Review and Herald, Vol. 8, No. 14.
Christianity Requireth a Renunciation of the World, and All Worldly TempersPage 1
Earlier text: Christianity Requireth a Renunciation of the World, and All Worldly TempersTHE THIRD ANGEL'S MESSAGE.
By James White
AWFULLY solemn is this Message. Such dreadful threatened wrath cannot elsewhere be found in the holy Scriptures. Read it, and weigh well the import of the language used. "And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation: and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Rev. xiv, 9-12. The worship of the Papal Beast and his Image, and the reception of the Mark of the Beast, are the dangers pointed out in this warning Message. The wine of the wrath of God poured out without mixture of mercy, (the seven last plagues,) and to be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the angels and the Lamb, (at the second resurrection and second death,) are the dreadful penalties threatened. And here we would remark, that God in his wisdom has not given a Message fraught with such terror, without making his revelation sufficiently plain, that we may clearly understand what the Beast, his Mark, and his Image are, and what their worship is, and the time when this warning Message is to be given. God has revealed these things sufficiently plain for faith. And when we ask those who reject our position without close investigation, what these symbols mean, it is not enough for them to say, that they "don't know." They have too much prejudice, or too little interest to search and find out. It is said of those who perished by the waters of the flood, they "knew not until the flood came and took them all away." Many at the present time "don't know," have no disposition to know; neither will they know, till a slighted and insulted God begins to pour out upon them the vials of his indignation. "As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man." The Third Angel's Message contains the great truths of Revelation—the Commandments of God, and the Faith of Jesus—the rule of man's life, and the plan by which the transgressor of God's law may find pardon and redemption. This warning Message develops a people of whom it is said, "Here are they that keep the Commandments of God." Two characters are here presented. One class, called saints, keep the Commandments of God; the other heed not the warning, but still cling to the institutions of the Beast. As the saints worship God by keeping his Commandments, so the other class worship the Beast by reverencing institutions of the Papacy. After the claims of the Commandments of God have been urged upon the consciences of men, if they turn from them, or any of them, and choose to honor an institution of the Papacy, it can be said of them then that they receive the Mark of the Beast. The Christian world generally has followed on in Sunday-keeping without any particular choice. But when the claims of the Sabbath of the fourth Commandment are urged upon the mind in opposition to the practice of Sunday-keeping, it is then that men choose, and receive either the Mark of the Beast, or the Seal of the living God. What gives the Third Message the greater solemnity, is the fact that it is the last, the very last warning to a fallen world. Read Rev. xiv, and you will not fail to see this fact. John hears the voice from heaven announce, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth," or during the Third Message, [verse 13,] and then [verse 14] introduces the great event which occurs at the close of the Message, as follows: "And I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap: for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped." Verses 14-16. That here is a representation of Jesus after his work is closed in the Sanctuary, will not be denied. His crown, and the sickle in his hand, show that his work as priest is then at an end. The angel which is here called "another," which is the fourth angel, symbolizes the church, as the other three symbolize the church in their turn. But it should here be observed, that as the other three are addressed to the inhabitants of earth, they contain messages of mercy to man, and the fourth being addressed to the Son of man on the white cloud, it is a message of prayer. Not a prayer for the salvation of sinners, for that closes with the Third Message; but a prayer to the Son of man, "Thrust in thy sickle and reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe," or dried, Margin. Men chosen of God to enter the gospel harvest are called reapers. Angels are also called reapers. And when the harvest of the earth is ripe, Christ will reap. But what is to ripen the harvest of the earth, ready for this work of the Son of man? Answer, the Third Message, received or rejected. It is the last warning Message, dreadful in its character, much more solemn and awful than any before it, ever given to the race of man. It is the closing work of salvation through Jesus Christ. It ripens the harvest of the earth, consequently the Message is yet to arrest the public mind; hence the acts of the two-horned beast. On the manner in which this Message is treated, hangs the eternal destiny of this generation. Awful thought! Mighty truth! Dreadful are the responsibilities, and consequences of the Message! The harvest of the earth is to be ripened. All will be fitted for immortality or the seven last plagues. What will do this work? Reader pause and reflect. Read the chapter again. But one answer can be given; viz., The Third Angel's Message ripens the harvest of the earth. Those who receive it, and live up to their profession of faith, who really keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus, will be ripened for immortality; while those who reject it, will be left of God to the delusions of Satan, and thus ripen for the vials of Jehovah's wrath. If this position be correct, then where the Message is faithfully set forth, its ripening influence will be seen. The experience of the past is to the point. A few years since the light upon the Message was not sufficiently clear and powerful to arrest the people generally in communities where it was introduced; hence the work was gradual. One after another embraced the present truth, until a general decision, for or against the Message, was finally made. But as it has opened before us, it now possesses sufficient light and strength to command the attention of the people in new fields. And where it is faithfully set forth, its searching power is felt, and its influence is decisive. A few in every place will receive and obey it, while the mass will fall back into indifference, or opposition. And you can no more re-arouse the masses, than you can raise the dead. How important, then, that those who handle the Message, move in the counsel of God, that his hand may guide them, and his Spirit attend all their efforts. That they faithfully set life and death before the people, and clear their skirts from the blood of souls. A misstep of theirs, may so mar the work as to shut the truth away from some who might be saved by its influence. O ye servants of Christ, yours is a holy work, a solemn station. God has committed to you the most grand, and awfully solemn Message of his word, and bids you go and sound the alarm. Human wisdom is inadequate to guide you in this great work amid the perils of the times. O look to Him who has called you. Lean on his all-potent arm. Follow him, as he leads you forth, and certain victory will be yours. J. W. A THEOLOGICAL STRAIGHT-EDGE.
By Editor
A FRIEND has sent us the following extract from Pres. Edwards' History of Redemption, to which we judge the above heading appropriate. Speaking of Sacrifices he says, "It must, to be acceptable to God, be by some positive command or institution; for God has declared his abhorrence of such worship as is taught by the precept of men without his will. Isa. xxix, 13. And such worship as has not a warrant from divine institution cannot be offered up in faith; for faith has no foundation where there is no divine appointment. Men have no warrant to hope for God's acceptance in that which is not of his appointment, and to which he has not promised his acceptance." We wish now to apply these remarks of the President to his own theory of Sunday-keeping. 1. Whatever, according to the above, is acceptable to God, must be "by some positive command or institution." Sunday-keeping is not supported by any divine, positive command, or institution; therefore Sunday-keeping cannot be acceptable to God. 2. "God has declared his abhorrence of such worship as is taught by the precept of men without his will." Sunday-keeping is emphatically taught by the precept of men; for there is no will of God for its observance which he has ever made known to us; therefore it must be included with that worship which God abhors. 3. "Such worship as has not a warrant from divine institution cannot be offered up in faith." The keeping of Sunday has no warrant from divine institution; therefore we can express no faith by its observance. 4. "Faith has no foundation where there is no divine appointment." There is no divine appointment for Sunday-keeping; therefore faith in its observance is without foundation. 5. "Men have no warrant to hope for God's acceptance in that which is not of his appointment, and to which he has not promised his acceptance." Sunday-keeping is not of God's appointment, he has never promised to it his favor; therefore men have no warrant to hope for God's acceptance in such a practice. If any are disposed to doubt these declarations, we only invite them to "search the Scriptures." If they can find either in the Old or New Testament that the observance of the first day of the week for the Sabbath, is of positive and divine appointment, that God has shown this to be his will, that we can keep it with a consistent faith, that God has in any way favored or blessed the day so that in its observance we may hope for his acceptance, they will find what multitudes after multitudes have searched for in vain. The mind, in order to be kept pure, must be employed on topics of thought which are themselves lovely, chastened, and elevating. PUBLICATIONS.
By James White
By direction of the Publishing Committee we have revised the list of Publications for the REVIEW. It will be seen that the prices cover both the cost of books and postage, when they are sent by mail. This will enable those scattered in distant places to obtain books at the same cost as those who are visited by brethren who have them to sell. There are on hand about 2000 of our excellent Hymn Book, which can be sent by mail, and postage paid, for the reduced price of 60 cts. J. W. LETTERS TO BRO. SPERRY
By James White
THE KINGDOM OF GOD.—No. 1.
DEAR BRO. SPERRY:—Your question has been in my possession some time, but I have not had time to examine it; and even now feel it duty to state that my labors are such as to prevent my giving it all the attention that I think its importance demands. You ask: “Is Dan ii, 34, 35, and 44, synchronous with Christ’s receiving the throne of David, or his coming? that is, the stone smiting on the feet. And what is meant by the stone becoming a mountain? In the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom. Since 1844, I have thought it would be 1000 years before the kingdom would be fully established, and all things that offend gathered out.”
As this question and remark covers a large field of prophecy I shall be excused for replying at some length. In regard to the order of the establishment of the kingdom of God, there are three views held by professed Adventists, as severally advocated by the Herald, of Boston, Expositor, (late Harbinger), and the Review. The first, or Herald’s view is, that the heavens and earth pass away at the coming of Christ, and the new heavens and new earth then appear; but as they also hold that the second resurrection is 1000 years subsequent to the advent, of course the wicked dead would be raised out of the new earth and meet their final destruction upon it; a view which I could never entertain without direct testimony declaring it, which does not exist. The second theory is held by many professed Advent believers, but I cannot speak of it as definitely in some respects as I desire to; for, although its advocates profess to have the true light on the prophecies of the future, and laugh to scorn as deluded and fanatical all who disagree with them, I have never yet been so fortunate as to meet with two who believed alike in regard to it. In this respect they very much resemble the Sunday advocates, who unite in their cries against those who keep the Sabbath, but cannot agree upon a reason for keeping the Sunday. Thus an individual who has endeavored to occupy quite a prominent position in this State for some time past, speaking of the Age to Come, said he did not know how it was but he knew it was true! As Eld. Marsh’s version of this theory is the only one that has been completed, we have to deal mostly with it, together with such other opinions as we can gather from stray publications. And I shall examine this theory somewhat at length, as its advocates seem to consider the faith of the Review and its correspondents as not only unscriptural but absurd. But I am not only willing, but anxious that they should be placed in contrast. According to that theory the Saviour first comes, and then sets up his kingdom in Canaan or Palestine, and when so established, the kingdom, by agencies not defined, destroys all the enemies of Christ; (see Age to Come, p. 90;) all his adherents having been immortalized; and then those that are left, belonging to neither of these classes—not friends nor enemies—not justified by the gospel nor condemned by God’s universal law—too bad to be saved and too good to be destroyed, are put on a new probation, and again populate the earth. The Jews are given a national pre-eminence, the apostles rule over them, and all the saints immortalized act as priests to offer sacrifices for the sins of the probationers; that the gospel will then save the nations as it now saves individuals out of the nations: the Devil (the evil principle) is bound; sickness and death are in a measure done away; peace prevails throughout the world among all the nations, while the saints, who are priests and advocates for mortals, “rule with a rod of iron,” having “the high praises of God in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand, to execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;” and by the double process of advocacy and punishment—filling the double offices of priests and executioners Christ and his saints, (whom John said no man could number,) in the course of 1000 years, subdue all their enemies and bring all the nations into subjection to Christ, and thus the kingdom symbolized by the stone fills the whole earth. When this great work is fully accomplished, and Jesus and his saints have finished their appointed tasks, the Devil is let loose for a little season, and in that “little season” overthrows the 1000 years’ work of Christ and his saints, so that he deceives a multitude as numerous as the sand of the sea, who have submitted to the sway of Christ, and they of whom it was said that they should not learn war any more, are by Satan deceived and gathered to battle; and so successful are they in this brief warfare, that they retake the vast dominion which has been subdued to Christ, and drive the saints back to their starting place, Jerusalem, which is besieged by them, until they are finally destroyed by fire proceeding from God out of heaven. This, on account of its singular beauty of outline and consistency of arrangement! is generally termed by its advocates the glorious Age to Come, or Age of Millennial glory. These are the main facts according to that theory, and in examining this subject I shall notice some particulars specified by its friends, by which it will be seen that I have done no injustice to the theory in the above sketch of outlines. The view advocated by the Review and its correspondents I will endeavor to present with scriptural reasons for our faith. And I would call your attention to a few points which I wish you to bear in mind while considering this subject: (1.) There is no evidence in the Scriptures that “the day of the Lord” is exactly 1000 years in length; but we shall see that it covers more than the 1000 years of Rev. xx. (2.) I do not know of any view held by any class which makes the gathering out of all things that offend, previous to the termination of the 1000 years, unless that be a phrase merely designed to represent the separation of the just and the unjust at Christ’s coming. (3.) Christ’s receiving the throne of David and his coming to the earth are not synchronous, but he both receives it and comes in the days of these kings or kingdoms. (4.) The kingdom is set up in the days of these kings, but the dominion and greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, is not given to the saints in their days. (5.) Keep in view the principles laid down in the Review, Vol. VIII, Nos. 5 and 6, on the dashing of the nations, under the head of “The Law and the Gospel,” as I have not the remotest doubt of the correctness of those principles, and shall be conformed to them in all my arguments and conclusions on the prophecies, and shall hold the opponents of our views to show them to be incorrect before I can admit the denial of my conclusions, or the truth of theirs when they conflict with those principles. In articles published in the Review it has already been shown that the giving of the kingdom to Christ precedes his coming, and the destruction of the nations takes place at his coming. The subject will lead us to consider the locality of the throne and kingdom when given to Christ, his taking the saints home to heaven, the judgment of the wicked, the descent of the New Jerusalem, the execution of the judgment written, the new heavens and earth, and the greatness of the kingdom given to the saints. J. H. W. (To be Continued.) THE CAUSE IN THE WEST.
By J. H. Waggoner
SOME time since I noticed some statements of Solomon Myers in regard to the decline of the cause in the West, and asked three questions for him to answer. I have received from him a long letter, purporting to be a reply, but he does not notice the questions, or give any reply to either of them. Long as his letter is I would publish it, that the readers of the Review might see the spirit manifested by our opposers, were it not that it contains so many expressions too coarse and vulgar to find a place in this paper. After stating what some body told him about Bro. White and Cornell, he gives his own belief as follows:— "Now it is possible that we do not perfectly understand the rise and progress of the 3d Angel’s Message in the west, but we do believe that the preaching of Phelps, D. P. Hall, J. H. Waggoner, J. M. Stephenson, Stewart, Sheffield, and some other western brethren has done more to get the truth before the people and awaken an interest in the minds of the western people than all the labors of eastern brethren put together. That the Age to Come views had the influence that J. W. charges it with is to us a miserable absurdity. Now, Bro. Waggoner, we have given you this hasty sketch. If it is not satisfactory we will take pains to collect more facts and give them to you more in detail." The question does not relate to the relative amount of labor by eastern and western brethren. I am free to acknowledge that the labors of those mentioned, or some of them, have done more to awaken an interest in the west, than the labors of all the eastern brethren put together; as might be expected, considering that the labors of the eastern brethren were confined to a few short visits. But I think great credit is due to the eastern Brn. for what they have written, published, and freely circulated in the west.440 But that is not the question. I wish to be definite on the point, but Mr. Myers has not named the place where, or the person by whom, an interest was awakened, where the eastern Brn. afterward caused division, or where any division was created until after the Age to Come was brought in. I have preserved a memorandum of labors in the west since early in the Spring of 1853, and can point out the time of the giving of the Message, and the minister giving it in every place where it was preached up to the time of Bro. White’s visit to Wisconsin, the last visit of any eastern brother till Bro. Bates’ late visit, and if Mr. Myers or any other one can show that a company of Sabbath keepers was brought out by the labors of any who believed in the Age to Come, or any who differed with eastern brethren on the "peculiar views" they held, I call for a statement to that effect. The fact is, Mr. Myers has made statements that cannot be substantiated; and if he is acquainted with the rise and progress of the cause in the west he knows that he has. Relative to the influence of the Age-to-Come oracles, on the cause of the Third Angel’s Message, I may be allowed to say a word. In a letter published in the Review, Vol. IV, No. 23, (Dec. 1853,) I said: "By letter received from Brn. Hall and Stephenson I learn that God has been blessing their labors since I parted with them." The letter referred to was written at Union, Wis., and received by me at Middlebury, Ind., Nov. 22, and from its tenor I supposed that they had been preaching the Message in Union and other places. When I was at Union on the 12th of Dec. following, sister P. G. Pitts and others informed me that they preached altogether on immortality and the kingdom in that place, without touching on the Third Angel’s Message. In the last discourse given by them, speaking of the chain of prophecy presented in Daniel and Revelation, D. P. Hall said, on these prophecies were based three messages, of which they had not time to speak. When Brn. Loughborough and Cornell were in Union an interest was awakened to hear the Message, and a merchant of that village offered to become responsible, (I was told,) for $20,00, to be raised for any who would give a course of lectures there on the subject. As elders S. and H. had then professedly devoted themselves to the cause, we requested them to visit the place and give the Message, which they promised to do; but how far short did they come of their known duty as watchmen. In Madison I obtained a similar report. A brother there told me that they obtained the use of a church in which to lecture, but were so harsh and censorious that they were permitted to occupy it only four evenings; and he said he feared a prejudice was raised in Madison that would never be allayed. A significant fact was, that, soon after I arrived there he wanted to know if I could harmonize their views of prophecy with the Third Angel’s Message—something that I have not been able to do to the present day. At Waukau, on the 23d of the same month, I was asked the same question by each of the brethren as soon as I met them. They said Elds. S. and H. came there, and they had a meeting; but most of the evening was consumed by them in disputing on a point of their favorite theory, upon which they did not agree;—much to the dissatisfaction of the church, who wanted to hear something on the present truth. Bro. W. H. Rapp, of Markesan, said that he invited Eld. S. to his neighborhood, hoping his brother-in-law might be benefitted, as he was interested in the truth; but he divided his labors between the Message and the Age to Come, and the individual referred to refused to hear any more, saying a man must be dishonest who would teach such opposite doctrines. Thus it has been ever since the cause has been clogged with the Age to Come. On this subject I would introduce the following letter lately received. The writer speaks like a candid man, who can state his difference of views in a christian manner, without any of that animosity which has characterized our opponents. Hebron, Wis., June 8th, 1856.
BRO. J. H. WAGGONER:—As I have seen in the Review, "Information wanted," I think I can give some. And in answer to your question, first, Bro. Phelps has awakened a great interest here in the west, and has been instrumental in causing a great many to keep the Commandments of God; and I think Brothers Stewart and Sheffield have been ardent in the cause, and are now believers in the Third Angel’s Message. Yet I do think the very day the Age-to-Come doctrine was preached here, that very day the decline commenced in the Third Angel’s Message. I have never believed in full the views of E. G. White; nor that the earth would be desolate through the thousand years, therefore my sympathy has been with such of like faith as Ed. D. P. Hall and H. V. Reed, who now deny the Bible in denying the Third Angel’s Message. I say I can no more agree with them. And I think the Review party the most humble, God-like of any, yet I will make some exceptions, and will say, I think some are as strenuous on the visions as some are on the Age to Come. But the Age-to-Come doctrine is leading many, very many, from the truth, and because it is advocated by those that deny the Third Angel’s Message. May the Lord open the eyes here in the west; may the delusion be swept away. And that we shall all be brought into the unity of the faith, is the prayer of your humble servant.
ALVAH H. DANIELS. To this prayer I can respond a hearty Amen. I am well aware—I could not think of denying, that Bro. Phelps has labored zealously, devotedly, and successfully, in the cause of the Third Angel’s Message. I am also glad to hear that Brn. Steward and Sheffield still believe the Message, as I feared they would also fall fully into the snare into which Eld. Hall and H. V. Reed have fallen. But I was well acquainted with Bro. Phelps’ labors, and had them in my mind when I asked the questions of Mr. Myers; and the testimony of Bro. Daniels is itself a refutation of the assumption of Mr. M., and a truthful vindication of the statement of Bro. White. Lest some should think we are too severe on those with whom we have formerly been associated, and as we have been accused of misusing Elds. H. and S. in the Review, I will notice some things in the past course of J. M. Stephenson, that all may see that we have been very forbearing toward them; also that if any honest souls are yet under his influence they may take warning and escape. The course of D. P. Hall needs no further notice, as he has denied the faith, and of course can no longer mislead those who love the truth. The crooked course of J. M. Stephenson began before his first visit east; his deceptions can be shown by statements over his own signature, if occasion requires. I shall for the present confine myself to his course in the Messenger. In noticing Dr. Chapman’s statements in the Messenger he said:— "6. I told his wife that I had reference to Ellen’s visions in my remarks. This statement is not true. Again I repeat, I made no reference to any visions or dreams in my remarks. I never believed Ellen White’s visions to be of divine origin, and as a matter of course would not refer to them as evidence." When sister White related her view to me on the 8th of June, 1853, at the close Eld. S. came to the wagon where myself and wife sat, and said to us that he believed that the message was from the Lord, and hoped we would endeavor to profit by it. On Sabbath evening, the 17th of the same month, he was at my house in Waukau, and I then asked him how his mind had been impressed in regard to the visions, by Bro. and Sr. White’s visit, and he answered—"Very favorably; they must be from the Lord." He told me that Eld. Hall was also quite favorable to them. At the trial in question, after Dr. Chapman had left the room, Eld. S. called attention to some words he had spoken, and said he referred to what Sr. White saw. Bro. Dennis said, "You ought to have told him you referred to the vision: then he would have known what you meant." Eld. S. replied, "He knew what I meant." These things were not forgotten at Waukau, but were referred to after the trial by those who were present. Again he said in the Messenger:— "7. Lastly, O. accuses me of advising his wife to leave him. This statement is the most wicked of all. When C.’s wife wished my advice in reference to her duty under the circumstances, I positively refused to give any advice at all." The above declaration of Eld. S. is also untrue. As he was warning Mrs. C. of the dangerous influence to which she was exposed by the wickedness of her husband, she asked, "What shall I do? Shall I leave him?" Eld. S. replied, "That would be better than that you, through his influence, should be lost." Considering what our Saviour said, [Mark x, 29, 30,] I could find no fault with his reply; but I was truly surprised at his cool denial of it. To these and various other statements he appends the following certificate:
"We whose names are appended, do certify that the foregoing statements of Bro. Stephenson are true.
M. DENNIS. M. A. DENNIS.
L. W. NUTTALL. M. A. NUTTALL.
M. E. BECKER." With all the above named persons I am well acquainted, and know full well that their word will be taken by all who know them: What then could I think of their certificate being appended to statements which I knew to be untrue, and which they also, to my certain knowledge, knew to be untrue. To solve the mystery and give the reader a chance to judge between us, I will give extracts from letters since received from Waukau. The following is from Bro. M. Dennis, dated, Waukau, Dec. 30, 1855:
"You have probably read the article by Stephenson in Messenger. I am not satisfied with that; he made us say things we never said. . . . He came here and stated that his character was injured by Chapman’s letter, and that Bezzo refused to publish a letter from him in refutation of C.’s letter, unless it was endorsed by the party here in Waukau. I have been sorry I ever signed any thing of the kind, for I did wish my name never to appear in that vile, slanderous sheet." Before receiving the above, I wrote to Bro. Dennis, about the 10th of Jan., asking them to explain how their names became attached to statements which they knew to be untrue. Under date of Feb. 11th, ’56, he replied as follows:
"You wish for some explanation in regard to our names being appended to Stephenson’s letter in the Messenger. Stephenson came here one day about noon—he appeared to be in a great hurry—said he wanted to take our statement of the facts in the case of Dr. C.’s letter in the Messenger. So he sat down and with the pencil he wrote what we believed to be true; but what was our astonishment to see in the "Messenger of (corruption) Truth" an entirely new version of things—names misplaced and statements we never stated. We came to the conclusion to let it go, and not correct the error, believing that paper and its correspondents incapable of telling the truth." The unprovoked attack upon myself in his article I shall not notice, though its object is evident. And of the degree of moral turpitude developed in his actions I leave all to judge for themselves. We have been led to lament the state of the churches as manifested in their opposition to the truths of God’s word, and later, the fallen state of many professed Adventists who have brought the doctrine of the coming of Christ to shame by their discord and "secret workings;" but words cannot describe our feelings when we have seen a professed teacher of the Third Angel’s Message publish to the world statements so destitute of truth, and append a forged certificate to deceive those unacquainted with the facts. Many of the readers of the Review may think there is no necessity for making these public statements; but there are some who have been deceived by J. M. Stephenson and others, in the Messenger, and have had no means of judging of the correctness of their assertions. For their benefit we write. No one dislikes to perform such a task more than myself, but I have written from a solemn conviction of duty, noticing only a few of the many things that have been spoken and done to the detriment of the cause of present truth, which I might expose if I thought it necessary. And it shall be my earnest prayer that no future action of those professing the faith of the Third Angel’s Message shall ever make it necessary to again expose the characters of the enemies of the cause which we hold it our duty to defend.
J. H. W.
Battle Creek, July 29th, 1856. The Final Condition of Every Person
He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. Rev. xxii, 11, 12. C O M M U N I C A T I O N S.
By Mary A. Eaton
"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another." DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS:—Although I am a stranger to nearly all of you, I hope and trust I am not a stranger to the precious truths contained in the word of God. I feel thankful that the Third Angel's Message of Rev. xiv, 9, has been, as I humbly trust, made known to me as Present Truth. It is as a light shining around my path. I am fully confident in my own mind, after having tried carefully and prayerfully to examine the word of God, that this Message embraces the restoration of the true Sabbath, after it has been trampled under foot by the Man of sin, who should think to change times and laws, &c.; [Dan. vii, 25] and that those who continue to keep the first day, after they have been convinced that there is no thus saith the Lord for the change of the Sabbath from the seventh to the first day of the111week, but that the change has been brought about by man, worship the beast. Such, after having seen the light, if they reject it, instead of taking up the cross, by striving to keep holy the true Sabbath, will be exposed to the wrath of God. Rev. xiv. 10. O let us pray to the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into the harvest; for truly the fields are white already unto the harvest. I believe there are some in this place who, if they could hear the reasons of our faith in the soon coming of Christ, &c., set forth in a clear manner, would embrace it. I, like some other lone ones, have not the privilege of meeting with those who keep the true Sabbath, there being none for some miles around, except one sister about three miles distant. But the truths contained in the Review are to me as food to the hungry soul, because by comparison I find them, if I can judge rightly, to agree with Scripture. My determination is to strive to have on the whole armor of God, that I may grow in grace daily, and in the knowledge of his holy word. I believe that the Lord has set his hand the second time to gather the remnant of his people, and that he will have a tried people. "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial," &c. 1 Pet. iv, 12. O may we be kept from being drawn into the fatal snare of Spiritualism; but may we meet this deception of Satan with the sure word of God, The dead know not anything, &c. I am aware that for this belief which we consider to be plain scripture testimony, we are denounced as Infidel in principle, by those who believe in the immortality of the soul; but we are not of the class who believe death to be an eternal sleep. If we are Christ's may we not look forward with joy to his soon coming, when the righteous dead shall be redeemed from the power of the grave, when they shall get the victory over Death, and be clothed with immortality, and the righteous living be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. But oh! what is the destiny of those who have not a part in the first resurrection? Are they not to suffer the second death? to be destroyed root and branch? I desire to be one of that happy number who will be prepared to say at the coming of Christ, Lo, this is our God, we have waited for him. But when I look into my own heart I see much of the remains of sin. I sometimes feel to cry out, When I would do good, evil is present with me; and could I not go to Christ in faith as my intercessor, I should despair; but through his assisting grace I hope to be an overcomer, and finally gain an inheritance in the New Earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. Brethren and sisters, remember me, a lonely one, that my faith and hope fail not. ADVERSE FORTUNE.
By Mrs. R. Smith
WHAT though my lot has been to bear,
Much adverse fate, 'mid toil and care,
Raised expectations crushed and dead,
And hope's triumphant visions fled. If I can feel a mightier power,
A hand divine, in this dark hour;
If but my heart is made to feel
The claims of him who wounds to heal. As purest gold, and clearest glass
Must through the hottest furnace pass;
So oft repeated strokes are given
To mould and fit a soul for heaven. God knows what most his children need,
From sin and folly to be freed;
And oft the ties by which they're bound,
He severs by the heart-felt wound. Though rough, unyielding, he'll not spare,
Till he reflects his image there;
And though severe the process be,
'T will fit us for eternity. The gold refined, Heaven's image traced,
Be it no more by sin defaced,
A life of holiness maintain,
And soon with Christ in glory reign.
MRS. R. SMITH.
Wilton, N. H.