VERSE 4. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
From the Devil in his gloomy confinement, John now directs our attention to the saints in victory and glory, the saints reigning on thrones—how many? All who are blessed and holy, and who, consequently, have part in the first resurrection. From that general assembly John then selects two classes as worthy of especial attention: first, the martyrs, those who have been beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and second, those who had not worshiped the beast and his image. This class, the ones who refuse the mark of the beast and his image, are of course the ones who hear and obey the third message of Rev. xiv; but these are not the ones who are beheaded for the witness of Jesus, as some have supposed who have contended that the last generation of saints were all to be slain. The word rendered which, in the expression, "and which had not worshiped the beast," &c., shows that there is another class introduced. The word is hôtis (hostis), and is defined by Liddell and Scott, "Whosoever, whichsoever, any one who, any thing which;" and by Robinson, "One who, some one who, whosoever, whatsoever." As one class, John saw the martyrs, and as another he saw those who had not worshiped the beast and his image.
The rest of the dead lived not again till the thousand years were finished. Whatever may be said to the contrary, no language could more plainly prove two resurrections: one of the righteous at the commencement of the thousand years, and one of the wicked at the end of that period. On such as have part in the first resurrection, the second death will have no power. They can pass unharmed through the elements which destroy the wicked like chaff. They will be able to dwell with devouring fire, and everlasting burnings, Isa. xxxiii, 14, 15; they will be able to go forth and look upon the carcasses of the men who have transgressed against the Lord, as the quenchless fire and undying worm are preying upon them. Isa. lxvi, 24. The difference between the righteous and the wicked in this respect is seen again in the fact that while God is to them a consuming fire, he is to his people, both a sun and shield.
Verse 7. And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison. 8. And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city; and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 10. And the Devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.
At the end of the one thousand years, the holy city, the New Jerusalem, in which the saints have dwelt in heaven during that period, comes down, and is located upon the earth, and becomes the camp of the saints, around which the resurrected wicked come up numberless as the sand of the sea. The Devil deceives them as he brings them up to this battle. The deception must of course have reference to some advantage to be gained by fighting against the saints. They are probably deluded into the hope that they can destroy the saints, dispossess them of their city, and still hold possession of the earth. But fire comes down from God out of heaven and devours them. The word here rendered devour, Prof. Stuart admits is "intensive," and signifies "to eat up, devour, so that it denotes utter excision." This is the time of the perdition of ungodly men, the time when the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also, and when the works that are in the earth shall be burnt up. 2 Pet. iii, 1, 10. In the light of these scriptures we can see how the wicked are to receive their recompense in the earth; Prov. xi, 31; we can see also that it is not eternal life in misery, but an "utter excision" entire and complete destruction.
Two views deserve a word of notice right here. The first is that the earth is renewed at the second coming of Christ, and is the habitation of the saints during the thousand years. The other is that when Christ appears the second time he sets up his kingdom in Palestine, and performs in connection with his saints a work of conquest over the nations that are left on the earth during the thousand years, and finally subdues them to himself.
One, among many objections to the first view, is, that it makes the wicked in their resurrection, come up, with the devil at their head, and tread with their unhallowed feet upon the purified and holy earth, and the saints who have held possession for a thousand years, are obliged to yield possession, and flee into the city. But we cannot believe that the saints' inheritance will ever be thus marred, or that the fair plains of earth made new will ever be polluted with the impious tread of the resurrected wicked; for besides outraging all our ideas of propriety, there is no scripture from which even an inference can be drawn to support it.
And as to the second view, one among many of its absurdities is, that notwithstanding Christ and his saints have conquered the earth during the thousand years, at the end of this period the wicked get the upper hand of them, they lose their territory, the work of a thousand years is undone, and they are compelled into an ignominious retreat into the city for shelter, leaving the earth to their undisputed sway. Those who wish may rack their brains in trying to harmonize the inconsistencies and absurdities of such theories, or may endeavor to draw consolation from the dubious prospect. For ourselves we prefer better employment and a brighter hope.
In contrast with these theories there is a beautiful harmony in the view which we defend: that the saints are with Christ in heaven during the thousand years, while the earth lies desolate; that at the end of that time the saints and the city come down, the wicked dead are raised, and come up against it; that they there receive their judgment; and that from the purifying fires which destroy them, come forth the new heavens, and new earth to be the abode of the saints throughout endless ages.
From verse 10 some have argued that the Devil alone was to be tormented day and night. But the testimony of this verse is more extensive than that. The verb, shall be tormented, is in the plural, and agrees with the beast and false prophet; whereas it would be in the singular number if it referred to the Devil alone. It will be noticed that in the expression, "where the beast and false prophet are," are is a supplied word. It would be more proper to supply the words, were cast, answering to what was spoken of the Devil just before. The sentence would then read, "the Devil was cast into the lake of fire where the beast and false prophet were cast." They were cast in there and destroyed at the commencement of the thousand years. Being resurrected, a similar and final destruction is now visited upon them.
Some reader may be induced to ask for a definition of the lake of fire. As a comprehensive definition we should say that it is a symbol of the agencies which God employs to close up his controversy with the living wicked, at the beginning of the thousand years, and with all the hosts of the ungodly, at the end of that time. We can better describe its effects than the thing itself. At the second coming of Christ, it is the flaming fire in which the Lord Jesus is revealed; it is the spirit of his mouth and brightness of his coming by which the man of sin is to be consumed; it is the fire in which great Babylon shall be utterly burned. Rev. xviii, 8. At the end of the thousand years it is the day that burneth as an oven, Mal. iv, 1; it is the fervent heat that shall melt the elements and the earth, and burn up the works that are therein; it is the fire of Tophet "prepared for the king" (the Devil and his angels, Matt. xxv, 41), the pile whereof is deep and large, and which "the breath of the Lord like a stream of brimstone doth kindle." Isa. xxx, 33. On the expression, "tormented day and night forever and ever," see Thoughts on chap. xix, 1-4.
Verse 11. And I saw a great white throne and him that sat on it, from whose face the heaven and earth fled away; and there was no place found for them. 12. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
With verse 11 John introduces another scene to take place in connection with the final doom of the ungodly. It is the great white throne of judgment before which they are assembled to receive their awful sentence of condemnation and death.
1. They are judged out of the things written in the books; from which we learn the solemn fact that a record of all our deeds is kept on high. A faithful and unerring record is made by the angelic secretaries. The wicked cannot conceal from them any of their deeds of darkness. They cannot bribe them to pass over in their record any of their unlawful acts. They must meet them all again, and be judged accordingly.
2. They are to be punished according to their works. The Scriptures declare that they shall be rewarded according to their deeds. There are then to be degrees in the punishment of the wicked; and it may be asked how this can be harmonized with our view that death is the punishment for sin, and comes upon all alike. Let us ask the believers in eternal misery how they will maintain degrees in their system. They tell us the intensity of the pain endured will be in each case proportioned to the guilt of the sufferer. But how can this be? Are not the flames of hell equally severe in all parts? and will they not equally affect all the immaterial souls cast therein? But God can interpose, it is answered, to produce the effect desired. Very well, then, we reply, cannot he also interpose, if necessary, according to our view, and graduate the pain attendant upon the sinner's being reduced to a state of death as the climax of his penalty? So then our view is equal with the common one in this respect, while it possesses great advantage over it in another; for while that has to find the degrees of punishment in intensity of pain alone, the duration in all cases being equal, ours may not only have degrees in pain, but in duration also; for while some may perish in a short space of time, the weary sufferings of others may be long drawn out. But yet, we apprehend that the bodily sufferings will be but an unnoticed trifle compared with that mental agony, that keen anguish which will rack their souls as they get a view of their incomparable loss, each according to his capacity of appreciation. The youth who had but little more than reached the years of accountability, and died perhaps with just enough guilt upon him to debar him from heaven, being less able to comprehend his situation and his loss, will of course feel it less. To him of older years, more capacity, and consequently a deeper experience in sin, the burden of his fate will be proportionately greater. While the man of giant intellect and almost boundless comprehension, who thereby possessed greater influence for evil, and hence was the more guilty for devoting his powers to that evil, being able to understand his situation fully, comprehend his fate, and realize his loss, will feel it most keenly of all. Into his soul indeed the iron will enter most intolerably deep. And thus, by an established law of mind, the sufferings of each may be most accurately adjusted to the magnitude of their guilt.
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Reader, is your name written in the book of life? Are you striving to avert in your own case the fearful doom that awaits45the ungodly? What we would say to you is, Rest not till you have reason to believe that your name is registered on the glorious list of those who are to share at last in the glories of eternal life.
The Cause.
By Editor
In these times, when almost everything is trembling and shaking to pieces, it is a matter of the greatest encouragement to be connected with, and laboring in a cause that gives evidence of being specially sustained by the hand of God. The cause of present truth is onward, because the hand of the Lord is in the work.
The efficient ministers among us are few, and some of them have entangled themselves in worldly cares, while some others have lost the missionary spirit and are beset with skepticism which threatens to destroy them. In this direction things at present look dark. But viewing the subject with a firm faith that God has a special and glorious work to accomplish with the third message, the prospect brightens. Should our present number of laborers decrease we may expect the Lord to raise up others more faithful and worthy to fill their places. If the cause needs them he can raise up and qualify ten to one. The work of the faithful is to discharge their duty, and in faith leave those things which lie beyond their agency with the great Author of the message.
The Macedonian cry is heard from Ireland, "Come over and help us!" It seems to us that somebody will be stirred by it. The experience of the past two months with those who have gone out in Michigan is that the Lord has turned his hand to build up his people, and convert our entire Sabbath-Schools to himself. The youth, and children, and backsliders are turning to the Lord. Never had we such evidences of the hand of God in this work, as now. In every place where the message has been lived out by those who have professed it, and the testimonies, which God in mercy has sent have been received, to the putting away of idols, we may now expect a precious ingathering of souls. In this God seems to be setting his seal to the work of his faithful servants in this cause. From all parts of the free States we hear the call, "Come over and help us!" These calls will stir somebody. If those who have been teaching the message do not move out with the true missionary spirit, God will call from other positions in life those who will be stirred by such calls.
Our churches are awake and true every time. They adopt systematic benevolence generally, which, if fully carried out by all, would meet the wants of the cause. But if more means are wanted to carry forward any enterprise, such as raising ten thousand dollars to place the publishing department where it now is, they will not stop with the sums which systematic benevolence calls for; but they will open their hands wide to meet every want. We do not believe there is another people on earth who are so ready for acts of benevolence in the fear of God.
Looking out upon the so-called Christian world at the present time, we see two extremes; one is a people carrying out systematic benevolence in a prompt, liberal, godfearing manner which has not its parallel; the other extreme is, their ministers, with few exceptions, are destitute of the missionary spirit. The way is fully prepared for them. Our brethren stand ready with their means in their hands to send them where duty may call; the Publishing Association can spare faithful missionaries who need, one or two hundred dollars in books without feeling it, the present truth is brought out so clear from the word of God that it may be presented with an irresistible force, and the cry comes up from north, south, east, west, "Come over and help us!" O God, stir up these men, if necessary, as an eagle stirreth up her nest!
There are five of our ministers who have their headquarters in Battle Creek. These men, thus huddled together, work to great disadvantage. What but the want of the missionary spirit and devotion to the cause of truth keeps them from centering abroad where they can labor to the best possible advantage? The Battle Creek church does not need their labors. There are those in the church who have never preached a sermon who would accomplish more by far should they go forth to labor for the salvation of souls than some of these spell-bound ministers. There is too much of a disposition to sit down and eat up the loaf while others all around are crying for spiritual bread.
Think of the poor missionary who has gone with his family to distant and unhealthy lands to sow the gospel seed in heathen soil. He must learn their language, and then establish schools, toil on in loneliness for years without meeting one congenial spirit. Perhaps he there buries his children, and his wife, and after exhausting his constitution in laboring to elevate a few beclouded minds to a degree to be able to receive some rays of Christian light, he returns to his native land an invalid.
Now the plenteous golden harvest waves everywhere in Christian lands, and the way is fully prepared for our ministers to go forth and reap. Let them enter the newest field, and a few evening lectures are enough to bring to their assistance congenial spirits, who open their doors to freely entertain them, and in a few weeks they may gather around them a company firm in the message, and strong in the Lord. Should our ministers, under such circumstances, talk of sacrifice, hardships, privations? Yet they do, and we can safely say that the lack of the true missionary spirit in some of them, to say the least, cannot find a parallel in the Christian world. And what seems most frightful is, some of them under their present rusting position are losing their faith, and becoming infidel in their feelings.
Contrast the spirit of self-sacrifice in the heart of the foreign missionary's wife, with that in those women who would hold their minister husbands huddled together in point of headquarters, simply because a certain location is more pleasant while surrounded by relatives, old friends, good school for the children, &c., &c.
If this is the order of the times, then let us colonize and hide our light under a bushel, and let sinners go to perdition. But if God calls men to "go out quickly" with the last message, and compel them to the highways and hedges to come in, then let them go forth in the name of the Lord, claiming all the blessings promised in the original commission to sustain them ever. God wants room to work for these men and their companions in life, to make them mighty in him. If they shrink back content with a few friends, and cling to the poor comforts and blessings of this life, as if these were their only heaven, God cannot do much for them. If they strike out with that love for sinners which the gospel call gives every true minister, their course will be onward and still onward to form new acquaintances, made doubly dear by being instrumental in bringing them to the truth. Here are comparative hardships, fatigues, cares, burdens, for those who put their entire being into the work; but with these there is happiness exceeding that of kings and nobles. These glory in the cross of Christ, and covet to suffer with him that they may reign with him.
What the cause most needs at the present time is a devoted, self-sacrificing, active ministry. What if they suffer cold, hunger, and sickness? look at the poor soldier. None of our ministers have suffered as many of them have. What if they, like Paul, desire to spend and be spent in the cause of Christ, and through incessant labors fall in the battle and sleep in Jesus till the trumpet sounds? look at the poor, suffering soldier led forth to battle to be shot down, stripped and buried like a dog by rebels, with no hope of a resurrection to eternal life.
We have borne a plain testimony to our people in regard to sacrificing for the cause, so has Mrs. W. This testimony has been received and acted upon, and our ministers have gladly received the benefits; and now that we see a far greater lack on the part of our ministers, we will not hold our peace until we see ministers and people, like a well-disciplined army, ready for the great battle of the closing work of the third message. Then will the cause move on gloriously.
Wesley and His Preachers.
He prescribed the minutest rules of life for them, even such as concerned their physical habits. He found that some became "nervous" more probably by too much work than by too little, though he thought otherwise. He gave them advice on the subject, "Touch no strong drink, tobacco, or snuff. Eat very light, if any, supper. Breakfast on nettle or orange-peel tea. Lie down before ten; rise before46five. Every day use as much exercise as you can bear; or murder yourself by inches." "These rules," he adds, "are as necessary for the people as the preachers." He interrogated them closely in his printed Minutes about their habits. "Do you," he asked, "deny yourselves every useless pleasure of sense, imagination, honor? Are you temperate in all things?—to take one for instance, in food? Do you use only that kind, and that degree, which is best both for the body and soul? Do you see the necessity of this? Do you eat no flesh suppers! no late suppers? These naturally tend to destroy bodily health. Do you eat only three meals a day? If four are you not an excellent pattern to the flock? Do you take no more food than is necessary at each meal? You may know, if you do, by a load at your stomach, by drowsiness or heaviness, and, in a while, by weak or bad nerves. Do you use only that kind and that degree of drink which is best both for your body and soul?—Dr. Steven'sHistory of Methodism.
Systematic Benevolence.
THE children of Israel were required to give a tithe, or tenth, of all their increase. See Lev. xxvii, 30–35; Num. xviii, 21, 24–32; Deut. xiv, 22–26, 28, 29; xxvi, 11–13; 2 Chron. xxxi, 5, 6; Neh. x, 38. And it cannot be supposed that the Lord requires less of his people when time is emphatically short, and a great work is to be accomplished in the use of their means in giving the last merciful message to the world.
Says the Prophet, Mal. iii, 8–10: "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse; for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." It is time to cease robbing God, that we may receive the fulness of his blessing.
Who says that these "tithes and offerings" are merely speaking and praying in meeting? Away with such doubtful applications of Scripture. If the prophet Malachi is not here teaching the carrying out of the Israelitish system of tithing, he is certainly enforcing a duty of the same nature, and his words may come home to us with full force, and the principle be carried out by obedience to the language of Paul—"Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in store," &c. Says our Lord, Luke xi, 42: "But woe unto you Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone."
This illustration shows how the accounts are kept with the use of the S. B. Blank Book. If the brethren give a tithe, or tenth, of their income, estimating their income at ten per cent on what they possess, it will amount to about two cents weekly on each $100 of property. Beside this, let all who are able to do, give a personal donation for each week, more or less, according to their ability. This is necessary to include those who have but little or no property, yet have ability to earn, and should give a share of their earnings. While some widows, or aged and infirm, should be excused from personal, the young and active who have but little or no property, should put down a liberal weekly, personal donation.
A Call for Church Organization
By Eliza Burbee
From Sister Burbee.
Bro. White: I esteem it a privilege, to speak a few words through the columns of the Review, to the dear brethren and sisters scattered abroad.
How I love the weekly visits of this paper, as it comes laden with the precious truths of the third angel's message.
I realize to some extent, the times in which we are living. I think it is high time to awake and put on the whole armor of God, that we may be prepared to withstand the temptations which we are daily called to meet.
I feel that there is much for me to do, before I shall be permitted to stand with the Lamb on Mount Zion.
I feel thankful that I have had the present truth sounded in my ears, and that my heart has been open to receive it. I want to be cleansed from all sin, that I may share the joys of the earth made new. What a glorious thought! No sin, no sorrow, no parting there! How it cheers our drooping spirits, when friends forsake and the cold world frowns upon us!47Dear brethren and sisters, let us strive to overcome that we may meet in our Father's house on high.
Our little society has been shaken, and we see the necessity of organization. A large majority of the Sabbath-keepers here are desirous of uniting with the body in their journey to the celestial city. Cannot a messenger be sent here for our benefit?
Yours in hope.
Eliza Burbee.
Waterloo, Iowa.
The Rebel Conference.
By B. F. Snook
A FEW weeks ago I spoke in the Review of a contemplated conference to be held in Marion, Iowa, by those Adventists who oppose organization and sister White's visions. It came off Nov. 27, and as their report is before me I shall make such remarks upon it as I think necessity demands.
They claim to be Seventh-day Adventists. We deny that they are such; and their actions prove it. They say, "A Seventh-day Advent church was organized in the town of Marion in the year 1860, taking for their faith and discipline the Bible alone." In this they are much mistaken. There was then no Seventh-day Adventist church organized in Marion; for that name was not adopted by the body at that time. Neither were they organized as a church of Seventh-day Adventists. The following is the covenant on which they were then organized: "We the undersigned do hereby express our wish to associate together in Christian fellowship as the church of Jesus Christ at Marion," &c. This expresses all involved in the name. Subsequently, however, the name, Seventh-day Adventists, was adopted by the church. But in their mania they have rejected it. For proof we refer to a resolution passed at their conference: "Resolved, That we continue to stand firm upon our original foundation, and exercise the functions of a church of Jesus Christ." Here they step back from the name, Seventh-day Adventists, to the old, disorganized elements from which the church was organized. Therefore we say they are not a true church of Seventh-day Adventists. If any at all, it is the counterfeit.
But why do they claim the name when in reality they have renounced it? This looks dark. Surely they sail under a banner to which they have no right. But they claim to be a church of Christ. This we doubt very much. If they can be his church and have no confidence in the gifts in his church, then I ask, Who may not be his church?
Again, they say that we made an effort to disorganize said church, and re-organize on the visions of sister White. This is not true. We never said disorganize once, nor could we, for the church had not been thoroughly organized. They also state another thing, which is not true—that one object of organization was to secure the recognition of Bro. White as the "latter-day Moses." That phrase, latter day, only serves to show the spirit that inspired it. "They say that we have left the Bible and gone after fables." That is all to gain sympathy from that character who is to make war upon the remnant. Those who believe the visions are not afraid of being led away from the Bible. They know that as long as they believe sister White there is no danger. She says, "Study his word prayerfully. Lay it not aside for any other book." Vol. ii, p. 264.
They complain that they were repelled from us. The facts are these:
1. When the subject of organization was first spoken of in the Review, these same ones began to murmur and complain. Soon a meeting was called for to investigate the visions. In the interim I had a conversation with the main leader of the rebellion, in which he said, "I will admit that all that sister White has yet seen is according to the Advent doctrine." Then, said I, you must admit that her visions are good so far. He assented that they were. Now, said I, my impression is that if it were not for the fact that her visions are against your tobacco, you would receive them. Yes, said he; because she is against me I will be against her. This, God being judge, is the substance of the interview. The meeting came off. The same man opened his batteries against the visions. I stated to the church that I knew tobacco was the root of his rebellion, and then rehearsed the above conversation. He arose and denied ever conceding or admitting that because sister White was against him he would be against her. His denial, however, does not affect the truth. This is the beginning; he was the leader of the rebellion, and he was led by tobacco with which Satan baited the hook which he was fast upon. The cry of separation was then raised. I opposed it, and still plead for the church to remain together.
2. Another meeting was appointed to settle up matters and divide. I led out, pleading for the church to remain as they were, as I thought they were not prepared for organization. The same man plead for division, but failing to effect anything, in a rage declared himself no longer a Seventh-day Adventist. The church decided to remain together until they could act more unitedly. After a lapse of some weeks the subject of organization was again talked of. Those who opposed the visions said it would be best for us to organize, that it would be no worse for them, and they would meet with us as they had done before. There was not a dissenting voice. The brethren then who were ready went into the organization. The rest in a short time went off by themselves and established another meeting.
These are the facts, and yet they say they were driven away from us. The truth is, "They went out from us; but they were not of us; for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us." 1 John ii, 19.
They complain of us for calling them rebels. What else are they? Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, and their sympathizers, could as consistently raise the same complaint. They are not in union with this people, or they would move with them. They have rebelled against the work, themselves being judges.
I do not write the above to persecute, or anything of the kind; but believing that their actions, and the circumstances attending them, demanded an exposure, and as I am acquainted with the whole thing, I felt it duty to state what I have, in the fear of God and love for his cause. B. F. SNOOK.
The Departed Year.
By A. M. A. Cornell
Another year is numbered with the past,
How quickly have its moments sped away?
The morning shed its light, the evening cast
Its shadow o'er the soon departing day.
The weeks and months have almost moments seemed,
So swiftly have they rolled their course around;
But with events of interest they've teemed,
And ears have almost tingled at the sound.
We hear and read of bloodshed, war and strife,
And hearts of men are failing them for fear.
The very air with pestilence is rife—
All tokens of the great destruction near.
This wicked world is now fast filling up
Its measure of iniquity and crime,
And to its very dregs must drink the cup
Of God's fierce wrath reserved for guilty man.
Sweet mercy's warning voice they will not heed,
But still are rushing blindly, madly on
As though from all restraint they would be freed
That they might hasten their impending doom.
But see amid the strife the Christian stand,
Firm and unshaken as the mountains are;
For He who holds the nations in his hand,
Has bidden his dear children not to fear.
To the stronghold for safety they have fled,
And stand secure in his almighty name;
And while his light is round about them shed,
They're safe from swelling flood or fiery flame.
A few more battles fought, and victories won,
And all their toils and conflicts will be o'er,
Then with the host redeemed they'll sing the song
Of triumph on the bright eternal shore.
A. M. A. CORNELL.
Battle Creek, Mich.
L E T T E R S.
"Then they that feared the Lord, spake often one to another."
From Bro. Jones.
BRO. WHITE: I improve this opportunity of making known our situation and feelings through the pages of the Review to brethren and sisters scattered abroad. It is about two years since we embraced present truth under the proclamation of the "third angel's message." We were then living in the state of Michigan, having moved west since that time into Ills. We are still trying to keep the commandments of God and faith of Jesus. We have been deprived of the good instructions of the Review until a few weeks past and how glad we were to again peruse its pages and follow its good instructions. We have not had the privilege of seeing or conversing with any one who is keeping the commandments of God since we left Mich. My companion and myself are the only ones of like faith in this place. O how cheering it would be to see some messenger of God come to this place to proclaim the message. Gladly would we welcome him to our humble place of abode. We are poor but such as God has blessed us with that we will gladly share. It is our earnest prayer that some one may come that we may have the privilege of being buried with Christ in baptism and unite with God's remnant people. We want to put on the whole armor of God that we may be able to stand the trials that await the people of God. We desire the prayers of the brethren and sisters.
Yours striving to overcome.
A. D. JONES.
Pontiac, Liv. Co. Ills.
Striving to Overcome in the Faith
By James White
From Bro. Sparks.
Bro. White: I take this opportunity to let you know that I am still striving to take higher ground in the message. Amidst the many troubles and trials which we have to pass through, I feel thankful that I ever heard God's blessed truths proclaimed, and that my heart was soft enough to take hold and strive to keep all God's commandments and the faith of Jesus. My desire is to grow in grace and the knowledge of his holy word.
The church here has had some good meetings of late. But still we have some dark seasons to pass through. Satan is working with great power here in Iowa. O, may we ever have our trust in God, and lay hold of his promise with faith, believing that his promise is sure and steadfast, immovable as his throne. What a blessed promise. Let us lay hold with our whole heart, and strive to overcome and be able to stand through the perils of these last days, and be ready to meet Jesus when he comes.
Yours striving to overcome.
J. H. Sparks.
Knoxville, Iowa.