Bro. H. M. Ayres writes from Mill Grove, N. Y.: "We feel ourselves bold for the work of present truth. We are glad to hear from so many who are agonizing for a closer walk with God; and we wish to see God's people take a high stand, and become strong in the truth. I would suggest to my brethren and sisters in the present truth, Whether in opening our hearts to receive Christ, it is not necessary to have our children under Bible government, and all who compose our family; lest if Christ enters our dwelling to bless us by supping with us and we with him, and should find parents provoking their children, and they of course disobeying their parents, he would spue such ones out of his mouth."
Anew Consecrated to God’s Service
By Joseph Harvey Waggoner
Bro. J. H. Waggoner writes from North Adams, Mich., Jan. 9th, 1857: "DEAR BRO. SMITH, I improve a few moments to say that the Lord is blessing the church in Hillsdale at this time. I spent the first Sabbath of this month with them, and improved the time in giving the warning against the deceptions and dangers of the present and the immediate future. The word was blessed and the saints were strengthened. Circumstances connected with my labors here have been the means of waking up the church to the realities of the perils of the times in which we live, and the necessity of entire consecration to God. For myself I can say, I never felt these things as deeply as at present. Never had I greater reason to rejoice in God, and in his preserving kindness than at this time. I wish to say to the little flock that I have covenanted anew to fully consecrate myself to the service of my blessed Master, and be more faithful in delivering a testimony to this wicked world of the nearness of the day of God's wrath. My constant prayer is that I may be humble enough to glorify God, and be preserved from the dangers that surround us. I want to put my whole trust in the Lord, and know nothing but Jesus and his boundless love. My earnest cry is now, 'Lord, spare thy people.'"
How They Understand.
By James White
A letter from Bro. T. H. Dunn, of Hayfield, Pa., has recently come to this Office containing mistakes, so numerous, and of such a nature, that we decide to point them out. And we ardently desire that our effort may help Bro. Dunn and others. From our acquaintance with him, we have the fullest confidence that he is a sincere seeker for truth. But the circumstances connected with his embracing the Third Angel's Message, and the influences which have been brought to bear on him since, have had a strong tendency to prejudice him against the REVIEW, and the work to which it has been devoted. Many have been in the same position with this brother, and are coming to right. Others will see where the truth, and the work of the Lord is, and will join those who have the Third Angel's Message. We have no fears but the Lord will gather his honest people into the unity of the faith in due time.
Bro. Dunn says: "I wish you to discontinue my paper. I do not like the spirit that paper manifests towards the Age to Come advocates, as you style them, especially Brn. Hall and Stephenson, relative to their trying to influence Brn. not to pay their debts to the Office. I do know that it is not so. I heard them urge the Brn. in the Wisconsin conferences to pay every cent they owed on the paper, and have said the same in Penn. I refer to James White's article on that subject."
All we have said of Elds. S. and H. is strictly true. This they, and all acquainted with the facts in the case, know. That they have denounced the REVIEW, and have made efforts to lessen its circulation, will not be denied. And that they have advised our subscribers to pay up when they stopped the REVIEW, we have never denied, but have published the fact. Our Bro. Dunn is laboring under a mistake. We have not charged Elds. S. and H. with "trying to influence Brn. not to pay their debts to the Office."
It is a fact, however, that most of those disaffected by Age to Come advocates, have neither paid their debts at this Office, nor have they stopped the REVIEW. Bro. Dunn and a very few others are exceptions. As we have said before, these are facts in the case, and facts too, which do not speak well for those holding views called the Age to Come, more recently the Gospel of the kingdom. We have recently erased the names of about one hundred from our books, many of them are those disaffected by the Age to Come, and who had taken the REVIEW years without paying for it. Several of these reside at El Dorado and at Koskonong, where the above named conferences were held. These very persons sent their donations to the Messenger, and have neglected to pay their honest debts at this Office. Even Eld. Hall exultingly wrote to this Office about one year since that he had just sent $20 to the Messenger from his brethren at El Dorado. About that time the indebtedness of these same persons was marked on the margin of their papers, but they neglected to pay it.
Be it known, that the REVIEW is not dependent on such persons for its support. The less such subscribers it has the better for the Office. But we have continued their paper, hoping to help them. And we now notice these things only to let facts appear, and help those who have been disaffected by cruel prejudice.
There are those who differ with the Editor of the REVIEW, and at the same time take into the account that he does not differ from them, any further than they do from him, and that there is a possibility of their being mistaken sometimes. With such there is no trouble. But with others the difference is all on one side, and the Editor beyond all doubt is always wrong. Those are ready to cry out "Sectarianism." But what is it that causes them to labor to get as many to stop the REVIEW as they possibly can? Is it not the very lowest grade of narrow-souled sectarianism? It is a sectarian spirit that would, if it could, crush all else but what agrees with, and bows to, their views. Here is sectarianism worthy the times six centuries ago. Some such write to this Office, and pour out the warmth of their souls on paper, expressing their disapprobation, and then, as if to make the Editor feel what they say, close up with, "Stop my paper." We would say that this is easily done. The REVIEW can much easier spare such subscribers than it can bend to all the notions of these persons who generally have as many different plans to set forth in meddling with others' business as there are persons to do it.
These remarks are not designed to apply to those who have, like Bro. Dunn, acted an honorable part in paying up; but to that class of which a female subscriber in Wisconsin is a sample. Soon after we wrote with red ink the names of delinquents on the margin of their papers, and stated that the papers to all such would be discontinued unless they immediately renewed their subscription, this lady wrote to the Office in threatening style like the following: "If you discontinue all the papers you write on with red ink, we shall withdraw our support." Singular support that! We had sent them the REVIEW one year for nothing. This seems to be the idea some have of supporting the REVIEW. That is, do the publishers the great favor to take it and read, without paying for it, and all the while complaining, and dictating the Editor.
Again Bro. Dunn says: "I do not think you give the believers in the 1000 years' reign being on the earth a fair chance in the paper. Instead of publishing the articles holding forth that, and then replying to them, you will publish it in clauses and reply to it, thus destroying its force. I refer to Brn. Reed and Sperry. Now it seems to me that that is not the way to investigate any subject. Publish the article and reply, thus giving them their full force, letting the readers judge for themselves."
In regard to Bro. Reed's article, we published every line of it excepting his introduction, that there might be no possible grounds for complaint. And in our review we gave a distinct portion of his subject, then our reply; then another portion and a reply. This is the almost universal custom in reviews. And we have yet to learn that there is a better way than to fairly lay along side by side a distinct portion of the subject with the reply. Bro. Dunn has fallen under a prejudicial influence, and this is why so many things we do look so very bad to him. Those can see but little else than smoke who look through smoky glass.
In regard to Bro. Sperry, his question was published entire in Vol. VIII, No. 11. We are personally acquainted with Bro. Sperry, and know that his faith is not the least tinctured with the heresies of the Future Age. In his heart lives and burns the present truth. And it is a fact, which time has demonstrated, that the Age to Come and the Third Angel's Message cannot live together. One or the other will fail. Where is D. P. Hall and those who have followed him in his change of views? They have given up the Message they once rejoiced in, and now labor to pull down the cause they once labored to build up.
But all things work together for good to those who love God. Some have learned a lesson in these past trials which they never would have learned in any other school. Some who have regarded the REVIEW as sectarian, because its columns have not always been open for error as well as truth, may have learned that freedom with humility and discretion is of great price; but that a profession of "liberty for a cloak of maliciousness," is one of Satan's masterpieces. J. W.
APPOINTMENTS.
By M. E. Cornell; G. W. Holt
Providence permitting, we will hold Conferences in Eastern and Northern Mich. as follows:
At Saline, Washtenaw Co., commencing Monday evening, Feb. 16th, and hold over two days.
At Shelby, Macomb Co., commencing Friday, Feb. 20th, at 1 o'clock P. M., and hold over Sabbath and First-day.
At Tyrone, Livingston Co., commencing Monday evening, Feb. 23d, and hold over two days.
At Locke, Ingham Co., commencing Friday, Feb. 27th, at 10 o'clock A. M., and hold over Sabbath and First-day.
At Meridian, as Bro. Corey may appoint, commencing Monday evening, March 2d, and continue till Thursday evening following.
At Delhi, Ingham Co., commencing Friday, March 6th, at 1 o'clock P. M., and hold over Sabbath and First-day.
From this point we may visit Ionia, Portland, Vergennes and Grand Rapids as the way may open.
Will the Brethren in these places write us at Williamstown, Ingham Co., Mich., that we may know how to make our arrangements.
The above Conferences are for the special benefit of the Church. We suggest that no rich food be prepared for these meetings; but that by fasting, prayer and confession of faults, we may return unto the Lord, and obtain lasting spiritual good, and be prepared for the great work before us.
M. E. CORNELL.
G. W. HOLT.
Business Items.
By Editor
N. G. Sanders:—We send the papers.
C. W. Stanley:—Our stock of Charts is so far reduced that we have now none to spare from the Office. There are probably some copies lying idle in Wisconsin. Perhaps one of them could be obtained.
Wm. A. Raymond:—The only letter we received from you in Dec. last, was dated the 18th of that month, and contained money from Wm. Chapman for Book Fund, &c. We send Assistant.
R. Luce, jr.:—We send you $2,00 worth of books. We have filled your order as near as we could. You will see our retail prices (postage paid) in the REVIEW. Discount about one third by the quantity.
Receipts.
By Editor
Annexed to each receipt in the following list, is the Volume and Number of the "Review and Herald" to which the money receipted pays. If money for the paper is not in due time acknowledged, immediate notice of the omission should then be given.
FOR REVIEW AND HERALD.
Wm. Sevey, 1,00,x,1. C. Simonds 1,00,x,1. R. Griggs 2,00,x,1. N. G. Sanders 1,00,x,1. Giles Castle 1,00,x,17. Chas. Wikel 1,00,x,1. C. Weed 1,00,x,1. M. F. Cook 1,00,x,1. D. R. Palmer 1,00,xi,1. Ira Abbey (3 copies) 3,00,xii,1. H. Bigelow 0,25,x,1. R. Hicks 1,00,x,1. E. Scribner 1,00,ix,1. P. Davis 1,00,ix,1. L. W. Stiles 0,50,ix,13. C. W. Stanley (for A. Locke) 0,50,x,1. C. W. Stanley 0,50,ix,14. S. Vanloon 2,00,x,1. Church in Lorain, N. Y. (for D. Hall) 1,00,xi,1. Saml. Harriman 1,00,x,1. L. R. Chapel 1,50,xi,1. H. S. Wells 1,50,x,14. Jno. Pierce (for Jno. Sawtell) 1,00,x,15. J. Davis 1,00,x,1. A. W. Curtis 1,50,xi,1. E. A. Baker 1,00,x,14. L. M. Lay 0,50,x,1.
FOR REVIEW TO THE POOR.—V. V. Abbey $1. A. M. A. Cornell $2. D. Richmond $1,14.
FOR OFFICE RELIEF.—J. Whitmore $1. Ira Abbey $2. S. Benson $10. A friend $0,64.
Books for Sale at this Office.
By Editor
The price set to each publication includes both the price of the book, and the postage, when sent by Mail.
Hymns for those who keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus. This Hymn Book is designed to promote not only public worship, but also social and family devotions. It is a selection of Hymns expressing the faith and hope of the Church as set forth in the Scriptures of truth, free from the popular errors of the age. The Book contains 352 Pages, 430 Hymns, and 76 pieces of Music. Price, 60 cents.—In Morocco, 65 cents.
Bible Tracts Bound in Two Volumes. These Volumes are of about 400 pages each, and embrace nearly all of our published Tracts. We are happy to offer to our friends the main grounds of our faith in a style so acceptable.—Price, 50 cents each.
Sabbath Tracts, Nos. 1, 2, 3 & 4. This work presents a condensed view of the entire Sabbath question.—184 pages. Price 15 cents.
The Sanctuary and Twenty-three Hundred Days, by “J. N. A.” This work presents a clear exposition of Daniel viii and ix, shows what the Sanctuary is, and the nature of its cleansing. Price 12½ cents.
The Three Angels of Rev. xiv, 6-12, particularly the Third Angel's Message, and the Two-horned Beast. This work maintains the fulfillment of Prophecy in the past Advent movement, and is of great importance in these times of apostasy and peril.—148 pages.—Price 12½ cents.
Review of Crozier. This work is a faithful review of the No-Sabbath doctrine as set forth in the Advent Harbinger by O. R. L. Crozier. It should be placed in the hands of those who are exposed to that heresy.—Price 6 cents.
The Bible Class. This work contains 52 Lessons on the Law of God and the Faith of Jesus, with questions. It is peculiarly adapted to the wants of those of every age who are unacquainted with our views of these subjects, especially the young.—Bound 25 cents. Paper covers, 18 cents.
The Four Universal Monarchies of the Prophecy of Daniel, and the Kingdom of God, to which is added a condensed view of the 2300 days and the Sanctuary.—Price 8 cents.
The Sabbath. Containing valuable articles on 2 Cor. iii; Col. ii, 14-17. Who is our Lawgiver? The two bills of Matt. v, 18, Consistency, &c.—Price 5 cents.
The Law of God. In this excellent work the testimony of both Testaments relative to the law of God—its knowledge from Creation, its nature and perpetuity—is presented.—Price 12½ cents.
The Truth Found. A Short Argument for the Sabbath, by J. H. W. This is the best condensed work on the Sabbath extant. Price 6 cents.
Sabbath and Advent Miscellany. This work is composed of seven small tracts on the Sabbath, Second Advent, &c, and presents a choice variety for those who commence to seek for Bible truth. Price 10 cents.
The Bible Sabbath, or a careful selection from the publications of the American Sabbath Tract Society, including their History of the Sabbath. Price 10 cts.
The Atonement. This work opens a wide field of Bible truth, and will be found a valuable assistant in the study of the great theme on which it treats.—196 pp.—18 cents.