p. 192 | Review and Herald, Vol. 12, No. 24. (11/4/1858)

SELECTIONS.

By Thomas North

Spurious Religion.

[The following is a portion of an article from the Northern Independent. While men are free to speak out in such a manner, we are saved from any effort of our own at describing fallen Babylon. And such a description from such a source, must forever remain free from the charge sometimes brought against our declarations, that they are overdrawn to suit our own opinions. Some of the language which is here used, not with reference to the old mother only, but to the "little popes," the harlot daughters, is even stronger than we should ever have thought advisable to make in the premises.—Ed.]

A certain Presiding Elder I once heard of, who, when he met with some of his brethren and sisters to seek the special-blessing sanctification, said to them, "brethren, we have met together on this occasion as Methodists, and not as Christians." Not as Christians! In the name of God and heaven, has it come to this, that the name of Methodist is superior to the name of Christian? And that Methodist, special-blessing sanctification, is better than Christian sanctification? This is the inevitable import of such a remark, and I hesitate not to affirm, that the spirit of it is the spirit of anti-Christ, the great damning evil of Churchism; "sitting in the place of God, it exalts itself above God, and all that is called God."

Anti-Christ! what is it? It is the spirit in a Church which takes the things that are not of Christ, (though perhaps necessary peculiarities of the organism as such,) and puts them in the place of Christ, or above him—the traditions and "commandments of men." The Churches are full of them, and Christ can scarcely be seen anywhere.

I tell you, Mr. Editor, that the straight jacket of Method-ism, is a tremendous small pattern for a Christian. It is Henry Ward Beecher's "two foot Christian."

Do you know that the woman that the Revelator saw driven off into the wilderness (post Apostolic Church) after she had been delivered of a man child, which was caught up into heaven, has ever since remained in the wilderness? And, though she has started divers times, under the lead of Luthers and Wesleys to come out, yet it has been a mere feint. She is in the wilderness yet, sick, blind, and weak, committing whoredoms with the Devil,—flying serpents are stinging her to death,—she is under the medical treatment of human doctors and Bishops, and there is no cure; and never will be until she gets up and out of the darkness and wickedness of human counsels.

She is in the wilderness still, I say,—gets gloriously drunk periodically, when revivals come round; she is not settled yet in the land of Canaan,—gets up and travels occasionally, but always in a circle, and makes some glorious military wheels as she comes round to the point of starting, and yet she is forever talking and gabbling about the promised land, until now she has come to think that it lies just across the river Styx beyond this world. Many of her leaders are "blind leaders of the blind," and their destiny is the "ditch."

I tell you, these leaders are piling up the "commandments of men," mountains high, and hence it comes to pass that before you reach the pure word, one has to wade a thousand miles through human rubbish, and persecuted every step at that; the Devil's constitutional bludgeons beat him in the face, and if at last he reaches the goal of truth and right with any of the life of Christ left in him, he is entitled to the martyr's crown.

O how truth is mystified and covered up in the damning darkness of unbelief and wickedness of human covetousness! The way to heaven as the Churches have it now-a-days, is paved every step with human creeds, opinions, and Church Constitutions; and unless you step according to constitutional uprightness, why you are not going to heaven according to the constitution, and the consequence is, the Church Peters bind you on earth, and imagine you are bound in heaven.

Every Church has its little contemptible Pope—the day of Popes is not over yet, nor of saint-worship; no, the days of man-worship are not yet ended.

But again, I affirm, that the Church is giving more attention to the "mint, anise, and cummin" of constitutional interpretation, administrative precedents, and legislative shams, than to the love-life and life-love of truth and right and the kingdom of heaven. They are full of cant and hypocrisy, lacking the very first element of the Christian life, to wit, sincerity. Give me a lamp; I want to go through the streets of Methodism to find a Christian. Sincerity, O thou child of heaven, how rarely thou art seen on earth!

The present administrative attitude of the M. E. Church, is this: If the Church at any time in her past legislative acts, has unconsciously or virtually, or by any possible technical implication, recognized the Devil as a Church member, why, he can never be expelled, because, forsooth, it would be "ex post facto."

Methodism is a grand column immovable, surmounted with the saintly statute of John Wesley, lying flat on the ground before the throne of slavery, helpless, and broken into fragments by the "sum of villainies." She is simply and practically claimed as an organizational monument to the name of John Wesley. O that she were truly even that, then would she not only say Devil about slavery, but turn the Devil out.

I sometimes think, Mr. Editor, that as Lutherans have but little idea of the single-eyed sincerity of Luther, so Methodists in these days have but little conception of the sincerity of Jesus Christ that marked John Wesley. We have become an overshadowing, mammoth Church organism, and now her leaders, Bishops, and doctors have deemed it their special work to defend her union, as though everything else were to be sacrificed to the glory of Methodist union.—Thus her damnation is sure, and destruction cometh as a whirlwind, and blessed is the man that shall stand from under, when the crumbling mass of ecclesiastical rottenness shall sweep her multitudes of victims down to hell!

Thus saith the spirit of the Lord, by the mouth of one of his humble prophets. And here, for the present, the stream of prophecy stops.

THOMAS NORTH.

Freeport, Ills., July 12th, 1858.

Preaching Christ.

"The whole church," says Augustine, "preacheth Christ." So does nature. "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. The deep uttereth his voice and lifteth up his hands on high. All thy works praise thee, O Lord." And as the creator of all things is God, the Son, "without whom was not anything made that was made," this silent discourse, this voiceless anthem, which continually ascends from all nature, as well as from the church universal, is a perpetual commendation of Christ—of his power, his love, his beauty, his goodness.

O how eloquently nature preaches Christ! Everything on which the eye falls is his handiwork. Whatever of power, beauty, or vastness, it has, is from him. The sea commends him by its immensity. "For he made it." The sun by its brightness and its vivifying warmth. For he made "the greater light to rule the day." The moon by its sweet light and placid beauty. For he made "the lesser light to rule the night." The stars by their boundless number and mysterious combinations and indications of regions and of seasons. For he made "the stars also."

And each object in nature not only commends him by showing forth the power and skill of its Creator, but illustrates some special excellency of his character. The sun, by the light and influence which it dispenses, is an image of him from whom flows inexhaustibly, "the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." The sea by its vastness helps us to think worthily of him "in whom dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead."

The rose, the lily, the rock, the fountain, the running stream, the green pastures, the pearls, the gems, the fine gold, all bear some significance of Christ. Though there is "no speech, no language, no voice heard," yet all nature "preacheth Christ;" utters its silent but sublime response to the acts of adoration whereby the church in every part of the world doth acknowledge him "God over all, blessed forever."—Sel

God's People Known to Him.

By John Barlow

Tamar may disquiet herself, and walk in an unaccustomed path, so as Judah may not know her. Isaac through the dimness of his sight, may bless Jacob, and pass Esau. Tract of time may make Joseph to forget or be forgotten of his brethren. Solomon may doubt to whom of right the child belongeth; and Christ may come to his own and not be received. But the Lord knoweth who are his, and his eye is always over them. Time, place, speech, or apparel, cannot obscure or darken his eye or ear. He can discern Daniel in the den—Job, though never so much changed, on the dung-hill; let Jonah be lodged in the whale's belly, Peter put in a close prison, Lazarus be wrapped in rags, or Abel be rolled in blood; yet can he call them by name, and send his angels to comfort them. Ignorance and forgetfulness may cause love and knowledge to be estranged in the creature, but the Lord is not incident to either; for his eye, as his essence, is everywhere; he knoweth all things.—John Barlow, 1616.

OBITUARY.

By T. M. Steward

FELL asleep in Jesus, Oct. 18th, after a protracted illness, Sr. Abigail Malinda, wife of Bro. Wm. Russell, and eldest daughter of Bro. Luther L., and Eliza Tiffany, in the 24th year of her age. Truly her friends need not mourn as those who have no hope, for she left good evidence that she sleeps in Jesus. Although not a professor for a long time, yet she bore her sufferings with great composure until at last convinced of her need of an advocate above, she embraced the opportunity of following her Lord in baptism, when she was scarcely able to get to and from the water. After this she manifested a great anxiety to be a true christian; and when finally convinced that she could not live, expressed an anxiety to be at rest. Her last request to her friends was that they would so live as to be prepared to meet her in God's kingdom. She rests quietly by the side of her little daughter, (who died about a year and nine months before,) waiting the voice that shall break the tomb. She leaves a companion, two little children, and a large circle of friends to mourn her loss. Her disease was consumption.

“She sleeps in Jesus—peaceful rest— No mortal strife invades her breast; No pain, or sin, or woe, or care, Can reach the silent slumberer there.”

“She lived, her Saviour to adore, And meekly all her sufferings bore. She loved and all resigned to God; Nor murmured at his chastening rod.” T. M. STEWARD.

Present Truth Needed in Conway

SISTER M. Jackman writes from Conway, Mich., Oct. 24th, 1858: "I have looked in vain in the Review for some appointment for Conway, Livingston Co. I believe that good could be done here. The Methodists held meetings here last winter, and had a great revival, but most of the converts have gone back again. There are a few that seem to be honest hearted; they have not a word to say against the seventh day Sabbath, and they think the second advent is near. I believe if they could hear the present truth they would try to obey it."

Note from Bro. Dorcas.

By Jesse Dorcas

DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: I would say to you through the Review, that we are now in Iowa; and, notwithstanding it seems like a singular providence that has brought us here, I believe this will turn to the glory of God and our salvation, through your prayers and the supply of the Spirit of Christ our Lord. I know that our trials are abounding, and I believe that our grace will also abound, as our day is.

We must be weaned from earth if we would be saved. For says the Apostle, virtually, "mind not earthly things." We reside at the eastern point of Red Oak Grove, in Cedar Co. We would be glad to have any of the friends of present truth call on us at any time, and feel that they have a brother living at Red Oak.

To Bro. Hull I extend a special invitation to call this way. The field is ripe here. I learn by hearsay that there is an Advent preacher living and preaching near Wilton Station. If he is one of those who are laboring in promotion of the Third Angel's Message, I would like to know where he lives, for I am a brother and a companion of all such.

Your brother in the patient waiting for Christ our King.

Jesse Dorcas.

Red Oak, Cedar Co., Iowa, Oct. 25th, 1858.

Note from Bro. Sanborn.

By Isaac Sanborn

BRO. SMITH: I wish to say for the encouragement of the dear saints that the Third Angel's Message is on the rise in Wisconsin. Since the tent-meeting at Monroe and Crane's Grove I have visited one new place, and preached seven times. The attention was good. I commence meetings there again next Sabbath evening. I have visited the churches at Hoosier Grove, and Spring Grove. At the latter place five put on Christ by baptism. I have also been holding meetings in Twin Grove, and preaching to my neighbors about ten days. The Lord has given me great liberty, and I have had good congregations the most of the time. I think a great amount of prejudice has been removed, and good will be accomplished. May the Lord direct the word with all its force to the hearts of the people and make it the power of God unto their salvation.

In hope of eternal life.

ISAAC SANBORN.

Jefferson, Wis., Oct. 20th, 1858.

WM. S. HIGLEY, JR

By WM. S. HIGLEY, JR.

Bro. Smith: About three months since Brn. Cornell and Lawrence pitched their tent in this place and proclaimed the Third Angel's Message. Many obeyed the command in Rev. xviii, 4, and also some that were strangers are trying to live in conformity to Rev. xiv, 12. A house of worship has been commenced, and we hope to see it completed next week. Surely their labors were like good seed sown upon good ground, and God's blessing has seemed to attend every effort, our enemies to the contrary notwithstanding.

WM. S. HIGLEY, JR

Lapeer, Mich., Oct, 1858.

The Near Union between God and the Soul.

LORD! how near wilt thou bring me to thyself? Must I abide in thee, and thou in me? Must we be of one soul, and of one spirit? Is it enough that I must always repose myself in the bosom of thy sweetest affections, that I should always be enclosed in the embraces of thy choicest love, that I should be ever wrapt up in thy tender mercies? But must I so dwell with thee, and wilt thou so dwell in me, as to be made an equal sharer in thy bliss, a partner in thy glory? What is man, that thou shouldst so regard him? What am I, that thou shouldst so remember me? Lord, let thy mercies so constrain me, that all my affections may run out into thee, and all my strength may run out for thee.—Sel.

Books for Sale at this Office.

By Uriah Smith

HYMNS for those who keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus. This Book contains 352 Pages, 430 Hymns and 76 pieces of Music. Price, 60 cents.—In Morocco, 65 cents.

Supplement to the Advent and Sabbath Hymn Book, 100 Pages.—Price 25 cents.

Spiritual Gifts, or The Great Controversy between Christ and his angels, and Satan and his angels, containing 226 pages, neatly bound in Morocco or Muslin.—Price 50 cents.

Bible Tracts Bound in Two Volumes. These Volumes are of about 400 pages each, and embrace nearly all of our published Tracts. We are happy to offer to our friends the main grounds of our faith in a style so acceptable.—Price 50 cents each.

Sabbath Tracts, Nos. 1, 2, 3 & 4. This work presents a condensed view of the entire Sabbath question.—184 pages. Price 15 cents.

The Three Angels of Rev. xiv, 6-12, particularly the Third Angel's Message, and the Two-horned Beast. This work maintains the fulfillment of Prophecy in the past Advent movement, and is of great importance in these times of apostasy and peril.—148 pages.—Price 12½ cents.

Bible Student's Assistant. This is the title of a work of 36 pp. It has been prepared with much care, and considerable expense, and can be had at this Office for 4,00 per 100, or if sent by mail, post paid, 6 cents a copy.

A Brief Exposition of Daniel ii, vii, viii, ix, also the 2300 Days and the Sanctuary. Price, post paid, 10 cts.

The Nature and Tendency of Modern Spiritualism—an able exposure of that heresy. 84 pp. 8 cents.

The Two-horned Beast of Rev. xiii, a Symbol of the United States. Price 10 cents.

The Sanctuary and 2300 days by J. N. A. Price 12½ cents.

A Refutation of the claims of Sunday-keeping to Divine Authority; also, the History of the Sabbath. Price, 6 cents.

Why Don't you Keep the Sabbath? Extracts from Catholic works. Price 5 cents.

The Celestial Railroad. Price 5 cents.

The Sabbath. Containing valuable articles on 2 Cor. iii, Col. ii, 14–17. Who is our Lawgiver? The two tables of Matt. v, 18, Consistency, &c. Price 5 cents

The Law of God. In this excellent work the testimony of both Testaments relative to the law of God—its knowledge from Creation, its nature and perpetuity—is presented Price 12½ cents.

The Bible Sabbath, or a careful selection from the publications of the American Sabbath Tract Society, including their History of the Sabbath. Price 10 cents.

Perpetuity of the Royal Law.—Price 5 cents.

Christian Experience and Views.—Price 6 cents.

Last Work of the True Church.—Price 7 cents

Sabbath and Advent Miscellany. This work is composed of seven small tracts on the Sabbath, Second Advent, &c., and presents a choice variety for those who commence to seek for Bible truth. Price 10 cents.

The Atonement. 196 pp. 18 cents

Man not Immortal: the only Shield against the Seductions of Modern Spiritualism. 148 pp., 12½ cents.

An Examination of the Scripture Testimony concerning Man's present condition, and his future Reward or Punishment. In this work we consider all objections to the mortality of man and the death of the wicked fairly and fully met. Price 18 cents

Review of Crozier. This work is a faithful review of the No-Sabbath doctrine as set forth in the Advent Harbinger by O. R. L. Crozier. It should be placed in the hands of those who are exposed to that heresy.—Price 6 cents.

The Bible Class. This work contains 52 Lessons on the Law of God and the Faith of Jesus, with questions. It is peculiarly adapted to the wants of those of every age who are unacquainted with our views of these subjects, especially the young. Bound, 25 cents. Paper covers, 18 cents.

The 2300 Days and Sanctuary by "U. S." Price 5 cents.

Brief exposition of Matt. xxiv. Price 6 cents.

Review of a Series of Discourses, delivered by N. Fillio in Battle Creek, Mich., March 31st, to April 4th, 1857, on the Sabbath question. By J. H. Waggoner. Price 6 cents.

The Nature and Obligation of the Sabbath of the Fourth Commandment, with remarks on the Great Apostasy and Perils of the Last Days. Price 6 cents. The same in German, 10 cents

Home Here and Home in Heaven, with other poems. This work embraces all those sweet and Scriptural poems written by Annie R. Smith, from the time she embraced the third message till she fell asleep in Jesus.—Price 25 cents In paper covers, 20 cents.

Time and Prophecy. This work is a poetic comparison of the events of time with the sure word of Prophecy.—Price 20 cents. In paper covers, 12½ cents.

Word for the Sabbath.—Price 5 cts.

The Chart.—A Pictorial Illustration of the Visions of Daniel and John. 20 by 25 inches.—Price 25 cts.

The above named publications will be sent by Mail, post-paid, at their respective prices.

When not sent by mail, liberal discount on packages of not less than $5 worth.

All orders, to insure attention, must be accompanied with the cash except they be from Agents or traveling preachers.

Address URIAH SMITH, Battle Creek, Mich.

Babylon Fallen.

By M. E. Cornell

HENRY WARD BEECHER says:

"Thousands of men, in good and regular standing in evangelical churches, are giving no evidence of piety, are living in open sin, or in practices, in business and in public affairs, irreconcilably at variance with the spirit of christianity. I cannot ask such persons to the Lord's table just because they are regular members of a church."

Independent.

The following is the voice of five Presbyterian Synods, on the Tract Apostasy, as expressed in the Central Christian Herald, Cincinnati, Ohio:

"Taking into consideration the honored position which the Tract Society held, and then taking its past conduct on the subject of slavery, and its present position, we say it is the greatest moral apostasy of the nineteenth century."

The above extracts, considering the popularity of Mr. Beecher, and the fact that the Board of Directors of the American Tract Society is composed of fourteen evangelical denominations, constitute an important testimony for our position on the fall of the churches. We must not fail to show the true condition of the churches, for they are crying "peace and safety," and doing all in their power to keep many honest souls under their influence. The cry of "Babylon is fallen," is to be the most prominent feature of the loud voice of the third angel; and it will shake the churches to their very center, and the Sabbath cleaver will bring out those who are to be sealed and saved. M. E. CORNELL.

Kindly Acts to Man and Beast

Ah! if all the sighs were caught Wherewithal the air is fraught, What a gale would sweep the skies Laden with man's miseries!

Gently, then, oh, brother man, Do the utmost good you can; God approveth e'en the least Kindly act to man or beast.

Business Items.

By Editor

R. F. Cottrell:—It was received.

L. Steere: Yes.

The P. O. address of Bro. G. W. Holt is Lovett's Grove, Wood Co., Ohio.

D. Richmond: We will forward your remittance to Bro Ingraham.

D. A. Babcock, Your books were sent to Richland.

Receipts.

Annexed to each receipt in the following list, is the Volume and Number of the Review and Herald to which the money receipted pays. If money for the paper is not in due time acknowledged, immediate notice of the omission should then be given.

FOR REVIEW AND HERALD.

C. Pangburn 1,00, xiv, 1. C. Pangburn (for P. B. Barrows) 0,50, xiii, 1. M. Beasley 1,00, xv, 1. J. P. Lewis 2,00, xii, 1. D. Smalley 2,00, xiv, 1. L. D. Newton 2,00, xiv, 21. J. Pomfret 1,00, xiii, 23. M. C. Butler 1,00, xiii, 24. Wm. L. Saxby 1,00, xiv, 1. W. Newton 0,25, xiii, 1. Wm. S. Moon 2,00, xiv, 8. J. Birdlebough 2,00, x, 1. Geo. Sanders 2,00, xii, 1. J. Sanders 2,00, xiv, 1. E. D. Cook 1,00, xiv, 1. C. B. Preston (3 copies) 2,00, xv, 1. E. D. Armstrong 2,00, xiv, 1. E. W. Waters 2,00, xiv, 1. J. C. Lawson 1,00, xii, 1. R. Torrey 2,00, xiv, 1. E. O. Fish 2,00, xv, 1. J. M. Ballou 1,00, xiv, 1. W. H. Brigham 1,00, xiv, 1. Wm. C. Brigham 1,00, ix, 1. C. Bailey 2,00, xiv, 1. L. Chase 3,00, xiv, 1. L. Horr 1,00, xiii, 23. S. A. Howard 1,00, xiv, 1. T. B. Mead 1,00, xiv, 1. J. Day 1,00, xiv, 1. F. C. Castle 1,00, xiv, 1. S. S. Van Ormum 1,00, xiii, 1. Geo. Felshaw 1,00, xiv, 1. S. Harriman 1,00, xiii, 1. N. Claflin 1,00, xv, 1. B. Reed 1,00, xiv, 1. A. Palmer 1,50, xiv, 1. E. Dow 2,00, xi, 1. Geo. Matthews 1,00, xiii, 18. L. Graves 1,00, xiv, 1. Wm. Potter (for M. A. Brown) 0,25, xiii, 14. J. Rice (6 copies) 4,00, xiii, 1. R. Rogers 1,00, xiv, 1. F. Strong 1,00, xiv, 14. J. Carpenter 1,00, xiv, 1. L. C. Young 2,00, xiv, 1. D. Goodenough 2,00, xiv, 1. Geo. Barrows 1,00, xiv, 1. Geo. Barrows (for E. Barrows) 0,50, xii, 1. B. F. Brockway 1,28, xiii, 5. H. Gregory 2,00, xiv, 1. D. Richmond 2,00, xv, 1. D. Richmond (for R. Gearing) 0,50, xii, 19. J. D. Morton 2,00, xiv, 1. H. Rector 1,00, xiv, 1.

FOR MICH. TENT.—L. Schellhous $1.

FOR REVIEW TO POOR.—A friend $0,50.

WM. S. HIGLEY, JR

By WM. S. HIGLEY, JR.

Prvidence permitting, we propose to dedicate our house of worship, and hold a General Conference in it, Friday, Sabbath and First-day, Nov. 12th, 13th and 14th. We expect that Brn. Waggoner, Bates and Lawrence, and perhaps others, will favor us on that occasion. Also, we hope and expect to greet our brethren and sisters from far and near. By vote of the church.

WM. S. HIGLEY, JR

Lapeer, Lapeer Co., Mich.

APPOINTMENTS.

By R. F. Cottrell

Providence permitting, I will meet with the brethren as follows:

Westfield, Pa., Nov. 13th & 14th.

U'ysses, Pa., " 20th & 21st.

Port Alleghany, Pa., " 27th & 28 h.

Nile, N. Y., Dec. 4th & 5th.

The brethren in each place will appoint the place and hours of meeting as most convenient.

R. F. COTTRELL.