Earlier text: Growing RichTHAT men should often be enveloped in the clouds and fog of earth, and as a consequence become somewhat perplexed, and bewildered, is not strange; but that angels ever found themselves in such a predicament we were not, until quite recently, aware. Such however seems to be the case, if we may credit the arguments that are adduced in favor of the new-time movement. Says Wm. Sheldon, in the Voice of the West, of Nov. 16, 1864: "Although the great movement of 1843-4 did not bring the Lord, but in the stead thereof brought a sad disappointment to the church, God was in the solemn movement, and it was clearly a matter of prophecy. 'In the 10th chapter of Revelation, between the sounding of the sixth and seventh trumpets,' we have a heavenly messenger brought to view, clothed with a cloud—not fully in the light of sacred Chronology—yet radiant with the 'rainbow' brilliancy of hope, and the cheering countenance of the 'sun' with a 'little book' in his hand, already 'open,' from which he confidently proclaims, on sea and land, 'that there should be time no longer,' and gives the 'little book' to John, (the representative of the Church) and bids him 'eat it up,' which was first found to be 'sweet' to the taste, but which digested, 'bitter' with disappointment; but subsequently it is said to John, the representative of the church, 'Thou must prophesy again before many peoples,' &c. Another great movement on time is to be made by the Church. "Do not overlook the Chronology of the symbolic scenery; it is after the sixth angel sounds, and nowhere else. The great Advent movement is the only thing, in that Chronological space of time, that bears the faintest resemblance to the symbols here given, and that perfectly fills the picture. Now 'prophesy again.' When? Once Daniel was 'searching what manner of time was given to him, reaching to 'the sufferings of Christ,' and also to 'the glory that should follow,' and 'it was revealed to him, or rather 'unto us' through him (1 Peter i, 11, 12), he being one representative; but prior to the time he 'understood the thing' he says, 'I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.' Dan. x, 3. Just 21 days were spent by Daniel, our representative, in searching and mourning for the light of the vision, before the true light was given him; so in the antitype, after this vision has been brought to bear upon the mind of the Church, and they be led to discover by the passing of time, that they have not understood the vision, they must spend 'three full weeks of years' in searching and mourning before receiving the light; and 21 prophetic days, from 1843, carry us to 1864. And now the light is shining all through our ranks, and we 'prophesy again.' Praise the Lord. This is to be a general movement as we near 1868." With a less lengthy extract we could not give the reader, as we wished to do, a specimen of the bold and confident tone that is used on this question. But what about that "heavenly messenger," that angel, that came down, clothed with a cloud, that is, "not fully in the light of sacred chronology?!" It seems, according to this, that, as he came down upon his mission, he unfortunately came in contact with a blinding cloud, got lost in the fog, and became so confused and bewildered, that in his uncertain attempts to carry out his mission, he lifted up his hand to heaven and swore to—shall we say a lie?—certainly to that which was not true; for he solemnly swore by Him that liveth forever and ever that time should be no longer! But Eld. S. represents that the angel recovered partially at least from his bewilderment, enough, at any rate, to say to John that he must prophesy again, which he thinks represents another great movement on time;—as if the angel, coming to himself in a measure, had exclaimed, "There! all this work that I have been doing, this time that I have been swearing to, is all a mistake! it is all wrong! It must be set right; but I will not again trust myself in this business. Here's John. I will commission him; John, you must prophesy again; go forth with another message on time, and correct the blunders which I have been swearing to here!" Will the reader say, in view of the above extract, that we have set this forth in any too strong a light? Is not this a faithful representation of the ridiculous interpretation which this new theory gives to Rev. x? But from a person holding such views as set forth in the above extract, we were not prepared for the admission that "God was in the solemn movement" of 1843-4. One thing is certain, if God was in the time movement of 1844, he is not in the time movement of 1868. But we believe with all our heart that he was in the movement of 1844. We agree with Mr. Sheldon exactly, when he says that "the great Advent movement is the only thing in that chronological space of time that bears the faintest resemblance to the symbols here given [that is, in Rev. x, 1-6], and that perfectly fills the picture." We have no shadow of doubt that that movement was symbolized by the mighty angel of Rev. x, whose face was as the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire. But we differ with Mr. S. in this: we believe that the angel swore to the truth, and that time, that is, prophetic time, did end with his message, as he declared it would. But it is asked, Did not the Advent people make a mistake in 1844? True, but they made no mistake on that in reference to which the angel swore. He declared that the prophetic periods should then end, and that was correct; they only mistook the event that was to transpire at the end of those periods. But what is the prophesying again, if it is not a new movement on time? We reply, No movement could take place on time, subsequent to that angel's declaration, provided he told the truth, that time should be no longer. But hear what he himself says. After declaring that time should be no longer, he goes right on to say that in the "days of the voice of the seventh angel when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished." It would be reasonable to infer that the prophesying again would be in reference to this finishing of the mystery of God; and this language of the angel proves that the time referred to, which was to be no longer, is prophetic time, and no other. And what have we to answer to the prophesying again? We have the third angel's message of Rev. xiv; the first angel's message of that chapter corresponding to the time message of Rev. x. And this third message has for its very basis the sanctuary work in the holy of holies above, to which the first message introduced us; and this sanctuary work is the finishing up of the plan of salvation, the closing of the "gospel" scheme, which constitutes the "mystery of God." How smooth and harmonious is truth. How jagged and disjointed is error. Can that theory gain credence among intelligent men which makes an angel of God guilty of swearing to an untruth? WE present below two interesting extracts relative to the week. The first is from the Encyclopedia Americana, and gives us the origin of the names of the days of the week, now in use. The second is from the Religious Encyclopedia, and shows how the term Sabbath came to be applied to the whole week, as in Matt. xxviii, 1. According to the testimony given, the week is a "division of time that has no obvious foundation in nature," and yet it "prevailed very extensively over the world from the earliest times." From what then could it have been derived but the events of creation—the six days of labor and the seventh of rest? The American Encyclopedia says: "The week approaches pretty nearly to a quarter of a lunation; but this division of time has no obvious foundation in nature. It appears, notwithstanding, to have prevailed very extensively over the world from the earliest times, and, what is remarkable, the days of the week are generally named after the sun and planets, only six planets having been known to the ancients. This manner of distinguishing a series of seven days is found to be the same among the ancient Egyptians, Indians, and Chinese. Still the order is not that of the distances, magnitude, or brightness of the planets. The following ingenious conjecture has been adopted to account for the origin of the names and arrangement of the days of the week:—The planetary arrangement of Ptolemy was thus: 1. Saturn; 2. Jupiter; 3. Mars; 4. the Sun; 5. Venus; 6. Mercury; 7. the Moon. Each of these planets was supposed to preside successively over each hour of the twenty-four of each day, in the order above given. In this way, Saturn would preside over the first hour of the first day, Jupiter over the second hour, Mars over the third, the sun over the fourth, and so on. Thus the sun, presiding over the fourth, eleventh and eighteenth hours of the first day, would preside over the first hour of the second day; and, carrying on the series, the moon would preside over the first hour of the third day, Mars over the first hour of the fourth day, Mercury over the first hour of the fifth day, Jupiter over the first hour of the sixth day, and Venus over the first hour of the seventh day. Hence the names of the days yet used in the learned professions: 1. dies Saturni (Saturday); 2. dies Solis (Sunday); 3. dies Lunæ (Monday); 4. dies Martis (Tuesday); 5. dies Mercurii (Wednesday); 6. dies Jovis (Thursday); 7. dies Veneris (Friday). The English names of the days of the week are derived from the Saxons, and are partly adopted from the more civilized nations of antiquity." The Religious Encyclopedia says: "WEEK; a period of seven days. Under the usual name of a week, shabait, is mentioned as far back as the time of the deluge, Gen. vii, 4, 10; viii, 10, 12; xxix, 27, 28. It must, therefore, be considered a very ancient division of time, especially as the various nations among whom it has been noticed, for instance, the Nigri in Africa, appear to have received it from the sons of Noah. The enumeration of the days of the week commenced at Sunday. Saturday was the last or seventh, and was the Hebrew Sabbath, or day of rest. The Egyptians gave to the days of the week the same names as they assigned to the planets. From the circumstance that the Sabbath was the principal day of the week, the whole period of seven days was likewise called shabat, in Syriac shabta, in the New Testament sabbaton and sabbata. The Jews, accordingly, in designating the successive days of the week, were accustomed to say, the first day of the sabbath, that is, of the week; the second day of the sabbath, that is, Sunday, Monday, &c., Mark xvi, 2, 9; Luke xxiv, 1; John xx, 1, 19." The Health Reform.
By James White
OUR people are generally waking up to the subject of health, and they should have publications on the subject to meet their present wants, at prices within the reach of the poorest. Eighteen months since, we resolved to read up on the subject, as we could find time, and sent to the Dansville, N. Y., publishing-house for an assortment of their works, that might cost from ten to twenty-five dollars. Then we knew not the name of a single publication offered for sale at that house. We heard from reliable sources that there was something valuable there, and resolved to put in for a share. We now design to publish a series of Pamphlets on the subject of How to Live. Mrs. White will furnish a liberal chapter in each number on health, happiness and miseries of domestic life, and the bearing which these have upon the prospects of obtaining the life to come. We shall claim no skill as physicians to cure the sick; but shall draw from personal experience, from the word of God, and from the writings of able and experienced health reformers, facts for the common people, which we ardently hope may teach them how to preserve vital force, live healthily, save doctors' bills, and be better qualified to bear with cheerfulness the ills of this mortal life. Grains and fruits are the proper food for man. These are best, and generally far the cheapest, which is a worthy consideration for the poor. Cheerful toil, or exercise, proper rest in sleep, air, water, and light, are Heaven's great remedies. To use these properly should be the study of the people. This leaving our souls with the ministers, and our bodies with the doctors, and we pass along ignorant of our real hold of either earth or Heaven, is bad business. We invite the people to come to the Bible and to Christ, and learn the way to everlasting life for themselves. We would also invite their attention to the great fact that it is their privilege to learn how to live more healthfully and more happily, and save being fleeced by the doctors. We propose to furnish six Pamphlets, each to contain not less than forty-eight pages, put up in paper covers. In the first number will be found the report of our visit to "Our Home," at Dansville, N. Y. On the cover of the first we will give a Calendar for 1865, which will also give the time of the setting of the sun21 at the commencement of each Sabbath during the year. This will be found very valuable to all Sabbath-keeping families. Price of the six Pamphlets, $1. Those who choose to advance this sum will have the Pamphlets sent to their address, post-paid, as fast as they shall be published. Single copies, post-paid, 20 cents. Address Eld. James White, Battle Creek, Mich. THE EARTH WILL BE EMPTIED OF ITS INHABITANTS AT THE SECOND ADVENT
By R. F. Cottrell
THE EARTH WILL BE EMPTIED OF ITS INHABITANTS AT THE SECOND ADVENT.
The wicked, living on earth at that time, will all be slain. It will be as it was in Noah's time, the saints will be gathered up and all the wicked will be swept from the whole earth. Said our Saviour, "But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Mat. xxiv, 37–39. Noah and his family were gathered up; but all the wicked were slain. The flood came and took them all away. It will be so at the coming of Christ. As we have seen, the saints will be gathered up to "Jerusalem which is above;" but all the wicked will be cut off. Thus the earth will be left desolate—without a human inhabitant. The ancient prophets clearly foretold this. Said Isaiah, "Behold the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate; and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it." Chap. xiii, 9. The sinners are to be destroyed out of the land without exception. It may be objected that this applies to some particular land, and not to the whole world. But verse 11 says, "I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity." This includes all the wicked of the world. He continues: "I will cause the arrogance of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible." The arrogance of the proud has not yet ceased, and will not till they are laid low. "I will make a man more precious [i. e. scarce] than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir." When will this be? In the day when the Lord shall shake the heavens and the earth; a day yet in the future, of which Paul wrote to the Hebrews. See Heb. xii, 26, 27. The prophet continues: "Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger." In Isa. xxiv, 1, we read, "Behold the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof." In verse 3, he assures us that "The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the Lord hath spoken this word." It is objected that at this time, when "the curse hath devoured the earth," there are a "few men left," verse 6, that there shall be a few that escape, "as the shaking of an olive tree, and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done." Verse 13. I reply, these are the righteous—those who are taken up to the sea of glass mingled with fire, which is before the throne of God. Says the prophet, "They shall lift up the voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the Lord, [compare Rev. xv, 2, 3,] they shall cry aloud from the sea." Verse 14. These are the righteous that sing and "glorify the Lord." But of the wicked it is said, "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth. And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited." Verses 21, 22. As prisoners are shut up, to await the execution of their final punishment, so the wicked, at the second advent, will be gathered, into the prison-house of death. And "after many days"—after a thousand years—"shall they be visited." They are to be brought forth from their prison, at the second resurrection, to receive their final doom, the second death. "The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation," &c. Zeph. i, 14, 15. "Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord's wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land." Verse 18. When that "great day of his wrath is come," none of the wicked shall be "able to stand." A "speedy riddance" will be made of "all that dwell in the land." Does not this relate to the whole earth? We will read again. "I have cut off the nations, [none are excepted,] their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by; their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant." Chap. iii, 6. "Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey; for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignations, even all my fierce anger; for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy." Verse 8. This gathering of the nations will take place while the seven last plagues are being poured out, which will take place immediately after the close of probation. The spirits of devils, under the sixth vial, "go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." This battle is described Rev. xix, where the King of kings and Lord of lords is represented as coming from Heaven, seated upon a white horse, and followed by the armies of Heaven, the angels; and the result of the battle is thus described: "And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and that worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth; and all the fowls were filled with their flesh." This is symbolic prophecy but the meaning is clear. The horses from Heaven are not real, the beast and his image are symbolic, as is the sword that proceeds from the mouth of the King of kings. In this place, the lake of fire may also be a symbol, like the wine press of Chap. xiv, though there will be as we have seen, a literal conflagration of the earth, after the thousand years, when the ungodly meet their doom, the second death. 2 Pet. iii; Rev. xx. But, as a symbol, it clearly indicates the slaughter of those, who in their symbolic character are cast in there; and that there be no room for a hope of escape, to any of the wicked, from this general overthrow,—no hope of surviving this unmixed wrath and living in the coming age—we are expressly told that "the remnant were slain" and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. They will be literally slain, and the fowls and the beasts of the earth will literally feed upon their unburied carcasses. If the reader will turn to Jer. xxv, he will find a vivid description of the desolation of the earth, in the beginning of the day of the Lord. Commencing at verse 15, the wine cup of fury is introduced, which is sent, first to Jerusalem, then to other specified nations, and lastly to "all the kingdoms of the world, which are upon the face of the earth." This wine cup is to cause them all to be drunken, and to "fall and rise no more"—it is to destroy them as nations. And none are to escape; he says, "Ye shall certainly drink." The Lord positively declares, "I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth." And again, the Lord shall "give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth. A noise shall come to the ends of the earth; for the Lord hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked [no exceptions] to the sword, saith the Lord. 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." None left alive, or they would be lamented, though there should be too few to gather and bury them. Here follows a description of the howling of the false shepherds and of the principal of the flock, which answers to the special judgments upon Babylon, recorded in the book of Revelation. And the Lord represents himself as a lion, which suddenly leaves his covert and seizes upon his unsuspecting victim, and the land is declared to be desolate or a desolation. Much more testimony might be adduced to prove that the earth will be wholly desolated by the seven last plagues and the battle in the day of the Lord—the battle which precedes the thousand years, commonly called the Millennium. But enough has been given, if its full force is appreciated. The people of God will be taken to Heaven, the wicked of earth will be slain, and that period of fabled glory to earth, when the world should be converted, and Christ should reign here spiritually, as some have taught, or personally, according to others, will, in fact, be a period of utter desolation to earth, not a human inhabitant remaining, and the earth with the dust of the wicked will lie under the curse, till the second resurrection. Then the wicked will be destroyed, earth renovated, and the meek shall inherit it and dwell therein forever. Oh! what terrible scenes are before us! but the eternal glory will certainly follow. What Shall be Done?
By James White
The Youth's Instructor, at twenty-five cents a year, in scrip, which is worth only from ten to twelve cents in gold or silver, does not pay for itself. Paper costs nearly three times as much as it did three years since, and labor nearly twice as much. To meet this extra expense, something must be done. We are about to order paper for the Instructor for 1865. It will require three and one-fourth reams each month, at $8 per ream, amounting to $26 a month, or $312 for the year. Three years since, the paper would have cost $2.75 per ream, or $107,25 a year. Here is a difference in the cost of stock, of $204,75 a year. Add to this the extra cost of labor, &c., which is at least $10 per month, or $120 a year; and the amount of expenses of the Instructor for one year now, above what it would have cost before the American war, is $324,75. This is more than the entire cost of stock at present prices of paper. If the stock should be furnished, twenty-five cents per year would meet the other expenses. How shall this be done? If the price should be raised to fifty cents a year, it would then be in reality no higher than at twenty-five cents before the war. In fact, fifty cents can be obtained as easily now, as twenty-five then. But the price of the Instructor for the next year will not be raised, only by those who choose to raise it to fifty cents. Let all who would esteem it a pleasure so to do, send fifty cents each. Such will see their names with the money receipted in the Instructor. New subscribers, the poor, and all who choose to pay no more, can have the Instructor for twenty-five cents a year. Donations from the friends of the Instructor to purchase stock for this little sheet, will be thankfully received. Our liberal Bro. O. Mears, of Bowling Green, Ohio, sends $5 to purchase stock for the Instructor. Those who wish to donate, and those who choose to pay fifty cents a year, will please respond to these remarks, if convenient, so that their responses may reach the Office as soon as December 30th. J. W. The privileges of the first-born among the Jews being very great, that which is chief or most eminent in any kind is called the first-born, Gen. xlix, 3. So in Job xviii, 13 the first-born of death is the most fatal and cruel death. In Isaiah xiv, 30, the first born of the poor denotes those who are the most poor and miserable. See also Ps. lxxxix, 27; Jer. xxxi, 9; Rom. viii, 29; Col. i, 15–18; Heb. xii, 23.—Horne's Int. Vol. I, p. 197. Report from Bro. Taylor.
By C. O. Taylor
Bro. White: My health not being very good since the Conference, I have not done much. The two following Sabbaths and first-days, I attended meetings with Bro. Andrews in this county. The 21st I left home for Northern N. Y., and attended the monthly meeting, of St. Lawrence Co., at Norfolk, the 22nd, and 23d. The church at that place were all present. The wheeling was bad, and only a few came from a distance. I attended seven meetings with this people. They are pressing on in the work of the Lord. In the evening of the 25th, attended a prayer meeting with the church at Buck's Bridge. I was quite unwell, in much pain, yet enjoyed their fervent prayers and hearty testimonies. Sabbath, 29th, I was with the church at West Bangor. Here I met with Bro. H. W. Lawrence and companion, to whom, under God, the cause is much indebted, for its present condition in Franklin Co. They have toiled hard, sparing no labor where they thought good could be done, and souls won to the truth. Those that know them best, love them most. Although the going was bad, some came ten miles. Others, no doubt, would have been there if they had heard of the meeting. They are scattered over a territory of twenty-five miles, yet they are hopeful and would keep up with the work of God. They did not all, at first, love the reform in diet that is doing such a great work in our midst. Still I trust they will all see its importance, walk in its light, and enjoy its benefits. The 31st, I went on to my native town, and passed a few days at the place of my birth, was with the Champlain church the 1st and 2nd Sabbath in November. Did what I could to comfort and instruct. One was added to their number. Others will yet join them. The churches in Northern N. Y. are growing in the knowledge of the truth, and are willing to make sacrifices that they may overcome. A somewhat silent, yet a great work, is going on among the remnant church. The direct tendency is to purify, make holy, and prepare for Jesus' coming. May each one gird on the armor and be marching along. I returned home the 19th in good spirits and better health. The 3d Sabbath in Nov. I was with the church at this place. Some of our number are having a trial of their faith. They are cast down yet not destroyed. The waves look dark, still they mean to breast them. Darkness gathers around them, yet they hope for light beyond. The remarks at the Conference on temperance took a deep hold, and I have no doubt but the effect will be lasting, and that they will never return to what they have left behind. As a people we have entered a very interesting field of useful knowledge. The more we learn, the more we see to learn, and the more we wish to learn. The 4th Sabbath and first-day I was with the church at Mannsville. My labor with this church has been interesting, from the fact that I have seen progress. The work of grace is still going on in their hearts. I met with no church, more thankful for plain, straight testimony. They are not altogether to blame for many of their past trials. They have some things to live down by a well-ordered life and a godly conversation, before the cause will rise around them. I hope that better days are for them in their pilgrimage here. It is our privilege and duty to stand in the power and wisdom of God, be overcomers at last, and reach the home of the blessed. Adam's Center, Dec. 2, 1864. Report of Meetings in Mich.
By Joseph Bates
BRO. WHITE: From Oct. 29 to Nov. 19, I visited and held meetings with the following churches: viz., Oct. 29, met with the church in Allegan, Alle. Co. Owing to unfavorable circumstances the meeting was thin. I tried to encourage the few that came together. Returned to Monterey and baptized three youths recently turned to the Lord. Nov. 3-7, held six meetings with the church in Parkville, St. Jo., Co. Changes of location and death have reduced their number some. This was my first visit to P. Our meetings were interesting and I trust profitable. On Sunday the people manifested a willingness and desire to hear the truth. Nov. 8, 9, evening meetings in Brady, Kal. Co. The weather very stormy, not many out, the first evening, the day of election. The few Seventh-day Adventists in this place, are not organized, but esteem it a privilege to meet with the church at Parkville, when they can. Nov. 11-16, held five meetings in Colon, St. Jo., Co. Brethren from Parkville and Burr Oak united. The meetings were of deep interest. The blessing of the Lord was still more deeply manifested while attending to the ordinances of his house, as it was also in Parkville. On the subject of Systematic Benevolence most of the brethren present desired to do their whole duty, and "bring all the tithes into the store-house." Sunday evening, 13th inst.' had a very good meeting in Burr Oak, some seven miles from Colon. There are three families of Sabbath-keepers living there. Nov. 19, at Otsego, Alle. Co. Monthly Meeting. It was very encouraging to meet so many together at this meeting when the going with teams was so difficult. Bro. Strong came and took a part in the meeting. The testimonies of brethren and sisters were pointed and encouraging, and our Sabbath meeting closed with a blessing and communion of the Lord's supper. Nov. 20, left Otsego for Wright, Ottawa Co., in company with Bro. E. H. Root. Bro. McPherson and his eldest daughter, Cornelia, were very sick and under the care of Bro. Dr. Ginley, who, when he saw that their disease [Spinal Meningitis] was likely to prove fatal, recommended Bro. McPherson to apply for help from the church. Bro. McP. requested Bro. E. H. Root to telegraph for you to come from Battle Creek. Receiving no answer he requested him to go for me. On our arrival there on Monday noon, 21st, your letter was there stating the reason why you hesitated to come, in substance as stated in Review, Vol. xxiv, No. 26. The daughter died soon after Bro. Root left for me, and was buried the day after our arrival. See obituary notice. Bro. McPherson's case was presented in accordance with the testimony of James v, 14-16, and the Lord rebuked the disease and strengthened him to rise from his sick bed, and join with his family and friends in another apartment of his house, where there was weeping for joy, and praising the Lord for the work he had done. Before we reached Wright, Bro. McPherson had made his will, bequeathing all of his real estate to be appropriated for the cause of God, except the annual interest, which sum he requested should be applied for the maintenance of his surviving child. After our return home on Friday, the 25 inst., we attended the funeral of Charley Pierce, son of Bro. John Pierce, jr. Quarterly Meeting at Deerfield, Minn.
By F. W. Morse
ThIS is the last in the series that have just been held with the brethren in Minn. It was well attended and a very profitable meeting. Brn. Bostwick and Allen were with us. Five timely discourses were given, one cheering prayer and conference meeting held, the ordinances of the Lord's house were attended to, and a business meeting. Perhaps we have never witnessed a more cheering manifestation of the Lord's continued favor and presence than throughout this meeting. At the close of each service, the joyful remark passed from one to another, "What a good meeting we have enjoyed!" The enemy of all peace and godliness made an effort to bring in confusion at our communion meeting; but the brethren and sisters stood firmly together, resisting23 the powers of darkness instead of each other, and thus a complete victory was gained. The meeting was a real triumph. On first-day afternoon, Bro. Bostwick presented the subject of health reform, showing that God's people should really be the "light of the world" in this respect, as well as others. A spirit of inquiry was raised, and the request came in "We will hear further upon this;" accordingly the subject was again taken up in the evening, and profitable remarks made upon the popular use of drugs, quack, and patent medicine, as compared with the health-restoring influence of pure air, pure water, and healthy food, with proper exercise. There appears to be a determination among our people here, to come up in these things. May the Lord help us to heed the plain instructions so kindly given upon these things, in Spiritual Gifts, Vol. iv. In conclusion, we can truly say that the cause is onward here at Deerfield. Regular Sabbath meetings, a weekly prayer meeting, a large Bible-class and Sabbath-school, are sustained with a deep and increasing interest. Within the last two years, almost the entire membership of our prosperous and well-filled Sabbath-school, have followed the Lord in the ordinance of baptism. At our last Quarterly Meeting previous to this, our church membership was increased by the addition of twenty-one. The gathering work still goes on. Nine united with us at this meeting. May the Lord help us to humbly and devotedly live out the truth. Don't Salt and Pepper Your Minister.
By B. F. Snook
This may seem like rather a novel exhortation, and yet it is a necessary one among some, in some places. There are many of our good sisters who, as yet, have not observed the admonitions on the health question relative to unnecessary condiments on our food. I am specially interested on this part of the subject. I can bear a little salt, but not near as much as some use. Some put salt in every thing they eat, even to the bread. This is too much for me. Now if we will get used to a little, it will taste just as well, and be better for the health. There are some, too, who must pepper every article of the vegetable kind. This is almost killing. We would suggest, that it would be very agreeable to us, to cook the victuals without either salt or pepper, and let those who will have these articles, season their food to suit their own taste. Peppered victuals are spoiled for our use, unless we can scrape it off. One other suggestion is of importance. It is hard work for your preachers to preach to you immediately after eating a late supper. This you often compel them to do, or they must go hungry. A kind reform for your minister's good, will be to have a very early supper. When it is practicable, we will be satisfied to have dinner about three o'clock, and no supper. I speak on this subject because I am interested; for I have suffered much from the above things, and under such circumstances never can preach so well. The more care we observe in what we eat, and when we eat, the better health we enjoy, and the more service we can do in the cause. Hence, by paying heed to these things, our sisters may help us do the Lord's work. Jesus' Answer to the Thief on the Cross.
By M. W. Howard
PERHAPS no words of Jesus are more blindly misconceived, while none need be more thrillingly simple, than "I say unto thee to-day, shalt thou be with me in paradise." None lay any claims to inspiration for punctuation, and with grammarians, the interrogatory indicative, is only the stronger affirmation; so any difficulty thus far can be set aside at once. Then the prayer of the dying thief, "Lord remember me, when thou comest into thy kingdom," implies an understanding of Christ's teachings concerning his kingdom, which many now who are learned in the schools would be wiser if they shared with him. And how soul-inspiring the answer when amplified into all its bearings, and we comprehend the full meaning of the reply, as if Jesus had said, not in his usual brief and comprehensive manner, but thus, The fondly cherished hopes of my followers are now crushed; and to all human appearances my bright expectations are being ended in contempt and ignominy. Yet to-day, even "to-day," when so gloomy a blight is settling upon my prospects, "I say unto thee, shalt thou be with me in paradise"—my kingdom. Many are there, who, could they only disentangle themselves from some of their long-cherished habits of thought, and take the Scriptures simply, without note or comment, seeking direction from Him who by James has said, "If any lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not," would be taught by the Spirit in a manner that would often astonish even themselves. Malone, N. Y., Nov., 1864. Quarterly Meeting in Minn.
By Jno. Bostwick
Bro. White: Our Quarterly Meeting at this place has just closed with good result. Our meetings on the Sabbath were profitable. A good interest was manifested in our social meetings. The burden of our preaching was on the "health reform," and the importance of heeding the injunction of the Saviour in Luke xxi, 34. We attended the ordinances in the evening at the village school-house. On account of sickness, and home cares, many could not attend this meeting, still we had an excellent one, and we indeed felt happy while celebrating the ordinances of the "Lord's house." At our business meeting brethren came forward and swelled their s. b. to the amount of $150 per year. At this meeting two new members were added to the church. On the whole, I can say the cause is on the rise, and we do not wish to see it stop until the church is more thoroughly imbued with the spirit of the message. I have had a very pleasant, and I trust profitable tour thus far, in attending this series of Quarterly Meetings. I now go to Deerfield hoping to enjoy a good meeting there.