THANK God, we are nearing home. Probation is swiftly passing away. Soon, if faithful, we shall gain the haven of eternal rest; and oh! how sweet to the believer in Christ, as he travels life's uneven pathway, to know that this world is not always to be our home. How glorious the thought that there is a rest for the children of God. How blissful the anticipation of soon being ushered into the presence of Jesus and angels, and that when there, nothing can ever mar our perfect peace. No sickness, no sorrow, no parting with loved ones; nothing will ever cause the silent tear drop to flow.
Here we see much that seems lovely, but it is fleeting, and soon passes away. We love our friends, we love to enjoy their society here; but they, too, are frail, dying creatures. Death enters our homes and bears our loved ones away to the silent tomb. Ever and anon, my mind wanders to where sleep the loved forms of near and dear ones; but they are secure, they know no care; they know none of the sorrows of this life; but their sleep in the grave is short. Jesus' pleading in the heavenly sanctuary is most over. Soon he is coming to gather his jewels from every nation and clime, and in view of this, let us, dear brethren and sisters, strive to walk humbly before God; let us honor him by keeping all his holy commandments, that we may have right to the tree of life and enter in through the gates into the city.
And you, dear readers, who know not God experimentally, let one who loves you, invite you to come to Christ. He loves you, and is pleading for you. Cast your care all upon Jesus. Ask God through his dear Son to pardon all of your sins. Love him, believe him, and obey him; and when Jesus comes, with all of the dear saints of God, thou shalt receive a crown of life that fadeth not away.
Time is short. What is done must be done quickly. Men are growing more bold and blasphemous; they talk lightly of the law of God and our blessed hope; they trample his holy commandments beneath their feet. How regardless they are of the solemn time in which we are living. How little they realize that these are the closing hours of time; though, they are being faithfully warned of their danger if they do not repent and come to Christ.
Dear brethren and sisters, let us be more faithful than ever before. We have all of us a work to do. Then let us do it cheerfully. Probation is almost ended. We are nearing home. Then let us be up and doing; let us work while the day lasts, that we may be able to finally say, in the language of the apostle, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." 2 Tim. iv, 7, 8. N. J. LUCAS.
Canton.
A Methodist Embraces the Sabbath
By Bro. Cross
BRO. CROSS writes from Minn.: How natural it is for those of like faith and sympathies to draw towards each other. Those ties are strengthened as we read from the weekly visits of the REVIEW AND HERALD. “Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord,” therefore I would add my testimony to the truth, rejoicing in the fact, that those whom the truth makes free are free indeed. More than six months have now gone by since we (myself and family), commenced to keep the Sabbath of the Lord our God. Many of our old associates wonder at this, to them, strange course. “You who have been a Methodist for thirty-five years,” says one, “and now are working on Sunday, the Christian Sabbath, and going with that strange and peculiar people, who are not everywhere well spoken of.” But we have no apologies to make. If it is not in accordance with the sure word of prophecy, we will yield the point; if it is, then will we hold on with faith’s unyielding grasp, the commandments and traditions of men to the contrary notwithstanding.
We have occasion to thank the Lord that Eld. Ingraham was sent, or led, to this region of country to proclaim the present truth—the last message of mercy to dying man; others feel anything but thankful. It is astonishing to see how deeply it moves the old stagnant pool to hear just one sermon in favor of the honor, dignity, and perpetuity, of that law written by the finger of God. Five counter-sermons have already been delivered in support of that offspring of popery—the Sunday Sabbath. The Methodists, Presbyterians, and Baptists, all have tried their hands in opposing God’s truth. But has truth anything to fear from a thorough investigation? We think not. Let error seek the darkness, truth will ultimately prevail, for God is its author. Let the statutes of the Lord be my song in the house of my pilgrimage.
THE YOUTHFUL MIND.—
A straw will make an impression on the virgin snow: let it remain but a short time, and a horse's hoof can scarcely penetrate it. So it is with the youthful mind. A trifling word may make an impression on it; but after a few years, the most powerful appeals may cease to influence it. Think of this, ye who have the training of the infant mind, and leave such impressions thereon as will be safe for it to carry amid the follies and temptations of the world.
Picturing the Cross—Impressive Words.
By J. H. W.
READING a sermon by Maclaurin on "Glorying in the Cross," I was much struck with the following words in regard to representing Christ's sufferings by means of images or pictures. "Men may paint Christ's outward sufferings, but not that inward excellence from whence their virtue flowed, namely, his glory in himself, and his goodness to us. Men may paint one crucified; but how can that distinguish the Saviour from the criminals? On each side of him we may paint his hands and his feet fixed to the cross; but who can paint how these hands used always to be stretched forth for relieving the afflicted and curing the diseased; or how these feet went always about doing good; and how they cure more diseases and do more good now than ever? We may paint the outward appearance of his sufferings, but not the inward bitterness or inward causes of them. Men can paint the cursed tree, but not the curse of the law that made it so. Men can paint Christ bearing the cross to calvary, but not Christ bearing the sins of many. We may describe the nails piercing his flesh; but who can describe eternal justice piercing both flesh and spirit? We may describe the soldier's spear, but not the arrows of the Almighty; the cup of vinegar which he but tasted, but not the cup of wrath which he drank out to the lowest dregs; the derision of the Jews, but not the desertion of the Almighty forsaking his Son, that he might never forsake us who were his enemies." Let every one fix these words in the mind, and they may afford profitable meditation as we look upon the pictures of the cross. There is only one place where a suitable image of the cross may be represented: it is the heart. Let us all, like faithful artists, examine it every day to see where we may add a grace, or give it another touch toward making it complete. J. H. W.
Rules for Monthly Meetings.
By Stephen N. Haskell
1. Let each brother and sister feel an individual responsibility of being at the meeting. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as ye see the day approaching.” Heb. x, 25.
2. Leave all of your worldly cares and interests at home, “For if thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light, but if thine eye be evil [poneros, defective; Greek], thy whole body shall be full of darkness.” Matt. vi, 22, 23. Remember, the appointment is for religious worship, not for trading in cattle, sheep, or horses, &c.
3. Let all your spare moments be spent in prayer and meditation. “Pray without ceasing.” 2 Thess. v, 17. Try and make every brother and sister more happy by your presence.
4. Be punctual in your place at every meeting, anxiously inquiring of the Lord, “What wilt thou have me to do?”
5. Before introducing any topic for conversation or discussion, inquire, Is it in harmony with the spirit of the meeting? “For there is a time for every purpose and for every work.” Eccl. iii, 16. What might be proper on other occasions might be wholly out of place at a Monthly Meeting, where we have met for the sole purpose of worshiping God.
In conclusion: Seek Christian courtesy toward all. “Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” Phil. ii, 3, 4.
S. N. HASKELL.
The New Jerusalem.
HERE is a strikingly-beautiful description of the heavenly Jerusalem from the Apocrypha: “For Jerusalem shall be built up with sapphires, and emeralds, and precious stones; thy walls and towers and battlements with pure gold. And the streets of Jerusalem shall be paved with beryl and carbuncles, and stones of Ophir. And all her streets shall say, Alleluia; and they shall praise him, saying, Blessed be God which hath extolled it forever.” Tobit xiii, 16–18.
If this be true, “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?” Ps. xxiv, 3.
The Ark of His Testament.
THE ark in the heavenly sanctuary is not empty. It contains the testament of God. We cannot be ignorant of the relation of the ark to the atonement which the high priest makes. The earthly sanctuary makes this matter perfectly plain. The priest offers blood upon the mercy-seat which covers the ark, because the law which condemns the sinner is beneath it in the ark. Such is unquestionably the relation of the ark in the heavenly temple to the work of Christ our High Priest. The work of the Son of God as High Priest is to present the merit of his blood for sinful man. Then it is certain that the sinner is condemned and cannot be justified by that which the ark contains. So there is a law in the gospel dispensation that is the very thing which renders atonement necessary for sinful man, for the very reason that it cannot justify, but must condemn the sinner. The Priest, standing with blood before this ark, is a living testimony to the fact, that there is something within the ark that is itself exactly right, but that does not and cannot justify sinful man. A system to justify the repentant sinner, is therefore, not only consistent with the existence of a law that cannot justify him, but a sure proof that such law exists.
“In fact, if the manner of assertion in our text be strictly scanned, it will be found to be more exact and philosophical than the Latin, ex nihilo Deus mundum fecit, or the English, God made the world out of nothing. Each of these phrases presents the seeming incongruity of asserting that nothing was the material out of which the world was made. But our author is more strictly conformed to philosophical propriety, when he says, ‘Things visible were not out of things that are visible,’ i. e., the visible creation was brought into existence by the word or command of God simply, and was not formed or fitted up out of any pre-existing materials. Exactly so do we find the assertion in 2 Macc. vii, 28: ‘God did not make them [heaven and earth] out of things existing’; i. e., he strictly created them.”—Stuart’s Com. on Hebrews, p. 453.
These words seem very much to the point. To grasp and appreciate the great fact of actual creation is placed by Paul among the mighty acts of faith.
A Home Wanted for an Orphan
SISTER HASKELL, of Topsham, Me., a widow lady, in straitened circumstances in life, has had the care of a little boy, who is now about four years old, ever since he was seven weeks old. The father of the child is dead, and the mother has ceased to do any thing for his support. Sister H. is in feeble health, and finds herself under the necessity of placing this child in other hands. She desires to place the child in the hands of those who would train him up for the Lord. Are there no persons among our people that will esteem it a privilege, for Christ’s sake, to accept and care for this poor orphan? Any particulars respecting the child, together with his picture, can be obtained by addressing, Mary E. Haskell, Topsham, Me.
Religion Brings Salvation
No EARTHLY possessions or mental endowment can supply the place of religion, because that alone brings salvation to man.
Law Against Tradition.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
ALEXANDER CAMPBELL, in giving what he thought would work a great reformation in the world, and unite all Christians, gives this important consideration among the rest, “Let the positive commands of God be substituted for human legislation and tradition.” Christian System, p. 110.
This, indeed, is a most excellent plan, and the only true basis of reformation; and while the plain requirements and laws of God’s word are set aside to obey human traditions, a thorough and complete reformation cannot be effected. But how hard a thing this is to accomplish. Mr. Campbell himself, with all his zeal for the Bible, and the Bible only, failed to do this; and his disciples persistently follow in his steps. His teachings and his opinion have become just as effectually a creed which his followers receive as that written out at Geneva, or Westminster.
One of the plainest commandments of God, the one relating to the Sabbath, he utterly ignores, and in its place substitutes his so called Lord’s day, which rests wholly, and only, upon human legislation and tradition, the very thing he so loudly condemns. His followers are just as much wedded to this tradition, thus received and confirmed by him, as other sects are to written creeds.
D. M. CANRIGHT.
Sigourney, Sept. 28.
Report of Meetings.
By Joseph Bates
ACCORDING to appointment, we were at the Quarterly Meeting at Wright, Sabbath and first-day, Oct. 2 and 3, where we enjoyed five interesting meetings, and celebrated the ordinances of the Lord's house. Most all the members of the church at Casinovia, and some from Allendale, were present. Many good testimonies were borne in our social meetings, and a manifest desire to go forward in the work of the Lord.
Their large and commodious new meeting-house, 40x60, is almost ready for the mason-work, and is designed to be completed in a few weeks.
JOSEPH BATES.
FOLLY would do but little mischief were it confined to fools
A RULE WITHOUT AN EXCEPTION.—
It is often said there is no rule without an exception; but there is one rule to which I never knew an exception. I never knew a respectable person that did not behave with decency in a place of public worship.—Sel.
Appointments.
By R. M. Kilgore
And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
The next Monthly Meeting for the Pilot Grove, Iowa City, and Washington, churches, will be held with the Washington church, Nov. 13, 1869. The brethren and sisters from Brighton and Talleyrand are cordially invited to attend.
Annexed to each receipt in the following list, is the Volume and Number of the REVIEW & HERALD TO which the money receipted pays,—which should correspond with the Numbers on the Pasters. If money for the paper is not in due time acknowledged, immediate notice of the omission should then be given.
$1.00 each. B F Carpenter 35-1, A S Cowdry 33-1, J B Davison 34-14, Mrs M Benedict 35-12, M E Lanphear 35-16, W P Gilbert 36-16
— Miller 36-16, N E Grant 35-1, Marion Covert 35-16, E M Kimball 35-1.
$2.00 each. Jacob Larson 35-1, Betsey Bryant 38-18, Carrie Giles 35-1, Jarvis Baker 35-12, Noah Gayle 36-16, Agnes Ellis 36-18, Wm Warren 37-1, Ira L Fulton 35-1, Mrs W Chipman 36-16, L M Bartlett 36-13, S Keefer 35-19, Mrs M Thompson 36-9, Olive Mead 36-16, Geo Barrows 36-20, Mrs L Fuller 36-18, A Avery 36-18, S H Stanton 36-19, H R Svendstrup 37-1, Emily Palmer 36-11.
Miscellaneous. Jos Flanders $3.00 on acct. Sophrona Barnes 50c 35-16, A E Gridley 50c 34-21, C E Brown 50c 36-16, Eld O Brion 50c 35-16, S & E Hutchins 50c 35-16, H W Dodge 50c 34-22, C Nelson 3.00 36-14, B Armitage 3.00 37-1, S H Clark 50c 35-6, T B Story 50c 35-6, R F Barton 50c 35-18, L Brigham 50c 35-19, L Lockwood 50c 35-19, S Adams 50c 35-19.
Books Sent by Mail.
D McCallum 35c, T L Gilbert $5.00, A Wright 25c, W Chipman 22c, L Brigham 22c, C E Brown 1.12, Dr H James 22c, Joel Crandall 3.00, Eld. O Brion 50c, C Smith 10c, R F Barton 20c, E M Kimball 50c.
Cash Received on Account.
A S Hutchins 9.00.
Received on Book and Tract Fund.
A friend of present truth $10.00.
Foreign Missionary Fund.
Benj Armitage $5.00.
Michigan Conference Fund.
Church at Parkville $5.00, Church at Montcalm 16.72, Church at Locke 12.00.
Books Sent by Express.
Eld D M Canright, Monroe, Jasper Co., Iowa, $77.74, Wm Warren, Reed's Landing, Minn., 11.09