I send blanks for quarterly reports so far as I am able to learn the P. O. addresses of clerks and treasurers.
I would like the name and P. O. address of the treasurers at Catlin, Parish, Portville, and Vermillion, N. Y., and Farmington and Ulysses, Pa., immediately. If I have made any mistakes in those I have sent, will those interested please correct me? If treasurers would give their P. O. address when dating their reports it would save much trouble. Hope there may be no delay when they are received. My address is Frankfort, Herkimer Co., N. Y.
S. B. WHITNEY, Conf. Sec.
Dist. No. 3, Illinois Tract and Missionary Society Quarterly Meeting
By Jas. M. Bute
Dist. No. 3, Ill. T. and M. Society.
THE quarterly meeting of the Ill. T. and M. S. for Dist. No. 3, will be held at the S. D. A. church near Sheridan, La Salle Co., Dec. 31, 1876. We would be pleased to have any of the ministering brethren meet with us.
Brethren and sisters, may we hope you are doing what you can to help forward the good work of the Lord? Let us not forget the good resolutions we made at our camp-meeting. There yet remain a few weeks before our quarterly meeting. Let us awake to redoubled diligence, and let our reports be full. Brethren, we are in debt. Let each feel a part of the burden is his, and we will commence the new year in a manner pleasing to the Lord. Send in your reports early to your librarians, who are the same as last year, who will forward them to the district secretary, George A. Hobbs, Sheridan, Ill.
Dist. No. 3 now embraces the following counties: La Salle, Du Page, De Kalb, Kendall, Grundy, Putnam, Marshall, and McLean.
Jas. M. Bute, Director.
TO CORRESPONDENTS.
By C. W. S.
1. Is it right for a S. D. A. to apply on the Sabbath for a certificate to teach school?
2. Can you give proof as to who was the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews?
3. Does John 11:26 prove that the believer is immortal as soon as he is a believer? or does it mean that he shall “never die”—the second death, i. e., if he is a believer in Christ at the resurrection.
O. H.
ANS. 1. “Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work.”
2. There is sufficient proof that it is Paul, but space forbids our giving it here.
3. The believer is not made immortal till the resurrection. 1 Cor. 15:42, 51-56.
He who falls asleep in Jesus lays down his life but “for a little moment.” Isa. 26:20. In the purpose of God, “who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things that be not as though they were”; who is the “God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”; who, at the same time, “is not the God of the dead, but of the living,” by which facts Jesus proved that the dead shall rise, and in proving it showed that God counts the faithful dead as though they were alive (Matt. 22:31, 32),—in his purpose, those who live and believe in Christ, shall never die; i. e., they may die and be dead for a little moment as is really the case with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; but they shall not die the second death, and they shall be raised to live forever. His word dwelling in us is the earnest (pledge, assurance, token) of our inheritance. Eph. 1:4.
Please explain Isaiah 11:8. I have always understood that there will be children saved, but that all the redeemed will be of full stature.
F. H. M.
ANS. I think that the little children will be raised such, and that they, with all the redeemed, will “grow up as calves of the stall,” until they reach the size of our first parents, the size that God designed the race to have.
1. Are all the wicked destroyed by the plagues, or do some of them survive the plagues to be destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s coming?
2. If some are destroyed by the “brightness of his coming,” will they come up in the second resurrection and suffer the second death?
W. G. MYERS.
ANS. 2 Thess. 2:8, to which you allude in your question, plainly shows that some will be alive after the last plague who will be destroyed at the coming of Christ. The remnant of the wicked, the very last ones living, will be slain by the sword of Him that shall lead the armies of Heaven. Rev. 19:11-21.
To the second question we answer, Yes. Why should they be excused from it any more than those who fall under the plagues, and others who have fallen under the judgments of God?
1. Does probation close with the commencement of the great time of trouble?
ANS. 1. When our Saviour closes his priestly work in the heavenly sanctuary, when he arises to put on the garments of vengeance, then there will be no intercessor, Isa. 59:16, 17; then he that is unholy must so remain; probation ends, for there is no longer an advocate; and then begins a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation. Dan. 12:1.
2. They are the righteous who are alive at the second coming of Christ, and who are translated without seeing death. They are “redeemed from among men,” verse 4; and this expression seems applicable only to those who are translated from among the living. The hope of those who sleep in Jesus is a resurrection from the dead. Phil. 3:11. For further light on this question, see “Thoughts on Revelation,” published at this Office. C. W. S.
THE VALUE OF MISSIONARY LABOR.
By F. Gould
“Therefore every scribe instructed unto the kingdom of Heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.” Matt. 13:52. Believing that the above scripture teaches that every true disciple of Christ can, and is required to, do something to hold out the light of gospel truth to those who sit in darkness, we propose to mention a few facts in relation to our work as missionaries in the wide harvest field.
Many excuse themselves from doing missionary work on the ground that they have no talent for talking the truth understandingly nor writing properly, and that they have no means; therefore they will content themselves by sitting down upon the stool of do-nothing, while poor sinners are stumbling over them into perdition. Such persons labor under a great mistake. The numerous and varied channels and avenues which are opening before us present ways by which all, whether learned or unlearned, rich or poor, can do something for the cause of the Master.
The declaration of Christ: “Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive,” should forcibly stir us to diligence and activity. I look over the great harvest field and see many, especially young men and women, standing idle in the market-place. What a record must such have to meet when called to an account for the manner in which they have improved their God-given faculties! The question may be asked here, What constitutes a missionary? I would answer, A God-fearing, law-abiding, and self-sacrificing person, one who devotes a portion of his time, talents, and means to the good of his fellow-men. It is a life work, and God has placed ample means in the church to accomplish the work.
Paul lays out the work upon a broad basis. I will call attention to 1 Cor. 12:27, 28. Speaking of the different gifts and instrumentalities employed in the church, he says, “Now we are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments,159diversities of tongues.” Who are those that are called helps? I answer, All true Christians that work in harmony with God and his truth. The servants of God have laid out the great framework, and it is for us to chink up the wall. The next is “governments.” Government, order, and harmony, in the church are indispensable. The church, when it gets into good working order, will go like clock work—harmonious in all its parts.
We read in Luke 14 that there were three calls made to a great supper. The third call is identical with the third angel’s message: “And the lord said unto his servants, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” This is a message which tests character, teaches true moral worth, teaches us to confess our sins, and to forsake them, and to live in harmony with the laws of our being. Going out into the highways and hedges implies something more than preaching the truth in the broadways and populous cities, something more than preaching it to our churches alone, or dwelling securely in ceiled houses waiting for the moving of the waters.
The Lord is in earnest with his people. We are to go out into different districts, towns, private houses, among the poor, and all classes, with the truth burning in our hearts, taking with us a quantity of our tracts and publications and scattering them wherever people will read. In this way we shall reach a class of minds which could not otherwise be reached. The field of operations which the providence of God is opening before us is world wide, and we must lay hold of the work in earnest. The Tract and Missionary enterprise is one of the most important branches connected with our work of bringing men and women to a saving knowledge of the truth. It supplies a lack and want which has long been felt among us. The few years of its existence show a large increase of members, strength, and knowledge of the word of God.
Our publications and tracts, when sent out and scattered like the leaves of autumn, reach a large class of minds which cannot be reached by the living preacher. These silent messengers go out into the surrounding darkness, and, like flaming torches or like the light-house upon the distant shore, they direct honest men and women into the way of life, and build them up upon the principles of eternal truth. The truths of the third angel’s message are very unpopular. The great mass of minds are prejudiced against them. They do not harmonize with their early education, therefore they cannot accept them.
When the servants of God enter new fields, they labor hard until they exhaust their best energies to remove prejudice before they can reach the minds of the people. When our tract and missionary laborers go before them, all the candid and honest read and become interested, so that when the living preacher comes, they receive the truth with gladness and singleness of heart. Many have been brought out by these light-bearers, who never heard a discourse on the subject of present truth. How often are our hearts cheered when we hear of isolated and lonely ones dating their experience to the reading of one of those silent and swift-winged messengers that some kind friend had sent to them.
“Speed on, ye messengers of love,
Your light and truth impart.
God owns your mission from above,
To every contrite heart.
“Look! yonder on the whitening fields
The rip’ning grain bends low,
And quickly to the sickle yields
As we to the harvest go.”
We read in the Scriptures that Abraham was called the friend of God, and had that faith which was accounted unto him for righteousness, and was a representative of the true people of God. The secret of his success was that he commanded his children and his household after him, that they might keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgment. Abraham was a home missionary. His work commenced in his own home and family circle. We must begin here. He established in his own family the fundamental principles of the Christian religion, which were law, order, family worship, love, temperance, faith, obedience, and reverence for the God of Heaven.
We cannot expect to be successful missionaries abroad until we have planted the standard of righteousness in our own households. Family worship is often neglected. O let us keep the taper of salvation burning upon the altar until all the dross be consumed. The next important step is to educate our children, teach them correct habits, mold their young minds into a love for God and his truth, that they may develop a righteous character, so that “our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth, and our daughters as corner-stones polished after the similitude of a palace.” The wise man says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” They should be educated in the paths of righteousness; virtue should grow with their growth, and strengthen with their strength. Let them have recourse to our tracts and publications, and take away from them the vile trash which is so often thrown in their way. This is an important part of our missionary work. Ye fathers and mothers in Israel, I appeal to you. Are we doing all we can in this respect? May God help us.
There is another class of missionary work that is very important, and is often neglected by us. We should visit the sick, and impart comfort and consolation to the afflicted, pray with them, and talk to them courage and hope. This is a time when their minds are tender and easily impressed. If they do not understand the laws of health, teach them how to live in harmony with the laws of their being, and also in relation to treatment and diet. Teach them to discard drugs and to use such means as God has ordained for the recovery and maintenance of health.
There are many among us, who think they can do little or nothing, who are well qualified for this labor; such may have a glorious reward. Christian temperance, as taught in the word of God, is founded upon a broad basis, and is included in the last message of mercy to man. It is true that temperance societies are doing some good in this great branch of reform; but their efforts are crippled, they do not begin at the root of the evil. Remove the cause and the effect will cease. The great mass of mankind are indulging in the habit of eating stimulating and high-seasoned food. This creates an appetite for something stronger. Next comes tobacco with its long train of evils. Still the appetite craves something stronger. Next come alcoholic drinks, which only add fuel to the flame; and thus the work of destruction goes on.
I have found by experience and observation that when persons live healthfully, discard stimulating and high-seasoned food, and obey nature’s laws, this morbid appetite ceases, and returns to its normal condition. We can then appreciate our God-given faculties and the blessings which he has bestowed upon us, and be better prepared to use them to his glory. A great many are in darkness in relation to these things. Oh! may we, with a true missionary spirit, search out the honest and those that are seeking after light. If you cannot go where they are, write. Paper and ink cost but little. Stir them up by way of remembrance. Says the psalmist, “Send out thy light and thy truth.” We may feel weak, but “God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the mighty.” Then let us take courage.
We often get discouraged because we do not see the immediate fruits of our labor. We cannot see as God sees; he has a special care for those that love him, and he pities those that hate him. “Cast thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days.” “In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand; for thou knowest not whether shall prosper this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.” We have been informed that missionaries in the past have labored for years without seeing but little fruit as the result of their labors; yet they were not discouraged, realizing that the conversion of a single soul was more precious in the sight of God than all earthly considerations.
We are not machines, acting only as we are moved upon by some compelling power, but free moral agents, to think, act, and develop character, and to use our moral and intellectual faculties to the honor and glory of God. Therefore, we are amenable to God and his law; for his law constitutes the whole duty of man. A good soldier obeys his general, and fights for life, liberty, and the laws of his country. To illustrate: In the war of the revolution, when the British invaded Boston, they pitched battle with the Provincial troops on the field of Lexington. Israel Putnam, the Revolutionary hero, was plowing in the field some miles distant. Suddenly he heard the booming of cannon and the sound of the drum. His soul was fired with patriotism. He unyoked his oxen in the furrow, gave his family a few hasty directions, mounted his horse, and started for the scene of action. He did not stop to confer with flesh and blood.
The people of God are fighting for a better country. They hear the voice of the dragon in the distance. They are mustering their forces. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. Just beyond this scene of strife appear the beautiful heights of Mt. Zion, and the city of God. In conclusion I would say, Let us seek a new consecration to God, take hold of the missionary work in earnest, each in his proper sphere move so that we can hear the “well done good and faithful servant.” It was said of the celebrated John Wesley when on his dying bed,—
“The chamber where the good man meets
His fate is privileged beyond
The common walks of social life
Quite on the verge of Heaven.”
Scatter the seed bravely, nobly, and well,
All o’er the highways through hedges and dell.
Speak words of good cheer be courteous and kind,
A true friend in Jesus most surely you’ll find.
Scatter the seed bravely, the kingdom is nearing;
Your account will be settled at Jesus’ appearing.
Make a clean record of thought, word, and deed;
And save perishing souls by sowing good seed.
Scatter the seed bravely, the work is most done,
The warfare most over, the victory most won.
Come rest from thy labors, receive the glad prize
Awaiting in Heaven the good and the wise.
F. GOULD.
Ohio District No. 6 Meetings and Financial Struggles
By H. A. St. John
OHIO, DIST. NO. 6.
OUR meetings in Dist. No. 6 were all good. The brethren in this district are financially embarrassed, in consequence of a failure of crops for the two past seasons. Yet there is a spirit of sacrifice on the part of some, and we expect to see a good work done in the district during the coming quarter. Financially, this is the weakest district in our Conference, yet they have made arrangements to take 800 almanacs.
The new director is inquiring, and is anxious to do his work just right. May the Lord bless him and all his membership. They may find plenty of missionary work that can be done without money. Two or three persons in this district will give considerable time and attention to getting subscribers for our periodicals.
One member was added to the church by letter. Two deacons were chosen. The Defiance church now numbers fifty-three members, and is fully organized. Many of the members of this church are much behind on health reform. They need to study and practice the gospel of health, for they are losing great blessings by neglecting the clear light given. I have reason to believe that if we should be privileged to visit them again at some future time, we shall find that they have made some progress in this important matter.
Graham flour, yes, graham flour! Make diligent effort, brethren, to keep a good article of graham flour in your houses, and then let the sisters be determined to learn how to use it. White bread, white bread, and nothing else, greets me at almost every turn, and as I recognize it more as an enemy than a friend, it is no wonder that I grow pale. But I am digressing. And yet it appears to me as not much of a digression after all, as our missionary work embraces the glorious gospel of health. Money used for tea, coffee, tobacco, and spices, would be far better appropriated to the missionary cause.
The heavenly Canaan will soon be entered by the overcomers, and unless we come up, brethren, we shall be left to perish in the wilderness.
H. A. St. John.
RICHMOND, WIS.
By John G. Matteson
THERE is some interest here both among the Norwegians and Americans, and a prospect of winning souls for Christ and the truth. Among the first class the truth has taken hold of several, who have started to serve the Lord; and professors are waked up to look for the coming of Christ.
Last night I spoke in English on the Sabbath of the Lord. More than a hundred attended and listened with marked attention. The neighborhood is stirred by the truth and many are favorably inclined. One man who always has been an infidel is convinced of the divine origin of the Bible, and begins to see beauties in it. Bro. Olds will help in this work next week, and has already helped by his presence and prayers. We look to the Lord for his blessing.
JOHN G. MATTESON.
Nov. 6, 1876.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE N. E. T. AND M. SOCIETY.
By Stephen N. Haskell; M. L. Huntley
The New England Tract and Missionary Society held its sixth annual meeting Nov. 5, 1876, at South Lancaster, Mass. Meeting opened with prayer by Eld. D. A. Robinson. Report of the last meeting read and approved. The report of labor for the past quarter and also a summary of labor performed during the year were read. The report was as follows:—
Number of families visited, 1084; letters written, 854; new subscribers obtained for periodicals, 514; periodicals distributed, 6284; number of pages of tracts and pamphlets distributed, 599,903. About one-third of this amount of labor has been performed since the last quarterly meeting.
Money received during the year, $2096.-20; expended, $1643.89.
Report of the Vigilant Missionary Society showed that 561 letters had been written by that Society, during the past year, and 347 received. Of this number, 226 have been written during the last quarter, and 128 received.
On motion, Eld. Robinson, Eld. Rodman, and F. W. Mace were appointed by the Chair Committee on Nominations and to consider other matters of importance connected with the Society.
Adjourned to 5 P. M.
SECOND SESSION.
Prayer by Eld. Haskell. Committee on Nominations recommended the following as officers for the ensuing year:—
President, Eld. S. N. Haskell; Vice President, Eld. D. A. Robinson; Secretary, Miss M. L. Huntley; Assistant Secretary, Mrs. D. A. Robinson, South Lancaster, Mass.; Treasurer, M. Wood, South Boston, Mass. For Directors, Dist. No. 1, J. C. Tucker, Kingston, R. I.; No. 2, M. Wood, South Boston, Mass.; No. 3, S. Martin, West Rindge, N. H.; No. 4, C. W. Comings, Cornish, N. H.; No. 5, S. J. Twing, Montville, Mass.; No. 6, F. R. Richmond, Brightwood, Mass. Editor Missionary Worker for the ensuing year, Miss Mary Martin, West Rindge, N. H., all of whom were unanimously elected.
The Committee recommended that Amherst and Manchester, N. H., become connected with Dist. No. 3, instead of remaining with Dist. No. 4. They also recommended that another district be set off from Dist. No. 2, including Ipswich, Haverhill, and Georgetown, and that Bro. J. R. Israel be appointed director. After some remarks, these changes were effected.
The matter of purchasing a large tent was discussed, and was finally left in the hands of the Conference Committee.
Miss Nellie F. Heald then favored the meeting with No. 3 of the Missionary Worker, which was unusually interesting, the articles being short, varied, and much to the point. Interesting remarks were made with reference to obtaining subscribers for the SIGNS OF THE TIMES AND HEALTH REFORMER, but no definite plan was adopted at this meeting. There was a willingness and determination on the part of many present to do all they could in this direction.
This meeting was well attended by the brethren and sisters, and the interest from outside was never so great at any previous meeting of the kind.
S. N. HASKELL, Pres.
M. L. HUNTLEY, Sec.
IOWA
MT. PLEASANT.
AFTER my return from the West, I spent a few days in Mt. Pleasant, and held meetings evenings. Heard Rev. Frank W. Evans on the immortality question. He gave four discourses upon this subject, but I had the opportunity of hearing only one of them. Mr. Evans is one of the ablest Methodist preachers in Iowa, and, of course, presented his arguments in an attractive light for believers in his views. He quoted from several works on our side of the question. He gave Bro. Smith’s work, “Nature and Destiny of Man,” the compliment of being the ablest work he had seen on that side of the subject. He claimed that sheol was the place where departed spirits go at death; but, a little further along, he claimed that the spirit of man went upward, in distinction from that of beasts, which went downward, that the spirit went up to God who gave it, and to Heaven. Of course, it was not difficult in my review of his sermon to show that sheol was not up, but was downward in the earth; that sheol was not in Heaven, but was a place where there is no knowledge, wisdom, or device, a place of silence, darkness, and oblivion. Mr. E. is a very fluent talker, but his positions were not difficult to answer. My only regret was that the night of my review was rainy, and but comparatively few came out to hear my reply.
Our church in Mt. Pleasant has prospered much since the reorganization a few years since. We then had a little over twenty. We now have nearly fifty, and others who will come in. Six were admitted, and four baptized, at the close of our recent meetings.
KNOXVILLE, IOWA.
By George I. Butler
Our brethren have recently put up a new church building, a neat house, 28x46. Commenced meetings here last Sabbath evening. Sabbath and Sunday there was a good attendance of the friends of the cause in this section. The Lord gave freedom in preaching his word. Sunday, at 2 P. M., the dedication services were held. The house was densely packed by the citizens of the place, and many went away who could not get in. It was said that one hundred and fifty stood up after the seats were filled. It was a pleasant occasion, and all went away pleased. Lectures commence to-night. The church need help greatly. We hope for a good work in the community, and among our own people. There are many young people, children of Sabbath-keepers, whom we hope to see converted. Bro. Nicola is with me. We ask for the prayers of our people.
GEO. I. BUTLER.
Knoxville, Iowa, Nov. 8, 1876.
ALLEGANY CO., N. Y.
By R. F. Cottrell
I am happy to report a general spirit of revival with the Portville and Allegany Co. churches. Met with a part of both, Sabbath and first-day, Nov. 4 and 5. Had an encouraging meeting. Four of the youth arose for prayers, and declared their determination to seek and serve the Lord. May the good work go on till the day of the Lord comes. R. F. COTTRELL.
IOWA
By Rufus M. Kilgore
SINCE the Blair, Neb., camp-meeting, I have held meetings at Iowa Centre and Nevada. Organized a church at the latter place, with fifteen members. Since the organization, I have been laboring with my hands during the day making ready for the winter, and instructing the church by lecture-room talks at night.
I go this week to Peru, to hold a series of meetings with the church there. May the Lord give the reviving influence of his Spirit. R. M. KILGORE.
BOURBON CO., KAN.
By J. Lamont
The meetings at Zion school-house closed to-day, having continued a little more than two weeks. Five persons took their stand with us on the Sabbath. Several others are greatly interested, some of whom will, we think, soon lay hold of the Sabbath. This was the quarterly meeting of the Mound City church. This church has been greatly reduced in numbers by removals. The few remaining ones seem to be encouraged by the late additions.
Bro. Cook was with me in this meeting except the last few days.
J. Lamont.
Nov. 6, 1876.
KENTUCKY
By S. Osborn
There are some reasons why I have not reported sooner. Sickness in my family, carrying on meetings, and preparing for winter, have taken up my time so that I have neglected it.
We are now at Knob Lick, Metcalfe County. The interest at this place is very good; several are keeping the Sabbath already.
Our P. O. address will be Knob Lick, Metcalfe Co., Ky. S. OSBORN.
Nov. 2, 1876.
JACKSON, MICH.
By E. P. Daniels
IN the interest of present truth I began labors on the 2d day of October in this city, where, from house to house, with God's help, we have given twenty-four lectures. The attendance has been fair, and the attention has been excellent. Seven have embraced the truth, while others are about deciding in its favor. Besides the above, I visited the friends at Spring Arbor and West Liberty, and found them in earnest, trying to serve God. The theme of Christ's soon coming was mentioned again and again, leaving the impression that thoughts upon heavenly things occupy a very large place in their hearts. May God remember these waiting saints, with the rest of Israel, at the appearing of his dear Son.
E. P. DANIELS.
HELPING HANDS.
By G. W. Colcord
QUESTIONS FOR ILLINOIS T. AND M. SOCIETY.
1. Have all “a mind to work,” and all a “helping hand” to lend? Will the director in Dist. No. —— fully discharge his duty? Will he, as his office title indicates, direct? Will the district secretary fully “come up to the work”? Will he see that all members have blanks, and use them in reporting? Will he promptly report his district’s next quarterly meeting? Will the members all work, record their work, then report?
2. Have all helping hands material with which to work? Districts, you all may be well supplied with tracts from the State library. Did you know it? If your supply is small, will you not, Bro. Director, immediately send to Bro. Geo. Foreman, Somonauk, De Kalb Co., Ill., for what you need? Do you need blank reports? Will you not ask me for them? Bro. Secretary, have all your co-workers “memorandum account books,” as the constitution requires? Have all the officers (at least) copies of the constitution? If not, my co-laborer, will you not ask for them?
3. Shall we not advance? As we are learning how to work, shall we not manifest an eagerness to labor as never before? Shall we not wisely distribute 6,000 Health Almanacs for 1877? Shall we not work for the SIGNS OF THE TIMES?
4. If we work, are we not glad to have it recorded, so as to “provoke” others “to love and good works”? Then if we fail to bestir ourselves, should it not be recorded? Will it not appear after this manner at the dread tribunal? Am I not in the right, in saying, I hope Sr. Simonson will report strictly for each and all?
He will give us grace in the hour of need,
If we ask for his love and care;
When the tempter comes in the trying hour,
He will give us strength, and impart us power,
And answer our feeblest prayer.
He will give us grace, though the path be dark,
And we scarcely can see the way,
But oh! if we cling to His mighty hand,
He will guide our steps to that better land,
Where all will be light as day.
He will give us grace, though the storm be rough,
And the waves beat high and wild.
He will speak the word to the angry sea,
And the stormy billows will quiet be
At the sound of His voice so mild.
He will give us grace. Though the world may scorn,
We will patiently kneel and pray,
We will turn for help to the Crucified,
He will fold us close to his bleeding side,
And he never will turn away.
He will give us grace, when the friends forsake
That we thought to be tried and true;
When our hearts are torn by the cruel word,
We will cry for strength to our blessed Lord,
And he surely will bring us through.
He will give us grace, till the victory’s won,
And the shadows have fled away.
From sorrow and sighing we’ll soon be free,
And the “King in his beauty” our eyes shall see,
In the morn of eternal day.
LILLA D. AVERY.
Locke, Ingham Co., Mich.
THE RAINY DAY.
By Frank Starr
How often, when our duty to help the cause with our means is presented, such expressions as these are heard: “Oh! we must look out for ourselves; we must lay up something for a rainy day, which may possibly come upon us sometime.” Very true; and this rainy day, mentioned as a possibility, is a certainty. Of this day, definite information is given in Rev. 16:21. This storm is so severe the caves in the solid rocks prove insufficient shelter. Isa. 2:19-21. Neither silver nor gold can procure for shelterless man a secure retreat in that day. Who will find shelter when God shall rain from heaven this storm which he has reserved for this very time? Job 38:22, 23. “Those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.” Ps. 50:3-5. Let us by all means make a sacrifice, enter into this covenant, and thus prepare for that day.
If actions be allowed to speak, it would seem that some, who expect the Lord soon, suppose this sacrifice is to be made when he shall appear—that they must keep their farms and other property entire and in good order, and then present them to him. But, if any really have this idea, they should know that this has been tried. At the first advent of our Lord, the offer of the entire world was made him, but it was not accepted.
The amount of genuine faith we have in the immediate coming of Christ may be very approximately estimated by the degree of willingness we manifest to let go the things of this life, to forward the message of the third angel. But it is evident that our Lord might well ask the question, “When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”
The people of God have the solemn charge to extend the message to many nations and kings; and in order to fulfill this commission, plans must be laid requiring much means to carry them out. But it is so hard to be continually pledging, and to have to scrimp and deprive ourselves of part of our income in order to meet these pledges. Well then, try this plan: “Give alms of such things as ye have.” Luke 11:41. How? “Sell that ye have” and give the cause immediate relief. But some see only the door of the poor-house open ready to receive them, when anything is said about selling. We see what a sacrifice of real estate took place in the early church; we hear of those who gave their property to help sound the first message. Did they die in the alms-house? No; some of them still live to cheer us with their thrilling testimonies. But where are those believers who would make no investment in that movement? Will some one inform us where?
At this time, when not one cent should be lacking to forward the work, when, if we realized our position, more would be brought than could be used, continued appeals must be made for means. What will arouse the Laodicean church to its responsibility? Rather than let the work be hindered , we should sacrifice lands, houses, pleasure, convenience—and what should we not sacrifice?
Think not of the poor-house. Other mansions are waiting to receive the followers of Him who for our sake became poor. The disciples could appreciate the words of Him who said he would go to prepare them mansions, for he was known as “the carpenter;” but of the glory of those dwellings he has gone to prepare, they never conceived, nor have we. Rev. 21. Shall we be true to our profession? Shall we make a covenant with God by giving ourselves and what we have as a sacrifice, thus bringing relief to the cause of God, and securing a shelter in the day of tempest and wrath, and a title to a mansion in the skies?
FRANK STARR.
Springport, Mich., Nov. 2.
JESUS' SMILES.
By M. J. Bahler
Give me the smiles of my Saviour, and it is all I ask. It seems to me that to be permitted to look into those eyes that shall seem to the wicked as flames of fire, and see there the sweet smiles of love and approbation, will amply repay me for all the sorrows of earth.
Jesus' smile! Oh, what a comfort! Give me this, and how gladly will I bow in adoration, and count all else as nothing-worth! Worlds upon worlds, with all their vast treasures, are as the small dust of the balance, in comparison with Jesus' smiles. Grant me his smiles and it is Heaven.
M. J. Bahler.
Morality Without Religion as Dead Reckoning
MORALITY, without religion, is only a kind of dead-reckoning—an endeavor to find our place on a cloudy sea, by measuring the distance we have to run, but without any observation of the heavenly bodies.—Longfellow.
Obituary Notices.
“Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth.”
DIED, in Monroe, Wis., Oct. 12, 1876, of tumor in the stomach, J. I. Bostwick, aged sixty-nine years and one day. Father embraced the truths of the third angel’s message over twenty years ago, since which time he has lived a life devoted to those truths which he held most dear. In his declining years he often expressed a deep regret that he had not done more in the Master’s cause, and wished to live only to do good. As he drew near to the gates of death we heard him repeatedly say, “I do not dread the change, only the pain incident to the change.” Shortly before he died, he called his grandchildren to his bedside, and in touching words admonished them to be good children and meet him in the kingdom. He was very patient in his sufferings, and with his expiring breath was heard to praise the Lord and declare that his portion was in God. According to his wish, he sank peacefully to rest without a struggle. He leaves a wife, son, and three daughters, with many friends, to mourn their loss. While our hearts are made tender by the affliction of death, and we miss and deplore the departed, Heaven seems nearer, and the hope of the Christian dearer, than before. Funeral discourse from Ps. 88:10, by Bro. J. F. Ballenger. Burial services conducted by Bro. P. F. Chase. A. E. Bostwick.
DIED, Oct. 24, 1876, at Farmers Valley, Neb., of diphtheria, Helen, youngest daughter of N. H. and Julia C. Hopkins, aged two years, seven months and eleven days. Services by Bro. Larkin (Methodist) from 1 Kings 4:29: “Is it well with the child? and she answered, It is well.” Hymns selected:—
“Jesus, while our hearts are bleeding
O’er the spoils that death has won,
We would at this solemn meeting
Calmly say, Thy will be done;”
and, “Asleep in Jesus! blessed sleep.”
While our hearts are wrung with anguish at parting from our “little Lena,” we feel to thank God for the blessed hope that we have of meeting her again when our blessed Saviour comes to make up his jewels. We have his promise that “of such is the kingdom of Heaven,” and “He is faithful that promised.” Brethren and sisters, pray for us in our affliction, that we may so live that we may be counted worthy to rejoin our loved one at “His coming.” N. H. Hopkins.
DIED, near Sheridan, Ill., June 25, 1876, Edwin W. L. Nottingham, in the thirty-second year of his age. Bro. N. was born in England and emigrated to this country with his parents in his youth. When the tent was pitched at Northville in La Salle Co., Ill., he was among the first to embrace the truth, which he loved to the end of his life. He leaves a wife and two children to mourn their loss; but they sorrow not as those who have no hope. A funeral discourse was delivered by the writer in the S. D. A. meeting-house at Serena, Ill., from Job 14:14. R. F. Andrews.
DIED, in Geneva, Jan. 14, 1876, Lillie N., daughter of G. A. and S. M. Fuller, aged sixteen years, eight months, and fourteen days. Discourse to a large audience by Rev. S. N. Westcott, Baptist, from these words: “It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting; for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.” Eccl. 7:2. S. M. Fuller.
Delay in Way of Life Engraving Orders
By James White
There has been an unexpected delay in receiving the Way of Life engraving from Philadelphia. We hope to be able to fill orders very soon. Price, postage paid, $1.00. To our book agents we give 40 per cent. discount. To canvassers who give themselves wholly to the work, we discount one-half for cash with orders. And to the T. and M. Societies, who assure us that it will not be smuggled through them to other parties, we give special discounts to club with the SIGNS OF THE TIMES and the HEALTH REFORMER. J. W.