The superficial reader might be led to think that Mr. Davenport was really an Adventist—a believer that the Son of man was really about to come. But after stating that the words of our Saviour in the text refer “to events that would occur at the time of his second advent,” he begins to talk of “a great catastrophe coming upon human society,” and says that “this catastrophe is in the nature of a judgment.” Why not say that “As in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered 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”? The nature of the judgment is that it sweeps the world of the entire host of the ungodly. It is “a painful fact that the majority of men, even those who profess and call themselves Christians, will not receive the literal truth of these sayings.” But though they see the literal signs of the coming of Christ as predicted by himself, and witness literal judgments in all the earth—the harbingers and heralds of the great day of wrath, yet, when they come to speak of the coming of the Son of man itself, instead of admitting that what is said is meant, they will say with Mr. Davenport, that, “It is the introduction of a number of things, and must of necessity involve great and important changes,” &c., and then perhaps speak of the “removal of all things that hinder its progress,” as though the event was even now in process of coming, but some things were hindering its progress.
Well, what hinders its progress? Christendom “has departed from God.” Who is Christendom? Not the churches, by any means, whose love has grown cold, and who, while retaining the form, deny the power of godliness, Matt. 24:12; 2 Tim. 3:1–5, but “Christian nations.” What is wrong with Christian nations? how is it that they are “in revolt against God”? The prominent thing is “in the matter of legislation,” “the laws the world over are not such as God approves.” This “stands in the way of the fulfillment of God’s purpose to bring in the kingdom of his Son, and it must be done away.” Right legislation, then, will usher in the event! What laws shall we have? God and Christ must be acknowledged in the Constitution, and the “Christian Sabbath”—a man-made institution which subverts and tramples under foot one of the commandments of the decalogue, must have a law to enforce its observance. Is this the kind of legislation you would have to bring the coming of the Son of man and establish his kingdom? Well, what is the greatest obstacle in the way? “The wide-spread influence of materialism and the doctrine of annihilation.” This he deems “the most effective of any delusion to destroy piety and render religion impossible.” To whom does the speaker refer? To Adventists—to those who have been for a quarter of a century preaching from the prophecies the coming of Christ at hand. In the estimation of the speaker, they are in a worse delusion than the devotees of spiritualism, led by the host of demons, professing to be the spirits of the dead, into free-loveism and every abomination and violation of the law of God.
THE LAW OF GOD, the ten commandments, the Sabbath of this law, is what Seventh-day Adventists, as well as Seventh-day Baptists, are teaching. And while they call upon all, professors and non-professors, to revere the law of God and his Sabbath, which they are trampling under foot, the advocates of the papal Sabbath, which has usurped its place, are calling upon Christian nations to make laws for the enforcement of this counterfeit and usurper. And these human laws, to enforce human institutions to the subversion of what God has commanded, are the very things that are wanted to bring the coming of the Son of man, and establish his kingdom!!!
It would seem, then, that there are two classes, at least, of Adventists. One class are teaching that men should repent of their violations of the law of God, reform their lives, and thus get ready for the personal coming of Jesus; the other, are for enforcing, by national legislation, the very institutions which make void that law, and this for the very purpose of bringing in an imaginary kingdom, which will, as they imagine, preclude the possibility of the real coming of Jesus for at least a thousand years. Many of them think it a valid excuse for not keeping the Lord’s Sabbath, that it is not commanded a second time in the New Testament; and this furnishes them a good reason for keeping a day which, as they are obliged to admit, is not commanded either in the Old or the New. A greater number hold that the law of God cannot bind men to the observance of any particular day; while they are designing, by State legislation, to do this very thing, compelling uniformity, a thing which is truly desirable, and thus supplying a glaring deficiency in the law of God, as expounded by themselves.
“What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretense, or in truth, Christ and his coming are preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.” See Phil. 1:15–18.
R. F. COTTRELL.
News and Miscellany.
“Can ye not discern the signs of the times?”
Most of the items of news in this number were in type last week, but were left over for want of room.
Extraordinary Phenomenon.
THE HAGERSTOWN (Md.) Mail says:—
On Tuesday last, between the hours of 11 o’clock in the morning and 11 o’clock at night, the most extraordinary sounds were heard in that portion of our valley which is bounded by the Conococheague on the west and the base of South Mountain on the east, and, as we learn, at Mechanics-town, in Frederick County. Within this range it was heard in Hagerstown, Funkstown, and Beaver Creek, where persons ran out to see what was the matter with the excited cattle and dogs. It was heard at Smithsburg, Ridgeville and all through that region; also, at the same time, at Middlekauff’s, Downey’s, Hardscrabble, Zeller’s, and Kershner’s.
The sound in all those places is similarly described as the distressed cry of some wild beast. It everywhere created the greatest alarm among cattle and dogs. It was heard at many places at the same time, they being remote from each other. What caused it no one can surmise, but it is supposed to have been produced from some atmospherical cause.
“Day and Hour.”
By I. D. Van Horn
“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of Heaven, but my Father only.” Matt. 24:36. Since the passing of “the time,” as proclaimed by Wm. Miller, and many others, in 1814, this text has been used by many as a kind of fort into which they take refuge and feel secure against any argument that may be drawn from the Scriptures that the Lord’s coming is near at hand. To their minds, it precludes all investigation relating to that event, and involves the prophecies in such mystery that it is almost a sin to read them with the idea of understanding what they mean.
But this view is not in harmony with reason, when we take into consideration other passages uttered by the same great Teacher, which should have equal weight in the mind of every Bible student. A few verses previous to this text, we are directed, after certain signs are seen, “to learn a parable of the fig-tree. When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh. So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it [he, margin] is near, even at the doors.” This is clear proof that the people of God are to know something about the time of the second advent of Jesus Christ.
The great apostle, writing to the Thessalonians, conveys intelligence to them that Christians, living near the coming of “the day of the Lord,” would have some knowledge of that event. 1 Thess. 5:1–4. Two classes are referred to as living then: the one, saying, “Peace and safety,” who will meet with sudden destruction; and of the other, he says, “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.” With this light shining from the divine word, we are constrained to believe that it is not only the privilege, but the duty, of God’s people to have some knowledge of the time of that great and glorious event.
We see, therefore, that those who shut themselves up in this fort are inconsistent. To show more clearly they are so, we will present the argument in another form. The majority of professed Christians of our day hold tenaciously to the doctrine of the Trinity—that is, that the Son has equal power, wisdom and knowledge with the Father. Mark, in his record of our Saviour’s words, says, “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in Heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.” Mark 13:32. Reasoning, as they do, that no man can know anything about the coming of Christ, they are forced by the same argument to say that the angels cannot know, and they come to the monstrous conclusion that the Son himself has no knowledge of the event. Taking this view of the subject, the doctrine of the Trinity, which has been so long cherished, falls to the ground. Whether professed Christians hold this doctrine or not, they must admit that the Son of God has a knowledge of the day and hour of his second coming to this world. Therefore their view of the text under consideration is a forced interpretation, and one out of harmony with other portions of the inspired word.
What, then, is the true meaning of the text? Manifestly it must be understood in the sense of making known or proclaiming the definite day and hour of Christ’s second advent. The word know or knoweth is sometimes used in this sense. See 1 Cor. 2:2. As this definite time is not revealed in the Bible, no man can make it known. When our Lord shall come in the glory of his Father, the holy angels will accompany him. They may have a knowledge of the definite time, yet it is not their work to proclaim it. The Son most certainly knows the day and hour of his coming, still it is not given him to proclaim it or make it known.
After he had risen from the dead, and had met with his disciples, they, being anxious for the restoration of the kingdom to Israel, ask him this question: “Lord, wilt thou at this time again restore the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.” Acts 1:6, 7. It therefore belongs exclusively to the Father to make known the time when the kingdom will be established, or, which is the same thing, the time when the second advent of his Son will take place. See 2 Tim. 4:1.
God’s voice, which shook the earth, was heard at Sinai when he proclaimed his law. He is to speak once more, and then not only the earth, but also heaven, shall be shaken. Heb. 12:26. Immediately in connection with the shaking of the powers of heaven, the sign of the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven will be seen. Matt. 24:29, 30. The time marked in his word for his voice to be heard again, is at the pouring out of the seventh plague. “And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of Heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.” Rev. 16:17. It is here the Father makes known the definite time to his people.
The people of God, living in the last days, have sufficient knowledge of the time when their Lord will come to know that he is near, even at the door. They then assume a waiting, watching position. They are so completely on their guard that he does not find them sleeping, and so come upon them as a thief in the night. While in conflict with the powers of earth, their trials cause them to watch with greater diligence. They pass through the time of trouble, anxiously awaiting the hour of deliverance, and when they hear the voice of God, their countenances light up with holy joy. They know then their trials are over, and the conflict is at an end. Their Lord comes, and they at once enter upon their new life—the life that never will end. Happy are they that are found watching, having endured unto the end. They will share in the victory, triumph and unending glory of the children of God.
I. D. Van Horn.
The Terrible Storm.
Accounts which continue to come in of the loss of life occasioned by the late storm and the intense cold, in the West, the present winter, are heart-rending to contemplate.
The Fillmore County (Minn.) Republican says: One of the most heart-rending cases of loss of life by freezing occurred last week, about four miles north-west of Granger, in this county. It happened that on Tuesday, the day the great storm began, Mr. Evans, a Welsh minister of the Gospel, was away from home with his wife and two children. On his return in the evening the storm overtook him, and, it appears, when within three-quarters of a mile of his own house a snow-drift stopped further progress in that direction. From the indications, it is supposed he took his oldest child out of the cutter and carried it home, after which, taking a couple of blankets, he returned to the cutter, wrapped his frail wife in the blankets, and, carrying his babe, started for the house again, but never reached it. In the violent storm he lost his way, and with his babe perished. Meanwhile, the child that had been carried home was waiting in the cold for the return of its father; the anxious wife was waiting in the cutter for her husband. Who can describe her agony and the little one's terrible suspense? It is all left to conjecture. When the neighbors called at the house the Saturday following, it had but a solitary little frozen occupant; the wife and mother was found a stiffened corpse; the horse had also succumbed to the raging storm. How and where the unfortunate husband and babe were found we are not definitely informed.
An old man of about 70 years, living in the Norwegian settlement about seven miles north of Sioux Falls, started out from home on the day of the storm to tie up his cattle in the barn but a few rods from the house. The wind was blowing furiously at the time, and instead of finding the barn, the old gentleman was carried past it, and being totally unable to retrace his steps, he wandered around for a time and finally perished. He was subsequently found scarcely half a mile from the house. He was a Norwegian by birth, and for a man of his years had a very vigorous constitution.
Within a radius of twenty-five miles from Fergus Falls, Minn., it is estimated that the number of frozen bodies already found, together with those which will undoubtedly be picked up, will reach fifty. In this locality, a man started on Tuesday afternoon for New Ulm, after a doctor to attend his wife who was taken in childbirth, leaving her alone at home. He could find no doctor who would volunteer to brave the storm that day, and he started back for his home. He was subsequently found about half way between New Ulm and his own house, frozen stiff. When the doctor arrived at the man's house on Wednesday, he found that the wife had given birth to a child, and that both mother and child were frozen to death.
Extract From Diary, Dec. 31, 1872.
By N. Orcutt
FAREWELL, A. D. 1872. Farewell to its blessings and privileges, its cares and trials, its sorrows and joys. Its labors are in the past; but the result, eternity alone can unfold.
From one choice seed sown, the increase carefully preserved and multiplied, the husbandman in a few years fills his barn with the precious sheaves, his garner, with the golden grain. So with the increase of the precious seed of divine truth. Though in our efforts to scatter that seed, most of it falls upon stony ground, among thorns, or by the wayside, and produces no fruit; yet if one precious grain falls upon good ground, who can estimate the value of the ultimate harvest? Who can tell how many sheaves in the heavenly garner may spring from that one seed?
Under the blessing of Heaven, the influence for good is constantly extending. Like the wave caused by casting a stone upon the calm surface of a lake, constantly enlarging its circle until it breaks upon the shore, so the influence of the truth upon the honest heart will continue to be felt. Its final result cannot be estimated. It will only cease when it reaches the shore. How many will be brought within the circle of that influence will be known when he who, with weeping, scattered the precious seed, morning and evening, shall on the evergreen shore number the stars in the crown of his rejoicing.
If we faithfully discharge our duty, God will take care of the interests of his cause. Be it ours to plant with Paul, or water with Apollos, as the opening providence of our Heavenly Father prepares the way, and leave the result—the increase—to be developed by that Father's care, and manifested in the soon-coming days of restitution and reward. N. ORCUTT.
Mechanicsville, Vt., Jan. 1, 1873.
Items of Thought.
By Jos. Clarke
SEASONS of special difficulty should cause special seasons of prayer.
An unconverted proselyte is farther from the kingdom of Heaven than the errorist in opinion, whose heart is regenerated by the love of God.
Our concessions to our superiors should not be carried so far as to corrupt our judgments.
Silent submission to events we can not hinder is better than contention or murmuring.
Uniformity in the Christian life is of the first importance; we may not be variable in our dispositions and tempers.
Men are free moral agents. God does not want slaves in his service; if he did, he might, by a kind of discipline, effect a partial reform of the wicked by strict penal laws.
Our superiors in age and station should be loved and esteemed, but not flattered.
Discouragements should not drive us from God, but nearer to him.
By repentance, we hate sin and forsake it; but we must not forget the pit from whence we were taken, lest we stumble in again.
Love without firmness is as powerless for good as firmness without love; and grace without law is as powerless for good as law without grace.
To despise the conditions of error, of poverty, or of disease, is the triumph of pride; but to pity, to reform, to wisely relieve, is the triumph of grace.
Diplomacy, in intricate affairs of church government, must be carried on in consistency with the principles of truth, or it will result in a failure. JOS. CLARKE.
A Lesson of Punctuality.
By W. O. DUNGAN
As Bro. Canright gave us an item of a horse’s reasoning, I thought this would not be out of place: While Bro. Andrews was here, I hitched up my team, drove up opposite the door and stepped into the house while Bro. Andrews and the family made preparation to go to meeting. They were a little slow, and on going out, found no team. After looking around, without finding it, Bro. A. started on afoot (as it was already late) so as not to disappoint anybody else. The team crossed a road that they had been accustomed to traveling every working day that week, and went on, passing several persons afoot on their way to church, who supposed the family were driving them. They went on, and up to the post, as if driven, and stopped. They had been up hills and down, across bridges, and turned several corners, going a distance of one mile and a half without moving the cushions off from the seats or doing any harm, otherwise than causing us to walk and the meeting to commence late. W. O. DUNGAN.
Amen Is the Wing to Our Prayers
AMEN is the wing to our prayers. It is the bow that shoots them up to Heaven.
Poultry Disease.
TECHNICALLY called Ornicephalymosis, is prevailing fearfully throughout the United States. The sickness attacks the fowls in the head, and runs its course in from ten to eighteen hours. Its first form is of a cold or influenza, which gradually changes to the diphtheria, a slime begins to be emitted from the beak, which is soon followed by staggering fits until the chicken dies. The disease is creating great excitement in the markets of New York and Philadelphia. There are certain infallable signs, however, by which the diseased poultry may be known. The breast has a dark color, betraying a mortified state of flesh; the neck is much discolored, and the skin is drawn as tight as a drum.—New Jersey Farmer.
Russia and the United States.
Russia and the United States are like great national colossi, each standing with one foot on each side of a hemisphere, so that the time will come when the traveler can make a circuit of the earth on the transcontinental railways of the two powers, connected by ocean steamers. Russia has twice the population of the United States, but not half the intelligence or wealth. One of the most significant indications of the relative position of the two people is their railroad systems. The Americans, with a vast sea coast, and 50,000 miles of lake and river navigation, have 60,000 miles of rail, while the Russian, with less than 10,000 miles of inland navigation, have not 8,000 miles of rails. The Americans having completed their first transcontinental railroad, are now working at their second and third. The Russian have not made a preliminary survey for their first one.
Where Our Gold Comes From.
Gold is found in Vermont, Maryland, Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon, and California. Maryland shows but $108 for her total, Vermont $5,615, and Kansas $1,000, California has contributed in 24 years $643,121,499; North Carolina's total is $9,865,263, and Georgia, $7,250,000. Virginia and South Carolina have each over a million. In addition to the thirteen gold-bearing States are the ten Territories, from Arizona to far-off Sitka, and from Dakota on the eastern side of the Rocky mountains to Washington Territory on the Pacific. The smallest quantity is from Sitka, $397, the largest from Montana, $30,648,265, and Montana is one of the newest of the Territories. Colorado shows $20,333,421, and Idaho $17,141,523. With two, or perhaps three, exceptions, all of these Territories, bear silver also.
The largest product of silver is from Nevada, which, since its first settlement,—say 20 years ago—has furnished the Mint and branches with $8,539,868 in silver. The next largest production is $1,114,543, from Colorado, and the next from the copper and lead mining region of Lake Superior, $1,062,541. Utah, although the mines are only just opened, prior to June 30, had sent to the Mint $251,305 in silver, and $146,147 in gold.
The aggregate value of the gold and silver bullion deposited in the Mint and its branches since the date of their establishment, is $836,205,463, and of this enormous amount more than $730,000,000, have been the domestic product of our own gold and silver bearing States and Territories within the last twenty-four years.
Whatever other commodity we may need from other countries, we certainly stand in but little want of their bullion, if our other commercial affairs are managed upon a sound basis. But are they? That is the question of questions.
Abolition of the Franking Privilege.
The franking privilege has been abolished. The House of Representatives Monday passed the bill as it came from the Senate, and it will, of course, be approved by the President. The act is as follows:
“Be it enacted, etc., That the franking privilege be, and the same hereby is, abolished from and after the 1st day of July, 1873, and that henceforth all official correspondence of whatever nature, and other mailable matter sent from, or addressed to, any officer of the Government, or to any person now authorized to frank such matter, shall be chargeable with the same rates of postage as may be lawfully imposed upon other like matter sent or addressed to other persons; provided that no compensation or allowance shall now or hereafter be made to Senators, members and delegates of the House of Representatives on account of postage.”
Thus has another principle enunciated in the Republican national platform been carried into effect, and all the people will say amen.
Spotted Fever Epidemic
THAT terrible visitation commonly known as the “spotted fever,” but known to the medical profession as cerebro spinal meningitis is fearfully prevalent in some portions of the Mississippi Valley and other localities in the West. We hear of its sudden attacks and speedy fatal results in the regions of the Wabash and the Illinois rivers. It is a matter worthy of remark that nervous and spinal diseases appear to be on the increase throughout the country of late. Over work, business anxiety, and too little sleep are suggested as the probable causes.
The Financial Cost of the Horse Disease
The Philadelphia Ledger takes up the money side of the horse disease. There are about 9,000,000 horses in the United States, valued at 666,000,000. If but one per cent. of these should be carried off, making 90,000 horses, it would entail a direct money loss of $6,600,000; two per cent., or two deaths out of every hundred, would bring a loss of over $13,000,000; and three per cent., which is the mortality in some cities, swells the loss to nearly $20,000,000. This is in addition to the heavy loss of the daily earnings of the vast proportion of the horses that are disabled and cannot work.
Kentucky Prohibits Sunday Liquor Selling
The Kentucky Legislature has passed a law prohibiting Sunday liquor selling. When the leaven of temperance leaves the State of “Old Bourbon,” we are not without hope that our whole national lump will in time be leavened.—Ex.
The Sparks of Strife
Those who blow the coals of other's strife may chance to have the sparks fly in their faces.
Sigourney, Iowa.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
Three years ago last summer, Eld. Butler and I came here with the tent, it being my first place of labor in the West. Everything was very unfavorable, as it rained much of the time. The opposition was uncommonly bitter; but about fifteen came out on the start. A few more soon came in, and they began their Sabbath meetings in a room 16x16. We have visited them about once a year since, and preached in the court-house, always with a good hearing, and each time some one or more have embraced the truth, until this fall, when they had increased to about forty. Over a year ago, they moved to a larger room, where they have had an excellent Sabbath-school and Bible-class.
This fall and winter, they have erected a meeting-house, 28x42 ft., costing $2300. It is every way neat and tasty, and well furnished. It is by far the best meeting-house in the city. Very little soliciting of means was done; yet at the dedication it was all paid for, and we had no collection to ask on it. This pleased us much.
Friday, Jan. 17, I began meetings here. The weather was very cold, and the roads so icy that few came from abroad, though many intended to come. Yet the people of the place came out beyond our expectation, and filled the house full and to overflowing, though we put extra seats in the aisles and where there was room.
I remained two Sabbaths, speaking each evening, and twice on each Sabbath and Sunday, fourteen times in all. I think the interest here was never so deep and extensive before. All our old friends are still friendly, and attended regularly, besides a large number of new ones who have lately come to the city. Our audience was composed of many of the best families and leading business men of the place. The last Sabbath, our house was two-thirds full, and we had one of the most solemn, melting seasons I have enjoyed for a long time. After many testimonies had been given, we made an appeal to the unconverted and backslidden to come and seek the Lord, when fifteen came forward. They were mostly young men and women, children of Sabbath-keepers.
At our last meeting, on Sunday night, the house was packed to its utmost capacity; and then many had to go away. Bro. McCoy stated that they had agreed to pay my expenses here and back, for which they wanted about thirty dollars. As the brethren had lifted pretty heavily on the house, these friends could help them on this if they wished to do so. Fifty-two dollars were immediately raised. This, at the end of a sermon on the mark of the beast, was a good expression of the feeling of the people.
It seemed cruel to leave an interest like this. But I came without an invitation from the Iowa Conference, and remained longer than I was advised to. I stayed Monday and Tuesday, and visited all the time. Had a parting meeting of the friends, Tuesday afternoon. So far as we could learn, some seventeen or eighteen had come out decided on the Sabbath. Many more were halting. I am confident that a few more meetings would have brought them over. A sweet and solemn meeting we had that evening. It did my soul good to hear these new friends confess the truth. For many of them we have hoped, and labored, and prayed, for years. No persons in the place stand better than they.
A few who had been keeping the Sabbath, but had been very backward, now took a good stand. The record of this church has been a good one, thus far. They will now, more than ever, need to watch to keep it so.
So closed our meetings here. There are many more things of interest I would like to mention, but will forbear. Bro. and sister McCoy did everything to make me comfortable, and few know how to do it as well as they. The following article from the Sigourney News will be interesting. I now return to Minnesota. D. M. Canright.
Columbus Junction, Jan. 29, 1873.
INTOLERANCE.
The Advent church is now about completed, and will be dedicated on the 18th and 19th inst. Eld. Canright, with, perhaps, the assistance of others, will officiate. The building is a credit to the town, and one of the best church edifices in Sigourney. The interior is neatly finished, and to the members of the society, whose zeal and liberal gifts have added this to the number of Sigourney's public structures, much praise is due. For the willing contributions of the public, they are truly grateful.—Sigourney News.
As an evidence of the folly and superstition of the age, we clip the foregoing item from the Sigourney News, of the 8th inst. These Adventists believe that the soul sleeps until the “great day of resurrection”—recognize Saturday as the Sabbath, and manage to annoy their neighbors in many ways by making unnecessary noises on the day which Christian people observe as Sunday.—Ottumwa Democrat.
As an evidence of the spirit of bigotry and intolerance that actuates some narrow-minded mortals of the present age, we clip the foregoing item from the Ottumwa Democrat of last week. We are not an Adventist, neither is the News an apologist for their peculiar doctrines; but we do recognize the right of all men to worship God according to the dictates of their own conscience. And we deem the right of the Democrat to sit in judgment over the religious belief of his neighbors, or to denounce those who differ from him on matters of faith, as foolish and superstitious.
The Democrat ought to know that a large number of the most learned Bible scholars, from the time of Moses down to the present, have “recognized Saturday as the Sabbath,” and those who “believe that the soul sleeps till the ‘great day of resurrection,’” base their belief on what they consider, and are ready to maintain, is the plain teaching of the word of God; and we can see no reason why their views are not entitled to the same respect that is accorded to those of others no more intelligent nor conscientious than they. That those who maintain this belief in and around Sigourney, will compare favorably with the editor of the Democrat in point of morality and intelligence, no one in this community will pretend to deny; and instead of seeking to “annoy their neighbors by making unnecessary noise on Sunday,” our experience has been that they are especially careful to avoid giving offense in that particular. We regret that we cannot say that the same Christian spirit of toleration and forbearance has been uniformly extended to them. The religious creed of the Adventists does not differ from that of the so-called orthodox denominations any more widely than the orthodox denominations differ among themselves; and we are constrained to believe that Bro. Evans has intended this as a thrust at the building of churches and the observance of the Lord's day generally, and has selected a weak and unpopular organization on which to break his lance, rather than run a tilt against the more powerful and fashionable churches.
Although we have already given this paragraph more attention than it deserves, yet we are constrained to remind Bro. Evans that some of those who hold this belief are his old neighbors, friends, and business partners, and it is especially unkind in him to brand them as foolish and superstitious, when he knows that they are intelligent and upright men.
From our inmost soul we abhor that spirit which leads a man to assume to lord it over the mind and conscience of his fellows—that which leads him to arrogate to himself all light, all knowledge, all truth, and all goodness, and to denounce all men as dolts, and idiots, who do not see with his eyes, hear with his ears, and believe with his faith.
New Hampshire.
By P. C. Rodman
MEETINGS in Thornton Gore closed without any one's embracing the Sabbath, as I did not think best to present that subject on account of the excited state of the people; for I had much opposition. They were, apparently, nearly all unreasonable, so I left, and spoke in Woodstock, Jan. 12. There not being sufficient interest there to continue the lectures, I went to West Thornton and gave three lectures, when they closed the house against me.
I then came to Campton village. The weather has been stormy nearly all the time since we came here. I gave one lecture in a school-house. There were but few in, but they appeared interested. Have engaged a hall in this village, and commence work tonight. Have some hope of good here, if the Lord help.
Jan. 26. Spoke last evening in the hall. There were about thirty present. The 27th, there were about seventy-five present, who gave good attention. Pray for us, dear friends of truth. P. C. Rodman.
A Letter.
By Angelia J. Edmunds
As there are many who are anxious to hear from my dear parents (C. S. Glover and wife), in Kansas, I thought perhaps it would not be amiss to copy a few lines from letters recently received, written by my mother, and send them to you for a place in the REVIEW.
She writes, Sept. 5, 1872, “I would like to be at the camp-meeting, but that privilege is denied me; and so far as the society of Christians of our faith is concerned, we have none. But I feel that there are some of God’s jewels here, and that he is mighty to keep those that trust in him. My hope and strength are in him, and if I go through to the kingdom, it will be through his goodness; for I am all weakness. There are many I would like to see. Give my love to those who inquire for me.”
Again, Neosho Falls, Jan. 14, 1873, she writes: “I am glad the mind can get away, and not be tied to the things of this earth; but, through that, we can feel a nearness to our friends, and to Christ, the world cannot restrain, although in body we are far separated. I was glad to learn that the brother in Ohio had finally commenced to keep the Sabbath. What a responsibility rests on all who profess to be keeping his commandments! May God in his mercy help me to fulfill it, is my prayer.”
How cheering it is to know that the Lord will never leave nor forsake the lonely ones that put their trust in him! Throughout the wide world there are many lonely ones, striving to hold up the standard of truth by keeping the Sabbath of the Lord and living a godly life before their neighbors; showing to all around that by keeping the commandments of God and faith of Jesus they are thus preparing to meet their soon-coming King. And what a glorious hope is theirs: By letting their light shine, perhaps some one may escape being shipwrecked; perhaps some one will escape being engulfed in the waves of error and sin that are surging around them.
The lonely ones cannot lean upon the arm of man for help. It is God’s own right arm that must sustain them. The arm of man is perfect weakness, and it is human to err; therefore we should not trust in man. And while the lonely ones lean upon him for help, they may rest assured that their trust will never be betrayed.
My courage is good, and I hope, with the help of my Saviour, to overcome my sins and clap glad hands with my dear parents on that “evergreen shore,” where we shall part never more.
“Christian, cheer thee—land is nearing,
Still be hopeful—nothing fearing,
Soon in majesty appearing,
You’ll behold the Lamb once slain.
Oh! how joyful then to hear him,
While all nations shall revere him,
Saying to his flock who fear him,
I have come—on earth to reign.”
ANGELIA J. EDMUNDS.
Johnstown, Mich., Jan. 29, 1873.
The Truth Will Prevail.
By D. F. Quinby
BRO. SMITH: At the camp-meeting of S. D. Adventists at Battle Creek, last September, you will recollect giving to a stranger some treatises on the Sabbath question, with a request that they should be carefully read, and that you might be notified of the effects their perusal might produce. At that time, I little thought that those few tracts had aught to do with my future; that they would influence my whole heart, and have an influence upon my whole life, yea, and my everlasting71life in the future state. But at present, my convictions are that in the future to which God shall introduce me, my praises will ever be poured out to the great Head of the church, that he led me in a way that I knew not, and in paths I had not seen.
Many times in the past I have said that the seventh day was God's Sabbath, but until the reading of those books it was not brought home to my conscience as it now is. Now I feel that the law is holy and the commandment holy, and just, and good, and in keeping the law there is great reward.
It has been a hard struggle to bring myself up to the point and declare my determination to keep God's own day in the future. But my resolve is made; and my vow is recorded; and from this hour, I will “observe to do all the commandments of the Lord,” and I have hope of keeping the Sabbaths of the new heavens and new earth, with Isaiah. Isa. 66:22, 23.
I thank you for presenting those tracts and books, and am thankful to God for leading me into truth. “The truth shall make you free,” said Jesus; and I am certain it has given me great freedom, and, at the same time, I am filled with peace and joy. Now I know that in keeping his testimonies there is great reward. I love all who love our Lord in sincerity and truth; and my prayer is that God will guide me and all my friends into all truth. “Great peace have they that love thy law.” How true in my own case! Pray for me that I may be purified, and then be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Yours in Christian bonds,
D. F. QUINBY.
WONDROUS GRACE.
By Roswell F. Cottrell
How fallen, how debased is man!
What ruin sin has wrought!
What wondrous love devised the plan,
And our salvation sought!
Oh! what amazing stoop of grace
For Jesus to descend,
The Son of God, to take our place
And die the sinner's friend!
Can wretched man still be so vile
To slight his dying love,
Cling to his sins and hope the while
To reign in Heaven above?
Some wonder why the saved by grace
Should be in number small;
But rightly viewed the marvel is
There's any saved at all.
That man so fallen and debased,
So blind, so much in need,
Can e'er be rescued and be raised,
Is marvelous indeed.
Amazing, condescending love!
That brought the Saviour down
To raise lost man to thrones above,
To an immortal crown!