DEAR BRO. SMITH : Since my last report I have been laboring in Chemung Co., in Catlin, Elmira, Cayuta and Erin.
The little church at Catlin are striving to hold fast and press forward, and I think some growth in grace is apparent. The Lord encourages them with some tokens of his favor. Some here are still interested in the truth—are reading and examining. I hope they will not delay obedience till the Spirit of truth shall leave them to their doubts, and to the darkness that the enemy always brings upon those that are too slow to believe the truth, and to do the clearly revealed will of God.
At Elmira I found the two brethren Laughhead and their families striving to keep the Commandments, and to hold fast the Faith of Jesus. Their zeal of labor was manifested in obtaining and furnishing a place for meetings, so that their neighbors might have an opportunity to hear the saving truths of this last message. An unfurnished lecture-room in one of the public schools was obtained, which, by supplying with seats, lamps and fuel, made a convenient place for meeting. I preached eight times here. The first evenings, some of the youth and children of these last days annoyed and disturbed the meetings, but they were soon made to understand their duty by those that came in to hear, one man in particular taking a decided stand to maintain order. Though this was done disinterestedly, yet I think he became interested in the truths we preach, before the close of our meetings. Indeed, there was considerable interest with the few that attended steadily during the meetings, and one decided to keep the Sabbath of the Lord. This was a widow that had been interested in the Advent messages years in the past. The Lord help her to fulfill her good resolution, and cause her to enjoy the blessedness of keeping his commandments, and finally give her a right to the tree of life.
The brethren at Elmira introduced me into a new field of labor in Cayuta, and from this place I was invited into an adjoining neighborhood in Erin. This is a new field of labor in respect to all the Advent messages, and I can but hope that there are jewels here that will be gathered by the Third Message. I preached five times in this vicinity, and Bro. J. A. Laughhead once. Quite a number here confess the Sabbath truth, as they do in every place where any can be found that are not bound by custom, creeds and prejudice. May they feel the necessity of acting on what light they see, and of discharging the responsibilities of those that know their Master's will. The Lord requires us all to let our light shine. I hope these dear friends will realize it. I remember with gratitude the kind reception I met with them, and still bear their interests to the throne of grace. And I hope that in the providence of God I may be permitted to visit them again.
I feel like spending all the feeble energies with which God has endowed me, in this blessed and glorious cause; like having all on board this homewardbound ship. By the grace of God, worldly adversity shall not move me. Eternal salvation is offered to all that have ears to hear, and hearts to obey. The poor have the gospel preached to them; and they can be rich in faith, and heirs of an inheritance that none can take from them.
I thank the Lord, and his dear children that have so liberally supplied my wants; and I hope that I may so labor that their labors of love may not be lost; but that we may together obtain a great reward in heaven.
R. F. C.
Mill Grove, N. Y., Feb. 21st, 1859.
UNITY OF THE REMNANT CHURCH.
By R. F. C.
“Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion.” Isa. lii, 8.
This is a prophecy of gospel times, and not only so, it has its application just at the close of the gospel dispensation. The preceding verse reads, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!” The following verses read, “Break forth into joy, sing together ye waste places in Jerusalem; for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.”
The time referred to in the text, when the Lord shall bring again Zion, does not refer to any gathering to the earthly, typical Zion or Jerusalem either past or future, but to the heavenly. It is the Zion or Jerusalem of the gospel dispensation—the mother and future home of the christians. Paul says, “But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.” Gal. iv, 26. When this gathering to Zion shall take place, it can truly be said, He hath REDEEMED Jerusalem. The citizens of Zion will no longer be waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. Then will they “break forth into joy,” and it will be no temporary, but eternal joy. Sorrow and mourning will forever be ended, and all tears will be wiped from their eyes. “Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.” Isa. li, 11. See also chap. xxxv, 10.
This gathering, bringing again, or building up of Zion, will take place at the second coming of Christ. “When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.” Ps. cii, 16. The Lord has once appeared upon earth, but in his humiliation. He is to appear again in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. This second coming is distinguished as the “glorious appearing of the great God,” or rather the appearing of the glory of the great God and of our Saviour Jesus Christ; for Jesus is to come in the glory of the Father, in his own glory, and that of all the holy angels. Then he will send forth his angels and gather all the inhabitants of Zion, and they will come home to their mother above with songs and everlasting joy. This fixes the time when the Lord's watchmen shall see eye to eye. When Jesus comes he will find his people one; for if the watchmen are united, the people will be.
A watchman, literally, is one whose duty it is to act as sentinel—to watch and guard the city, and to give the alarm in case of danger, such as the approach of an invading enemy. The term is used figuratively in the Scriptures to denote one who has the oversight of the church and the watch-care of souls. The elders of the church are the watchmen of the spiritual house or city, or the shepherds of the flock of God. They are to take the oversight and feed the flock over which the Holy Spirit has made them overseers; and if faithful, when the chief Shepherd shall appear, they will receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. The duties of the watchman of the city, and of the117shepherd of the flock, are similar; therefore, in their figurative use, the terms signify the same thing, and are used interchangeably in the Scriptures, as we shall see.
Ezekiel the prophet was one of the watchmen of God's ancient Israel. The word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: if when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand. So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.”
The faithful watchmen then must, as an important part of their duty, give the alarm in case of approaching danger. And when the time comes for the fulfillment of a prophetic message or announcement, their voices should be raised to swell the note of warning. As an example of prophetic message, take the following from the prophet Joel. “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand.” When that great and terrible day of the Lord is at hand, the alarm must, and will, be sounded. And blessed are those watchmen who join their voices in the cry. The time has come for this prophecy to be fulfilled, for the signs of the day of the Lord at hand are fulfilled. And besides this, the alarm here prophesied of is being sounded, and this of itself is a sign; for when the alarm is sounded the day of the Lord is nigh at hand. And I feel like testifying to all that read these lines that the sword is coming. The day of the Lord is at hand, prepare for the battle! I want to deliver my soul from the blood of all. I see the sword coming, therefore I engage in blowing the trumpet of alarm. The alarm will be heard, it will not cease till probationary time is closed. True watchmen have always had a voice of warning for the people; while the false have ever cried, Peace and safety.
But the watchman is not left to manufacture his word of warning; but the Word says, “Thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.” Ezekiel had the word of the Lord revealed directly to him by the gift of prophecy. But those to whom this gift is not given still have the written word; and it is their duty to heed Paul's dying charge to Timothy, viz., “Preach the word.” 2 Tim. iv, 2. This solemn charge was given in view of the facts, that in the last days perilous times should come, that God had given his written word—From a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures—and that this written word is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; and able to thoroughly furnish the man of God to all good works. Said he, “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom, Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own
lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” Here is an additional reason given for preaching the word. There will be heaps of teachers in the last days; but they will be teachers of fables. There is a great abundance of teachers at the present time. Go into a little village, and you will find from two to half a dozen houses of worship, the smallest of which perhaps would accommodate all the regular attendants on public worship in the place. But each sect in the place must have its place of worship, and its separate teacher. If there was one teacher that preached the word, and all the worshipers believed and practiced it, no more would be needed. But as it is, there is a heap of them. Now it is quite extensively acknowledged at the present time that we are in the last days of this dispensation. If this is a fact, we are in a time of great apostasy with professors of religion—those that have the form of godliness—and the heaps of teachers that abound, are teachers of fables.
Another part of the watchmen's duty is to tell the time of night. They are expected to be awake, and consequently prepared to give a correct answer to any one who inquires the hour. This present world, since sin entered with all its woes, is well compared to a long dark night, which can end only with the coming of Christ and the resurrection and deliverance of the saints. All christians have a deep interest in the approach of that glad morning, and have a chartered right to ask, “Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?” for the Lord has said, “If ye will inquire, inquire ye.” Isa. xxi, 11, 12. Now suppose you make this inquiry of a professed watchman, and his reply is, “Christ may come to-morrow or next year, or he may not come in a hundred, or thousand, or ten thousands of years.” You may know that he has been asleep upon his post. If you can find a true watchman, at the present day, after so many signs and predictions have been fulfilled, his ready response to this inquiry will be, “The morning cometh, and also the night”—the morning of deliverance and everlasting joy to the saints of God, and the long night of darkness and death to the wicked—the coming of the Lord is near, even at the doors.”
Those who know nothing concerning those prophetic periods of the word of God, which show our nearness to the end, and which have already been fulfilled, are classed in prophecy with “the wicked,” and not with “the wise.” Dan. xii, 9, 10. Speaking of those prophetic periods which were “closed up and sealed till the time of the end,” and which were consequently to be opened and unsealed at that time, the angel said, “But the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.” Understand what? Understand their whereabouts in the course of time, by the unsealing of those prophetic periods. When? In the time of the end. This shows conclusively that all of God's people—the wise in contrast to all the wicked—will, in the time of the end, be brought into unity of faith. The wise shall understand. They cannot be said truly to understand, unless they have a correct understanding. And if they have a correct understanding, they must, of necessity, understand the matter exactly alike. This shows that the wise, in the last days, will be brought into unity of faith and expectation. But who are the wise in God's account? The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all they that do his commandments. Ps. cxi, 10. Those who are willing to keep the commandments of God will understand, will see eye to eye; but the transgressors, the wicked, will do wickedly, and none of them shall understand. As in the days of Noah, they knew not till the flood came, so these will not understand till the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, in the pouring out of the seven last plagues. O Lord! gather not my soul with the wicked; but let me have a part with the commandment-keepers.
The Lord's watchmen will see eye to eye in the last days. But the prophets predict another class of watchmen to exist at the same time, and doubtless they will constitute a numerous class; for they exist in the same period in which Paul says, They shall heap to themselves teachers. They are spoken of in Isa. lvi. Any one can see by reading this chapter and comparing it with other scriptures, that it is a prophecy of the last days of the gospel age. In verse 1 the Lord says, My salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. The Lord brings salvation to his people, and reveals his righteous judgments against the ungodly, at the time when Jesus appears a second time without sin, unto salvation—not to offer a sin-offering, but to save those whose sins have been blotted out, through the efficacy of that blood that was shed on Calvary. Heb. x, 28. He then pronounces a blessing upon those that turn and “lay hold” on the Sabbath in these last days, and in verse 9 bids the beasts to the supper of the great God. “All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest.” By comparing this with the description of the battle of the great day, recorded in Rev. xix, it will be seen that it has its application at the time when the slain of the Lord will lie unburied upon the earth, and be food for the beasts of the field and the fowls of heaven. Here the Lord introduces the class of watchmen to which I referred, “His watchmen are blind.” It is at the very time when the Lord's watchmen will see eye to eye; but these do not see at all. How secure that city the watchmen of which are blind! Citizens that have eyes would not trust themselves in their care. But the blind will undertake to lead the blind, and both will fall into the ditch. “They are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.” It is a poor watchdog that cannot so much as bark when the thief comes. “Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough”—their salary is never high enough—“and they are shepherds that cannot understand.” Here the term shepherds is substituted for watchmen. The angel said to Daniel, “None of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.” “They all look to their own way, every one for his gain from his quarter. Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink.” For the sake of gain, we will join hand in hand with the world. They are lovers of pleasure, and the only way to get them to hand over the needful is to get up a donation party. “And to-morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.” Do not heed the warning of coming wrath; to-morrow shall be like this day, only better. “There is a good time coming.” The world is about to be converted. Thus they preach smooth things to please itching ears, saying, Peace and safety, when sudden destruction is about to burst upon them, and they shall not escape.118
These shepherds are also mentioned in Jer. xxv, and here also they are introduced in connection with the battle in the day of the Lord. By reading this chapter, commencing at verse 15, it will be seen that it speaks of a day of wrath, such as the earth has never seen, when all nations will certainly drink of the wine-cup of Jehovah's fury—the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation. See Rev. xiv, 9, 10. In verse 29 he says, “For lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and shall ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished; for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the Lord of hosts.” The Lord began to bring evil upon Jerusalem, when they had rejected Christ in his first advent; and people in these times think that it was well enough for those wicked, rebellious and unbelieving Jews to suffer the wrath that came upon them. But it is thought that the Christian world is so much better now that they will escape. But not so. The evil that came upon them is but a faint shadow of that which is coming upon the nations, when the Lord shall call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth. The sword is
coming; and if the Lord has any faithful watchmen, they should blow the trumpet, and warn the people. Where are the watchmen? What an awful responsibility is resting upon them! The Lord is about to “give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth”—the wine-press of his wrath is about to be trodden when blood will flow to the horses' bridles. “For thus saith the Lord of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth; they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.” Verses 32, 33. In that awful day the faithful watchmen, that blew the trumpet and warned the people, will have delivered their souls. But what now concerning the blind watchmen—the shepherds that cannot understand? “Howl, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye principal of the flock; for the days of your slaughter and your dispersions are accomplished; and ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel. And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape. A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and an howling of the principal of the flock shall be heard; for the Lord hath spoiled their pasture.” Alas! what a day is just before us! And when the people shall discover, too late, that they have been trusting to blind guides—leaning upon a broken reed—how will their curses and reproaches be heaped upon those false shepherds, who, professing to know the truth, quieted their consciences with the siren song of peace and safety, when sudden destruction was impending over their heads! They appeared, indeed, like “pleasant vessels”—whited sepulchres that appear beautiful to men—but when they fall they will be broken, like any vessel of coarser material, and their filthy contents will be exposed. The blood of the souls they have lured down to the gates of death, will be required at their hands, and they must drink the cup of fury to the very dregs! Oh, awful thought! But the great mass of the popular shepherds, all around us, must share this fate.
(Concluded next week.) R. F. C.
Letters.
"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another."
From Bro. Jones.
BRO. SMITH: It has been about a year since I was persuaded by my sister to go seven miles to hear Bro. Sanborn lecture on the great Bible subjects that concern us at the present time. My mind was somewhat prejudiced against the doctrines which I heard he was teaching the people. Still I thought it would not do me any hurt to go and hear for myself. The first lecture that I heard opened the Scriptures to my understanding, and I was enabled to see harmony and consistency in the interpretation that he gave them. Still I was determined not to be deceived. I continued to attend when circumstances would admit, and also investigated for myself as well as I could. I did not forget to ask God to assist me to lay aside all prejudice and sectarian feelings, if any I might have, and learn the true meaning of that sacred volume of truth.
When Bro. Sanborn came to Avon I had an opportunity of attending a series of meetings here, and of hearing the truth proclaimed to the people. It met with much opposition, especially by those who profess to take the Bible as their chart, but yet dare to trample some of its laws under their feet. May God yet enable them to see their danger.
We are very thankful that we ever had the privilege of hearing the present truth, and that some twelve or fifteen have embraced it in Avon. Amid opposition, and the scoffs of a wicked world, trials without and within, let this be our motto, Onward! By the help of God let us overcome. We must be holy. Without holiness no man shall see the Lord. We live in perilous times. The world is all confusion. Thousands are deceiving and being deceived. The cry is abroad in the land, Lo here! and lo there! is Christ. Everything indicates that these are the last days.
Brethren and sisters, let us contend for the faith that was delivered to the saints. It is heart-cheering to hear from the lonely ones that are pressing towards Mt. Zion through storm and tide, patiently enduring all things for Jesus' sake. Go on! The victory is yours if you are only faithful.
O that God would send more laborers into the vineyard. The people in different parts of the country are calling for light.
The Bible seems to us like a new book since the scales have fallen from our eyes. The Review is prized highly by all that have embraced the message. Many of us feel that we could not do without it. We love to hear from the brethren and sisters often.
Yours striving for the kingdom.
ORVIL JONES.
Avon, Wis., Feb., 1858.
SAMUEL WARNER
By Samuel Warner
From Bro. Warner.
Bro. Smith; I herein enclose to you one dollar to pay for my paper; i. e., the present volume, of which I have received No. 11, and do find them more and more interesting to me, but cannot prevail on any of my very numerous acquaintances to read them, or give them even a partial examination, after perceiving that they teach the keeping of the Sabbath of the Lord our God; and I am esteemed by some to be a very odd and stubborn man, and by the so-called orthodox, a Jewish believer, and, say they, You think to be saved by deeds of the law, and have fallen from grace; but blessed be the name of the Lord, I see and feel, in some measure, that I am in Jesus, the only ark of safety, and humbly hope to be with him at his coming, in person. Yes, in very flesh and bones as he was after his resurrection, and as he was when he ascended. Notwithstanding at times I feel myself a very great and very old sinner, and do almost think that it cannot be that my sins are all forgiven and may be blotted out; a humble look to Jesus, a supplicating look, prayer, desire, or view in faith, brings to me a blessed and renewed hope of eternal life at the coming of the Lord, and the resurrection of the just—made so in the blood of the Lamb. I send my brotherly love to all who are in Jesus in very truth, and I remain theirs, and yours, in the truest bonds of friendship, and I trust also in the love of Jesus.
SAMUEL WARNER
Providence, R. I., Feb, 1859.
P. S. If any of the brethren are traveling this way, and more especially those in the ministry, I should be gratified to have them call at No. 203. on Friendship street.
S. W.
MARY JANE HILL
From Sister Hill.
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: I trust that I am on my way with you to Mt. Zion, and by the help of God I am determined to endure to the end. It has been about one year since I commenced keeping the Sabbath of the Lord. I feel to thank God for the light he has bestowed upon me in understanding the present truth. Truly it was meat in due season, for I was well nigh sinking in unbelief. There was so much confusion in the church that I felt there was something wrong; and when Bible truth came I saw where I was. I truly feel to thank God that he gave me a willing mind to receive it, for great peace have they that do his Commandments, and have the Faith of Jesus. Although many trials and temptations beset my pathway at every step, yet I am not discouraged. I am alone in this place with my children in keeping the Sabbath, yet not alone, for God is with us. We meet every Sabbath for prayer-meeting, and the Lord meets with us to bless and strengthen. Some others started with us, but the path was too straight and they have gone back. I feel determined to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made me free. Eternal life is worth striving for. This world is not my home; it has no charms for me. I am striving for a city that is out of sight, but is soon to be revealed.
I am made to rejoice when I read the cheering testimonies of brethren and sisters scattered abroad through the land. The Review is truly a welcome visitor to myself and family. It is nearly all the preaching we have. O let us who profess to love the appearing of our Lord be faithful, having our conversation godly, watching and praying so much the more as we see the day approaching, that we may be gathered with the little flock into the kingdom of our Lord and his Christ. Pray for me and mine that we may all meet in our Father's house.
MARY JANE HILL
Hillsborough, Wis.
SUSAN ELMER
By Susan Elmer
From Sister Elmer.
BRO. SMITH: I feel a strong desire to follow on to know the Lord, whom to know aright is life eternal. The Third Angel's Message is all to me; and though I have learned by experience it is through much tribulation that I must enter the kingdom of heaven, yet I greatly desire to be of those who by faith and patience inherit the promises. Though the way may be rough, and Satan tries every means he can to destroy us, yet, blessed be God, his grace is sufficient for all those who put their trust in him; and we are more than conquerors through him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood. I want to be wholly consecrated to him who has done so much for me. Shall we not give all for his sake? Yes, we must if we would reign with him. I have felt greatly strengthened of late, while bowed before the Lord in prayer.
I want my whole being and every faculty employed in his service. Brethren and sisters, let us be encouraged to hold on a little longer. The prize is just before us. I believe those that rise now will fall no more. Glorious thought! Blessed assurance! If God is on our side we need not fear. We shall be protected here, and shall soon with all the ransomed millions, meet on the other shore.
Yours in the blessed hope.
SUSAN ELMER
Ashfield, Mass., Feb. 1849.
H. M. KENYON
By H. M. Kenyon
From Bro. Kenyon.
BRO. SMITH: The truth is still precious to me. It is more than my meat or drink to do my Master's will. My heart is encouraged when I see the signs fulfilling which portend that Jesus' coming is near at hand. How important it is that we as a people, professing faith in Jesus Christ, take heed to all the requirements of God, to make our calling and election sure, while probation is still lengthened out, while our High Priest intercedes in our behalf.
It is evident that we are in, or near, the time when God's people are to be mightily shaken. We see some that once bid fair to endure the trials in the way, and go through to the mount Zion, turning away from the faith, and being turned unto fables. But the word of the Lord says, He that endureth to the end the same shall be saved. This is enough to encourage the faithful pilgrim on his way. Though Satan may assail us, and bring all his forces to bear against us, we have nothing to fear, for the Lord has promised that when the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.
We find many promises in the precious Bible for our encouragement. Though we may be tempted, we have the promise that it shall not be above that we are able to bear, and that we have an High Priest, one that has been tempted in all points like as we are, and that he will succor those that are tempted. The promises of God look better to me than ever before.
My faith grows stronger and stronger as we near the coming of our Saviour. My heart rejoices even while I write. The Life-giver is coming. Soon those that sleep in Jesus will come forth, the living saints be changed and caught up to meet their Lord in the air. Blessed hope! Glorious prospects are before the remnant!
Yours striving for the kingdom.
H. M. KENYON
Monterey, Mich.
From Wesley's Journal.
By Geo. Wright
[The following is from Wesley's Journal, Vol. VI, p. 746. Some even among us may be benefited by its perusal. GEO. WRIGHT.]
1. Be active, be diligent; avoid all laziness, sloth, indolence. Fly from every degree, every appearance of it; else you will never be more than half a christian.
2. Be cleanly. In this let the Methodists take pattern by the Quakers. Avoid all nastiness, dirt, slovenliness, both in your person, clothes, house, and all about you. Don't stink above ground. This is bad fruit of laziness; use all diligence to be clean, as one says,
"Let thy mind's sweetness have its operation
Upon thy person, clothes and habitation."
3. Whatever clothes you have, let them be whole; no rents, no tatters, no rags. These are a scandal to either man or woman; being another fruit of vile laziness. Mend your clothes, or I shall never expect you to mend your lives. Let none ever see a ragged Methodist.
6. Use no tobacco, unless prescribed by a physician. It is an uncleanly and an unwholesome self-indulgence; and the more customary it is, the more resolutely should you break off from every degree of that evil custom.
7. Use no snuff. . . . This is a silly, nasty, dirty custom. . . . But let christians be in this bondage no longer. Assert your liberty, and that all at once; nothing will be done by degrees. But just now you may break loose, through Christ strengthening you.
8. Touch no dram. It is a liquid fire. It is slow but sure poison. It saps the very springs of life. . . . I would sacredly abstain from this because the evil is so general; and to this, and snuff, and smoky cabins, I impute the blindness so exceeding common throughout this nation."
God was in Christ, says the Apostle, reconciling the world unto himself; that is, God was in Christ doing those things that would restore to himself the obedience and affection of every one that believed. Christ represents himself as a ransom for the soul; as laying down his life for believers. He is represented as descending from an estate of the highest felicity; taking upon him the nature of man, and humbling himself even to the death of the cross, a death of the most excruciating tortures; and thus bearing the sins of men in his own body on the tree, that through his death God might be just, and the justifier of every one that believeth in Jesus.
It was thus by a self-denial surpassing description, by a life of labors for human good, accomplished by constant personal sacrifices, and tending at every step toward the center of the vortex; he went on till finally, life closed to a crisis, by the passion in the garden, the rebuke and the buffet, and the cruel mockery of the Jews and the Romans, and then bearing his cross, faint with former agony of spirit, and his flesh quivering with recent scourging, he goes to Calvary, where the agonized sufferer for human beings cried, It is finished, and gave up the ghost.
Such is the testimony of the Scriptures; and it may be affirmed without hesitancy, that it would be impossible for the human soul to exercise full faith in the testimony, that it was a guilty and needy creature, condemned by the holy law of a holy God, and that from this condition of spiritual guilt and danger, Jesus Christ suffered and died to accomplish its ransom—we say, a human being could not exercise full faith in these truths and not love the Saviour.—Plan of Salvation.
Present Truth in Washington
Bro. A. H. Huntly writes from Washington, N. H.: "The cause of present truth never looked more glorious to me than at the present time. My whole being cries out after God. I want to conform more and more to his blessed will, and have my life fully hid with Christ in God. O when shall I see him as he is, be made like him, and behold his glory? I believe that the Lord is about to work in great power for his people, and I think the work is already commencing with us in this place. My nearest neighbor and his companion have embraced the Sabbath of the Lord, which makes the enemy rage some; but the Lord is able to make the wrath of man to praise him."
A Revival Among the Brethren
By Julia E. Gray
From Sister Gray.
Bro. Smith : I embraced the truth under the labors of Bro. Steward about two years ago; but I do regret that I have not lived more faithfully. It is a great thing to be a christian, more particularly for the youth. It seems as though they were tempted on every side by the enemy, but we have a great promise that the grace of God shall be sufficient for us. I do desire to live so that I may be permitted to enter the New Jerusalem, where there will be no more sorrow, pain nor death, and what will add most to our pleasure, Jesus will be there. I feel to say in the language of the poet,
"For Canaan I've started and on I must go,
Till all the bright glories of Eden I know.
I've made no reserve, and I'm sure I'll not lack
While onward I journey and do not draw back."
Bro. Steward left us in January last to labor in other parts of the Lord's vineyard; and he left us with his spirit bowed with grief on account of the coldness of the professed followers of Jesus. But Bro. Phelps came this way and preached to us several times, and truly it was meat in due season. Now I think there seems to be a spirit of revival among us, and I hope it will continue. The brethren all seem to be very anxious to come out of their lukewarmness, and put on the whole armor of God. Pray for us that we may as a church live more to the honor and glory of God, and that we may at last meet all the redeemed on mount Zion.
Your sister desiring to be found waiting for the Lord when he comes.
JULIA E. GRAY.
Mauston, Wis., Feb., 1859.
The Sufficiency of God’s Promises
By J. M. Lenhart
From Bro. Lenhart.
Bro. Smith: For the first time I take up my pen to address to you a few lines. I thank God through Jesus Christ that I ever heard the truth of the Bible. I thank him that the scales of tradition have fallen from my eyes, and by grace divine I can see the truth as it is in Christ Jesus my Lord. There are four of us here that keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus. I am not discouraged, for I know that the means which God has provided for my journey are sufficient to carry me through if I only lawfully use them. It is the obedient and the believing that will go through; but the doubtful and unbelieving never. They distrust the promises of God. They place themselves in an attitude that God cannot impart unto them spiritual strength. May God deliver us from unbelief, and keep us by his power through faith unto salvation, is my prayer.
J. M. Lenhart.
Morrison, Ills.
The Holy Spirit and Sin
The Holy Spirit can find no home in the heart of a professor who loves and lives in sin.
Extracts from Letters.
Bro. I. S. Chaffee writes from Ordino, Wis.: "Brethren and sisters, how necessary it is when we make professions, that we are just what we profess to be. If any of us are living on doctrines and have not the love of God in our hearts, our daily life will declare it to the world, and therefore we injure the cause of God. O let us see to it that we have the religion of principle, the love of God implanted in the heart by the power of the Holy Ghost, and then that it is carried out in all the acts of life. There is a fullness in Jesus, and it is for all; but if we would have it we must live for it, and have our passions all subdued by divine grace. I for one want to live the life of the righteous, follow peace with all men, and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord."
Interest in the Truth at Weld
Bro. Chas. Woodman writes from North Leeds, Me.: "I have been a constant reader of the Review since I became interested in the present truth, and I love the doctrines it advocates, because I believe they are the doctrines of the Bible, and which when obeyed will prepare a people for the coming of the Lord. A few here are becoming interested in the truth. Four weeks ago Bro. Davis and myself went to the town of Weld, and held five meetings. But few came out to hear the truth, yet some were interested, and four decided to keep the Sabbath. Others are partially convinced of the truth of our position."