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Review and Herald, Vol. 32, No. 6.

SPIRITUAL GIFTS
Earlier text: WORTHY OF CONSIDERATION

THE BEAUTIFUL LAND.

By L. E. MILLNE

As I sit here alone, sighing for the society of those of like precious faith, my thoughts ascend to that beautiful home above, where there are mansions preparing for those that love his appearing, where we shall soon meet, if faithful. There all hearts beat in love and unison. All tongues are singing the matchless depths of our Saviour’s love. All are clothed in shining garments; crowns of gold adorn each brow, and every hand bears a palm of victory. As by faith I behold this bright vision of glory, I am sighing to be there; but with patience would I wait all the days of my appointed time, till my change come. I can wander alone here in this desert “a little while longer.” I can endure these trials and afflictions a few more days, for they will work out for me a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while I look not at the things that are seen; and if I am faithful unto the end, I shall hear those faithful words, Well done, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. Oh, will not that be enough, though I pass my sojourning here in sorrow and affliction? Though chosen in the furnace, yet I hear his sweet voice tenderly whispering, My grace is sufficient for thee. Blessed promise to the lonely pilgrim here; and though the pathway be thorny, yet the comforter is here. Oh! how sweet is his presence; how welcome his voice, I will sup with thee. Every want is supplied, every sigh is hushed, every tear is wiped away, for that beautiful land is near. Already I discern the evergreen shore, and the songs of the heavenly hosts greet my enraptured ears, and I can but exclaim, Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly.
“Time has nearly reached its sum; All things with the bride say, Come; Jesus, whom all worlds adore, Come, and reign forevermore.”
L. E. MILLNE.

WHAT CAN WE EACH DO TO ADVANCE THE CAUSE OF GOD?

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

FIRST, living out the truth by a strict conformity to it; a decided, conscientious, uncompromising course, yet a life of real meekness, will do much in recommending the truth. We are a peculiar people, and are becoming more and more so. The health reform makes us appear very odd in the eyes of many, and is the cause of many questions being asked, and remarks being made; and, How shall we best recommend it? is the question. To move just right is important. The question with us should be, What is right? What is the rule given? Not, How far can we deviate from the rule and pass? Then if the question is asked why we dress thus, we can meekly answer, We think it is for our health. Then just put into the inquirer's hands the tract on dress. Every Sabbath-keeping family should have them on hand. If asked why we discard such and such food, and live on a plain diet, we also can say, We think it is for our health; and then for an explanation of our course, lend them “How to Live,” or the Health Reformer (many times a subscriber may be obtained); and so it is in relation to the Sabbath, and other points of our faith. Let every brother and sister have tracts on hand for this purpose, and make it our daily business to thus recommend the truth. This course will have much to do in removing prejudice, and preparing minds for the reception of the truth. We should be “zealous of good works.”
Again, our conversation has much to do in recommending the truth. Let it be holy and chaste; not altogether upon worldly interests, our bad feelings, our trials, abuses we have received, &c., but upon God and his truth, the time in which we live, and things pertaining to the kingdom. In short, have our conversation in Heaven, from whence we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, ever remembering that “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Both in private and in public our words should be few and well chosen. Keep constantly before our minds eternity, the Judgment, and the solemn fact that a faithful record is kept of our words, and that for “every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account thereof in the day of Judgment; for by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”
By pursuing this course we shall not only benefit ourselves by forming habits which will shape our character for the kingdom, but will also benefit others, and help forward the cause of God.
S. N. HASKELL.

Pressing On in Faith

By Abbie Hamlin

From Sr. Hamlin.

BRO. SMITH: I have long felt it duty to write a few lines through the Review, and I feel as though I could delay no longer. It has been three years since I gave all for Christ and started on pilgrimage. Oh! how good the Lord has been to me; he has been my present help in every time of trouble, and I still feel of good courage to-day to press my way onward with the people of God. Oh! how much we need the grace of God in our hearts in these last days of trial. What a sweet consolation it is to feel that we have a friend in Jesus. I love to look forward to that glorious day when Jesus will come to make up his jewels, and gather the loved ones who are asleep. Oh! how cheering is the thought! we shall behold the King in his beauty. Oh, I long for that immortal life, where no one shall say, “I am sick,” and where sorrow will never press the soul. I am weary of the din and wickedness of this world; I long for the world to come, where nothing can mar our perfect peace; “For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” Rev. vii, 17.
Dear brethren and sisters, I want to be saved when Jesus comes, and I want others saved. Time is short, and there is much to be done in the vineyard of the Lord. My daily prayer is that some faithful laborer will come this way and labor for those who are traveling the broad way that leads to death. May God help me so to live that I may lead others to keep the commandments of God, and to have the faith of Jesus. I had rather suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of this world for a season, knowing that “our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”
It has been two years since I commenced to keep the Lord’s Sabbath, and truly, I love that sweet day of rest; although I meet with trials, they make the promise sweet. There is but one family in this place that keeps the Sabbath, but I believe if we live as we should, there will be others that will come out, believe, and be saved. Pray for me, dear brethren and sisters. I feel that I need your prayers. I don’t have the privilege of going to meeting very often, but I am with you, heart and hand. The REVIEW is sent to me free, and the Lord knows how thankful I am to have it. I pray the Lord will bless those who provide a way for me to have it.
I am trying to live out the health reform; it has been a great benefit to me.
“I choose the path of heavenly truth, And glory in my choice.” Not all the riches of the earth Could make me so rejoice.”
May the Lord help us to be good and humble, that we may at last, have a right to the tree of life, and enter in through the gates into the city.
Yours, striving for eternal life.
ABBIE HAMLIN.
Clinton, Me.

ELSA CRANSON

By Elsa Cranson

From Sr. Cranson.
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: It is with heartfelt gratitude that I think of God's goodness to me. He has been a friend to me, and I desire to serve him aright. I feel encouraged to press my way on, and finally be a perfect overcomer. The Christian's hope looks good to me. The reward of the righteous is far more desirable than all the pleasures this sinful world can afford. I feel that the besetments with which the young must contend, are many; but if we go to Jesus, he will not turn us away. He is willing to help us, and give us grace to overcome. Oh! for a deeper work of grace in my heart. Pray for me, that I may, at last, be worthy to share in the overcomer's reward.

ELSA CRANSON

South Lancaster, Mass.

The Joy of Forgiving an Enemy

He who has not forgiven an enemy has never yet tasted one of the most sublime enjoyments of life.

Request for Preaching

By Rozilla Munger

From Sr. Munger.

DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: I thought I would, for the first time, write a few lines for the REVIEW. I thank the Lord for sending Bro. Cornell here to preach to us the third angel’s message. It is blessed news to hear of Jesus’ soon coming; then, if we are faithful, we shall reign with him in glory. We have trials here, but they are nothing to be compared with the hope of one day meeting friends where there will be no more parting.
We have not had any preaching since Bro. and Sr. White were here last spring, except when Brn. Andrews and Cornell visited us in May. We would like to have some one come and preach to us. I feel to press on, to gain the prize. Pray for me, that I may meet you all on Mt. Zion.
Your sister in Christ,                     Rozilla Munger. Saginaw Co., Mich.

S. J. HOUGHTALING

By S. J. Houghtaling

From Sr. Houghtaling.

DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: My heart has often been made glad while reading your testimonies through the REVIEW, and I have often thought I would like to say a few words in favor of this glorious present truth. I feel to thank the Lord each day for his goodness in sending the last note of warning this way. When it came to this place, it found me wandering far away from God, without the least hope of anything beyond this life; but I would say for one, I would not take all the world affords for the hope I now have. I have much to overcome, but I know that God's grace is sufficient for me if I am faithful.
Often, when I have been thinking of the glorious reward that is laid up for the faithful people of God, I have been led to ask myself, Can it be that such a poor, sinful mortal as I have been may be an inheritor of eternal life. The thought of this world coming to an end and the Lord's coming, was once a dreadful thing for me to think of, but now I love to think it is near at hand. All the fear that I now have is that I will not be ready. But my daily prayer is that I and my house will be in order when the Lord shall make his appearance on the white cloud. Oh, what a condition this world is in! It makes my heart sad when I think of the terrible wrath that is soon to be poured out upon a guilty world. Pray for me and mine that we may escape these things, and be crowned with eternal life when the Lord comes.
Yours striving for victory.

S. J. HOUGHTALING

Saginaw Co., Mich.

ARE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, OR ANY PART OF THEM, BINDING ON CHRISTIANS?

By James White

(Concluded.)
“(6.) But why keep the law, or any part of it? Is it simply for form? or for justification? To observe it for simple form is mockery. To observe it for justification is vain. For ‘by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.’ Rom. iii, 20. ‘Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.’ Rom. v, 1. ‘Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ.’ Gal. ii, 16.”
Our greatest wonder in reading the above is, that a person can be so utterly blinded as to find a reason therein for violation of the law. An explanation, we think, is found in the selfishness manifested in the first part. Only two ideas seem to present themselves to the mind of the writer, to wit: “form” and “justification.” Obedience to God, seeking his pleasure and glory, without regard to personal considerations, does not seem to be a motive with him at all. We are not surprised at this, however. We have long observed the same characteristic in those who set aside the law of God; their whole teachings and lives show that their religion is not founded on love to God—which inspiration says is the keeping of his commandments—but with them the gospel is a mere expedient by which to get to Heaven. Whatever will not “justify,” or directly result in their personal benefit, they find no use for in their system of theology. They have never learned that “to obey is better than sacrifice.” They find no medium between sacrifice and formality. They are well deserving of our pity. Now, we confess and firmly believe that we are not justified by the law. But what is the reason given in the text quoted why we are not justified by the law? It is this: “For by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Very well; and if this be so—if the law is that which convicts of sin—how can a person transgress that law and be sinless? Why will not our opponents notice this point? Paul before declared that “all have sinned,” and this is given as the reason, and the only reason, why none can be justified by the law. For he said again, “The doers of the law shall be justified.” Rom. ii, 13. This shows that the law is all right; that it contains all the elements of a perfect character—of justification—but all having transgressed it, are condemned by it, and all are alike dependent on Jesus Christ for redemption. But mark; the law continues to be the rule of right, for the knowledge of sin is by the law still. But, on the other hand, if the law is abolished, the knowledge of sin can be no longer by the law; for surely an obsolete, abolished law can convince no man of sin. Then, pray answer this, what does convict of sin since the law is abolished? Is it the gospel? If so, let us read the text according to that idea. “Therefore, by the deeds of the gospel there shall no flesh be justified in his sight; for by the gospel is the knowledge of sin.” Will this answer the purpose of our opponents? It is plain to see by the apostle’s argument, that the fault is not with the law, but with the transgressor. And notice the different conclusions drawn by our opponents and the apostle. They say, We are not justified by the law, but by faith; therefore the law is made void, and we need not keep it, nor any part of it. Paul says, We are not justified by the law, but we are proved sinners by it; that we are justified only by faith; but we do not thereby make void the law, but establish it. Are the no-law folks so ignorant that they cannot see the connection between verses 9, 19, 20, and 31, of Rom. iii? We doubt it. There is evidently some reason why they refuse to notice the relation of the apostle’s statements, and we have no idea that it will stand the test of the Judgment, to which this whole matter will soon be referred.
“(7.) The Galatians received the gospel by Paul’s ministry, and afterward were bewildered, or bewitched, by some who insisted on salvation by the deeds of the law, beginning with circumcision. Paul wrote them, ‘O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you? I only would learn of you one thing.’ What was that one thing? ‘Did ye receive the Spirit by the deeds of the law, or by the hearing of faith?’ Of course they must answer, if at all, ‘by the hearing of faith.’ Well then, ‘Are ye so foolish, having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?’ Gal. iii, 1–3.”
If any can now be found who have left the faith of Christ and vainly expect to be justified by the law, to them will the above apply. But we are not acquainted with any such; therefore a reply is not needed. But we shall show, however, before concluding this review, that our no-law opponents come nearer to occupying that ground than any other class of religionists in the land. Mark if we do not make this word good.
“(8.) If not obedience to the law, but faith in Jesus Christ, is the condition of justification, why keep the law of Moses, or any part of it? To do it with the hope of justification, is to renounce grace, and depend on works. ‘And whosoever of you are justified by the law, ye are fallen from grace,’ by which ye were first saved.”
This is but a reiteration of a former statement. It reminds us of a person who got up “ten unanswerable arguments” against the law—one to each commandment—but to make a greater show, re-arranged and changed the wording so as to swell the list to fifty! So this No. 8 seems to be thrown in—not to present a new idea, for it contains none, but—to swell the list and make a display. The ingenuity of the writer is equal to that of the man who, when tired of eating bread and cheese, took to eating cheese and bread for variety!
“(9.) But is the seventh-day Sabbath abolished? Yes, utterly. When the law died, that died. When that glorious law, ‘written and graven on tables of stone,’ was ‘abolished,’ ‘done away,’ &c., it was entire. No vestige remains to dispute the right of obedience with Christ. The law of Christ is now the believer’s only rule of life. Nobody was ever under it till God gave it for a sign between him and Israel. Eze. xx, 20, and Ex. xxxi. Nor has it ever bound anybody since the substance or body which cast the shadow was reached. That it ended there, Paul teaches most clearly. Col. ii, 13–17. ‘And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days; which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.’ The Sabbath days, the whole of them, were then taken away, abolished, nailed to the cross, as well as meats and drinks, new moons and holy days. ‘So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, [Mount Sinai in Arabia,] but of the free, [the New Jerusalem].’ ‘Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again in the yoke of bondage.’ Gal. iv, 21, and v, 1. But is there no Sabbath now? No, not like that of Moses; that if you pick up a stick, or kindle a fire on that day, you shall be stoned to death.”
1. That part of the above which relates to the abolition of the law, has already been noticed.
2. The Sabbath was truly a sign between God and Israel, but for what? That they might know that he was the true God that made heaven and earth. See the texts. And it is such a sign still; it is yet true that God made all things in six days; that he rested the seventh day; that he blessed and hallowed the rest day; and that he commanded that it be kept holy. “The word of the Lord endureth forever.”
3. The seventh-day Sabbath is never spoken of as a shadow; and this very qualification of the apostle shows that the above is a perversion of the Scriptures. The sabbath days referred to in Col. ii, are defined to be “shadows of things to come.” There were yearly sabbaths in the law of Moses, which were shadows of the work of Christ, and to these the text refers; but the seventh day Sabbath being a memorial of a work in the past, and having no reference in its institution or commandment to anything future, is of course excluded from the text. Any person can see this at a glance. The candid must acknowledge it.
4. The freedom of the gospel is freedom from sin; but the intent of the above quotation is to prove that gospel freedom is solely freedom from obligation to obey the law of God! We invite the reader to draw anything else from the argument if he can. The Saviour said his Father’s law was in his heart, and he delighted to do his will; Ps. xl, 8. He gave the Father’s will as a test of the heavenly origin of his doctrines; Jno. vii, 16, 17. Paul further defined the will of God to be his law; Rom. ii, 17, 18; and shows that the gospel takes away the carnal mind, and restores us to obedience to the law, as we have already proved. But, judging from the argument now under review, the only bondage that the children of men were ever under, was the obligation to keep God’s law, and the only liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, is liberty to transgress his Father’s law at our will and pleasure! Again I say, such freedom we do not covet; we love the restraints of a holy law, and thank God for a rule that is so just, that convinces us of sin when we go astray, that leads us to look away from weak and sinful self to Christ for justification. We have no fault to find with the law; like one of old, we will leave our complaint upon ourself; or say with the apostle, ‘For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.’ Can our opponents place themselves along side of the apostle in this sentiment? They will not. There is a world-wide difference between them and Paul on this subject.
(10.) But there is the first day of the week: the day of our Lord’s resurrection, which from that time has always been a day of rest and worship to his disciples. He has honored, owned, and blessed its observance, and put a mark of his displeasure on those who disregard and profane it. Constantine did not institute the first day of the week as the Sabbath; but he found it in universal observance among Christians, as a Christian institution, and threw around it the protection of law, that Christians should not be disturbed in their devotions and rest, just the same as most, if not all, the States of this Union have done. Whatever Christ saw fit to transfer from the Mosaic to the Christian system, he or his apostles brought forward and re-affirmed; and that is binding on Christians, but nothing more.”
Thus closes the article; and seldom do we find more assumptions without proof, and without the possibility of being proved, than in the above.
1. There is no proof that the first day was observed by Christians from the time of the resurrection.
2. There is no proof that he has “honored, owned, and blessed its observance,” or put a mark of displeasure on those who disregarded it. How shall we know this to be so? Must we take the writer’s word for it? Does not the word still remain, that “by the law is the knowledge of sin?” If it is sinful to “profane” the first day of the week, where is the law which proves it so? We know that in the book referred to in the beginning of this review, it is claimed that the law is so “changed or completed” as to enforce the keeping of Sunday. But how is a law which is “utterly abolished,” of which “not a vestige remains,” to enforce the keeping of the first day of the week? Is that the authority they find for keeping Sunday? When they undertake to wield the sword they should be careful as to which way it cuts.
3. Inasmuch as there is no law for the observance of Sunday, such observance is “will-worship,” and is denounced by the apostle to the Colossians. As was said by one of the past century, that is not obedience for which there is no commandment.
4. We admit that “Constantine did not institute the first day of the week as the Sabbath,” for neither he nor any other had yet called it the Sabbath at that time. He enforced it under the name of “the venerable day of the sun,” [Sun’s day—Sunday,] which was the only veneration paid to it at that time. And, says the writer, “he threw around it the protection of law.” Yes, and this was the first protection of the kind it had ever received; so says Alexander Campbell, and all history attests its correctness. But the scripture says, “where no law is, there is no transgression;” therefore, as there was no law for Sunday-keeping till Constantine, so the “profanation” of Sunday, spoken of above, could not exist till his decree went forth! If our opponents dissent, will they please point to a law which existed previously. Give us “the law and the testimony” for keeping Sunday and the controversy ceases at once.
5. Whatever Christ saw fit to transfer from the law to the Christian system, is now binding, says the writer. Well, what did he transfer? He does not tell us, but perhaps he would say all of the ten commandments except the fourth. We could, however, disprove it by his own position on Acts xv, where he avers that they were not transferred or given to the Gentiles! But allowing them to take both positions, as they generally do, we would inquire, If the commandments, Thou shalt not kill, nor commit adultery, nor steal, are transferred into the Christian system, why do you keep them? “Is it for form? or for justification?” If for form, it is mockery; but if for justification, then it is vain, for justification by law is impossible. I challenge any one to show that a moral obligation can be so related as to justify a sinner. Again, I refer to Mr. Campbell, who declares it an impossibility to be justified by the same instrument which convicts of sin. In this dilemma our opponents are placed; seeking justification by these laws, or keeping them for form, if they keep them at all, which we should certainly doubt, from their own arguments. They have but one instrument to condemn and justify, to slay and make alive. The theology is consistent neither with reason nor justice, nor even with itself.
Yet these men, throwing aside the holy law, which Paul abundantly shows, convinces of sin, and thereby proves to our awakened consciences that we need a Saviour, accuse us of denying Christ, the blessed Son of God, because, like him, we strive to keep his Father’s commandments! Read the following from Hiram Munger, published in the Voice of the West.
“The second error is the Seventh-day hobby rock—a three-cornered concern, not easily approached with a gospel vessel; it must be the old law or nothing; and Christ is out of the question. Such are truly in prison.”
Now the writer and publishers know better than to utter such things. It cannot be a mistake on their part; they know too well our trust and confidence in Christ. Have they forgotten that God in awful majesty declared with his own voice: “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor?” But hold! we forget. “The ten commandments, or any part of them” are “not a rule of Christian obligation” with them. As there is nothing but the law by which is “the knowledge of sin,” we have no hope to convince them of the immorality of such practices, while they trample down the law without compunction.
Here we close our comments on this article, with the remark that we contend for the harmony and unity between God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ. Our opponents place the Son in opposition to his Father. There is a conflict of authority between them, according to their theory. Next week we propose to examine a few texts of Scripture on this point, to show that the law of God is directly enforced by the Saviour in the work of the gospel. J. H. W.

REPORT FROM BRO. MATTESON

By John Matteson

On my way to Poysippi I stopped in Berlin over night. Seeing no regard for the Lord, nor desire for truth, I felt lonesome. And when I read the Scriptures and called on the Lord in my room, I wondered at the goodness of God in calling after me, and his great compassion and mercy, and willingness to notice such a poor unworthy creature. I was reminded of the words of the apostle: “Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodom, and been made like unto Gomorrah.” “Oh, that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” “Let them now that fear the Lord say, that his mercy endureth forever.”
June 26 to July 6, I labored with the Danish brethren, preaching and visiting as time and strength would permit. They needed labor very much, and I am glad that the Lord strengthened me and blessed us in every meeting. It is truly a poor way, to raise up churches and then suffer the same to go down again and wither spiritually. I trust that these dear brethren will not soon forget the solemn and sacred truths that we have been considering together, but that they may be a savor of life unto life. The brethren took much pains to come to meetings, and most of them manifested a noble willingness to become acquainted with their own failings, and confess their wrongs. Thus the Spirit of the Lord had free course, and we were encouraged. Brethren, strive hard to overcome, that you may labor in love and win souls.
July 8–12, we held meetings at Poysippi and vicinity. Our Quarterly Meeting was well attended. Bro. Cady was ordained a local elder of this church. May the Lord bless him much, and help him to improve his time and talents for the glory of God and the good of souls as the Lord in his providence may direct. Soon the Lord will come. Brethren and sisters, wake up, to work while it is day. Live near to the Lord. Grieve not the Holy Spirit. Win souls for Christ. “Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.”
I am now at Richford, where we will have meetings during the week, the Lord willing, and Quarterly Meeting next Sabbath and first-day.
Yours in hope,
JOHN MATTESON.
Richford, July 13, 1868.

OUR MONTHLY MEETING

By P. C. RODMAN

For July closed last evening; it was both interesting and profitable; commencing sixth-day evening with a good representation from all the churches in Rhode Island except the one on New Shoreham.
Sabbath morning we spoke to the congregation on the subject of Overcoming, then repaired to the river and baptized three; one about 70 years of age; the other two were the son of this aged sister and his wife. Sr. Bliven, of North Stonington, Conn., has stood almost entirely alone in this vicinity for over ten years, not having even her family to sympathize with her in the truth. But the Lord has blessed her, sustaining and comforting her, and now her cup of blessing is being filled, rejoicing her heart, as she exclaimed when she arose from the water, Bless the Lord that I have lived to see this day!
At 6½ P. M., we met again in social meeting. The Lord met with us. At 8 o'clock we spoke to the people again on Rev. xiii.
First-day, met at 9 A. M. Had a good social meeting. At half-past ten spoke again on Zeph. ii, 3. At the close of this meeting, it was unanimously voted that Bro. and sister White be invited to visit us when they come east this fall, and hold a meeting of two days with us in Rhode Island, either in Kingston or some other locality.
This Monthly Meeting was good, and well attended for the season, it being right in the midst of haying; but nothing will be lost even pecuniarily by our brethren in attending these monthly gatherings in the fear of God, for he can bless us. But if we neglect the work of God, not acting our part in it, however diligent we may be in business, the Lord may blow upon it. Please read Haggai i, 3–9, and ii, 15–17. But suppose we obtain property here, and do not serve God faithfully: “Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.” Prov. xii, 4.
The day of wrath is right upon us. O brother, sister, and all who will, escape for your lives, and look not behind you. Remember Lot's wife, who started with others to escape destruction, but was as really lost as if she had stayed in the city, because her affections were there. Even so a profession of the truth will not save us; we must have the love of the truth, so that all else will be secondary to its prosperity and our growth in it. Let the inquiry be, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? and commence at once, in earnest, to do that neglected duty at home, in the meeting, Sabbath School, or wherever it may be.
P. C. RODMAN.
Ashaway, R. I., July 20.

VISIT TO PLEASANTVILLE, N. Y.

By J. S. MILLER

Ever since the closing of the Grove Meeting at Pleasantville, in September last, I have had a desire to return and see the dear Christians with whom I then became acquainted, and the same desire has often been expressed in letters from those living at that place. I recently saw my way clear to do so, and on the 30th of June I arrived there.
As the result of the Grove Meeting and a course of lectures subsequently delivered by Bro. Rodman, a company of a dozen or more, in various stages of development, has been raised up. I received a hearty welcome from them; remained with them over one Sabbath, and attended six meetings, besides accompanying Bro. Wild and a number of others on first-day, July 5, to a school-house some six miles south of Pleasantville, where Bro. W. had an appointment.
I found a scattering influence at work, which brought me into trial from the moment that I arrived there. Bro. Wild seemed fully awake to the danger to which his flock was exposed, and was doing all in his power to keep them together. As our meetings progressed, a desire to get right before the Lord seemed to increase, and on the last evening on which I met with them, a spirit of humble confession prevailed, and every member present acknowledged themselves more or less in the wrong. May the Lord help them all to forsake as well as to confess, and if they do so they may yet become a precious light, like a city that is set on a hill, and receive the rich blessing of the Spirit of the Lord.
On sixth-day, July 10, in company with Bro. Wild, I left Pleasantville to meet a little company of Sabbath-keepers some seventy miles north, in Salisbury, Conn.
J. S. MILLER.

Patience with Slight Provocations

IF THOU bearest slight provocations with patience it shall be imputed unto thee for wisdom; and if thou wipest them from thy remembrance, thy heart shall feel rest, thy mind shall not reproach thee.

AGE-TO-COME.—

One of the weakest arguments we have seen of late in behalf of Judaistic theories, is one which claims that God has never perfectly fulfilled the promise of the land of Canaan to the literal descendants of Abraham, because if he had, “they would be there now, God’s faithful nation,” for it was to be “an everlasting possession.” Wonder if the writer ever read Neh. ix, 8; and Josh. xxiii, 14–16. God promised the literal seed the land of Canaan for an inheritance upon conditions; and the fact that they have been dispossessed of it for over 1800 years, proves beyond controversy, that it was never promised unconditionally for an everlasting possession; if so, God’s Word has failed. The “everlasting possession” is the world—Kosmos, the globe; and all who are Christ’s, are heirs to this promised possession. It will be given to those who are “Jews inwardly,” without regard to fleshly relation.—Voice of the West.

MICHIGAN CENTRAL RAILROAD.

On and after July 1, 1868, Passenger Trains will run on this road as follows:

GOING WEST.

LEAVE. MAIL. DAY EXP. EVE. EXP. NIGHT EX.
Detroit,... 6:45 A.M. 9:30 A.M. 5:25 P.M. 9:10 P.M.
Battle Creek, 12:45 P.M. 2:15 P.M. 11:30 P.M. 2:00 A.M.
Chicago, Arrive, 7:00 P.M. 8:00 P.M. 6:30 A.M. 8:50 A.M.

GOING EAST.

MAIL. DAY EXP. EVE. EXP. NIGHT EX.
Chicago,... 5:00 A.M. 8:00 A.M. 5:15 P.M. 9:30 P.M.
Battle Creek, 12:03 P.M. 1:48 P.M. 11:30 P.M. 3:37 A.M.
Detroit, Arrive, 5:55 P.M. 6:30 P.M. 3:40 A.M. 8:25 A.M.
THESE trains all run by Chicago time, which is fifteen minutes slower than Detroit time.

United States Politics.

On account of the question of our finances, the coming presidential contest is looked upon with unusual interest in Europe. All the principal papers of England are out against the action of the Democratic Convention, saying that the policy adopted amounts to repudiation and the destruction of our national credit. At home the parties seem to labor under very different circumstances. The Republicans, with Grant and Colfax for their candidates, are as perfectly united as a party could be; while many of the Democrats do not attempt to disguise their disapprobation at the nomination of Seymour, of New York, and Blair, of Missouri.
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