.
REPORT OF MEETINGS.
By M. E. Cornell
Bro. Smith: Since my last report I have held meetings in several places. At Oxford a large and attentive congregation listened about two hours to a discourse on the question, What is man? It was truly a privilege to pour forth many of the best Bible testimonies in the presence of all three of the ministers of the place. At the close of our remarks, Prof. S. A. Taft entertained the audience by asking some questions on the subject. He wished to know whether we believed that the mind of man was dependent entirely on the organism; to which we replied, that it was entirely dependent on the living organism; that the phenomena of mind was the result of the organized matter, operated upon by the life principle. He then said he believed man was composed of three parts, viz., the matter of the earth, the life principle from God, and the mind, which was dependent equally on the other two. To this we agreed, and asked the Professor if the same would not hold good in the existence of beasts. After a moment's hesitation he replied that he thought it would. And how he can make out that he does not agree with us at all, on that question, is beyond our comprehension.
At Canandaigua we gave five discourses before very attentive audiences in the district school-house. Application had been made for the meeting-house, but it was refused, and while they had only about twelve or fifteen at an appointment for preaching in the meeting-house, we had more than one hundred and fifty, in the school-house only a few rods distant. Many there appear to love to hear the truth, but as yet few obey it. On First-day189five more willing souls were buried in baptism. It was truly rejoicing to see some of them go into the water weeping, but return praising the Lord. They have appointed Sabbath meetings, and no doubt their numbers will soon increase, if they are faithful.
At Parma, Jackson, Hanover and Hillsdale, we had the pleasure of greeting friends that we had not seen for many months. We gave one discourse in each place, and endeavored to press home the necessity of a new and far more zealous effort to comply with the requirements of the Laodicean message. We hope to hear good tidings of the spiritual prosperity of all these churches.
It is not without regret that we are compelled to leave the work in Michigan. There are many important openings there, and several churches that I had contemplated visiting this fall and winter. But Ohio is an important field, and was without an experienced laborer, while Michigan had three or four. I trust that all will be reconciled to the apparent direction of the Lord, and desire the greatest possible good of the cause in general.
M. E. CORNELL.
Republic, Ohio, Oct 18th, 1858
P. S. I wish to say to Bro. Steward of Wisconsin, that his last letter was forwarded to my address from Battle Creek, but I never received it. My apology for not writing is that I had forgotten his P. O. address. My address, until further notice, is Republic, Seneca Co., Ohio.
M. E. C.
REASONING TO A POINT.
By J. H. W.
When we say that one is more exclusive than another, we can only mean that they judge by different standards; the most exclusive receives all whom he considers approved by the standard which he has adopted, and the most liberal does no more. People must differ in regard to moral character just as widely as they differ in their views of the principles which are the basis of character. As long as we claim the right to our own opinions of moral principles, so long shall we maintain our right to place our own estimate on actions and actors in the light of those principles. That which we could not conscientiously do ourselves, we are bound to condemn in others.
Application — We would say to Henry Collings and his endorsers, that certificates, to be admissible, must relate to facts, and not to principles. When a fact comes under our own observation, wherein a principle is involved, they cannot change our opinion of its nature, till they first reason us out of our faith in the principle. They are welcome to differ from us, but not to “certify” us out of our senses.
Our convictions are very strong in regard to the existence of that which we have seen; but if “certificates of character” tend to make men better, we could wish in charity that Mr. C. had got twice as many names appended to his paper. J. H. W.
Extract from Schmucker.
Rev. xiv, 9.If any man worship the beast and his image. Here I would refer the pious reader to what has been said concerning the worship of the beast, his image and his mark, in chap. xiii. For at the time of this angel, this stupid and superstitious worship will have reached its most heinous state of guilt and criminality. We will not venture conjectures about its true nature; the third angel will point it out in all its features of malignity. May the Lord give us ears to hear, and eyes to see when he shall appear; and may we then remember, and reflect on this prophecy, when he raises his warning voice.
Verse 12.Here is the patience of the saints, &c. Hitherto it would appear self-defense was yet in some measure allowable, though always attended with evil consequences, as with the Hussites in Bohemia, and with the Hugonots in France; but now a season of trial and persecution commences, in which opposition would be highly imprudent, and the Lord recommends patience to his saints. In these days of apostasy, when wickedness and the power of the beast seem again to sweep all before them, and the Lord seems to delay his promised advent, the patience of the saints will be severely exercised. But those who keep the commandments of God, and reject the inventions and traditions of the beast; and those who keep the grace and doctrine of faith which was in Jesus, which he taught, and by which they abide in him; these only shall be able to persevere to the end. Thus far runs the message of the third angel.
Chap. xv, 5. 6.And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened, &c.
Here the great and tremendous scene itself commences. This temple is the original and prototype according to which Moses was to direct the construction of the tabernacle, which, it would seem by this expression, was a more correct pattern than the temple of Solomon. It is called the tabernacle of the testimony, because the tables of the law, and God's covenant with his people were preserved in it, which contained threatenings to the transgressor, and promises to the obedient. This temple was now opened, and the seven angels came forth for the purpose of manifesting the judgments of God against those rebels, who would not be instructed by the experience of near six thousand years, but always resisted the spirit of truth, and followed their own devices. These were declared out-laws, and excluded from further enjoyment of the benefits of Christ's kingdom, as obdurate sinners, whom the Lord had forsaken, and pointed out as objects of his vengeance, by these ministers of divine justice.
GENESEE COUNTY, MICH.
By Joseph Bates
Bro. SMITH: We have just returned here, after an absence of fifteen days in Genesee Co. We commenced a course of lectures in East Thetford the 12th inst., and closed the 24th. In this interval of time, we gave four lectures in an adjoining neighborhood. As these were places where our position has not been presented, some wished to know what new things these were, and why, if true, they never heard of them before. Others said, Well that is Bible, and you cannot get around it. It has been my belief for a long time that Christ is coming soon, and I believe it is so, &c. The seventh day is the Sabbath if there is any, and I don't see why it is not kept. Others said, These are bad men sowing discord, making divisions, and breaking up the churches; don't you go to hear them. Yes, you say so, but I beg leave to differ from you; we have had all sorts of preaching here within a few years, and no two of them could agree, neither are we all united in one faith; but this sounds like Bible doctrine; I am not afraid to hear what he preaches; after we have heard we can judge for ourselves. I calculate to go and hear for myself, and I want you to hear the subject through, &c., &c. Notwithstanding all such rumors, many became deeply interested to hear about the Second Coming of Christ, the Angel's Messages, Bible Sabbath, &c.
In East Thetford, where we spent the most of our time, we found ten who had commenced keeping the Sabbath some months previous. Review for Oct, 14th, has Bro. M. C. Butler's call for help for the same. Bro. Austin and wife being several miles from Bro. B.'s, wrote for help also, and their letter was published in the S. D. B. Recorder, with a request from the Ed. that one of their ministers would visit that field of labor and help them. Bro. and Sr. A. came to our meetings and became fully decided to walk in the light of the Third Angel's Message. Sr. Austin with four others followed their Lord and Master in the ordinance of baptism last First day. Several others, not quite so clear on baptism as they wish to be, are deferring their duty for a season. Some others have decided to keep the Sabbath with them. Besides, some four families are convinced of their duty but are not decided to commence until they search a little deeper. The Lord help them to do their whole duty. JOSEPH BATES. Lapeer, Lapeer Co. Mich, Oct. 12th, 1858.
P. S. The brethren here wish me to say they expect Bro. Waggoner to be here at the Conference, in case Bro. White does not return in season. The house will be finished by or before the time of the meeting. J. B.
Conference in Iowa City.
BRO. SMITH: Our Conference commenced on the 15th inst., when we were rejoiced to see brethren and sisters from Lisbon, Mt. Vernon and other places, who came to participate with us in the feast which we enjoyed.
Bro. Hull preached five discourses, principally on the law of God and the Sabbath. Public interest increased to the last, and marked attention was paid to the word; and that some were convinced of the truth of our position was evident; and our prayer is that God may give grace and strength to follow out their convictions by reverencing his holy law, and seeking the salvation that is in our Lord Jesus Christ. The brethren and sisters were also much strengthened, instructed and encouraged by the word preached.
I think I speak the minds of all when I say I had no idea of the glorious harmony that exists between God's holy, just and true law and the plan of redemption. I once thought there was an antagonism between them, but that thought is dissipated forever, thank the Lord of both law and gospel!
On First day, after Bro. Hull baptized three, we all met at Bro. Curtis' house to attend to the ordinances of the Lord's house, and a precious season of grace it was. We were mostly recent converts to the present truth, though some of us participated in the First Angel's Message. All present bore testimony in favor of the present truth, and then united in the commemoration of the death of our Lord, and also in the sign of humility given to us by our Saviour. Our Lord verified his promise to us in meeting with us by his comforting Spirit, and we proved the truth of his promise, Happy are ye if ye do these things.
The brethren unite in expressing their desire that measures be taken to spread the light on these things in this State next season, if the Lord will. We want others to see and know the law of God, and take hold of his covenant that has been so long broken and trodden under foot.
Brethren, pray for us in Iowa, that our faith fail not, and that we may press on towards the city of the living God, that we may be indeed lights in the world, showing by our daily life that we are following the Lamb, that we are in truth disciples of the meek and lowly Jesus, that we may be accepted in the Beloved in the day when God will make up his jewels.
Your brother, Henry E. Carver.
Iowa City, Iowa, Oct., 1858.
SPICE PARAGRAPHS.
Zealously strive to do good for the sake of good.
Traits of character which you seek to conceal, you had better seek to reform.
We ought as much to pray for a blessing upon our daily rod, as upon our daily bread.—Dr. Owen.
It is a noble species of revenge to have the power of a severe retaliation, and not to exercise it.
Flowers are the alphabets of angels, wherewith they write on hills and plains mysterious truths.
The purest joy that we can experience in one we love, is to see that person a source of happiness to others.
Men want restraining as well as propelling power. The good ship is provided with anchors as well as sails.
Many who have escaped from the rocks of gross sin, have been cast away on the sands of self-righteousness.—Dyer.
Guests should be neither loquacious nor silent; because eloquence is for the forum, and silence for the bed-chamber.
Conscience and covetousness are never to be reconciled; like fire and water, they always destroy each other, according to which predominates.
A smile is ever the most bright and beautiful with a tear upon it. What is the dawn without its dew? The tear is rendered by the smile precious above the smile itself.
Men's faults will always be better known than their virtues, because their defects will find more persons capable of forming a judgment of them than their noble qualities can find persons fit to comprehend and appreciate them.
Leave company when you find you lose by it, and see that you cannot improve it: 'Go not in the way of evil men.'
Triumph Over Evil
TRIUMPH OVER EVIL.—We are rewarded for every triumph we make over temptation. I will suppose there are many who have struggled against the vanity of vain pleasures; many who have put down evil thoughts with a strong will; many who, after a long, and it may be, an uncertain conflict with the seductions of the world, at length have triumphed. I will put it to them whether, when they have combatted and so prevailed against the evil, and their hearts have not softened and melted within them, whether they have not felt within their bosoms a seraphic influence. They have so felt, and so it will ever be. No sooner shall they have driven from them the tempting demon of pride, of vanity, of anger,—no sooner shall the Devil have left them, than angels will come and minister unto them.—Jerrold.
L E T T E R S .
By A. H. Daniels
“Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another.”
From Bro. Daniels.
Bro. Smith : We are growing stronger and stronger in the faith of the Third Angel's Message, and we feel thankful to our heavenly Father that he has been so good as to spare us unto this present time, and is giving us the privilege of keeping his Sabbath and his law in this country free from any incumbrance whatever. It is a great blessing, which we do not prize as we should. I promised myself that if I was called upon to preach, I would try to do so by the help of the Lord ; and about eight miles from here, in Thompson Valley, they heard I was an Adventist, and asked me to come over and preach to them. I went, and think the result will be good. Some of the most respectable families have acknowledged the truth, and I have had a full congregation almost every time. They still want me to come, and I intend to as soon as I can ; but I have much to do, and no books to help me. I gave away all I had before I came here. They need publications, and if I had them they would buy them. They also need the Review ; for that is the best preacher they can have, except the Bible.
While reading in Review No. 17, of the conduct of J. M. Stephenson at the Crane's Grove tent meeting I was reminded of the passage in Luke xix, 22: "Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee." I well recollect that when he preached the Third Angel's Message, if any one disturbed him he would say they were no gentlemen to disturb any meeting whatever, and if they did not want to hear, they should stay away.
I have, from reading, at length become convinced of the truthfulness of Sister White's views ; and I believe they should be placed in the hands of every believer in the Third Angel's Message. But in reference to them we should be as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves. Place them in their hands, and if they will investigate the truth they will believe ; for they will speak for themselves. The Bible is enough to talk about and we ought to talk of it more and more as we see the day approaching, and I think it is not far distant.
We are the only family who keep the Sabbath, within a circuit of twenty or thirty miles. Our nearest neighbor is half a mile distant, the next three miles, and so on, until we get to Thompson Valley, eight miles from here ; but the prospect is fair, and I believe many will keep the Sabbath in this part of the country. A Roman Catholic, (a very smart man for a Catholic,) told me the other day that no man had any right to keep Sunday but the Catholics ; for the church set that day apart, and he could prove it. Said he: "We don't call it Sabbath ; the Lord's day is what we call it ; the Sabbath is Saturday ; that is for the Jews."
My prayer is that we may all live so as to be sheltered from the seven last plagues.
A. H. DANIELS.
Sumner, Wis., Oct. 1858.
A Call to Humility
By E. B. Saunders
From Bro. Saunders.
BRO. SMITH: I thought that a line from me to the dear saints here and there in the land, would not be unacceptable. I am still trying to keep the commandments of God, though I will confess that I am not humble enough, that pride sometimes swells up ready to burst forth, and it is only with difficulty suppressed; but I will strive to be found among the 144,000 if my weakness does not prove my destruction. I feel as though I must have more of the favor of God, though unworthy of his notice; for I have erred much through the weakness of the flesh, or through ignorance. Let me ask my brethren and sisters to pray for the erring one, that I may be able to come out of this lukewarmness, and devote myself more fully to my Master. James says, "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed." I am alone in the faith here, so far as I know, but I have heard of one family (Bro. Buckland's) within five or six miles. I would be much pleased to have some of the brethren call and make their home with me, while visiting this part of the State.
Let us all try to be humble and live very near to God, that we may have the white raiment, and finally stand on Mt. Zion.
Yours in hope of life. E. B. SAUNDERS.
W. Gaines, N. Y., Oct. 17th, 1858.
Gratitude for the Present Truth
By John Pomfret
From Bro. Pomfret.
Bro. Smith : I write to request the continuance of the Review, as I should feel a great loss without it. It is about three months since I embraced the present truth, and I feel truly thankful to the Lord for his great mercy in bringing me under the sound of the Third Angel's Message, through the preaching of Bro. Cornell. I am striving to keep all the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, knowing that his sayings are faithful and true. My earnest desire is to be found watching when he shall appear, that I may be accounted worthy to have right to the tree of life, and enter through the gates into the city. I have been a great sinner and feel that I do not deserve the least of God's mercy, but when I read his word, I rejoice to find that Jesus says that he came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Through his mercy and grace I trust I have obeyed the call, and can say from heart-felt experience, The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin. O that I may prove faithful to the grace already given. I desire an interest in the prayers of the faithful followers of Jesus.
Yours in love, striving to overcome.
John Pomfret.
Orion, Mich., Oct. 24th, 1858.
Pressing Onward in the Truth
By M. G. Bartlett
From Bro. Bartlett.
BRO. SMITH: Good is the word of the Lord, and how great will be the reward of those servants who are found giving meat to God's household, proclaiming in due season to the scattered flock the truth as it is in Christ! How satisfying it is to the hungry soul! I have been privileged with the Review almost eight years, and have never had reason to regret that I became acquainted with its teachings. They were applied to my heart as truth when I was seeking and saying "O where can truth be found?" I have not found it in creeds of different denominations; but by searching the word of God I have found that truth is mighty and will prevail.
I feel that my delight is in God, and in doing his will, and I feel comforted by his promises. He has said that in the world we should have tribulation, but in him we might have peace. I find it hard to brave the current unless I have on the whole armor; but I do not feel like looking back, for the prize is ahead, and this is my watchword, Onward!
I believe that Christ's coming is near, and mean to be of that number who will get the victory over the beast, and over his mark, and the number of his name. Praise the Lord, victory will be on Zion's side.
Yours in love of the truth, M. G. BARTLETT.
Thetford, Vt., 1858.
Extracts from Letters.
Sister F. Rogers writes from Mauston, Wis., Oct. 18th, 1858: "I cannot express my joy and gratitude that I ever heard the Third Angel's Message. O! how glorious the plan of salvation seems to me since I have had my eyes opened to behold the beauty and harmony there in the Bible.
"What wondrous, what unbounded love,
Is seen throughout the gospel plan."
"We are living in a very solemn time. Soon the vials of God's unmingled wrath will be poured out upon a guilty world ; soon the mandate will go forth, 'He that is filthy, let him be filthy still, and he that is holy let him be holy still;' soon Jesus will come to make up his jewels. O let us be getting ready ! It is my heart's desire and prayer to God, that my-self with all those of like precious faith might put on the whole armor, that we may be able to stand in the evil day.
The church in this place is in rather a lukewarm191state. We have no excuse, for we have great privileges here, such as few enjoy; a large society of Sabbath-keepers, and the privilege of hearing from God out of his word every Sabbath, from one of his messengers. I do hope we may, all of us, be zealous and repent."
The Message to Leave Babylon
By J. Clarke
BABYLON IS FALLEN! COME OUT OF HER, MY PEOPLE!—Rev. xviii.
O'er hill and mountain, o'er valley and plain,
O'er river and lake, and the boistrous main;
To the prince and the peasant, and the king on his throne,
Sounds the fearful message, in thunder tone.
From the icy north, where the winter king reigns,
To the sunny south, with its fertile plains;
From Atlantic's wave, to Pacific's strand,
Sounds the mighty message, all over the land.
From the forests of Maine, to Mexico,
Where the fruits of the South in luxuriance grow;
From East to West, from South to North,
The fearful message is going forth.
From Andes' heights, to the coast of Brazil,
O'er prairie and forest, o'er valley and hill;
From the cape of storms, to the gulf on the North,
The wonderful sound will yet go forth.
O'er the snow-clad Alps, o'er Carpathia's chain,
O'er Siberian wastes, o'er the Tartar plain;
From the British isles, to the river Amoor,
The message is sent to the rich and the poor.
From city to city, from State to State,
From village to village, it will not wait;
In school and hamlet, 'twill be faithfully given,
The angel's cry from the midst of heaven.
To the man at the plow, the boy at his task,
To the clerk at the counter, and sailor at mast;
To the crafty statesman, and warrior bold,
The fearful message will soon be told.
To the frowning Papist, and confident Greek,
To the selfish Jew, and the Christian meek;
To the silly Mormon, and stubborn Turk,
The awful message will do its work.
The sects have decided, their houses are closed,
And the truth which would save them, is blindly opposed.
Habitations of devils they now have become,
While the message so fitly is tracing their doom.
Tradition for Bible, and fables for truth,
Beguile the unwary, the children and youth;
The man of gray hairs, and the man in his prime,
Then heed ye the message, ere the close of time.
With their skilled musicians, and gay attire,
With their mighty men, and their roads of fire,
With their wise men and Sophists, both Christians and Jews,
They hear not the message, nor heed the sad news.
As the ancient Hebrews their king ignored,
So the churches now have despised their Lord;
They scorn his people and hate his word,
But the cry of the angel still is heard.
Though heathen rage, and though scoffers sneer,
Though priests forbid, and hypocrites leer:
Though teachers frown and friends oppose,
The cry waxes louder as onward it goes.
Let the boisterous Atlantic, be calm at the sound,
And the calm Pacific be more profound;
Let lake, sea and ocean, be peaceful and still,
While the cry of the angel sounds clear and shrill,
Babylon is fallen! come out of her my people!
J. CLARKE.
A Call to Christian Unity
By E. H. Lewis
From Bro. Lewis.
Bro. Smith: I find myself this day here, a weak one, among a people hostile to God's holy law; but my prayer is that they may be brought under the saving influence of the Third Angel's Message. It is now a little more than one year since I heard the joyful news of the kingdom, the speedy appearing of our great Redeemer. The message found me in one of the Babylonish churches, and it seems sometimes as though there was almost a miracle wrought in first convincing and then convicting me of the error which I had been taught; but to day, although a stranger and a wanderer here in this land, I feel to rejoice in the Advent doctrine. Yesterday being the Sabbath, I spent a part of it in wandering around the fields and woods, and in silent prayer strove to keep all wordly things out of my mind. I believe the time is nigh at hand when the remnant will be more united. O my brethren, let us strive to come together into the unity of the faith, and trust in God. O how weak is the faith of Sabbath-keepers yet! How little of the mind of Christ, and how much of the world and self! May God help us all to arise.