Earlier text: A Sketch of the WaldensesSeventh-day Adventists.
By Editor
We find a lengthy article under this heading, in the Voice of the West, of Nov. 1, 1864. For some of its statements we have a comment or two. Voice.—"When we came to the West, it was not our intention to enter into controversy with these brethren. They had gone out from us, because they were not of us." Reply.—We will tell you, reader, just how we have gone out from that class of Adventists represented by Eld. Himes. In 1844, we were together. After the passing of that year, S. D. Adventists held on to their former experience as the work of God. The others gave it up. We still adhere to all the fundamental principles that supported the Advent doctrine then. They have surrendered them. We continued right on in the lines of prophecy then commenced. They have backed down. We are still sailing in the 1844 ship. They have devised a new craft, and have got aboard of that. And this is the way we have gone out from them! Voice.—"Their leaders took the ground that the prophetic periods ended in 1844; that the door of mercy was then shut, and no more could be saved. They have since modified this, so that, in their opinion, some may be saved." Reply.—We “took” the ground that the prophetic periods ended in 1844. Not so. We simply held on to that ground, and did not give it up as they have done. This was going out from them (!) In regard to the shut door, over which such a hubbub has been raised, our views on that subject, would involve quite an extensive examination of the Sanctuary question, into which it is not our purpose here to enter. We make one remark upon it. We believe it is usual to deal with a person’s present belief, not with what he has believed. Eld. H. confesses that we have so modified our views as to believe that some may be saved. So that, if he thinks we ever held the view that no more could be saved, that is not our view now. But then it is highly important that the people should know everything that we used to believe. The fact is, we must be represented as an insignificant set of contemptible fanatics, and must be made so to appear before the public. From the first reception of the third angel’s message, that message has been preached for the purpose of converting people to the truth. This would be a fine piece of consistency, would it not, if we believed all the while that none could be saved? We “have since modified our views.” Quite a late thing apparently. Perhaps therefore some of our preachers spent years of time, and vast amounts of means, preaching the message for the benefit of sinners, when they did not believe that one of them could be saved. Who knows? According to Mr. Wellcome, as quoted in Review No. 24, every S. D. A. minister is either a knave or a fool, without qualification and without exception. According to Eld. H., such a trifling inconsistency as the above, would be no strange thing with this people. But we cannot leave this point without stating a few facts for the benefit of the candid reader. In regard to this matter of the shut door, there is a great deal of misrepresentation; and it is the hight of inconsistency for the Adventists of 1844 to turn round and stigmatize us as the “shut door party.” For it was the general sentiment of the Advent body immediately after the passing of the time in that year, that their work for the world was done; and that their position was set forth by the “shut door” of the parable of the ten virgins in Matt. xxv. Wm. Miller bore the following testimony on this subject: “We have done our work in warning sinners, and in trying to awake a formal church. God in his providence has shut the door; we can only stir one another up to be patient, and be diligent to make our calling and election sure. We are now living in the time specified by Malachi iii, 18. also Dan. xii, 10; Rev. xxii, 10–12. In this passage we cannot help but see that a little while before Christ should come, there would be a separation between the just and the unjust, the righteous and the wicked, between those who love his appearing and those who hate it. And never since the days of the apostles, has there been such a division line drawn as was drawn about the 10th or 23d day of the 7th Jewish month. Since that time they say they have no confidence in us. We have now need of patience, after we have done the will of God, that we may receive the promise.” This testimony was published in the Advent Herald of Dec. 11, 1844, a paper of which J. V. Himes was proprietor, and J. V. Himes, S. Bliss, and A. Hale, editors. F. G. Brown, under date of Nov. 15, 1844, in the same paper, bore a similar testimony. And we might give testimony to the same import from Barry, Mansfield, Pinney, Marsh, Pickands, Cook, and others. This was the “shut door” of the Advent body, views which they held as well as we. Now how have they arranged this matter so as to make future labor consistent? Ans. They have done it by backing square down, giving up all their work for some ten years previous, and surrendering to the enemy all the ground they had up to that time gained. And what course have we taken in the matter? Ans. We have gone into the sanctuary, where the subject is all made harmonious and plain, and where, without surrendering an inch of the ground we had previously gained, we can give its place to every part of the parable of Matt. xxv, and yet find another world-wide message to be proclaimed to the people. Which have taken the most consistent course, judge ye. Voice.—“To this view they have added the seventh-day Sabbath, and mysteriously through the visions of Sr. White, interwoven it with the three angels’ messages of Rev. xiv; particularly the third.” Reply.—According to this view the great foundation and substratum of our faith is that some may be saved. Reader, are you not startled by so extreme and ultra a view as this? To this we have added the seventh-day Sabbath. So we have these two steps: 1. Some may be saved, 2. The seventh day is the Sabbath. Then mysteriously through the visions we have interwoven this with the third angel’s message; so that our faith now stands in these three divisions: 1. Some may be saved. 2. The seventh day is the Sabbath. 3. A mysterious conglomeration of Sabbath, visions, and third angel’s message! Now if these things were introduced by the visions, and are dependent on them, we must look to the visions for proof of it, must we not? We refer to the connection between the Sabbath, third message, and the visions. But do we depend on them for proof of this? Not a particle, as all our publications show. Thus when we come to the facts in the matter, we find that Eld. H. not being posted in S. D. Adventist affairs, has just reversed the truth. Having stated that we have been very zealous in making proselytes to our faith, the Voice continues: Voice.—“These brethren come among our people, and find a hospitable reception. They make the most of this by the introduction of the Advent movement of 1844; get the confidence and sympathy of our brethren, when they introduce the messages, the Sabbath, and last of all the visions. But let it be understood that this liberality is not reciprocated. When once our brethren are proselyted to this new faith, they turn their backs upon us, and shut us out as nominal Adventists! That is, Adventists only in name. We are doomed to be ‘tormented with fire and brimstone, the smoke of which ascendeth up for ever and ever!’” Reply.—Adventists since 1844, have confessedly been in an indefinite and unsettled position. We have a clear and definite truth to set before them. We believe there is such a thing as knowing that we are right. The apostle expressed the same confidence. 1 John v, 16. And they having no harmonious system to set before us, of course we had nothing to receive from them. But who are “his people,” among whom we are accused of coming, and with whom he affirms we find a hospitable reception? One would think from his assertions on this point, that our whole work was but a crusade against him and his operations. But what are the facts in the case? Through the summer season our cause is advocated mainly by means of tents, which go out supported by the church, dependent on no other class of people, much less of Adventists! But at any season, our preachers who are pushing their way into new fields, rarely meet with an 1844 Adventist, much less with any who have taken their stand with Eld. H. in his present work. But on what ground can he claim the Adventists of 1844 as “his people,” when he has given up everything that called out the Advent people of that time, denounced the work as fanaticism, and thrown it to the four winds? As to hospitality, that we endeavor to manifest to all, and as an instance refer him to his call at Battle Creek, a year since. But who of us have ever told any of them that they were “doomed to be tormented with fire and brimstone”? That is a gratuitous conclusion, which places us in a false light before the people. Our message is to warn people against receiving the mark of the beast. None are exposed to the fearful threatening of the third angel, till they receive the mark, or engage in the worship, of the beast. Now what consistency would there be in our warning men not to receive the mark of the beast, if they already had it? We say, therefore, again, distinctly, we had almost said for the hundredth time, that we accuse no one yet of having the mark of the beast in the sense of that message; and we doom no one to fire and brimstone! Voice.—“For several months after the Voice of the West was started, although the Review received it in exchange, they did not so much as give a notice of its existence, or of our removal to the West, or, like many other Western papers, give us a word of welcome. When it did finally speak it was in connection with our difference of faith on certain questions, in which we were called upon to give the reasons for this difference. From this course of the organ of the body, and the constant attacks of their missionaries upon our people, in places where they could find access, we were led to the conclusion that the relations between us were to be like those of the Jews and Samaritans.” Reply.—We wonder if for several months after the Voice of the West was started, it gave any notice of the existence of the Review, or signified any desire to live on terms of acquaintance. By what principle do our cotemporaries make it out that we should always be the first one to make obeisance? In regard to the welcome, how could we tell whether we welcomed it or not till its policy and principles were developed? We are not of those who bid a welcome and God speed to this and that, any thing or nothing, without knowing or caring what it is. Before we commend persons or things we wish to know that they are entitled to commendation. When we did speak it is said, it was in connection with some difference in faith. We ask who commenced the controversy? The Voice must here plead guilty. It opened the ball by giving the shallow argument from Prof. Whiting on Col. ii, 16, in reference to the Sabbath; and if the Voice thinks that we can see the people hedrizzled with such fog, and remain quiet, it has mistaken the spirit of its neighbors. All the utterances of a public journal, are open to205 the people, for examination and criticism. And because we did not bring some voluntary contributions to its feet, and then saw fit to criticize some of the errors which it made public on the Sabbath question, which is well understood to be a special subject with us, the Voice concludes our relations are to be like those of the Jews and Samaritans. Then look at his heading: “The Voice of the West and Second Advent Pioneer.” What is a pioneer? One who precedes every body else to break ground and prepare the way. If this is not a complete ignoring of us and all our work, revealing a spirit to ride right over and pass unnoticed all our operations, we greatly misjudge. The greater proportion of our work is in this State and in those west of us. But if the heading of the Voice means anything it is intended to signify that nothing has been done here in the West on the doctrine of the Advent, but that it must come in as a “pioneer” to do something on that question. But, through the blessing of God, S. D. Adventists have been enabled already to get something of a record before the people. The books and tracts that we have circulated have been not a few. The subscription lists of our papers, have reached a respectable figure and are encouragingly on the increase; and through the zeal and liberality of the friends of the cause, we never had more ample facilities for a great work before us than at the present moment. This may seem like boasting, but we affirm nothing in our own strength; and in the Lord we feel like boasting. Says the Psalmist, Ps. xxxiv, 2, “My soul shall make her boast in the Lord;” and again Ps. xliv, 8, “In God we boast all the day long.” Yes, in the name of the Lord we can run through all the troops, and leap over all the walls, of error, that may be thrown across our path. What we have quoted thus far from the Voice of Nov. 1, is but the introduction to an answer to the questions we addressed to Eld. H. in Review No. 12, present vol., on the three messages of Rev. xiv, Babylon, the mark, image, and worship of the beast, the commandments of God, &c. He refers to the questions as being “easy of solution,” so much so that he at first thought he would “let them pass and keep about his work.” But we think we can show that he has as yet made no progress whatever in solving them. Not having time to consider them this week, we defer this part of the subject to our next. We cannot close this volume without extending to the brethren and sisters grateful thanks for the noble part they have acted toward the Review for the past six months. First, they have done a good work with their pens. We thank them for the large amount of interesting and profitable reading they have furnished for the columns of the paper. No preceding volume contains upon its pages so large an amount of original matter, and so few selections. Second, we thank them for aid rendered in all departments in the line of dollars and cents. No volume has presented a financial record showing more promptness and liberality on the part of the church. We thank God for his blessing upon the Review, his blessing upon the cause in general, the sound financial condition of the Publishing Association, the zeal and liberality of the brethren in behalf of a truth that is beyond precedent, clear and glorious, and for the bright prospect, never brighter, of a great and tri-unphant work before us. In all these respects may we not hope that the next volume will be as this, and much more abundant. Home Again.
By James White
After an absence of eleven weeks we reached home the 11th inst. in excellent health and good spirits. Sabbath the 12th spoke to our people in this city. The 19th also spoke to a full house of our friends in the city, and a few miles round about. We are happy to report that the interest has not fallen off in our absence, and that our house is being so filled with the regular congregation as to make it necessary to build a larger place of worship. This we may not be able to accomplish at present. Since we reached home we have been in a perfect whirl of business matters. Some domestic affairs were waiting, shivering at the approaching winter. A pile of letters called for replies. The Agent of the Cleveland Paper Company claimed our time at the office one half day. We arranged with him for $5000 worth of print paper, which amount, three years since, would have cost less than $3000. And we brought home in our Pass Book, business to the amount of $1000. These, with many other pressing matters, have occupied our entire time; and we cannot be called away from home duties for several weeks to come, unless something very urgent demands that we should. We felt that the telegram from our esteemed brother E. H. Root, of Wright, Mich., urging a visit to that place, at the request of two sick friends, had claims upon us; but as we were not acquainted with either of them, and knew not what they wanted of us, concluded that home duties had a stronger claim till we had more definite information from that place. The health question is attracting great attention from our people, and the promised report of our visit at Dansville, N. Y., will appear as soon as we can get to it. By request of the New York State Conference, and existing calls for it from all parts of the field, we design to present Systematic Benevolence before our people soon in a more definite form. We also find that our views, and the steps we have taken relative to organization, are not understood by those who have not had a special interest with us, and that prejudice and misrepresentation, are keeping some at least from co-operating with us for want of a faithful statement of the facts in the case. Such a statement we hope soon to give. We also want time to read up, and give some lectures to our people on the subject of health. Work increases upon our hands, and we design to be free from every unnecessary burden, so as to labor the most efficiently for the present, as well as the future good of our fellow-men.
J. W. IT WILL BE INTRODUCED BY THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES AND THE BATTLE OF THE GREAT DAY OF GOD ALMIGHTY
By R. F. Cottrell
IT WILL BE INTRODUCED BY THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES AND THE BATTLE OF THE GREAT DAY OF GOD ALMIGHTY.
The last solemn warning to mankind, revealed beforehand in prophecy, Rev. xiv, 9-12, contains a threatening of wrath most terrible, even wrath "without mixture," against those who disregard the merciful warning. In the first verse of the following chapter, the seven last plagues are introduced, with the declaration that "in them is filled up [or completed] the wrath of God." These plagues then follow the last message, and are the fulfillment of the threatening contained in it; and, consequently, are all in the future, unless indeed the last warning, before the coming of the Son of man upon the "white cloud," is in the past. This is conclusive proof that the view which supposes a portion of these plagues to be in the past, is erroneous. That they are in the future is still more evident, from the fact that, the first vial of wrath takes effect upon those who had heard and disregarded the warning of the "third angel." This warning threatens wrath upon those who "worship the beast and his image, age, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand." In fulfillment of this threatening, when the first of the seven angels pours out his vial upon the earth, its effect is thus described: "There fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshiped his image." Rev. xvi, 2. The prophetic record of the three messages and the wrath which follows in connection with the coming of the Son of man, and the harvest of the earth, evidently describes events which are to take place in regular consecutive order. The third and last message is immediately succeeded by the wrath which it threatens; and the first vial of that wrath is in fulfillment of the threatening upon those who reject the warning. Hence while probation lasts, these plagues are all in the future, and are properly and emphatically the "seven last plagues." While Jesus pleads before the throne of mercy, probation continues and wrath without mixture cannot come. But with the close of this last message probation closes, and then the wrath denounced will surely follow. If further proof upon this point were needed, it could be given; and those who have been instructed in the subject of the sanctuary—the "Temple of God in Heaven"—would be prepared to appreciate it. The heavenly temple, like that on earth which was a pattern or representation of it, has its two apartments—the holy and the most holy. The "temple of the tabernacle of the testimony," mentioned in Rev. xv, 5, is the second apartment or most holy place; it is so called, because it contains the testimony of God, the ten commandments, within the "ark of the testimony," which, in the "patterns of the things in the heavens," the "figures of the true," (Heb. ix, 23, 24,) was located in the most holy place as its appropriate tabernacle. Ex. xxv, 16; xxvii, 21; xxxi, 18. At the end of the twenty-three hundred days, in 1844, this inner tabernacle was opened, when Jesus our High Priest entered to cleanse the sanctuary, that is, to perform the closing part of his ministry, or work of intercession before the throne of mercy. And those whose faith has followed him there, have "seen in his temple the ark of his testament." Rev. xi, 19. This discovery has led them to embrace all the commandments contained in that ark. This is the reason why so many are turning to the Sabbath of the fourth commandment—the seventh day. It is no happen-so, but it is in fulfillment of the word of God. When the work of intercession is ended, the most holy tabernacle is again opened. "And after that I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in Heaven was opened; and the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth forever and ever. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled." Chap. xv, 5-8. This point of time reached, mercy no longer pleads. The intercessions of Jesus before the throne and his invitations to sinners to come and find pardon, have ceased. He that is filthy must remain filthy still. This temple is filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power. No one can enter there to plead for the sinner to be spared a little longer; but wrath without mixture ensues. O, sinner! O, careless professor! now is the time to prepare for this most solemn and fearful event. Now a compassionate Saviour pleads the merits of his own blood before the mercy-seat. Now he invites you to come and wash in the fountain, so freely opened, and at such a cost! But abused mercy will ere long cease to plead. The time will soon come when that blood that has been slighted and trampled under foot will cease to atone for the guilty. And from that very place where infinite mercy and divine compassion now plead, and whence pardon may be obtained, the messengers of divine vengeance will proceed. The seven angels came out of the temple. Their clothing is pure and white, indicating that though their mission is that of the executors of unmingled wrath, yet the206 throne of God, from which they proceed is acquitted, the justice of God is unstained. All his judgments are in righteousness. "Just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints." When six of these vials have been poured out, the nations are gathered by the unclean spirits, and the kings of the earth are set in array for the battle of the great day of God the Almighty. They leave the battle which they have with each other, and go to fight with Him who comes from Heaven. Of these spirits it is said, "They are the spirits of Devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." The coming of the Lord is now at hand. In this connection he says, "Behold, I come as a thief." His coming is doubtless in close connection with the pouring out of the seventh and last vial. Indeed, the hail from heaven which accompanies this vial, is doubtless that which the Lord has "reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war." See Rev. xvi, 12-21; Job xxxviii, 22, 23. A further description of this battle is given in Rev. xix, 11-21. Here a mighty One is represented as coming from heaven upon a white horse, followed by the armies of Heaven upon white horses, "clothed in fine linen white and clean." The white horses and clean raiment represent the fact, that "in righteousness he doth judge and make war." This divine personage is so carefully described that we need not mistake him. He is called Faithful and True, The Word of God, King of kings and Lord of lords. His vesture has been dipped in blood, but upon his head are "many crowns." All the kingdoms of the world are his. "And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God." The beast and the kings of the earth and their armies are "gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army." The result is, the beast and false prophets are taken and cast into the lake of fire, the remnant are slain, and all the fowls are filled with their flesh. Thus the enemies are slain, and will not be raised till a thousand years are completed. And thus the prophecy recorded in the second Psalm is fulfilled: "I will declare the decree; the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron: thou shalt dash them into pieces like a potter's vessel." The great day of the Lamb's wrath will have come, and no one will be able to stand, but those who have previously made peace with the King "through the blood of the cross," and whose names are written in the book of life of the Lamb. Thus opens the day of the Lord. Eastern Tour.
By James White
WE left home Aug. 24, and spent Sabbath (fast-day) with the brethren at Rochester, N. Y. The three following weeks we were at Dansville, N. Y., where we listened with deep interest to the lectures of Doctors Jackson and Hurd, and enjoyed the practical illustrations of the principles of hygiene taught at "Our Home" at their ample table, in the bath-room, and upon their beautiful walks. The three weeks were made still more happy by the society of brethren Dr. Lay and wife, King and daughter, Andrews, Edson, and Hall. Sept. 24 and 25 we were happy in meeting the church at the Nile settlement, near Wellsville, Alle. Co., N. Y. The brethren and friends came in from that part of the State, and from Pennsylvania, until the house of prayer, commodious for so new a country, was crowded. Elders Andrews, Fuller, and Lanphear, were with us. Mrs. W. and self spoke freely on the subject of health from a Bible point of view. All seemed deeply interested as we spoke of the importance of making the best of this life, and securing that which is to come. We were happily disappointed to find the cause so strong in that part of the country, and left our warm-hearted, liberal friends greatly cheered. We next attended the New York State Conference held at Adams' Center. Here we were warmly greeted, not only by that good church, with Eld. C. O. Taylor and family in their midst, but by the ministers and delegates of the Conference, and the many friends who came crowding into the meetings of worship on Sabbath and first-day. Here we freely spoke upon the subject of temperance as it relates to health. Our people are ready for reform. We are glad to find them not only slow to receive new things without good evidence, but also ready to so far waive prejudices as to be able to properly weigh evidence. This meeting was exceedingly cheering. But as its incidents of deep interest have been faithfully delineated by a member of the Adams' Center church, we will not attempt a repetition. J. W. Couldn't Find the Testimony.
By Alex. Carpenter
BRETHREN AND SISTERS: I think the Holy Spirit led me to seek my Saviour, and I embraced a hope in him when but a lad of fourteen, and joined with the regular Baptist church. I was a regular member of that church for over twenty years, and took considerable pains to give to every one that should ask of me the reason for my hope with meekness and fear. Four years ago last June, my wife experienced religion and joined the Baptist church with me. She studied her Bible on the subject of baptism, and was satisfied that there was but one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. After she joined the church she was led to study the Bible to find Sunday-keeping, and settled down that there was no day to be kept unless it was the seventh, as a Sabbath. So when Sunday came, she had something to do and acted in accordance with her convictions. I told her I wished she would not work on the Sabbath. She replied that if I would show her from the Bible that Sunday was the Sabbath, she would obey. I remarked to her I could do it (I thought I could), and made a proposition as follows, (for I wanted to settle the matter by the Bible, for I felt I did not want any other creed): 1. I must show from the Bible a Sabbath. 2. What day it was. 3. If changed, when and where, and by divine authority, if valid, or else the change was good for nothing. She accepted my proposition as fair; and I took my Bible and commenced my task. I had no difficulty in establishing my first and second; but when I came to my third, I had more of a task than I was able to perform from the Bible. I was faithful for nearly two years. She would often ask me how I got along with my investigation. I said, Very well; but I felt my Sunday Sabbath began to totter before the Bible. I was then driven to search church creeds, I got all I could, Bible Dictionary, Ripley's notes, and all, but was led to ask myself, is this all we have for Sunday? It is a flimsy creed. I was not satisfied; I must go back to my Bible, and the last passage that I found to base my hope upon was 1 Pet. ii, 13. I took my Bible and searched all the references, and wrote them down, that I might see them all together, and I could not see much change of the Sabbath in them. I stopped studying the Bible on that point, and took to history; for if the Bible had no change, I wanted to know who did change it. I therefore bought the History of the Baptists in all ages since the Christian era, by David Benedict; and when he came to give the history of the Seventh-day Baptists, quoted from Mr. Utter, I got the information I was seeking for, and found we had been following the decree of one that had no business to change the Sabbath. I felt that my third proposition must come down, so far as Bible authority was concerned. I wished to be consistent with myself; for I had always declared that, no matter what my creed was, if it could be shown from the Bible that I was wrong, I would follow it no longer. I thought I wanted to obey my Master's word, let what come of my creed that would. But in this case I was tried. I was led to halt between two opinions for some time. My relatives, my brethren in the church, and my business, all came up before me, and almost alone, I felt cast down; for I could not yet see my way clear, thinking that perhaps the time had been changed, so there was no telling about the matter. I made up my mind to say nothing about it, and stifle my convictions. Two years ago this fall, the little tract written by Bro. Andrews on the perpetuity of the moral law, strayed away from Oakland, and fell into my hands. Thank God, it was meat in due season, it was just what I wanted, and needed. I read it in silence and felt to thank the Lord for the little messenger. I asked my wife to read it. She did so. I asked her what she thought of it. She said she believed it to be the truth, and asked me what I thought of it. I was too much overcome to answer at that time. My prayer was for strength, I was led to reflect on my Saviour's words in Matt. x, 35-38. The question at once arose, if it is the truth, why not obey? And when the next Sabbath came, we did obey. We kept the Sabbath nearly a year before we saw any one that kept it so far as we knew. When we saw from the Review that Bro. Lawrence was to preach at Milford, we went down there, fifteen miles, and, praise the Lord, found a little band of brethren and sisters who seemed to love the Lord and serve him in spirit and in truth. We had a good meeting, though Bro. Lawrence did not come. I stated our circumstances to the brethren, and they thought we had better write and see if some one could not come here, and give a few lectures. We have a good house that can be had, and the people are anxious to hear our position. Let some one come, if possible, praying the Lord to raise up a band of brethren, that shall keep his commandments, and walk in all his ordinances blameless. May God bless all his people, and create in us clean hearts, that we may teach transgressors the ways of the Lord, and sinners be converted unto him, is my prayer. If any one can come, let us know it, and I will meet him at Dexter, on the M. C. R. R., as that is our nearest station, and will see him provided for, while with us. ALEX. CARPENTER.
South Genoa, Liv. Co., Mich. No Night There.
By Mary F. Maxson
How beautifully has the Divine Revelator portrayed to us some of the glories of the unseen world! With what rapture have we contemplated the joys of Heaven! There shall be no night there. How sweetly and soothingly do these words fall upon the heart of the weary pilgrim, traveling through the long, dreary night of sin and sorrow. How they animate him to press on, through the darkness and gloom, to that bright land where no night shall be known; to that city fair, which needs not the sun to illumine it; "for the glory of God doth lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof." "No night shall be in Heaven." But night is here around us, within us. We see it, and feel it. How often we have been led to exclaim, while enshrouded in thick darkness, When will the morning dawn? When will the gloomy night of temptation and sorrow give place to that bright morning whose dawning needs no sun? whose light will ne'er go out? Weary pilgrim, lift thine eyes and behold yonder star. It betokens the dawn of eternal day. The distant207 skies are already tinged with glory, and soon the sun of righteousness will rise in beauty and splendor. That sun shall never set, but will usher in the day which fades no more. Lift up your heads, O ye weary ones, for you are nearing the land where no night is known. “That land is called the City of Light;
It ne'er has known the shades of night;
For the glory of God as the light of day,
Hath driven the darkness far away.” How often we are called to pass through the fearful night of temptation and sorrow. But, cheer thee, pilgrim, for “No night shall be in Heaven! no dreadful hour
Of mental darkness, or the tempter's power;
Across those skies no envious cloud shall roll,
To dim the sunlight of the enraptured soul.” No night in Heaven! No parting with dear ones there. But the night of death is here. How often we are called upon to bid adieu to loved ones, to consign them to the cold, silent tomb. With what anguish are our hearts then riven. How cheerless the world looks, and how long and drear the night appears. But, mourner, cease thy weeping. Look up. Dry thy tears, and with joy remember that “No night shall be in Heaven—no darkened room,
No bed of death, nor silence of the tomb;
But breezes, ever fresh with love and truth,
Shall brace the frame with an immortal youth.” No night there! Glorious thought! And there are no tears in Heaven. No groans, no sorrows, no fears. But joy is there—"joy unspeakable and full of glory." And Jesus is there. There we shall behold him in all his radiant loveliness and beauty. There we shall see him as he is. He shall yield perpetual light, and we shall bask forever in the sunshine of his love. What more can we ask? What greater inducements could be offered to animate us to press onward, toward the celestial city? Oh, let us be in earnest. Let us seek diligently to enter that land where no night shall be known. Carnal and Spiritual Sins
Carnal sins defile the soul by the body, but spiritual sins defile the soul in the body. He will Come.
By David H. Lamson
THE Lord our God will come,
To take his children home,
With a retinue of glad angels true
Far brighter than the sun. The joys of that bright day,
With sins all washed away,
We shall surely prove, and with holy love,
The Saviour homage pay. The golden city fair,
Through gates of pearl so rare,
With the Saviour's train, we shall enter in,
And all its glories share. Old earth renewed again,
Freed from transgression's stain,
The abode shall be of his people free,
And Christ their King shall reign. These thoughts bring joy to me;
O Saviour, may I be,
Joined heart and hand with that pilgrim band,
Who wait Thy face to see. DAVID H. LAMSON.
Olivet, Mich. Enterprise, Minn., Quarterly Meeting.
By F. W. Morse
The first Quarterly Meeting with this church was held on the first Sabbath and first-day in November. The Review containing the appointment did not reach any of the brethren of this church. We reached the place on sixth-day P. M. No appointment had been given out, as the brethren had seen none. We met for prayer and social meeting. On Sabbath-day one discourse was given and a prayer-meeting held. On first-day two discourses and a business meeting. We met to celebrate the ordinances of the Lord's house on the evening of second-day; Bro. Bostwick left for home the next morning. Tuesday evening we had a prayer meeting. This is a place where Eld. J. V. Himes lately held a tent-meeting. A few came out to our meetings notwithstanding the short notice, and listened with interest. The meetings upon the whole were profitable and highly encouraging. Three united with the church. Some discouragement and coldness had crept in upon the brethren, which caused a lack of freedom and activity in our meetings; this continued until at our communion the cloud began to break; yet some stood back; one was absent, another did not partake. It was nevertheless an occasion of deep interest, and the place was glorious on account of God's blessing. Deep moving sympathy was expressed for the backward ones, and fervent prayer offered in their behalf. The brethren and sisters said this was the best, or one of the best meetings they had ever attended. Its influence was telling in favor of truth. At the Tuesday-evening meeting, the discouraged feeling moved wholly away. Every brother and sister stood in the light. It was a happy time, long to be remembered. Novel Gunboat and Global Telegraph Plans
THe great Iron Company of Marseilles have just completed, at their dock-yard at LaSeyne, near Toulon, an Iron-plated steam gunboat, on a new model. It has already been tried, and the result has been most satisfactory. It may be easily separated into 18 pieces, and each of these forms a small boat, which may travel over land or navigate the sea with equal facility. The gunboat, when entire, accomplishes eight and a half knots an hour. When taken to pieces a whole fleet of gunboats may be moved from one place to another by railway at the rate of 35 miles an hour. THE GLOBE TO BE GIRDLED.—Russia having given permission to Mr. Collins, an American citizen, to construct an electric telegraph line from Russia across Behring Straits, and the British government having granted the right of way through British Columbia to connect this line with existing United States lines, the two continents are erelong to be connected by telegraphic communication, without encountering the risks of a submarine cable across the Atlantic.