We are living in an age of the world of unprecedented solemnity. No previous age has in any degree equaled it, as in no case have the events immediately impending, been equally momentous. The fate of our race is about to be decided. The decisions of eternity are upon us. It is in view of these things that the Prophet calls upon us in the following impressive language: "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 ii, 1. Again, verses 15, 17: "Blow a trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly, Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people O Lord!"
Again, in James iv, 8-10, we find directions touching our deportment during that time when the "Judge standeth at the door." "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands ye sinners, and purify your hearts ye double-minded. Be afflicted and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord!" &c.
We cannot forbear contrasting with the above the report of the Annual Collation of "The American Congregational Union," which we find in the "Independent" of the 19, inst. It was professedly a religious assemblage; the speeches that were made were professedly of a religious nature; but, as a whole, what was its character? The introductory description styles it "the most brilliant assemblage which was gathered for any occasion during anniversary week." Henry Ward Beecher was chairman, and there were over seventeen hundred ladies and gentlemen present. The exercises, as reported, were, with little exception, one continued round of jokes and criticisms. The words "laughter," "great laughter," "convulsive laughter," are noted forty-seven times in the report. For want of space we can give only two specimens of the proceedings. A distribution of flowers was made to the ladies, sometime during the evening. In introducing this exercise, Mr. Beecher said,
"An effort has been made to provide every lady in the congregation; but whether there is enough for every one, will appear better when they have been distributed. Very likely there will not be quite enough. So you may understand that all those who receive bouquets receive them as special testimonies of our universal regard to each one; and that if there are any who receive none, it is because we consider their merits beyond all expression! [Great laughter.]"
"Dr. Thompson.—Lest any should covet these two particular bouquets on the desk, I claim the privilege of presenting one, at the close of the exercises, to Mrs. Henry Ward Beecher; and whatever other lady can so far win the favor of the Chairman as to induce him to present to her the other bouquet, is welcome to it. [Laughter.]"
"Mr. Beecher.—I will occupy the rest of the evening in meditation. [Laughter.]"
Dr. Anderson having concluded a speech calling forth a due amount of "laughter" and "applause," Mr. Beecher said,
"I am satisfied that I called out the right man, [Laughter.] . . . And now, since Dr. Anderson has alluded to the service rendered to religious liberty by the Dutch, we have a brother here of the Dutch Reformed Church, and I believe of Dutch blood too. I shall ask him to speak to this sentiment;"
"'The work of propagating the Gospel.—A pledge of the Unity of Christians.'"
"I introduce to you the Rev. Henry M. Scudder—a name which I need only mention, and you all recognize it at once. [Applause.]"
"Mr. Scudder, on stepping forward, said he feared the audience were doomed to be disappointed, for the idea of a Dutchman was generally associated with a notion not inaptly illustrated by the story of the Irishman who, having built his home, surrounded it with a wall four feet high and five feet broad, and being asked by a neighbor his reason for it, declared, 'Sure if the wall falls it will be higher than ever.' [Laughter.] Such was the general opinion as to the architectural build of a Dutchman. [Laughter.] He was supposed to have more horizontal, than vertical. He (the speaker) proceeded to say that he accepted the sentiment with all his heart, and coincided fully with the gentleman who had preceded him as to the folly of making Church distinctions among Christians, when Christian work was to be done. The only difference, he said, turning to the Chairman, is that mine is a little better, for if it wasn't I would go over to yours at once. [Laughter.] A Hindoo proverb says, 'If you mollify a dog's tail with oil, and put it into splints, yet you cannot get the crook out of it.' Now, this denominationalism is the crook, and every man is expected triumphantly to wag his own peculiarity. [Convulsive laughter.] But don't you see that we have a ground for gratitude? The crook is not in the head, it is not in the legs, it is not in the heart; it is in the tail. [Renewed laughter.] Our denominationalism is the tail end of us, and if you cut it clean off, we would be just as well off as before; and the fact is, there are many breeds that are supposed to be improved by chopping off their tails when they are young. [The laughter became almost convulsive, and was actually painful.]"
"Mr. Beecher.—This, Sir, is downright murder. If carried on further, I must stop such cruelty of mirth!" [Laughter.]
Mr. Scudder closed his remarks "amid great applause," when Mr. Beecher said, "What a delightful thing it must be to be a heathen, and have such a missionary! [Great laughter.]"
These exercises were introduced by prayer. The chairman said, "I ask Rev. Dr. Dwight, of Portland, Me., to lead our devotions!" (?) At an early part of the evening, also, a hymn was sung, introduced by the chairman as follows:
"We will now sing a hymn which has been sung in different languages for a thousand years, and which has so often found its way up to heaven that it knows how to go now!"
"The congregation then united in singing in a most spirited style, led by the brass band, the hymn,
'O holy, holy, holy, Lord!'"
"Mr. Beecher, after the singing was over said:"
"Now is it not good to sing together when you put your whole life into a hymn?"
Will any of those throughout the country, who regarded the recent revival as a special work of grace, read with any surprise the report of the chaffy frivolity of these doctors of divinity? Is this what might be expected as the fruit of those revivals? Is this the result to which they tended? The reader may be assured, we take no pleasure in chronicling the fact that the popular though confused christianity of the present day is morally in a fallen state. But they force the melancholy evidence upon us; and we can do no other than hold it up before honest seekers for truth, and warn the unwary to come out from among them, lest, being partakers of Babylon's sins, they share also in her plagues.
In a little book entitled, "What is to become of the Churches?" a book, by the way, which we wish might be placed in the hands of everybody, we find the following truthful representation: "The tendency of the age is to a 'liberalized christianity,' an 'accommodating spirit,' a point where the professed friends and the real enemies of God can meet and join 'congratulations,' and cordially interchange a 'liberal christian greeting.' Ecclesiastical 'collations,' where grave Doctors of Divinity are expected to appear with 'nothing to say' that they may catch the spirit of the occasion and be 'witty' and 'bring down the house,' and 'bear off the palm of wit,' are resorted to, in order to promote the cause of godliness. The followers of Him who did not laugh but often wept, show their zeal in His cause by imitating groveling political scenes where 'fun and frolick' are more sought than advancement of principle." A more striking confirmation of this extract could not be found than in the Congregational Union Collation under consideration.
Then, says one, you believe in a religion of the doleful, melancholy kind? By no means. We believe in sunshine, not shade; in cheerfulness, not gloom; and if any body has a right to be cheerful, happy and joyful in the Lord, it is the humble christian who lives in possession of a good hope through Christ. But it is to be borne in mind that there is a vast difference between true christian cheerfulness springing from the blessed hope, and the trifling nonsensical hilarity of the world, such as characterized the Congregational Collation. We do not believe that the apostles were a class of men, given to morbid melancholy; yet we do not find any chaff or nonsense in anything they said, or in anything recorded of them. We do not believe that our Saviour either was a person of this stamp; and yet, had he stepped in upon that gay assembly of his professed followers in New York city, as they were engaged in their "fun and frolick," would not the first utterance of his lips have been, "Wo unto you that laugh now, for ye shall mourn and weep?"
Christian cheerfulness is in no way opposed to the solemn assemblies we are exhorted to keep. Amid all these, the christian heart may and will calmly, cheerfully, and trustingly repose upon the arm of its Redeemer. But the friendship of the world is enmity with God; in whatever heart its love is found, the love of the Father does not dwell. If we have not the Spirit of Christ we are none of his.
MEETINGS IN OWASSO, MICH.
By M. E. Cornell
Agreeably to appointment in Review I commenced lectures Apr. 21st, in the town of Owasso, on the Detroit and Milwaukee Rail-Road. There has been a good interest from the beginning, and twelve have already decided to keep the commandments. Yesterday four were baptized. Several others are almost persuaded. There is a prospect of much good, and the truth is triumphant once more. Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through Jesus Christ. But we were not without trials. Satan tried to hinder the work in every possible manner.
Some religious fanatics seeing the appointment, came on, as though their presence was very necessary to our success. At the first Sabbath meeting a dark influence prevailed; but at the second it became duty to faithfully admonish those who had come in from abroad, bringing with them a cloud of darkness; the good Spirit came in, and souls confessed the truth. Some were tormented with the idea that they must go out and preach, and we could not help thinking that Satan was very anxious to supply the lack of messengers, and send out those of his own stamp. Some of those who came we were glad to see, but O how discouraging, while struggling against the darkness of the world, to have lukewarm professors and fanatics come on and exhibit themselves as a specimen of those who embrace the present truth, while their testimony and deportment is thoroughly disgusting to every candid inquirer after truth!
Bro. Rhodes spent the last Sabbath here, and although feeble in health, yet he was able to speak some time to the encouragement of all those interested.
One of the young men mentioned by Bro. Loughborough, nephew of Wm. Miller, has heartily embraced the Third Angel's Message. His testimony was cheering. He says the same spirit attends this Message that was in the first, and he greatly rejoices in the truth. The other brother has not yet had the opportunity of hearing, but has been sent for, and is expected in a day or two. Our prayer is that they may become established in all the present truth, and be made instrumental of good wherever their lot may be cast. The result I will state next week, as we remain over another Sabbath.
M. E. CORNELL.
Owasso, May 10th.
LOVE AND GENTLENESS.
By J. Clark
The lamb, is a symbol of gentleness, and of innocence, and of peace. Mankind admire these qualities. We value the horse, the ox, the elephant, and camel, in proportion as they manifest gentleness and docility, united with strength and spirit; and in the same proportion do we deprecate the opposite qualities wherever they exist in any of the lower animals.
With all the evidence spread before us in the book of nature, teaching the sublimest and loveliest sentiments, we have found means, to shut our eyes and close our ears, most effectually, against every sublime truth, every lovely attribute of God, as developed in his works.
Such is the power of sin and Satan to blind poor man, that had it not been for the development of the character of God in the person of his dear Son, it would not have appeared to our race, (rescued in any other way) how kind, and gentle, and loving is our heavenly Father. They might have been told of his love, or have been exalted to his favor, but without such an exhibition of his character, they could not hope, or be fit for communing in rapturous adorations with the Ancient of days.
Men had corrupted their way upon the earth, had forgotten God, had left his worship, had forsaken his statutes, had multiplied to themselves false gods. Babylon had her national gods, and her varied and peculiar gods and goddesses, Medo-Persia had hers, and Greece had hers, and Rome had hers; and in her Pantheon at Rome, was collected the gods of all nations; gods of war and of peace, gods of nations, of cities, of towns and of families, gods of agriculture and of mechanics, gods of lust, and gods of drunkenness.
Not one of this vast variety of heathen gods was either virtuous in its impersonation, or life-giving in its power; all stood there in the mutest idiocy; blocks of wood, or stone, or base or precious metal; passive, dumb, carved, painted, hideous, unsightly and disgusting representatives of the vices and follies of ruined man.
No gleam of hope lighted up the gloom. Not one of these horrid systems of idolatry offered one ray of pure light. Their cruel rites and ceremonies and rules of worship, were, like their images, the work of Satan. Evil in their source, evil in their practical detail, and working, and evil in their tendencies. All nations owned some one of these systems, all bowed at the shrine of some false god, all were swayed by some system of idol-worship.
Darkness, gross darkness covered the earth, moral night covered the nations, and humanity groaned beneath its load of guilt, yet knew not its cause or remedy. Satan had blinded the mind of our first parents, and what difficulty was there which he could not overcome in the work of bestializing and deadening the moral sense of their offspring; and in triumphing in his work, he defied the power of God to redeem the race of man from his tyrant grasp.
At once a bright light appeared, and rapidly spread itself over the habitable earth. Men and women who had worshiped Diana, or Jupiter, or other false gods, now bowed before the prince Immanuel. Heathen men and women who had rioted in impure and unholy rites and ceremonies, now with pure hearts and uplifted hands, offered a pure sacrifice to Jehovah. Idol temples were deserted and their images were demolished. Those who had delighted in the practice of vice and sin, now turned from it in disgust, and with holy joy adopted the purest principles. Vice by them was no more called virtue, but with simple, artless truthfulness, they now called things by their right names. What they once loved they now hated, and wherever this new light shone forth in power, society was reconstructed, and underlaid with the most excellent and durable material.
What caused this sudden remarkable change, this moral revolution, effected without material or visible power? No clash of arms, no martial thunders or warlike heroes, no wonderful feats of military or civil power; but silent, and almost unseen, it wound its course wherever the people were willing to hear and accept its pure and holy influence.
Oh it was a simple affair, so simple that it appeared foolish to the proud and haughty. The cause of this mighty change was simply this: a being had appeared upon the earth, who was gentle and lovely in all his actions, all his words were pure and holy, and in every word and deed, disinterested love ruled his life. When his foes cast their darts of malice and hate at this strange personage, he would return words of love or kind reproof, while his tears attested his kindness of heart; and finally, when wicked men and Satan could no longer endure the presence of so good and kind and wise a person, they cruelly put him to death, and even here, they were not able by their utmost malice and skill, to disturb his equanimity, or to ruffle his calmness of mind. To the last he manifested love, unshaken love, even for his persecutors.
To crown this wonderful life of love and gentleness, proof was not wanting that he was the son of a king, and that king was Jehovah, and that this individual had risen from the grave, and had ascended to his Father, had returned to the bright realm from which he came, to be glorified and honored in the presence of his Father, and would finally come again and take to himself all those who would walk in his steps, imitating his example of love, gentleness, patience, fortitude and purity.
Strong men wept when they heard the wonderful story of Jesus' love. It was a new, a strange doctrine; yet to many it was light, and joy, and gladness. It was just what their hearts had yearned for in solitary hours, but never before did they understand what it was their hearts desired. Rough, untutored heathen, alike with the learned philosophers, broke down in tears when the account of Jesus' life, teachings and sufferings were recited to them. Old and young, rich and poor, were among its converts; and as they received the new, the life-giving principle of love to their hearts, such was the contrast with their former state of ungracious hatred and pride, that no words could demonstrate their joy. It manifested itself in acts of self-denial and benevolence and in lives of sublime devotion to the cause they had espoused; lives of consecration and purity.
Armed with the panoply of the gospel, they resigned worldly honors and distinctions. Often they distributed all their fortunes to the needy and suffering, or with joy they welcomed confiscations and fines. Joyfully they accepted apartments in the gloomy prison, or with equal constancy they smiled their good wishes upon those who broke them limb by limb upon the rack. They sang as the flames embraced them at the stake; and by every means their enemies could devise to tempt and annoy them, to diminish, overthrow and subdue them, by so many means they showed the sublimest fortitude and perseverance and disinterested love to their enemies and persecutors.
What was it that won these darkened, benighted pagans to the banner of the cross, and having won them, what was it that held them so firmly in its blessed influence? O it was the love of Christ shed abroad in the heart; that love that many waters cannot quench, nor floods drown; his matchless love manifested in the plan of salvation, laid out ere a sinner had yet been born, manifested in a painful and mortifying life, in which love ruled the heart, and tongue, and act, love falling like the dew, rolling on like the resistless current of the mighty river, as occasion demanded; love to friend and foe. This it was that won and retained pagan and Pharisee, priest and publican and scribe, haughty noble, and humble peasant, old and young, high and low, rich and poor. This was the love first manifested in Jesus, then reflected in his followers. This love was seen exemplified in the saints and martyrs of early times, and rich were the fruits it bore. Brother, sister, let us get this love and gentleness. It will cement every grace, and will aggregate to itself everything pure and holy, while it acts as a guardian angel to protect us from Satan’s arts.
J. CLARK.
OUR REFUGE.
By A. S. Hutchins
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Ps. xlvi, 1. What a blessed reflection! God is our refuge. How inexpressibly consoling and sustaining to the child of God to realize it. My soul greatly rejoices in view of a refuge so safe and secure. O let me hasten to this shelter for protection from the fast-hurrying storm.
“In the fear of the Lord is a fountain of life.” “In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence; and his children shall have a place of refuge.” Prov. xiv, 26.
“Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. Ps. xlvi, 2, 3.
Dear brethren and sisters, there is a stormy day coming, it is near and hasteth greatly. “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 dust, and their flesh as 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. i, 15–18.
This awful storm will fall heavily upon the shelterless! It will overtake the sinner in an unexpected moment. It will reach the thoughtless, the stupid and sleeping professor, while his dreams of peace and prosperity are pleasing and deceptive.
The antediluvians “knew not until the flood came, and took them all away;” they would not believe the warning voice of mercy and love. So will it be with this generation. Destruction, sudden and unparalleled will find them unprepared.
“What will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? To whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?” Isa. x, 3.
“In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; to go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.” Isa. ii, 20, 21.
No human arm will be sufficiently strong to lean upon in that awful day. No earthly power can save nor earthly glory shelter us from the unmingled wrath of the Most High.
Dear brethren and sisters, are we securing a shelter from the gathering storm with that diligence we should? Are we getting ready for the coming of the Lord? Do we hold his advent nigh, or does it seem to be far away?
There is danger of losing sight of the fact that the coming of the Lord is near, very near. A long, cold winter has just passed. The hills and plains are again covered with their beautiful robe of green. The forest is again clothed with its foliage. Vegetation springs forth once more, and we “know” that summer is nigh. We cannot be made to believe otherwise.
With as much certainty do the signs of the times herald the near approach of the Son of man. “So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that IT IS NEAR, (or he, margin) EVEN AT THE DOORS.” Shall we be ready to stand when a thousand fall at the side, and ten thousand at the right hand of the people of God? Shall we be found among those of whom it is said “There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.” Ps. xci. May we all be there, and safely sheltered from the impending wrath.
A. S. HUTCHINS.
Letters.
By Geo. & Laura Busk
“Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another.”
From Bro. and Sister Busk.
BRO. SMITH: We are still striving to keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus, though we feel lonely at times, being so far away from any of like precious faith. It has been nearly seven months since we have had the privilege of meeting with any of God's dear people; but we feel truly thankful to our heavenly Father for the light of the present truth that has been shed upon our pathway. The third angel's message is one that will cut us loose from the world. It will separate the precious from the vile, the clean from the unclean. O that we may more diligently heed the call and get a deeper work of grace in our hearts. Brethren and sisters let us take fresh courage and start anew for the kingdom, put on the whole armor of God that we may be able to stand against all the fiery darts of the wicked. God has left upon record many precious promises for our encouragement. How faithful we ought to live when we realize what he has done for us, and is still doing. We feel like placing our entire trust in God, walking by faith in his promises, and striving to let our light shine to those around us that they may be led to love God and keep his commandments.
We have lived nearly four weeks in this place and we believe there is a large field of labor here. We have but few books and papers, but the most of them are lent out. The people do not seem prejudiced in reading them, though they cannot understand them as we do because they do not understand the prophecies. We believe they stand here as a people waiting to be shown the way. No messenger has been through here as we can learn, and with the exception of one man they seem never to have heard of the truth. Schoolcraft is situated nearly in the center of a large prairie, is quite thickly settled and is a thriving place. There are three churches here. We do hope that it may be the duty of some messenger to come here. Nearly all with whom we have conversed express a wish to hear some of our preachers.
Your unworthy brother and sister waiting for the glorious appearing of the Saviour.
GEO. & LAURA BUSK.
Schoolcraft, Mich.
A Slight Mistake.
By D. W. Hull
Our No-Sabbath friends are firm in the opinion, that the decalogue, written by the finger of God upon tables of stone, has gone out of force with other ceremonies belonging to the Jewish polity.
We read that Christ is constituted a priest after the order of Melchisedec; and we also read that he offered his own blood (upon the altar in the temple of God, of course) for our transgressions. The question then arises, what law has been transgressed? The Jews transgressed the law written upon the tables of stone which were in the ark of the testimony before which the priest ministered.
God gave Moses a pattern in the mount [see Ex. xxv, 9, 40; xxvi, 30, 33] which was like the original in heaven. Paul's testimony is very conclusive on this point. "It was necessary," he says, "that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these." Heb. ix, 23. If the pattern of things in heaven contains the ark of the covenant, testimony, or ten commandments, what does the original contain? If the priest on earth made an atonement for the transgression of the law, contained within the ark, what does the priest in heaven make an atonement for? These questions answer themselves.
The Jewish ceremonial law died indeed with that nation, or at least, with the entering of Christ upon his ministry. The peculiarities of this law were their national holidays &c., which they celebrated in commemoration of some event which had occurred in their history at some early day, and for the transgression of which they were not required to make an offering to the Lord.
Here our friends stumble; they read of this law going out of effect, and they suppose that God's law, the Decalogue lead-en in the rock [Note: typographical error in original text rendered as leaden, but here preserved or corrected as printed], falls with it. If this were really the case, there would be no need of a temple in heaven, nor a priest to make an atonement, for God's law being put away, there would be no transgression—hence a universal salvation.
If our friends will look at this matter right, they will find that there is only a change of the priesthood; that the two temples, the two tabernacles and the two arks, are precisely the same with the exception that one is in heaven the other was on the earth.
By this process the penalty of the transgression of God's law was taken away from the Jews and transferred to heaven. Soon our Priest will appear as Judge, and inflict the penalties of high heaven, for the transgression of God's holy law.
We have then the genuine priest, offering his own blood in our behalf upon the original altar which is in the genuine tabernacle which "the Lord pitched and not man."
D. W. HULL.
Russiaville Ind., May 20th 1859.
The Valley of Humiliation.
By J. CLARKE
THIS is a valley much dreaded by the proud and the lofty and the aspiring, and they take the greatest pains to get around it. No labor is too great, no pain too severe, in order to avoid this dreaded valley. To avoid this many a Judas has betrayed his Master, many a soul has left the path of life; but to the whole-soulled seeker for eternal life this valley has no terrors. No, here he finds as John Bunyan has finely described, "a fat ground and one that consisteth much in meadows." He quaintly says that he has "known many laboring men who have got good estates in this valley, (for God resisteth the proud but giveth more grace to the humble), for it is indeed a very fruitful soil, and bringeth forth by handfuls. Some have also wished that the next way to their father's house were here that they might be troubled no more with either hills or mountains to go over." "In this valley our Lord formerly had his country house. He loved much to be here. He loved also to walk in these meadows, and he found the air was pleasant. Besides, here a man shall be free from the noise, and from the hurrying of this life. All states are full of noise and confusion; only the valley of humiliation is that empty and solitary place. Here a man shall not be hindered in his contemplation as in other places he is apt to be. This is a valley that nobody walks in, but that love a pilgrim's life. And though Christian had the hard hap to meet Apollyon here and to enter with him into a brisk encounter, yet I must tell you that in former times men have met with angels here, have found pearls here, and have in this place found the words of life. Hosea xii, 4, 5. I will add that to those that live and trace these grounds, he has left a yearly revenue to be faithfully paid them at certain seasons for their maintenance by the way, and for their further encouragement to go on pilgrimage. Methinks one may here without much molestation be thinking what he is, whence he came what he has done, and to what the king has called him. Here one may think and break at heart, and melt in one's spirit until one's eyes become as the fish-pools of Heshbon. Cant. vii. 4."
J. CLARKE.
AUGUSTUS AUSTIN
By Augustus Austin
From Bro. Austin.
BRO. SMITH: We would say to you, and through you to the dear saints scattered abroad, that we too, love the Lord Jesus and are trying to keep all the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and are anxiously waiting his glorious coming. Thankful we are that God has sent us the light. Last winter Bro. Patch from Mackford providentially came among us with his books, and words, and the Spirit of God set us to thinking and inquiring, and reading the Bible; and the Lord we believe sent us Bro. Marsh to explain the truths of God to us. Through his instrumentality the understanding of many is being opened and they begin to see the truth as it is in Je-15sus. We hope soon to see them embrace it in the love of it. Our meetings are well attended, both on Sabbath and First days; and a spirit of inquiry seems to pervade the community. Brn. pray for us that God may pour out his Spirit more copiously in this place and gather all his faithful ones into his fold.
Yours in hope of his soon coming.
AUGUSTUS AUSTIN
Scot, Wis.
WE WOULD NOT COMPLAIN.
By Martha LaBounty
In the hour of affliction, of sorrow and pain,
Our hearts would not murmur, they would not complain;
But seeking submission to God's righteous will,
We would, though he chasten, delight in him still.
Though the dearest forsake us, and loved ones deride,
In Jesus we'll trust, in his promise confide.
He will not take from us his Spirit of love.
But by it prepare us for mansions above.
There freed from all sorrow, and sickness and pain,
As kings and as priests evermore we shall reign,
We'll bow at his feet as in rapture we sing,
All glory, all honor, to Jesus our king.
Champlain, N. Y. MARTHA LABOUNTY.
Faithfulness.
By G. W. A.
If there ever was a time since the creation of the world when the people of God should be faithful it is now. The Devil is waking up his forces, and coming against us with all his fury; for his satanic sagacity too plainly tells him his time is short. And what does God require of us in this eventful time? Nothing less than "to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God." Brethren, are we keeping pace with the times? Do we evince that zeal and ardor which the last call seems to demand? Are we as individuals, as families, as churches, putting all the armor on and preparing for a gigantic struggle with the Prince and power of the air? The Lord help us to throw our influence all on the right side of the question. God is about laying "judgment to the line and righteousness to the plummet;" and do we comport ourselves as men whose actions are about to be weighed in "the balances of the Sanctuary?" O Lord stir up the people of thine own choice, and breathe the breath of heavenly life into all our hearts. Help us to feel that if we ever inherit the promises to Abraham we must have the faith of Abraham. I hope we are not forgetful of the fact that we are nearing times that will try men's souls. The jostling cars, the signs in the heavens, the anger of nations, rise of Spiritualism, increased wickedness, and the unanimous voice of Scripture and reason announce in thunder tones that the great day of the Lord is near and hasteth greatly. The closing crisis approaches, and the zeal of some and the dead lukewarmness of others are but the painful premonitions of an everlasting separation of the precious from the vile.
Lord increase our zeal and faith, and help us to toil away while the day lasts.
G. W. A.
A Seeker of Present Truth
By Albert D. Rust
From Bro. Rust.
Bro. Smith: You may perhaps think it strange to receive a letter of this description from one not a member of your church, but so great is my christian interest and my desire to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus that I thought I would write to you that perhaps I might receive some light upon the subject and to let you know our condition here. I have noticed by what little I have seen in your papers (which I have only had the pleasure of reading through the kindness of Bro. Burlingame of Shiawassee Co.) that you advocate and endeavor to sustain a number of the most important points which by the reading of the Bible I did some time ago permanently decide upon as being inviolable laws and teachings for the christian's guide, and in the performance of which I hope by the grace of God I never shall be found wanting. These points are, first, the keeping of the seventh day as the Sabbath, secondly, the mortality of the soul of man, and thirdly the literal advent of Christ and that not far hence. Myself and wife are the only persons in this town that keep the Sabbath day at present. I have been a resident of Lansing for some time past, where I could but notice the corruption of the churches, in that place as well as in others. Up to that time (about eighteen months ago.) I had not had the light upon the Bible that I now have, never had heard a sermon by an Adventist, nor have I yet; but at that time I made up my mind that if I read the Bible and lived up to its teachings, I could do no better; I did so and received light, and continued to keep the commandments and continued to have light. I found that there were sermons written in the Bible that could not be excelled even in Lansing. I found that in the Bible was taught the observance of the seventh day as Sabbath and no other; and this is the inviolable law of God, while modern preaching teaches the observance of the first day, as directed by the edict of the Emperor Constantine.
We have now been trying to keep the commandments something over a year, and although we are alone we have by the grace and goodness of God been induced to establish a family altar, which by the way I think is a very important duty of every christian family. We still feel that we have many errors to be corrected, and many wrong steps to retrace and sins to be forgiven, but thanks be to God that we are what we are. I think that there are a good many serious minded persons in this vicinity that would gladly receive the word of God. They are generally United Brethren. Some are revolting but not backsliding.
We do not belong to your church but the greatest of our trouble is now to find if there be such an one, a true Israel, to unite ourselves to.
Very respectfully, your lonely and truth-loving brother.
Albert D. Rust.
Salem, Mich., May 1859.