Earlier text: INFIDEL OBJECTIONSNOTES AND QUERIES.
By Editor
QUERY. Paul says, "Let your women keep silence in the churches." 1 Cor. xiv, 34. Are we to understand him as he says? or how? As he says, most certainly. But what does he say? We do not believe he says anything to contradict the directions he has just given in the same and the three previous chapters. In the same chapter he speaks of the church, giving certain directions concerning it. Now who are the church? Are women recognized as a part of it? No one will deny that they are. Then hear the words of the apostle. Verse 23. "If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues," &c. Verse 24. "But if all prophesy," &c. Verse 31. "[But ye may all prophesy] [if the Spirit so direct], all, without any exception, females as well as males. But lest some should say that what follows about the women being silent, Paul designed as an exception to this general rule, we turn to the eleventh chapter, and find especial directions concerning women's praying and prophesying. In what sense does the apostle use the word prophesy here? He means by it, speaking and exhorting to the comfort and edification of the church. Chap. xiv, 3. In view of all this it looks to us like a very singular position for any one to take who believes in the authenticity of the Scriptures, to claim that by the silence of chap. xiv, 34, is forbidden the very things about which he had been giving such explicit directions, and granting such unbounded liberty. We think the language in question was designed to correct some particular abuse existing in the Corinthian church. DISTINCTION OF MEATS.—A correspondent asks an explanation of Isa. lxv, 1–8, and also chap. lxvi, 17, particularly the reference to swine's flesh, found in those scriptures. The query we suppose is, Do those scriptures apply to the present time, and is the eating of such food thereby forbidden? In regard to Isa. lxv, 1–8, there is evident reference to the call of the Gentiles. Paul so applies it in Rom. x, 20, 21. The Jews and Gentiles are there contrasted. The rebellious people are the literal house of Israel; and hence to the same people apply the accusations of remaining among the groves, lodging in the monuments, eating swine's flesh, &c. But what about Isa. lxvi, 17? Those who endeavor to prove by it that there is a restriction laid upon certain kinds of food in this dispensation, will find difficulties in their interpretation. There is a class of people brought to view in the text, who have other characteristics besides the eating of swine's flesh: They sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens, and eat, not only swine's flesh, but the abomination and the mouse! Can any class of people be found at the present day to whom this language will literally apply? There cannot. To one of two conclusions, then, we must here come: It must either apply to those in the past dispensation, who literally did such things, or it must be taken symbolically, as denoting some peculiar and particular sins. But neither of these positions affords any ground for the conclusion that by it pork is now excluded as an article of provision. We prefer to take scripture declarations in their most literal sense, when such an interpretation is admissible. And we see no objection to taking this, the allusions to the future punishment of the wicked, which Isa. lxvi contains being as applicable to sinners in the days of that prophet, as at any other time; since they will all be destroyed together at the end of the one thousand years of Rev. xx. We would not be understood in these remarks as discussing the propriety or impropriety of making pork a common article of food. We only design to state why we think the Bible does not in the passages referred to, lay upon it any restriction as respects this dispensation. So far as that book directs we understand all are at liberty to use it or refrain from it, as other considerations may determine. THE EVENING.—I am at a loss how to harmonize a text of scripture found in Mark iv, and the idea of the day commencing with the evening. It is as follows: "And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side." Matthew says, "When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils, and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick. Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side." Matt. viii, 16–18. It would appear, by the way Matthew records the event, that Christ performed several miracles, after the even was come, before he gave commandment to depart unto the other side; and yet Mark says it was the same day that he gave the command. This, and similar expressions, are easily explained from the fact that the Jews reckoned two evenings. Says the Bible Dictionary, lately published by the American Tract Society, "The Hebrews reckoned two evenings in each day. According to the Pharisees and the Rabbins, the first evening began when the sun inclined to descend more rapidly, that is, at the ninth hour; while the second or real evening commenced at sunset." Robinson's testimony [Gr. Lex.] is similar. He says: "The Hebrews reckoned two evenings: so in the phrase 'between the two evenings,' as marking the interval or portion of the day in which the paschal lamb was killed [Ex. xii, 6, &c.], and also the evening sacrifice was to be offered. Ex. xxix, 39, 41. The Pharisees and Rabbinists according to the Mishna (Pesach 5, 3) held the first evening to commence with the declining sun, and the second evening with the setting sun. This was the prevailing view in the time of our Lord, the hour of evening sacrifice and prayer being then the ninth hour, or 3 P. M., Acts iii, 1, and the paschal lamb being regularly killed between the ninth and eleventh hours. Jos. B. J. 6, 9, 3." It thus appears that there were two evenings to the same day, one evening marking the commencement of the day, and the other occupying the closing hours of the same day. Hence the expression, the same day at evening, contains no difficulty. COMMENCEMENT OF THE DAY.—How can Matt. xxviii, be harmonized with the idea of commencing the day at sunset. Admitting that the day is supplied, what does the term, dawn, mean? "As it began to dawn," signifies, as it began to grow light. The supplied word day, signifies not only the whole period of twenty-four hours, but also the light part of the day, between sunrise and sunset, as in Matt. iv, 2. This is evidently its meaning in Matt. xxviii, 1. SABBATH SCHOOLS.—M. S. Kellogg: In answer to your inquiry we will state in brief the present method of conducting the Sabbath School here; and the friends in your vicinity can act upon the same, if they see no better way. We meet at 10 o'clock A. M., and spend usually an hour and a half in the exercises. School is opened by singing. The superintendent then reads a chapter in the Bible and engages in prayer. After this the teachers proceed with the lesson in their respective classes. Although conducted under the general name of Sabbath school, the higher classes partake more of the nature of a Bible class. Some interesting portion of scripture is taken, usually a chapter, or less if the subjects embraced in it are specially important and comprehensive. The object aimed at is to get a full and clear understanding of the scripture examined. The teacher asks those questions which in his or her opinion are calculated to draw out such remarks and suggestions from the class as will throw light on the lesson, and also takes into consideration such questions as may be proposed by any of the class. This exercise being finished, the superintendent makes some general remarks upon the lesson, and then calls upon the members of the school, more or less of them, as time will allow, for a text of scripture upon some particular subject which had been given out the Sabbath previous. For instance, if the subject of the Sabbath is proposed, every member of the school is to have a text to repeat upon that subject the next Sabbath; and so with any other subject. We are finding the above a very efficient method of increasing our interest in, and knowledge of, the teaching of the Bible. ORGANIZATION.
By James White
As we are speedily approaching the time for effecting an organization for publishing our141 papers and books, and as some may still have doubts about the propriety of the action, I wish to say a few words through the REVIEW. A remark recently made to me by a man from one of the Eastern States I shall make the immediate foundation of this article. This person asked me how the REVIEW Office was held, and by whom owned. I explained to him the circumstances. He appeared to be pleased to get correct information, and said that a man in the State of New York told him that Eld. White was a designing man; that he had induced the friends of the cause to contribute funds to establish the Office, they supposing that it belonged to the church; but it now turned out that he owned it all. However averse we may feel in general to make an individual the subject of remarks, there are times and circumstances when such feelings must be put away, and the truth itself must be vindicated in the persons of its adversaries. I wish to refer to some facts in the past. Alone and unassisted, Bro. White commenced the publication of present truth. "Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 2," which every one should read, will give some idea of his trials and labors. After the establishment of the Office at Rochester, Bro. White, as publisher, editor and preacher, was engaged in editing the paper, purchasing materials, overseeing the publishing and printing, stitching and folding, &c., answering correspondence, giving advice, writing books, besides which he was expected to attend all the conferences and important meetings, and was sometimes strongly censured for failing to attend them where a failure was unavoidable. While thus laboring on with scanty means and falling health, dissatisfaction arose. Some who had been for years benefited by his labors, but who had borne no burdens themselves, and therefore could not appreciate the trials of others, began to raise the cry that the cause could not prosper—too much power was placed in the hands of Bro. White! This, of course, was trying to Bro. W., and to all the true friends of the cause, who plainly saw that one power he did not possess to a sufficient degree to bear up under his complicated labors, to wit: "the power of endurance." Under this spirit of jealousy the "Messenger" was started; and as Bro. W. had long borne too many burdens, that was deemed a fit time to throw them off, and at once relieve himself, and save from a trial of mind those who were like to be deceived by the murmurings and misrepresentations of the Messenger and its friends. Accordingly, he resigned the office of editor, placed the materials fully in the hands of the church, and transferred the books he had published to the charge of a committee at a very low rate. The conference appointed a Publishing Committee to take charge of the business, who hired Bro. White, at a merely nominal price, to transact the business for them. The Messenger having accomplished its work, and drawn away the crooked and rebellious spirits out of the church, God's servants took hold of the work with renewed zeal and energy, and the cause prospered for a season even beyond the most sanguine anticipations of its friends. The publishing facilities needed to be increased, and it was decided to obtain a power press. Bro. White, as the agent for the committee, solicited and received contributions and purchased a press, engine, &c. It soon became evident that the Office building was insufficient for publishing purposes, and this gave rise to a question as to the title of real estate. If the Office was removed, a new site must be purchased, but if it was not removed, the present location must be purchased from the individuals owning it before the necessary alterations could be made. It was then seen that the conference committee could not obtain any legal title as they were not a body recognized by the law; again the question arose as to the ownership of the office materials, and it was found that the committee were equally incompetent to hold gifts or donations, and that the title was really vested in Bro. White who had received the contributions. This was as much a matter of astonishment to him as to any one else, and as he had seen the use that the enemy had made of his position in 1855, he did not feel willing to go forward and increase the property of the church unless the church was competent to hold it. In other words, he refused to do what the enemies of the cause are accusing him of doing! Although he has passed through some trying scenes, they have not so blunted his sensibilities (as some appear to think) but what he can feel the force of malicious accusations and insinuations. Any and all who will take this home to themselves will see that no one can act free where their actions are so very liable to be misunderstood and misrepresented. Bro. White has occupied a place where great responsibilities have necessarily rested on him; this fact has been viewed in a wrong light by many of his true sympathizing friends. They say the Lord has called him to occupy such a place, and we are satisfied to trust him in that position. But I now think we should make a different use of the fact. Allowing that the Lord has placed Bro. W. in his position, does he not require that he shall be free in that position? Surely, it is not a sufficient reason for binding unnecessary burdens on a man, that he is called of God to do his work. The messenger of the church who goes forth to proclaim the present truth, desires to be as free as his circumstances will possibly permit, and we consider that person no friend of the cause of God who will needlessly add to his burdens. There are greater responsibilities and heavier burdens necessarily attaching to Bro. W.'s position than to that of any other laborer in the message, and of course there is a proportional necessity of his mind being free from perplexities and embarrassments that do not legitimately belong to his position, or to his calling. Although there has been an aversion to changing the order of things pertaining to the publishing department, it would be well to bear in mind that the present state has not been sanctioned by the church. The very act of the conference in appointing a Publishing Committee, and the endorsement of that action by subsequent conferences, shows that the body did not contemplate having Bro. White bear the burden and responsibility that he has borne; and he only demurred when he found that the Committee were legally incompetent to perform the duties for which they were appointed, and that he was in fact sustaining a position that he repudiated in 1855, and that the conference of that year had not the remotest idea of placing him in. All this considered, with the further fact that the late position of the Office gives occasion to the enemy to cast blame and reproach upon the most tried friend of the cause, will justify the course of the late conference in taking steps for the organization of the Publishing Association. Late information from Lansing gives us to understand that a bill has passed into a law, under which we can organize. We shall soon be made acquainted with its provisions, and the friends of the cause, who stand waiting to aid by becoming members of the association, will have an opportunity of joining us in the work. We hope that prejudice will be laid entirely aside, and reason and love of the cause control the action of every one.
J. H. W. SYMPATHY is a good trait, but we must direct it aright, or often it leads astray; as when on the side of justice, it is a virtue; but when ill-directed, it becomes a vice. The Judge upon the bench would be guilty of a heinous offense, if he should allow his sympathetic feelings to arise in the discharge of his official duties. Not less guilty is the christian who does not control his sympathies. Love is an excellent trait, and should be in its purest sense exercised towards all; but there are certain kinds of love that are limited, as "conjugal love." Now what would be the condition of that person who would cease to confine this particular kind of love to its proper limits? All can see this. Sympathy is not less mischievous when at large and unbridled. Can those be engaged in the message who do not understand it? Can those understand the message who do not study it? Can those study the message who do not feel interested in it? Neglect of duty is as deadly as sin—as presumptuous or willful sin, and as fatal, perhaps more so. The soldier who does not use prudence, and neglects to use means of defense, is soon subdued by his foe; for bravery without caution is as dangerous as cowardice. Pride is the fuel for fanaticism. Seek righteousness, seek meekness, it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger. Pride is exceedingly hateful to God, and often he gives the proud over to Satan. Oh, how exceedingly dangerous to be complimented and flattered, when the best of men, as Job, says he abhors himself; and Daniel says his comeliness is turned into corruption; and Isaiah says, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. If you wish to be the target of devils, and the burden and grief of the good, cultivate pride and self-conceit. Let careless compliments sink deep into your bosom, feed upon praise, and sweet words, and soon Satan entices you into his parlor, and makes you think it is the outer court of heaven. Bro. Fanciful had a series of dreams and powerful impressions; but Brn. Caution and Experience held him in check; and now they can work in union, as they all feel the necessity of moving understandingly and cautiously, and in harmony with the body. When an army contemplates a grand attack upon the enemy, concentration is the order of the day; and as the fight approaches, and the armies begin to close in, in deadly conflict, all stragglers from the main body are viewed with suspicion; and no sane soldier or officer will rush upon the enemy singly, but with close rank and phalanx, all move with order and precision; and woe to the careless soldier or disobedient, ambitious officer, who, to add laurels to his own brow, causes a diversion, and thus tramples upon the order of the day. DUTIES.—Unfulfilled duties are like a dead weight to sink the soul beneath the waves, while duties well and promptly performed, are like buoyant life-preservers, and when duties are conscientiously performed, then the life-preserver is expanded, and buoys up the person; but neglected duties are like so many life-preservers from which the air has escaped, and the more you have of them, the deeper you sink.
Not that I would affirm that we can be saved by the performance of duties (by the grace of God it is we are saved), but in the performance of them it is God has seen fit to manifest his glorious presence, to christian warriors and worthies in the past. Abraham was a good man, but he must prove himself so, and God tried his confidence in the contemplation of sacrificing the favorite Isaac, and in the fulfillment of the duty comes the fulfillment of the promise. Not in the abstract consent of the mind alone (although many duties are necessarily mere consent of the will), God will have proof, visible proof, both to the individual, to the church, to the world, and to God himself, and in every positive experience such as God is now granting his people, and such as stand on ancient record, this fact is prominent, that God reveals himself most clearly to the most thorough and patient worker. Witness Moses, David, Cornelius, Paul, John, &c., and one fact is quite remarkable (to the natural heart) that these worthies142 always performed these duties as a privilege, a pleasure, not as merits, not as prices; and the gifts of God were always received with thanksgiving, with the fact always in view, that all on man's part is dependence and unworthiness; all on God's part is free gift and boundless love and benevolence. WELL KNOWN.—Did you ever think of it? that your character is truly daguerreotyped in heaven? Every word and act, habits of thought, that inward but hidden spite against your faithful brethren, that secret lust, that self-complacent glance in the looking-glass, that envious look at your neighbor's house and furniture, that hidden corner of your heart where burn occasionally, old grudges, unforgiven injuries, unlawful loves, impure remembrances, unholy desires and passions, which you would blush to confide to your most intimate friend, all faithfully transcribed in heaven! As the artist portrays every lineament of the face in the daguerreotype, so truly and impartially is every part of the church, in all its deformity or excellence, inscribed in heaven, and what is encouraging to the humble seeker for holiness, is that every victory, every secret sigh for freedom, every groan and tear on account of sin and temptation, every struggle for emancipation, every longing for light, every agonizing prayer for the presence and leading of the Spirit, is also recorded in heaven, and noticed by Him who condescends to call us brethren; and the great Jehovah, whose piercing eye enters every heart, with impartial justice, views the hidden springs of action and motive. Lame apologies, and limping self-justifications, little leanings towards self-favoritism, "small ephahs," and "great shekels" [Amos viii, 5], false shame before the wicked, but distrust of God, and light treatment of his messages, with all the black catalogue of sin, with the progress of its opposite holiness, is written in living characters in heaven. There it will stand as evidence to condemn or acquit.
Now brother, sister, let us all endeavor to keep our garments, so to inspect our hearts, that we may see them as they are viewed in heaven, and live as always in this light.
J. CLARKE. MEETINGS IN KNOXVILLE, IOWA.
By Moses Hull
I COMMENCED meetings in the old court house in Knoxville, the first of March, and held over first-day. The Lord gave freedom in preaching the word. Our social meetings were also very good. On Monday night the new court house was opened for me. I gave three lectures in that. Notwithstanding Eld. Edwards, the "sailor preacher," the great Baptist revivalist, is holding meetings every day and night in Knoxville, our congregations were large. The house was well filled with attentive hearers every night. Some who have been the subjects of prayer for more than a year are now rejoicing in present truth. Their only wonder is that they did not see it before. Five were buried with their Lord in the ordinance of baptism. May the Lord make them a bright light in time to come. The church in Knoxville has learned by the things which it has suffered. I think it is now in the best condition that it has ever been, having been benefited by past experience. May the Lord preserve us unto his heavenly kingdom.
M. HULL. P. S. Brn. H. C. Whitney, and B. N. Auten, of Knoxville, Bro. N. Hodges, of Sandyville, Bro. A. Caldwell, of Decatur City, and Bro. C. H. T. St. Clair, of Fairfield, have been appointed tent committee. The brethren have resolved to support the tent in Southern Iowa.
M. H. WHEN and by whom were the books of the Old Testament first collected and arranged? By Ezra, about 400 years before Christ. The five books of Moses had been kept with the ark of the covenant [Deut. xxxi, 24, 26], and Joshua had written the portion of scripture bearing his name "in the book of the law of God." Joshua viii, 24, 26. What are the most prominent translations of the Bible that have been made? The Septuagint, the Vulgate, the Douay, and the English, or king James' Bible. What is the meaning of the word Septuagint? Seventy. The translation was so called because it was made by seventy, or more strictly, by seventy-two men; six having been chosen from each of the twelve tribes of Israel for this purpose. When and where was the translation made? At Alexandria, in Egypt, about 200 years before Christ. It was a translation of the Old Testament only, from the Hebrew and the Greek. How was the translation regarded by the Jews in the time of Christ? It was regarded with peculiar reverence. Our Saviour and the apostles, in their discourses, generally quoted from this version. What is the Vulgate translation? It is a Latin translation of the Septuagint not of the Hebrew, and so called the Vulgate, because, being the only version which the Roman Catholic church holds to be reliable, it is in that church the common version. When and by whom was the translation made? By Jerome, about the year A. D. 403. It is an English translation of the Vulgate, with notes and comments, and is the only English Bible approved by the Roman Catholic church. From what did it receive its name? From the place where it was first published—Douay, a town in France. Why does it differ so much from our English Bible? Because it was made, not from the original Hebrew, but from the Vulgate, which was from the Septuagint, and was very imperfect. It could not be as correct as a translation made directly from the Hebrew. Why is our English version called king James' Bible? Because it was made during the reign of James I, king of England. When was it begun, and when completed? In the year 1607 the work was commenced, and finished in about three years, and published in 1611. Fifty-four of the most learned men of the kingdom were appointed to perform the task. Seven of these did not serve, leaving forty-seven as the number who were actually engaged in the work. How was the labor apportioned among this number? They were divided into six classes: to each of which a certain portion of the Bible was given to translate, not from the Latin or the Septuagint, but directly from the original Hebrew and Greek. What was the earliest division of the Bible? That which is supposed to have been made by Ezra. The books of the Old Testament were divided into three classes: The Law, the Prophets, and the Writing, or The Psalms. To this our Saviour refers. Luke xxiv, 44. All things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets and in the Psalms concerning me. When and by whom was the Bible first divided into chapters? This is generally said to have been done by Cardinal Hugo, A. D. 1240. But as early as the middle of the third century the four gospels had been divided into chapters. When and by whom were the chapters divided into verses? By Robert Stephens, in the year 1551. It is said he performed the greater part of his laborious task while on horseback, on a journey from Paris to Lyons. What of the punctuation of the Bible? The introduction of points or stops to mark the sense, is a gradual improvement, commenced by Jerome in the fourth century, and continued and improved by succeeding critics. LEADING CHILDREN TO CHRIST.
I THANK thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast * revealed these things unto babes. Luke x, 21. "We make Pharisees of our children, unintentionally to be sure, but no less certainly, and then if the gospel ever takes effect upon their hearts, all our work must be undone," remarked Mrs. Herbert when her sister closed the door on her sleeping child. "I don't understand you," said Mrs. Norton in an inquiring tone. "I was thinking of what you had been telling little Willie, and of my own former teachings," replied Mrs. Herbert. "You told him if he was a good boy and obeyed his parents, and said his prayers, he would go to heaven when the time came for him to die." "Well, what else could I say?" asked the mother in surprise. "Tell him the simple story of the cross, teach him his own sinfulness and his entire dependence on Christ for salvation." "But will such teaching answer for one so young, will it not discourage all effort to do right?" "I think not; on the contrary it will cultivate and strengthen the noblest faculties of the mind, while it prepares the way for the gospel." "I'm sure I should not know what to say," remarked Mrs. Norton with a sigh. "I could tell the story of the fall, and explain the plan of redemption somewhat, perhaps, but when I should attempt to apply these truths to his own little self in his childish life, I should fail! What could I say?" "Take your own relations to him as an illustration," replied Mrs. Herbert; "teach him to do right, not to purchase heaven with his good works, but that he may please the dear Jesus who loves little Willie even more than his mother does. This is a beautiful idea to the mind of a child, and certainly the scriptural one. Duty-doing then becomes the privilege of love, not the purchase of favor. How much more noble the motive, and, believe me, the incentive is stronger. Above all, teach your child that all acceptable service must spring from love in the heart. Do not desist until you are fully satisfied that your child is converted." "Converted! Why, Mary, do you think Willie is old enough to be a Christian?" asked Mrs. Norton with surprise. "I do not know," replied Mrs. Herbert; "the time when moral responsibility begins, differs according to the mental development of children, and we cannot say that all children are irresponsible till a certain age, and after that time, all children are accountable subjects of God's government, but I think the period of responsibility, and consequently the age at which children may become Christians, is much younger than many imagine." "As you have no children, of course that opinion is more theory," said Mrs. Norton in a tone which clearly implied her doubts of its correctness. "No, it is not more theory. I have known three, yet, four instances of the conversion of children about the age of Willie; and I never shall forget the circumstances which wrought an entire change in my own mode of instruction as an infant-school teacher." "Early in the spring of 18—I became deeply impressed with the idea that some of my class would die that summer, and that I must be more faithful in my efforts for their immediate conversion. The impression that I should lose some of my flock was not remarkable, for I had a class of seventy-five little children, and it would seem almost wonderful if none did die during the summer. But such reasoning did not relieve the feeling of responsibility. At one of the Sabbath-school teachers' meetings the superintendent was urging upon the teachers the duty of laboring directly for the conversion of their classes, and turning to me he said, 'Mrs. Herbert, though you cannot hope to see immediate results from your labors among such young children, you may expect that the seed sown will spring up and bear fruit hereafter.' Oh! I cannot tell you how this affected me; I replied, 'If I could not labor and pray for their immediate conversion, believing such a work to be possible, I would give up the class at once.' A half smile of incredulity passed over the faces of the teachers, and superintendent, and I felt that with that great burden upon my heart, I was considered visionary, and consequently was shut out from their prayerful sympathy. I also spoke of my feelings in the ladies prayer-meeting with nearly the same result, though the mothers prayed for me, and for their young children, yet evidently with many doubts of the possibility of an immediate answer. I felt shut up to God! But when did divine strength ever fail the humble seeker? The visitors to the infant class were accustomed to speak to the children of the necessity of a new heart, but none had ever explained the subject to their comprehension, and I undertook the difficult task. "Never till then had I the least idea that I was imparting to those tender minds any other than pure gospel truth, but when I attempted to explain to them the entire sinfulness of their own nature, and the utter impossibility of doing anything to merit eternal life, I saw plainly from their perplexed and eager listening that they were seeking to reconcile this with the teaching they had previously received from my lips, and perhaps from the lips of their Christian mothers, that if they were good they would go to heaven. Week after week, with earnest prayer and thought, I labored to present the plan of salvation through Christ, in such a plain and simple manner that every child could understand it, and I was surprised to find how much my own conceptions of the gospel, the plain, simple doctrines of grace, had become enshrouded in the mysticism of a phraseology, which, though perhaps correct in itself, does not convey even to the mature mind, the same impressions that are made by the use of such simple terms as children can readily understand. I became a very child myself in the blessed preparation to teach these babes.", "The hot summer months came on with no diminution of my solicitude, and no apparent answer to my prayers. One day I heard that one of my little ones was dead! So suddenly did the summons come, that though her mother was one of my most intimate friends I had not even heard of the dear child's illness. "Mattie had been a restless child, full of life and vigor; she was very affectionate, and had been well143 instructed by a devoted Christian mother, but was she one of Christ's little ones? Only six years old, was she a responsible moral agent? Oh! how I longed to know what, with so large a class, I could not learn at the Sabbath-school. After the funeral, I called on her mother, and, to my great joy, learned many facts which led me to believe that the dear little one was indeed an heir of grace. She was delirious during her illness, but her mother said that for some time previous, she and other members of the family had noticed a change in her. She had been in the habit of secret prayer, and when her little friends visited her, she had been overheard by her mother and sisters talking to them in her simple way of Jesus and her love for him. She often told her mother during the spring and summer that 'she could not stay away from Sunday-school because Mrs. Herbert was telling the children how to get a new heart so they could go to heaven.' And in the Sunday-school when I said at the close of the regular lesson, 'Now children if you will be quiet I will tell you about the new heart,' Mattie's sister frequently heard her say to the children beside her, 'Don't whisper to me now, for I want to learn how to get a new heart.' "How far, or, if in any degree, my effort had been the means of her conversion, I do not know, but I went home cheered and encouraged, and need I say strengthened in the belief of the early conversion of children when properly instructed, and never since then have I taught the little ones that 'if they are good they will go to heaven.'" "Why, Mary, I never looked at the subject at all in that light before," said Mrs. Norton; "I thought Willie quite too young to understand much about these things, and all I had to do at present was to teach him his little prayers, and give him some motives for right doing. But I shall change my course at once, for I believe you are right. Dear little Mattie! If my Willie should be taken away, how precious would be such assurance that he was safe in the arms of Jesus," and the young mother's eyes were suffused with tears. "God help you to lead him to that loving Saviour," said Mrs. Herbert. "Do not be discouraged by the difficulties which you will surely encounter; remember that Jesus himself has said, 'Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.'"—Fam. Guardian. "Then they that feared the Lord, spake often one to another." DEAR BRO. SMITH: I wait for the Review as it makes its weekly visits as I wait for a drink of cold water when very thirsty. It comforts and encourages me while waiting for the Lord; and by its faithfulness, and straightforward course in advocating present truth, though unpopular, and pointing out and condemning errors, it reproves me if I should stray from the narrow path. How cheering to hear from the various parts of the great harvest field every week. By this means I am prepared to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep, and thus sympathize with those who feel the burden of this message. Brethren and sisters we should not be slow to hold up the hands of the burden-bearers in this message. God's frown will rest upon those who do not come up to the help of the Lord in the great preparation for the Lord's coming. How glorious appears the harmonious chain of present truth. It is the word of the Lord, like apples of gold in pictures of silver. It is a fire to consume dross, and undermine sandy foundations. It is a sword with two edges, which proceeds from the mouth of the Lord, and gloriously defends justice and mercy. Can we ask more to be done for us? But we greatly lack the spirit of this message, which is communicated through faith. Where faith is lacking communication by the ministry of angels is suspended. Then how weak! How poor! How miserable, and wretched blind and naked! Jesus pleads, angels wait to communicate, but faith shivers like a leaf in the wind. All this distrust amounts to nothing, but will end in death. We have every reason to believe firmly and fully in regard to all the way which the Lord has led us into the third angel's message. The heavens by signs have preached to us. The earth is preaching to us with groans unutterable. Men have been endowed with power and preached to us, unfolding the rich treasures of God's word. The evil servants have preached to us by their railing and scoffing, filling up their cup of iniquity for the day of wrath. Angels have been sent, and, through vision, have preached to us, correcting our errors and encouraging us in the warfare, and have we not reasons to believe without wavering? O let us cherish every good impression and strictly abide by them. May the God of peace sanctify wholly, and preserve us blameless. Yours waiting in hope. H. S. GURNEY.
Jackson, Mich.