We wish to visit as many of the brethren as consistent, in the short period that we are to be from home, and have concluded to go from the Camden Conference to Oswego, where we will meet with the brethren Wednesday evening Dec. 31st.
We will hold a Conference in the vicinity of Lincklaen, (N. Y.), where the brethren may appoint, to commence Friday evening, Jan. 2d, and hold over the Sabbath and First-day.
Also, we will hold a Conference in the vicinity of Bath, Steuben Co. (N. Y.), where the brethren may appoint, to commence Friday evening, Jan. 9th, and hold over the Sabbath and First-day.
We hope to see a general gathering of the brethren. The Lord has greatly blest such meetings of late, and we think the scattered friends of the present truth would feel fully paid to go some distance to attend them.
Those who wish meetings in other places should write to us at Oswego or Bath. Also, those who wish an immediate answer.
No. 10 of the "Review and Herald" will probably be delayed one or two weeks. ED.
A BRIEF EXPOSITION OF THE ANGELS OF REVELATION XIV.—
This is the title of a small tract of 32 pages just published, and contains our view of the first three angels of that important chapter. It is designed for the friends of the cause to circulate. The cost of this little work is about $2 per hundred. We hope the brethren will be interested to give it a judicious circulation. Let all be free to send for it, whether they have or have not the means to pay for it.
NOT SO.
By Editor
The "Harbinger" of Dec. 6, contains the following statement of "C." which we wish to correct.
"Some who are preaching the Sabbath, think they are the 'angel' of Rev. vii, 2, sealing the servants of God in their foreheads.
We know of none, who are preaching the Sabbath, who hold this view. Bro. Joseph Bates advanced views concerning the sealing, about three years since, which many of those then observing the Sabbath objected to. But those wrong views he corrected in a small tract entitled "Synopsis of the Seal," &c. published in May, 1849. We give his correction as follows:
"Since writing the Sealing Message, I have been satisfactorily convinced that the exposition which I then gave of the four messengers standing on the four quarters of the earth, and the ascending sealing messenger, was incorrect. The difficulties which then prevented me from seeing the clear light on this subject (as I stated on pages 65, 66, of the Seal,) have since been removed, and I now praise the Lord for the clear light that shines, viz: that the four messengers instead of being the four principal governments of earth, are FOUR LITERAL ANGELS commissioned by God to execute his purpose in the destruction of the wicked, by his four sore judgments (or winds,) viz: sword, famine, noisome beasts and pestilence."
"ANOTHER MESSENGER.—Literal, like the four in the 1st verse, having charge of the sealing of the 144,000, and also power to prevent the four angels from letting a wind blow; until the servants of God are all sealed."
Joy Comes in the Morning
By H. N. Stevens
“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Ps. xxx, 5.
List those notes of music stealing
Softly on the night of time,
To the anguished heart revealing
Visions of a happier clime.
Future blessedness and pleasure,
Scenes of glory yet to be,
Peace and gladness without measure,
Light and joy and victory.
Long the shades of night have bound thee,
Pilgrim on the desert waste;
Long the tempest bursting round thee,
Hurled its angry arrows past.
Yet with fearless firm endeavor,
Thou hast urged thine onward way;
Leaning on the promise ever,
Hoping, watching for the day.
Still their earnest eyes upraising
To the Throne of light above,
See the “remnant” fondly gazing
For His coming whom they love.
Oft their cherished hopes lie bleeding,
Smit by sudden vengeance low;
From their grasp the prize receding,
Bids the tear of anguish flow.
Yet their “word of patience” keeping,
They their fainting strength renew;
Never on the watch-tower sleeping,
Loving the commands to do.
All the Royal Law fulfilling,
Striving like their Lord to be—
In his cause to suffer, willing,
Till they his salvation see.
Lo! it comes, the morn of gladness!
We its dawning light descry;
Flee the shades of grief and sadness,
Glory gilds the eastern sky.
Dry for aye the tear of sorrow,
All the night of weeping past!
Hail, the bright unending morrow,
Long expected—come at last!
H. N. STEVENS.
Paris, Me.
LETTERS.
By Alonzo Lee
From Bro. Lee.
DEAR BRO. WHITE: I am glad to send you the name of one who wishes to read the "Review and Herald," and appears to be anxious to obtain light on the present truth. It does appear strange that so few of the brethren, who were once strong in the Lord, are willing to listen to the message of the third angel.
I am striving, with my companion and children, to keep the commandments of God, that we may have right to the tree of life, and enter in through the gates into the City. The Lord is with us, and is strengthening and encouraging us to go forward, to trust and confide in him. I praise God for what he has done, and is still doing, for me and my little family. I thank him that he ever put it into the hearts of his servants to come this way with the third angel's message. It has proved a great blessing to us, and I believe it will to others in this vicinity.
I have lately been to see a number of brethren and sisters, and since I commenced this letter have found three more who are willing to search the scriptures to see if these things are so, and wish for the "Review and Herald" to assist them in searching. The one whom I mentioned at the commencement of this letter has already kept two or three Sabbaths, and, although she meets with some opposition, is determined to keep the commandments of God instead of following the traditions of men. I here send the address of those who wish for the paper, earnestly praying that God will enable them to see the light there is in the present truth.
Yours in hope of obtaining a right to the Tree of Life, and admittance through the gates into the City.
ALONZO LEE.
Hatley, (C. E.), Dec. 15th, 1851.
Encouragement in the Work
By George Washington Holt
From Bro. Holt.
DEAR BRO. WHITE: I feel strong in the Lord, and never felt more like doing his whole will than at present. I am encouraged to toil on, knowing that God is in the work of gathering precious souls into the unity of the faith, and the knowledge of the truth, and is blessing every effort that is made for that purpose.
Since I wrote you from Oswego, I have visited Sandy Creek, Redfield, Boylston, and Lorain. In Redfield I found a number who were starving for the truth. In the other places the brethren were growing stronger and more united. God's people are springing up "among the grass, as willows by the water-courses." In some places where but a few months since, there was seemingly no sign of there being one child of God, they are now springing up, and becoming strong in the present truth. This is the Lord's work. Amen.
Your Brother in the love of God. G. W. HOLT. Camden, (N. Y.), Dec. 11, 1851.
William Camp Embraces the Sabbath
By William Camp
From Bro. Camp.
DEAR BRO. WHITE: I send you one dollar to assist in bearing the expenses of the paper. We have read it with much interest, and I trust with profit. Three families, beside ourselves, read ours. They live in Chelsea. One of them, Bro. Daniel Stephens, has embraced the Holy Sabbath. He spent the Sabbath at my house a few weeks since, and said he had been examining the subject, and looking at the evidence, and felt prepared to embrace it. We had a prayer meeting and when he left he said his soul was full. He wishes you to send him the paper.
I feel to rejoice in the truth. The Lord has done great things for us, whereof we are glad. We are alone, in the present truth, among bitter opposers, who call us deluded; but we know in whom we have believed.
Brother and Sister Lothrop tarried over night with us, on their way to Massachusetts, which made our hearts rejoice. Brethren traveling through this region are cordially invited to call. *
Pray for us, that we may overcome every foe, and be found among those that love the appearing of the blessed Saviour. Glory to God, my heart dilates with joy at the thought. WILLIAM CAMP.
Williamstown, (Vt.), Dec. 1st. 1851.
Extracts of Letters.
By Editor
Bro. H. O. Nichols writes from Dorchester, (Mass.), Dec. 7th, 1851: The cause here is evidently rising. The great work begun at the conference is still fresh in the minds of many; and it has been progressing. The saints see the necessity of being united in faith, in feeling and in sentiment; and are fast coming up to the help of the Lord.
Our meetings are truly interesting and profitable. The sweet spirit seems to hover around, and I esteem it a privilege to heed the injunction of the Apostle—"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together . . . but exhorting one another, and so much the more as we see the day approaching." And the burden of the testimonies given, is concerning the ten immutable laws of Jehovah, which he engraved with his own finger on tables of stone, and which now in these last days, since the temple of God in heaven is opened, shine out so clearly on the pages of inspiration, even unto the end when Jesus speaks by an angel unto John his servant, saying, "Blessed are they that do his [God the Father's] commandments that they may have right to the tree of life," &c. This is a glorious reward to the "doers of the law." And no wonder the sweet Singer of Israel thought that in keeping the commandments "there is great reward."
I feel thankful that I am with those that have the Ark of God with them, and I am determined by the help of the Lord to continue with them unto the end; for they are as surely destined to triumph over their foes as did ancient Israel.
Sister P. M. Bates writes from Fairhaven, (Mass.), Dec. 12th, 1851: "I feel an increasing desire to be filled with all the fullness of God. And the more I strive for this, the more I see my own unworthiness. Sometimes I feel almost discouraged; and were it not that the cloud breaks away, and a sunbeam of glory illumines my pathway, and I can claim some precious promise, I should despair.
"Since the Medford Conference, I have felt more sensibly, then ever before, the need of entire consecration to God, and realize, in some degree, how pure and holy we must be to stand before him without a Mediator. O, how I tremble and weep before him, when I think what a poor unworthy creature I am. Then, how precious is Jesus to me. He is my only hope.
"I rejoice for the success that attended the conferences, and that the Lord is doing so much for the remnant. How sweet the union. Truly, it calls for love, praise and gratitude to God for his condescending goodness. I will praise him, though so unworthy.
"I love the Holy Sabbath better and better, and pray that it may be sanctified to all the dear children who are trying to keep it. I want to be sanctified by obedience to the truth, to be more holy, have a pure heart and clean hands. Pray for me that I may be enabled to overcome, by the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony."
Letters received since December 8.
By Editor
R. R. Chapin, S. W. Rhodes, E. P. Butler, O. Hewett, Z. Marsh, J. N. Andrews, D. Moody, Wm. Harris, H. S. Case, M. Lockwood, P. M. Bates, G. W. Holt, D. T. Evans, O. Nichols, Wm. Mahew, H. N. Stevens, N. Mead.
Receipts.
By Editor
P. Gibson, R. F. Cottrell, Wm. Beebe, A. A. Dodge, J. Chase, S. Mix, E. Andrews, Wm. James, Alonzo Lee, $1 each; H. O. Nichols, Wm. Harris, a Friend, $2 each.
For the Pamphlet entitled "Experience and Views."
Joseph Jackson, $5; a Friend, $2; Janet Preston, $1.