Earlier text: THE LOAVES AND FISHESGood religion and good manners always go together. They are things that God has joined, and no man can put them asunder. This follows from the nature of religion, which is the love of God and the love of our fellow-men. It is a compliance, in some good degree, with the two great commandments of the divine law. It is the exercise of proper feelings toward God and a corresponding treatment of him, and the like toward our neighbor. He who has true religion is a renewed man. Holy love has been shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Spirit. And that love makes him kindly disposed toward all. This the precepts of the gospel require of him. He is to love not only those who love him and to treat them kindly, but he is to love even his enemies, if he has them, and to treat them with kindness. So did the Saviour, who is to be the example of his disciples. Religion, having its seat in the heart, is developed in the outward life. It modifies and shapes the conduct. It has upon its possessor a refining influence. It improves his manners. Under its power he becomes more kind and gentle and courteous. Such was its effect upon the apostle Paul. Before his conversion he was impetuous and headstrong. He was overbearing, caring little for the interests of others. But religion tamed him. It subdued his natural ferocity and made him lamb-like. To the Thessalonian Christians he thus wrote: “We were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children.” We find him, in all circumstances, an example of courtesy. But it may be said that some Christians are unmanly and boorish. They are greatly lacking in kindness and friendliness. We are constrained to admit that it is so. We are not ourselves strangers to such. But it is nevertheless true, as we said at the outset, that good religion and good manners always go together. There are no exceptions. It is no more true that good religion and dishonesty go together, than it is that good religion and ill-manners go together. Those boorish and unmannerly Christians are lacking in good religion. They are greatly deficient here; and that is the reason why they behave no better. Let them increase their religion; let them get more of the genuine article, and they will be improved outwardly in an equal degree as inwardly. There is not a defect or deficiency at which some precept of the gospel does not aim a blow, and which is not rebuked by the example of Him who was ‘holy, harmless and undefiled.’ To learn good manners, one does not need to go to school to Lord Chesterfield . He can better learn them in the school of Christ, where he has ever before him perfect rules and a perfect example.— Good Works Necessary to Salvation.
By Lucius Sanborn
Whether we ever reach the final abode of God's people, or not, depends much upon what our works are here. We think the Scriptures sustain this assertion. Matt. 7: 20–27 says: “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me ye that work iniquity. Therefore, whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock; and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house; and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand; and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” By reading Luke 13: 23–28, we find that some entertain hopes of being saved who will be sorely disappointed, because they were workers of iniquity. Oh, who can tell the bitter grief of those who have lived and died in the full fellowship of the church, expecting a welcome among those who shall walk the banks of the river of life, when they receive instead the sentence “I never knew you, depart from me”! As we learn from Matt. 19: 16–22, one of the essentials in order to entering into life eternal is the keeping of the commandments. And before we condemn the young man there mentioned, for his worldly-mindedness, let us be sure that we are trying to keep all the commandments, the fourth included. Let us heed what Paul says in Phil. 2: 12, and work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Although we are not saved by our good works yet we cannot be saved without them. It is encouraging to know that a few at least of the thousands who read the SIGNS have been benefited by its perusal from week to week. We give below a few brief extracts from the many letters we have received at this Office. A sister in Indianapolis writes to the SIGNS as follows:— “Permit me to express my gratitude to you for the good done in my family by your visits. For nearly three years I have found your teachings ever pure, and according to God’s Word. My husband has seen the evil and danger of tobacco-using, and, after being a slave to it for forty years, has abandoned its use. He finds his health and mind much improved by the change. It would take too much space to recount the many blessings that has come to us as the direct result, under God, of your teachings. Among the greatest is the Sabbath truth. Thank God that we heard and obeyed. May we still follow on to know the Lord.”
A brother writes from Nebraska to have his paper continued, and says, “I love to read your paper. I also take the Review. They are a feast every week.”
A friend sends the money to renew his subscription and says: “I value the SIGNS very much. As I am one of the lonely ones I do not hear preaching often. I long for the weekly visits of our dear papers, the SIGNS and Review, which come laden with precious food for the hungry soul.” Another friend who has just moved to Florida wishes to have his paper sent to that place. He says, “Some friend commenced sending us the SIGNS nearly a year ago. Its perusal has opened up new fields of thought and inquiry and hence it is a welcome visitor.” The following is an extract from a private letter which has been placed in our hands: “Regard for the truth compels me to say I am not coming into the S. D. A. belief but I have been dragged into it against my will. Christened in the established church of England, raised with its prayer-book in my hands, educated in its parish schools, I grew up prejudiced, bigoted, and with a strong sectarian bias. I went to sea while a boy and became a profane and reckless sailor, and after years of wandering on sea and land, concluded to take a tract of land and to fulfill the conditions of the U. S. Homestead law (not however with any idea of abolishing that law by so doing) and thus obtain a home and make provision for future needs. A kind and hospitable S. D. A. family resided near me and I began to visit them and read their papers and books, and study my often neglected Bible in order to prove to them the absurdity of their belief. My reason was however soon convinced that on the Sabbath, sleep of the dead, destruction of the wicked, soon coming of our Lord, and baptism, they had the truth while I was in error, so I can write as did R. F. Cottrell, “I am a Baptist, and I am more.” A minister of the old school Baptist denomination who has been a “careful reader of the SIGNS for the past two years,” writes to us as follows: “The principles and practices as advocated in the SIGNS in the main I believe. I never saw any authority in the New Testament for calling the first day of the week the Sabbath, and the doctrine of the immortality of the soul and the resurrection of the dead have ever been to me a mystery that I could not solve according to popular opinion. My mind is made up, after long careful and prayerful investigation, to spend the residue of my days with the Adventists. I never heard one of that profession preach, but I love an earnest people, and them that look for the appearing of the Son of God, for unto them that look for him will he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” Is your Bible your own Bible? that is, is it a real comfort and advantage to you. Or are you merely acting the part of a watchman or police officer, who protects property in which he has no interest? A miser, who had buried his money in his garden, was robbed of his treasure. “Poor fellow!” said one, “he has lost the whole of his property.” “His property!” replied another, “it could hardly be considered his, for he never did make and never would make any use of it; I should call it the property of his heirs.” A man living in England, who had money to spare, purchased land in Australia to the extent of a thousand acres, not that he ever received any benefit from it or even ever saw it, for these things are quite out of the question. He had bought the land, thinking it would turn out a fine fortune for his children or his grand-children. “That man has a great deal of property abroad,” said a neighbor, speaking to a friend. “Not half so much,” replied his friend, “as I have in the sun, and moon and stars, for I do see them, and they afford me great satisfaction, whereas he never sees his estate, and never derives from it any advantage.” Some years ago I had occasion to send a parcel to an honest, hard-working mason and bricklayer who lived in the country. It contained, besides sundry little presents for his wife and children, a trowel for his own use, made in a superior way, with a mahogany handle, and often did I fancy that I saw him, hard at work with the trowel in his hand. It happened that last summer, being in the neighborhood, I called at the cottage of the honest bricklayer, and to my surprise, I saw the trowel I had sent him, exhibited over the chimney piece as a curiosity. It had been considered too good for use and consequently had never been of the slightest use to its owner. Now if you are using your Bible as the miser used his money, the rich man his Australian estate, and the honest bricklayer his mahogany-handled trowel, the less you say about its being your Bible the better. The single thread a child can break, but twisted strands will hold the Great Eastern against the tide. “ONCE heard of a poor colored woman,” says a writer in the Times of Refreshing, “who earned a precarious living by daily labor, but who was a joyous, triumphant Christian. ‘Ah, Nancy,’ said a gloomy Christian lady to her one day, who almost disapproved of her constant cheerfulness, and yet envied it, ‘Ah, Nancy, it is all well enough to be happy now, but I should think the thoughts of your future would sober you. Only suppose, for instance, that you should have a spell of sickness and be unable to work; or suppose, your present employer should move away, and no one else should give you anything to do; or suppose—’
‘Stop,’ cried Nancy, ‘I never supposes; Lord is my Shepherd, and I knows I shall not want. And, honey,’ she added to her gloomy friend, ‘it’s all dem supposes as is makin’ so mis’able; you better give dem all up, I just trust de Lord.’ The Second Advent.
By James White
THE EVIDENCES OF THE END SUFFICIENT.
By most people, the evidences of the soon coming of Christ are considered insufficient to base faith upon. But the testimony and acts of one man condemned, the people destroyed by the flood. The evidences then were sufficient, otherwise the world would not have been condemned. But a hundred times more convincing evidences come pouring in upon us that the day of the Lord is near, and hasteth greatly. We follow down the numerous prophetic chains of Daniel, and of the Revelation, and we find ourselves in every instance standing just before the day of wrath. We see the signs spoken of by prophets, by Christ, and in the epistles, fulfilling or fulfilled. And at the right time, and in the right manner, to fulfill certain prophecies, a solemn message arises in different parts of the world: “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain; let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand.” Joel 2:1. Wherever we look, we see prophecy fulfilling. While the knowledge of God and the spirit of holiness are departing, spiritual wickedness, like a flood, covers the land. But these evidences are considered insufficient to rest faith upon. Well, what kind of evidence would the unbelieving have? “When the signs of the end,” says the skeptic, “are fulfilled, they will be so plain that no one can doubt.” But if the signs are of such a nature, and are fulfilled in such a manner as to compel all to believe in the coming of Christ, how can it be as it was in the days of Noah? Men were not then compelled to believe. But eight believing souls were saved, while all the world besides sank in their unbelief beneath the waters of the flood. God has never revealed his truth to man in a manner to compel him to believe. Those who have wished to doubt his word have found a wide field in which to doubt, and a broad road to perdition; while those who have wished to believe have ever found everlasting rock upon which to rest their faith. Just before the end, the world will be hardened in sin, and indifferent to the claims of God. Men will be careless about hearing warnings of danger, and blinded by cares, pleasures, and riches. An unbelieving and infidel generation will be eating, drinking, marrying, building, planting, and sowing. It is right to eat and drink to sustain nature; but the sin is in excess and gluttony. The marriage covenant is holy; but God’s glory is seldom thought of. Building, planting, and sowing, necessary for convenient shelter, food, and clothing, are right; but the world has gone wholly after these things, so that men have no time nor disposition to think of God, Heaven, Christ’s coming, and the Judgment. This world is their god, and all their energies of body and mind are devoted to its service. And the evil day is not far away. The faithful watchman who sounds the alarm, who sees destruction coming, is held up before the people from the pulpits of our land, and by the religious press, as a “fanatic,” a “teacher of dangerous heresies;” while in contrast is set forth a long period of peace and prosperity to the church. So the churches are quieted to sleep. The scoffer continues to scoff, and the mocker mocks on. But their day is coming. Thus saith the prophet of God: “Howl ye; for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall be as a destruction from the Almighty; therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt.” Isa. 13:6, 7. Most dreadful day! And is it near? Yes; hasteth! It hasteth greatly! What a description is given by the prophet! Read it, and as ye read, try to feel how dreadful will be that day. “The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the Lord; the mighty man shall cry bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers. And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord; and their blood shall be poured out as the dust, and their flesh as the dung. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord’s wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy; for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.” Zeph. 1:14–18. Now we hear the peace-and-safety cry from the pulpit, and all the way along down to the grog-shop. “Where is the promise of his coming?” is murmured from the impious lips of a thousand last-day scoffers. But the scene will speedily change. “For when they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them.” The scoffing of the haughty scoffer will soon be turned to wailing and howling. “The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low.” Isa. 2:11, 12. “And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth; they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.” Jer. 25:33. That will be a day of mourning and lamentation, and famine for hearing the words of the Lord. “‘I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day. Behold the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord; and they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.” Amos 8:10–12. Now, the word of the Lord may be heard; but sinners in and out of the churches, with few exceptions, do not prize it. Then it will not be heard; for the watchmen, set to watch and sound the alarm of danger, will be called down from their high stations. Now the word of the Lord is carried to the sinner, and offered without money or price; but he treats it carelessly, or may be he drives the humble servant of Christ from his door. But then will he go in search for it. “They shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east,” but they cannot hear it. “They shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, but shall not find it.” From city to city, from State to State, from one country to another, will they go to find a man commissioned of high Heaven to speak the word of the Lord; but such an one is not to be found. All such will then have finished their high commission. The word of the Lord! The word of the Lord! Where can we hear it? is heard in every land. One general wail—the word of the Lord!—goes up to Heaven, but the heavens are brass. Then will the people turn and rend the false shepherds who deceived them with the cry of “peace and safety.” Children will reproach parents for keeping them back from walking in the truth, and parents will reproach their children. The miser now loves his money and holds it with an iron grasp. But it will be said in that day, “Go to now ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.” James 5:1–3. Now silver and gold may be used to God’s glory, for the advancement of his cause. But in that day, “they shall cast their silver into the streets, and their gold shall be removed; their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord.” Eze. 7:19. Now, the ministers of truth have a message to the people and gladly speak the words of life. They joyfully toil on, suffer on, and spend their energies in preaching to hearts as hard as steel, hoping that a few may be reached, gathered into the truth, and saved. But then, they will have no message. Now their prayers and strong cries go up to Heaven in behalf of sinners. Then they will have no spirit of prayer for them. Now the church says to the sinner, Come; and Jesus stands ready to plead his blood in his behalf that he may be washed from his sins, and live. But then, salvation’s hour will be passed, and the sinner will be shut up in darkness and black despair. The last plagues, in which is filled up the wrath of God, now bottled up in Heaven, waiting for mercy to finish her last pleadings, will be poured out. Unmingled wrath of Jehovah! And not one drop of mercy? Not one! Jesus will lay off his priestly attire, leave the mercy seat, and put on the garments of vengeance, nevermore to offer his blood to wash the sinner from his sins. The angels will wipe the last tear shed over sinners, while the mandate resounds through all Heaven, Let them alone. The groaning, weeping, praying church on earth, who in the last message employs every power to sound everywhere the last note of warning, lest the blood of souls be found in her garments, is now hushed in solemn silence. The Holy Spirit has written within them these prophetic words of their soon-expected Lord: “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.” Rev. 22:11–12. The doctrine of the second appearing of Christ has been held by the church ever since her Lord ascended to the Father to prepare mansions for her reception. It is the event that consummates her hopes, terminates the period of her toils and sorrows, and introduces her eternal repose. What sublime scenes will then open before the waiting children of God! The blazing heavens will reveal the Son of God in his glory, surrounded by all the holy angels. The trumpet will sound and the just will come forth from the grave immortal. And all—Redeemer and redeemed, attended by the heavenly host—will move upward to the mansions prepared for them in the Father’s house. To those who really love their absent Lord, the theme of his soon return to bestow immortality upon the dead and living righteous is fraught with unspeakable blessedness. This event with all its grand results, has always been the hope of the church. Paul could look over eighteen long centuries, and speak of it as “that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” Titus 2:13. And Peter exhorts: “Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God.” 2 Pet. 3:12. And Paul again, after speaking of the descent of the Lord from Heaven, the resurrection of the dead in Christ, and their ascent with the living righteous to meet the Lord in the air, says, “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” The present is the waiting, watching time. It is the period designated by the emphatic words, “Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” Rev. 14:12. In definite time we would find relief from the suspense to which our present position subjects us. The Lord appeals to us thus: “Watch ye therefore; for ye know not when the Master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning; lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” Mark 13:25–37. J. W. Thoughts on the Book of Daniel.
By Uriah Smith
CHAPTER II, VERSE 39.—CONTINUED.
“And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee.” The use of the word kingdom, here, shows that kingdoms, and not particular kings, are represented by the different parts of this image; and hence, when it was said to Nebuchadnezzar, Thou art this head of gold, the kingdom, not the king, was meant. The succeeding kingdom, Medo-Persia, then, answers to the breast and arms of silver. It was to be inferior to the preceding kingdom. In what respect? Not in power; for it was its conqueror. Not in extent; for Cyrus subdued all the East from the Ægean Sea to the River Indus, and thus erected the most extensive empire that the world had, up to that time, seen. But it was inferior in wealth, luxury, and magnificence. Whether it was designed as the fulfillment of the prophecy or not, it is at least an interesting coincidence that the kingdom, answering to that portion of the image where the two arms are located, was composed of the union of two nationalities, the Medes and Persians. And this is rendered the more significant from the fact that this feature is distinctly marked in the other symbols representing the same empire, namely, the bear of chapter 7, and the ram of chapter 8. This fact is not observable in reference to the fourth kingdom, and the two legs, as we shall see, cannot be taken to represent two divisions of an empire. Viewed from a scriptural standpoint, the principal event under the Babylonish Empire was the captivity of the children of Israel; so the principal event under the Medo-Persian kingdom, was their restoration to their own land. Two years after the taking of Babylon, Darius, the uncle of Cyrus, to whom Cyrus, as an act of courtesy, had assigned the first place in the kingdom, died. In the same year also died Cambyses, king of Persia, Cyrus' father. By these events, Cyrus was left sole monarch of the empire, B. C. 536. This year, which closed the seventy years' captivity, witnessed the famous decree of Cyrus for the return of the Jews, and the rebuilding of their temple. This was the first installment of the great decree for the restoration and building again of Jerusalem, which was consummated in the seventh of Artaxerxes, B. C. 457, and marked the commencement of the longest and most important prophetic period to be found in the Word of God. After a reign of seven years, Cyrus left the kingdom to his son, Cambyses. Eight monarchs, whose reigns varied from seven months to forty-six years each, followed in order till the year B. C. 335, which found Darius, the last of the Persian kings, upon the throne. This man was of noble stature, of goodly person, of the greatest personal valor, and of a mild and generous disposition. Had he lived at any other age, a long and splendid career would undoubtedly have been his. But it was his ill fortune to have to contend with one who was an agent in the fulfillment of prophecy, and no qualifications, natural or acquired, could render him successful in the unequal contest. Scarcely was he warm upon the throne, says history, ere he found his formidable enemy, Alexander, preparing to dismount him from it. The cause and particulars of this contest, we need not stop to follow. Suffice it to say that affairs were brought to a decisive issue at the battle of Arbela, B. C. 331, in which the Grecians, though only one to twenty in number, as compared with the Persians, being entirely victorious, Alexander thenceforth became absolute lord of that empire to the utmost extent ever possessed by any of the Persian kings. “And another third kingdom of brass, shall bear rule over all the earth,” said the prophet. So few and brief are the inspired words, which involve in their fulfillment a change of the world's rulers. Grecia now comes upon the stage as the third of earth's universal empires. After the fatal battle which decided the fate of the empire, Darius still endeavored to rally the shattered remnants of his army, and make a stand for his kingdom and his rights. But he could not gather, out of all those of his recently so numerous and well-appointed army, a force with which he deemed it prudent to hazard another engagement with the victorious Grecians. Alexander pursued him on the wings of the wind. Time after time did Darius scarcely elude the grasp of his swiftly following foe. At length two traitors, Bessus and Nabarzanes, seized the unfortunate prince, shut him up in a close cart, and fled with him as their prisoner toward Bactria. It was their purpose if Alexander pursued them, to purchase their own safety by delivering up their king. Thereupon Alexander, learning of Darius' dangerous position in the hands of the traitors, immediately put himself with the lightest part of his army upon a forced pursuit. After several days' hard march, he came up with the traitors. They urged Darius to mount on horse-back for a more speedy flight. Upon his refusing to do this, they gave him several mortal wounds, and left him dying in his cart, while they mounted their steeds and rode away. When Alexander came up, life was extinct. As he gazed upon the corpse, he might have learned a profitable lesson of the instability of human fortune. Here was a man who, but a few months before possessed of many noble and generous qualities, was seated upon the throne of universal empire. Disaster, overthrow, and desertion, had come suddenly upon him. His kingdom had been conquered, his treasure seized, and his family reduced to captivity. And now, brutally slain by the hand of traitors, he lay a bloody corpse in a rude cart. The sight of the melancholy spectacle drew tears even from the eyes of Alexander, familiar though he was with all the horrible vicissitudes and bloody scenes of war. Throwing his cloak over the body, he commanded it to be conveyed to the captive ladies of Susa, himself furnishing the necessary means for a royal funeral. For this generous act let us give him credit; for he stands sadly in need of all that is his due. When Darius fell, Alexander saw the field cleared of his last formidable foe. Thenceforward5 he could spend his time in his own manner, now in the enjoyment of rest and pleasure, and again in the prosecution of some minor conquest. He entered upon a pompous campaign into India, because, according to Grecian fable, Bacchus and Hercules, two sons of Jupiter, whose son he also claimed to be, had done the same. He conquered all that there was any necessity for conquering, and then is said to have wept that he had not another world to conquer. For what? That he might do good to his fellow-men, bless and elevate the race, and ameliorate their woes? No; but to gratify his own insatiable thirst for power, and to pander to his ungovernable lusts. With contemptible arrogance, he claimed for himself divine honors. He gave up conquered cities, freely and unprovoked, to the absolute mercy of his bloodthirsty and licentious soldiery. He himself often murdered his own friends and favorites in his drunken frenzies. He sought out the vilest persons for the gratification of his lust. At the instigation of a dissolute and drunken woman, he, with a company of his courtiers, all in a state of beastly intoxication, sallied out, torch in hand, and fired the city and palace of Persepolis, one of the finest palaces in the world. He encouraged such excessive drinking among his followers that on one occasion twenty of them together died as the result of their carousal. At length, he, having sat through one long drinking spree, was immediately invited to another, when, after drinking to each of the twenty guests present, he twice drank full, says history, incredible as it may seem, the Herculean cup containing six of our quarts. He thereupon fell down, seized with a violent fever, of which in a few days after, he died, in the very prime of life, aged 33. Such was Alexander, who is ridiculously called “the great.” If vice, and cruelty, and vain glory, and love of power, and thirst for blood, constitute greatness, he was great; if otherwise, he was a monster, the more monstrous because his powers of mind, some of which he possessed to a remarkable degree, were prostituted to unholy ends. But he was an agent in the hands of God in the fulfillment of his word; and when that work was accomplished, he was cast away as the vile and loathsome thing that he was. The progress of the Grecian Empire, we need not stop to trace here, since its distinguishing features will claim notice under other prophecies. U. S. (Condensed from Review and Herald.) ROSSE.—Eld. Canright and Bro. Hall came to this place Feb. 9, and found fifteen keeping the Sabbath. Sunday morning, after speaking an hour on the signs of the times to a good congregation, they went to Sr. Wilcox’s for a business meeting, but such a crowd followed that it was turned into a religious meeting, and Eld. Canright again addressed them. Six offered themselves for baptism. Several whole families are deeply interested, and almost persuaded to obey the truth, but in order to meet other appointments Eld. C. was obliged to leave this field for the present. CHITTENANGO.—Outside friends by voluntary contributions have paid another week’s rent on the hall in this place where Bro. Charles Reynolds has been holding meetings. He reports that “the attendance continues good and the interest is deepening. Church members seek in vain for help from their ministers to sustain Sunday observance. They only advise them to adopt the stay-away argument, but the more intelligent, alike professors and world’s people, seem determined to hear.” WASHINGTON ISLAND.—Eld. J. G. Matteson is meeting with some opposition here. He says: “At a special school-meeting, eighteen voted against five, three of whom were the school board, that we should use the school-house for meetings. But an infidel who was very much opposed, being the clerk of the school board, locked the house against us. But this has not hindered our meetings any at all for we have obtained another house which is better located, and some have commenced to obey the truth.” CLEAR LAKE.—Eld. C. W. Olds who is giving a course of lectures in this place, has canvassed the Sabbath question and reports that six have commenced to obey God’s holy law, and all seem quite anxious to hear on the immortality question. HALL’S CORNERS.—Eld. E. R. Jones has given ten discourses in the school-house at this place. He reports an intense interest, and says that “although the nights were dark and roads very muddy, the house has been filled to overflowing at nearly every meeting. Some evenings loads have gone away unable to get standing room. The excitement has reached for miles around. Have just reached the messages, and many appear thoughtful and solemn.” DEEDSVILLE.—Through the blessing of the Lord, quite a company embraced the truth here under the labors of Bro. Bartlett. Feb. 2, Eld. S. H. Lane visited this company and continued with them one week, speaking upon the subjects of organization, systematic benevolence, health reform, etc. Sunday, the 11th, four willing souls went forward in the ordinance of baptism, and a church of fifteen members was organized. HYMEN.—Bro. J. Lamont reports that “thirteen have signed the covenant here, and six of seven others are keeping the Sabbath, who will soon unite fully.” NEW AUBURN.—Eld. D. P. Curtis has been holding meetings in this place with a good degree of success. He says, “Last Sabbath was a good day for that people. Thirteen more signed the covenant, making in all forty who are now keeping the Sabbath.” DOUGLASS CO.—For the past few weeks Bro. John J. Collins has been laboring in the county. He now reports that “there are from fifteen to twenty who are keeping the Sabbath. These will keep up Sabbath meetings in the different places, but can meet together when it is more desirable.” COOPERTOWN.—Eld. S. Osborn began a course of lectures in this place, Jan. 29. Of the meetings he says: “We have introduced health reform right in the start. We find it meets with favor; and some are already throwing away their pork and tobacco. By introducing this subject early, we have time to meet objections and queries that arise, before we leave. Disciples have given us the free use of their church. Close to this stands an academy, the professor of which is with us so far. He has come out fully on the health reform, and is helping us very much in circulating our tracts in his school. He is an educated man of fine talent. The people seem anxious to hear on the Sabbath question.”