[An esteemed brother has sent us the following for publication, from the Golden Rule. We shall do well to make an application of it, at home and abroad.]
"Christian! walk carefully—danger is near,
Work out the journey with trembling and fear;
Snares from without, and temptations within
Seek to entice thee again into sin."
Fretfulness or a spirit of complaining is a sin of all sins the most frequent, and destructive to domestic happiness. Indeed, we have known whole families rendered miserable from this source. Peevishness or a disposition to fret, even at little things is truly and emphatically the mischief maker, the apple of discord. 'Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!'
Any rules, or antidote, remedying this prevalent evil will be considered a desideratum, more valuable than the philosopher's stone.
First, then, stop! stop short, the very instant you feel any risings of irritability or peevishness; stop, and reflect, how useless, unlovely, unavailable, unprofitable, yes, how hateful and very wicked it is to indulge in this habit. Think, how much it gratifies Satan, destroys your own peace and comfort, grieves the Holy Spirit and dishonors Christ.
Even one word, while in a fretful, angry frame, will 'set on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire of hell!' Stop! stop! 'leave off contention before it be meddled with.' 'If a man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man.' Therefore, again:
2. We say stop! The very moment you feel any disposition to fret—stop! keep silence, keep your mouth as with a bridle, set a double guard at your lips, bar them, lock them up, utter not a syllable, a single thought, till there is a cooling off, time for reflection and prayer—raise your heart to God, for conquest.
3. Besides this profound silence and ejaculatory prayer, plead the promises. 'Blessed is the man that endureth temptation,' &c. See James i, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Also 1 Cor. x, 13.
4. Endeavor, at all times to cultivate a spirit of calmness and self possession under all circumstances of provocation, and trial. 'Let your moderation be known to all men; the Lord is at hand.'
5. Think of your own misdoings, how much you cause others to be displeased at your behavior. No one that duly considers his own faults and aberrations will be likely to fret at the misconduct of others.
6. Consider the Providences of God. Nothing does or can occur except under the direct or indirect control of infinite wisdom and benevolence.
7. Think, much on the goodness and forbearance of God, his infinite patience and long suffering under the most atrocious and aggravating insults.
8. Let the example of Christ be vividly and constantly before your mind.
'Consider Him who endured such contradiction of sinners against himself lest ye also be wearied and faint in your minds.'
Especially remember, that while enduring the agonies of the cross, He prayed, 'Father, forgive them,' &c.
9. Accustom yourself to look chiefly on the bright side of things, not on the dark. Dwell mostly on the good qualities of those with whom you associate, not on the bad. Make due allowances also, for the varied temperaments, circumstances, education, &c., of evil doers.
10. Pray for those tempters and evil doers, with whom you come in contact. You can never fret against those, for whom your soul is burdened, for whose salvation you feel a deep, longing, prayerful interest.
11. Finally: seek earnestly for a baptism of the Holy Spirit, a holy, sanctified soul, a deep and lasting sympathy with Christ. This entire consecration to God, praying always, in the Spirit, is the only sure safeguard against fretfulness and all other sins.
"Christian! walk prayerfully—oft wilt thou fall,
If thou forget on the Saviour to call,
Safe shalt thou walk through each trial and care,
If thou art clad in the armor of prayer."
COMMUNICATIONS.
By Editor
As Communications of esteemed Brethren sometimes contain expressions which we choose not to use, and sentiments which we would not advance, we would say, that we are not responsible for what appears under this head.
From Bro. Tolman.
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—Bro Waggoner came last Fall into our neighborhood and gave us a course of lectures on the prophecies, the commandments, and the present truth of the third angel's message; and we feel to rejoice and praise the Lord for the light that shines so bright. Four of us immediately embraced the truth; and since that time two more have joined us in the faith, and another has commenced keeping the Sabbath.
As the Review and Herald comes to us richly laden with blessings, we hail it with joy, not only for the truth it contains, but also to learn the position of those who are looking for Jesus the second time without sin unto salvation to all those that love his appearing, and to reward them with a crown of righteousness that fadeth not away; also to give unto those who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory honor and immortality—eternal life.
As we meet from Sabbath to Sabbath, our faith grows stronger in the Lord, and in the Scriptures of divine truth, which are given by inspiration of God, and are profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
The publication on the Sanctuary and 2300 days we have carefully read, and think it affords the right explanation of the mistake in the past. We believe that Jesus is in the Most Holy Place of the heavenly Sanctuary; and will soon come out to bless his people, that where he is, there they may be also, and behold his glory.
Jesus said, Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom; and five were wise and five were foolish, &c. Did he say that they would not be disappointed? No: he said that they would be disappointed, in consequence of which they would slumber and sleep. Neither did he say that the bridegroom would come, when the cry was made, Behold he cometh!
Babylon seems to be getting angry as we talk of the third angel's message, and of keeping the Sabbath of the Lord our God, and of the literal signs, the fulfillment of prophecy. The signs in the religious moral and political world show beyond controversy that Christ is near even at the door.
When we present these important truths in some of the First-day meetings in order to avoid hearing on these subjects they will close their meetings. Now in so doing, do they not fulfill the saying that is written: They have eyes, but they see not; ears have they but they hear not; hearts, but they understand not
Not long since I was talking with a Baptist minister on the subject of the Sabbath. He being a Latin, Greek and Hebrew scholar, undertook to support the Christian Sabbath; and when he failed to do so, at last said, before some six or eight, that he did not believe in keeping any Sabbath. Now is he not giving the lie to his own profession? or how can they who hear him make such denials of the Sabbath, have confidence in him? But this is come to pass, which is spoken, They are willingly ignorant.
As we are living in perilous times in which false teachers and their false doctrines shall abound, in whom shall we put our trust? In the arm of flesh? No; but in God who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and the fountains of waters, and rested the seventh day from all his work.
I often fear for the danger I am in with the rest of my fellow-creatures, of being overtaken with our sins upon us when Jesus shall make his appearance in the clouds of heaven. Awful day to a wicked world! Then he which is filthy will be filthy still; he that is righteous will be righteous still. If we are of the righteous, with what joy shall we hail his appearing, when he shall descend in all his grandeur and power, with all his holy angels, taking vengeance on them that know not God and obey not the gospel, who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power. O who would not embrace the truths of the gospel, and be able to stand before the Son of man.
Yours in the blessed hope, striving to keep the patience of the saints, the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. LEBBEUS TOLLMAN.
Dellona, Sauk Co., Wis., Jan. 22d, 1854.
THE ADVENT CROWN.
THE sight of those who gaze with an unwavering heart on the glory and brightness of our coming Lord, becomes strangely dim to the fascinations of earth. They lose much of themselves, that they once valued, and the love of sense and self vanishes in the sunlight of his perfections. They feel poor in spirit, and hunger and thirst after greater conformity to his image. They begin to cry from the heart, "Let thy kingdom come;" and they are looking for and hastening unto the day of the Lord. Paul once said, "There is laid up for me a crown of RIGHTEOUSNESS, which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me in that day, and not to me only but to all them who love his appearing." By these words the humble and confiding are encouraged, and though they feel most unworthy of a crown, they know that they love the doctrine of his appearing, and therefore hope to receive it, for it is RIGHTEOUSNESS. They long for the glorious hour, when with the elders, they shall cast their crowns at the feet of him who sitteth on the throne, saying, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honor, and power, for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."
Let us then be diligent, and comfort our hearts with one of his last injunctions—"Behold I come quickly, hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out, and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and I will write upon him my new name." Amen, even so come, Lord Jesus.
The Harvest Is Ripening
By Joseph Bates
From Bro. Bates.
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—I have been laboring in this North-west corner of Ill., since the 17th of Jan. last. The interest of the last message of mercy is deepening and widening all around. Souls are embracing the Sabbath of the Lord our God, saying it is the truth. Others are inquiring and calling for books, and you will see by the names I send that these inquirers after truth, are anxious to have the Review and Herald, and the Youth's Instructor for their families. The district school houses are open for the message, and when the weather is mild enough to attend, the people hear, and many are anxious to have more meetings.
I had quite a large box of books, but I already begin to fear I shall not have enough to supply half the demand. Work enough in the western field. The harvest is ripening. God speed the messengers to fill their stations in his wide-spread harvest-field. How evident that God is gathering his army for the battle of the great day.
JOSEPH BATES.
Green Vale, Jo Daviess Co., Ill., Feb. 2d, 1854.
Established in the Truth
By Luther Paine
From Bro. Paine.
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—While we yet remain in this world of trial and peril we love the truth better and better, and are more fully established that we are on the direct way to the city of God where the pure in heart will have admittance. I have attended meetings some seven or eight Sabbaths at Springfield with the brethren since conference. They are giving evidence that rock bottom of truth is their foundation. Two or three have been added to the church here since the conference. Several have embraced the truth in Brookfield, Mass., where Brn. Daniels and Hunt have been presenting the truth.
Yours in love, Luther Paine. Ware, Mass., Jan 31st, 1854.
Conclusions which they Lead to.
By Uriah Smith
1. It is a declaration of the Prophet, [Amos iii, 7.] that the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. Where has it ever been revealed that two days would ever be enjoined upon men by divine command, or apostolic example? There was one definite day set apart by the great Creator, to be observed and kept holy by men; and for a definite purpose: but we know of no passage that teaches that the first or any other day would ever be raised to equal honor with it; much less be established in its stead.
The objection under consideration, assumes that we have "divine command and apostolic example" for the religious observance of the first day; and hence if the original seventh day is still binding, we must keep them both. But we find no such command or such first-day-observance. On this point our opponents seem not well to understand the position they occupy and what devolves upon them to be proved. When a point is indisputably established and fixed forever, it should be considered as settled and not be again called in question. Since, therefore it has been repeatedly and abundantly proved that there is no divine command, and no apostolic example for Sunday-keeping, it is not for our opponents to assume these points and then build their inferences thereon. Let them first produce the command or the example, and then will their deductions be entitled to our consideration.
2. One would infer from reading the book of Acts that the Sabbath or seventh day was still in force, after the day of Pentecost, and not that "the first day only," was observed for congregational duties. We find that they had Moses and the prophets read every Sabbath-day. Acts xiii, 27; xv, 21. We find Paul entering into the synagogue and preaching on the Sabbath-day, and the Gentiles beseeching him that the same words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. Acts xiii, 14, 42, 44. We find him abiding in one place a year and six months, reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and persuading the Jews and Greeks; [Acts xviii, 4, 11.] while we cannot gather either from the writings or practices of the apostles, that the first day was devoted to religious exercises.
3. Paul did reason with the Jews in the synagogue on the seventh day; and it is a significant fact that this day and this only is called the Sabbath throughout the Scriptures. Now why did Luke, the writer of the Acts, a preacher of the gospel, so long after the seventh-day Sabbath ceased, if it ceased at all, call this day the Sabbath, and thus throw us who live under the gospel in suspense and doubt in regard to what day we should observe in honor of Him who made heaven and earth, and thus render obedience to one of his express commandments? Why, I say, did he thus speak of it, if the seventh day was not the Sabbath for Christians then?
Provided the "Lord's supper and other congregational duties" were not attended to on the seventh day, what difference would that make? It matters not if Paul was engaged in such duties day and night from one week to another, that would not make a Sabbath. That institution must come from higher authority. There never has been but one Sabbath: that was made in the beginning by the King eternal, and man cannot annul it.
4. In the "transition period," as it is termed, we are satisfied of one thing, that the seventh day remained in all its original force, and was observed by Christ and his disciples; hence this cannot be true of the first day. We will nevertheless admit that at a later period that became the day generally observed for "congregational religious exercises;" but it was not until that man of sin had been revealed, the son of perdition, who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; not until he, in his presumptuous exaltation, had seized the law of God, robbed the fourth commandment of its glory and sanctity, and palmed off upon the world his counterfeit substitute.
U. S.
DISHONESTY.
By John Nevins Andrews
It is a singular spectacle to observe the course which the advocates of the first day Sabbath are compelled to adopt. After having proved the change of the Sabbath from the seventh to the first day of the week, by a number of absurd inferences, which apparently settle that question to their satisfaction, they find themselves in an exceedingly awkward position. Sunday has now become the Sabbath, but where is the commandment that obliges men to keep it holy? Where is the precept which teaches men how to observe this new Sabbath? It will do very well for the advocates of Sunday to resort to the fathers for proof that the Sabbath has been changed to that day, but to produce from the fathers, the commandment for Sunday-keeping is rather too hazardous an imposition to be attempted.
What then shall be done? To acknowledge with frankness that God has never given any precept or commandment for the observance of this new Sabbath, would also be acknowledging that its observance is not a part of man's duty. Eccl. xii, 13. This therefore will not do. In this emergency a lucky expedient seems to have suggested itself. It was this: "Sunday has become the Sabbath, and as it lacks a commandment to enforce its observance, and must have one, we will employ the fourth commandment for this purpose. There can be no harm in this, for the commandment says 'Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy,' and the seventh day has ceased to be the Sabbath, and therefore needs this commandment no longer while the first day of the week has become the Sabbath, and is in perishing need of something of this kind."
Whether the advocates of Sunday-observance hold any of this plausible reasoning with their own consciences or not, we are unable to determine with certainty. But with regard to the acts which they have performed, or rather attempted to perform, we are able to speak without hesitation. They have seized the Lord's Sabbath, which is the seventh day of the week, and stripped it of the fourth commandment, as the soldiers stripped Christ of his robe when they were about to crucify him. Having done this they consign the Sabbath of the Lord to destruction, and choosing in its stead the first day of the week, as the Jews chose Barabbas the robber, instead of Christ the Lord of the Sabbath, they array their new Sabbath in the stolen fourth commandment.
This conduct may enable Sunday-keepers to deceive those who employ their ministers to do their reading of the Bible, and their thinking for them. But God, let it be remembered, is not deceived by all this; and the day of judgment will show that men cannot mock God with impunity. Ministers of the gospel, and religious teachers, have so long and so generally taught men that Sunday was the Sabbath, and have repeated with so much assurance, the fourth commandment in support of the observance of that day, that the deception seems almost complete in the case of thousands. Take heed that no man deceive you.
J. N. A.
Thoughts for Consideration.
By H. Barringer
[The following was received from H. Barringer with the accompanying note:—
Bro. White:—With your permission I will suggest through the Review the following thoughts for consideration, and see what conclusions they will lead to.]
1. If the seventh day is still in force, is not the first also? and are not two days in the week therefore set apart for religious exercises by divine command and apostolic example?
2. If the seventh day was still in force after Pentecost, why was the first day only mentioned in the epistles as a day for congregational duties?
3. If the Lord's supper, and other congregational duties, were attended to on the seventh day, would Paul have chosen that day to reason with the Jews in the synagogues?
4. In the transition period between the full end of the Mosaic, and complete beginning of the Christian dispensation, were not both days observed or chosen more or less for religious exercises, preaching, &c.; and did not the first day, later in time, become the only day for congregational religious exercises?
Yours in the gospel hope, H. BARRINGER.
Troy, N. Y., Feb. 2d, 1854.
Appointments.
By Joseph Bates
PROVIDENCE permitting there will be a Conference of four days at the house of Bro. S. Gillett, in Green Vale, Jo Daviess Co., Ill., to commence on Thursday, March 2d, at 2 o'clock P. M., and continue to the evening of the 5th. Also a Conference of three days at Plumb River, Jo Daviess Co., Ill., commencing March 10th, at 2 o'clock P. M., and continue over the Sabbath into the evening of the 12th. The brethren coming on the Galena and Chicago Union R. R., will stop at Nora, four miles east of the terminus of the road, and six miles north-east of Brn. S. Gillett and W. Bates', via Green Vale P. O. Nora is sixteen miles north-east of Plumb River.
If any of the Sabbath brethren in this region wish for a general meeting, if they will give me notice by the 10th of March, I will endeavor to serve them if it is practicable.
My Post Office address for the present will be Green Vale, Jo Daviess Co., Ill., care of Wm. Bates. JOSEPH BATES.
To Correspondents.
By Editor
1. In writing to this Office, let everything of a business nature be put on a part of the sheet by itself, or on a separate sheet, so as not to be mixed up with other matters.
2. Be careful to write all names of persons and places, plainly and distinctly.
3. In all cases give the name of the Post Office, County and State. When a Town or Village is called by one name, and the Post Office by another, be sure to give the name of the Post Office.
4. When the direction of a paper is to be changed, do not forget to name the Office to which it has been sent.
5. Let everything be stated explicitly, and in as few words as will express the writer's meaning.
6. In writing texts of scripture, be sure to copy from the Bible correctly. It is no small sin to carelessly mangle the Word of God, as some do.
If the above directions are complied with, we shall be saved much time and perplexity, and be less liable to mistakes in transacting the business of the Office.
Business.
By Editor
J. HARROUN.—Your money is receipted in No. 2. We have forwarded the paper according to direction.
A. S. HUTCHINS.—The books were forwarded the 9th inst., to Ulysses, as ordered.
A. M. CURTIS.—In answer to your inquiries we would refer you to the article in this No. entitled, The Hour of His Judgment Come.
C. A. OSGOOD.—We have not had time yet to notice your questions. They shall be examined at our earliest convenience
Letters.
By Editor
L. Drow, S. Willey, H. Barringer , J. B. Frisbie, J. Harroun, A. S. Hutchins, B. M. Adams, J. Bates, J. Baker, J. N. Andrews, J. Marsh, E. Nash.
Receipts.
L. Glover, W. S. Lane, S. Griggs, J. Locke, C. Davis, C. Washburn, L. A. Washburn, M. Ricker, J. Benson, A. Heald, G. Widrick, H. Patch, O. Benson, I. Snow, each $1.
E. S. Lane, Geo. Mayhew, U. Bucklin, A. Wiley, O. Nichols, N. Davis, C. P. Finch, A. Ross, each $2.
C. G. Cramer, $3; a Bro. in Conn. $10. J. P. Kellogg $9 —75 cts. for each of the following names: J. Kellogg, D. Kellogg, S. Rice, J. Kellogg, Jr., N. Chapin, G. Kellogg, M. S. Kellogg, P. R. Chapin, A. Call, M. Owen, C. Riche, E. Perkins.
J. Noyes, $4.50; D. C. Demerest, $3.50; H. G. S. Rathbun $1.91; B. Tichnor, A. Sanders, B. Landon, S. T. Cranson, H. Lillis, Sr. Hunt, each $1.50. C. S. Glover, H. S. Wells, each $0.90. S. Snow, $0.86; P. W. Green, P. Burdick each $0.75; T. Finch, $0.68; E. A. Poole, O. D. Eastman, S. Ross, each $0.50; E. L. Bond, $0.25.