Earlier text: Evidences of ChristianityThoughts on the Revelation.
VERSES 1-6. And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: and she, being with child, cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man-child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. Definition of symbols. "A woman:" the true church. "The sun:" the light and glory of the gospel dispensation. "The moon:" the Mosaic dispensation. As the moon shines with a borrowed light derived from the sun, so the former dispensation, shone with a light borrowed from the present. There we had the type and shadow; here we have the antitype and substance. "A crown of twelve stars:" the twelve apostles. "A great red dragon:" Pagan Rome. "Heaven:" the space in which this representation was seen by the apostle. We do not understand that the events here represented to John took place in Heaven where God resides; for they are events which transpired on earth: but this scenic representation which passed before the eye of the prophet appeared in the region occupied by the sun, moon and stars, which we speak of as heaven. Verses 1 and 2 cover a period of time commencing just previous to the opening of the present dispensation when the church was earnestly longing for and expecting the advent of the Messiah, and extending to the time of the full establishment of the gospel church with its crown of twelve apostles. The dragon drew a third part of the stars from heaven. If the twelve stars with which the woman is crowned denote the twelve apostles, rulers in the Christian church, then the stars thrown down by the dragon before his attempt to destroy the man-child, or before the Christian era, may denote a portion of the rulers of the Jewish people. Judea became a Roman province before the birth of the Messiah. The Jews had three classes of rulers: Kings, priests, and the Sanhedrin. A third of these, the Kings, were taken away by the Roman power. The dragon stood before the woman to devour her child. Rome in the person of Herod attempted to destroy Jesus Christ, when he sent forth and destroyed all the children of Bethlehem from two years old and under. The child which was born to the expectant desires of a waiting and watching church, was our adorable Redeemer, who is soon to rule the nations with a rod of iron. Herod could not destroy him. The combined powers of earth and hell could not overcome him; and though held for a time under the dominion of the grave, he rent its cruel bands, opened a way of life for the race, and was caught up to God and his throne, or ascended up to heaven in the sight of his disciples, leaving to them by the words of the angels, this sweetest of all his promises that like as he was taken away from them, so he would come again. And the church fled into the wilderness, at the time the papacy was established, in 538, where it was nourished by the word of God and the ministration of angels, during the long dark and bloody rule, of that power, 1260 years. Verses 7-12. And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world; he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Wo to the inhabitants of the earth, and of the sea! for the Devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. The first six verses of this chapter as has been seen, take us down to the end of the papal supremacy in 1798. In the seventh verse it is equally plain that we are carried back into ages past. How far? Answer. To the time first introduced in the chapter—the days of the first advent. "And there was war in heaven." The same heaven where the woman and the dragon were seen at first; but they were actors in scenes that took place here upon earth; hence we understand this war to be located in the same place. At what time? Ans. During the days of Christ's ministry here upon earth. That Michael is Christ see Jude 9; 1 Thess. iv, 16; John v, 28, 29; and that this was a special time of warfare between him and Satan, need not be argued. That the dragon here means Satan is plainly stated. The symbol is applied to Pagan Rome in verse 3, because that power was Satan's prime agent in the events there introduced. Satan had looked forward to Christ's mission to earth as his last chance of success to overthrow the plan of salvation. He came to him with specious temptations, in hope of overcoming him; he tried in various ways to destroy him during his ministry; and when he had succeeded in laying him in the tomb, he endeavored in malignant triumph to hold him there; but in every encounter, the Son of God came off triumphant. And he sends back this gracious promise to his faithful followers: "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." This shows us that Jesus while on earth, waged a warfare, and obtained the victory. Satan saw his last effort fail, his last scheme miscarry. He had boasted that he would overcome the Son of God in his mission to earth, and thus render the plan of salvation an ignominious failure; and well he knew if he was foiled in this his last desperate effort to thwart the work of God, his last hope perished, and all was lost. See Spiritual Gifts, Vol. i, p. 67. But in the language of scripture, "He prevailed not," and well may the song be sung, "Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them." At this point some may be ready to say, "I am not yet willing to give up my life-long view that this war in Heaven was when Satan first rebelled, and that the casting out took place at that time." To this view there are some objections; and one is that just as soon as he saw that he was cast out, he turned his wrathful vengeance against the church which very soon fled into the wilderness. This war, and defeat of Satan could not therefore be his primeval fall from Heaven; for it took place not a great length of time before the woman went into the wilderness in 538. Again, there seems to be a number of times when Satan has been or will be defeated or cast down. One was his first rejection from Heaven, another when Christ overcame him at his first advent, and there will be another in the future when he is cast into the bottomless pit, and shut up for a thousand years. And there seems to be a regular gradation in the limitation of his power each time. The first time, as we may plainly infer from certain scriptures, the contest was between him and God the Father. See Jude. The second time between him and Christ the Son. While the third time an angel suffices to accomplish the work of his humiliation. The war mentioned by the scripture in hand is between the Devil and Michael, Christ. The great effort of the former against the latter personally was during his mission here on earth; and Christ's great victory over him personally was in that very contest. "Neither was their place found any more in heaven." Heaven, we have seen, does not mean, in this chapter, the place which is the abode of God and his celestial messengers. We think it here denotes a condition rather than a place, and understand the expression to signify that they were here humiliated, and never to regain their former position. They had suffered a terrible defeat, which Christ described by saying, "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven." His hope which he had all along cherished of overcoming the Son of man when he took upon him our nature, had forever perished. His power was limited. He could no more aspire to a personal encounter with the Son of God, a power which hitherto had given, in a comparative degree, dignity and prestige to his position. Henceforth the church (the woman) is the object of his malice, and he resorts to all those nefarious means against her that would naturally characterize a baffled and hopeless rage. See Spiritual Gifts, Vol. i, p. 79. But hereupon a song is sung in heaven, "Now is come salvation," &c. How is this, if these scenes are in the past? Had salvation and strength, and the Kingdom of God, and the power of his Christ then come? Ans. We understand this song to be sung in prospect. These things were made sure. The great victory had been won by Christ which put the question of their establishment forever at rest. Just as we read in other scriptures, "We have eternal life," "We have redemption through his blood," &c., as though we were actually now in possession of these blessings; whereas we only have them by faith, and the language is simply an assurance that they are forever sure to the final overcomers. The prophet then glances rapidly over the working of Satan from that time to the end, verses 11, 12, during which time the faithful "brethren" overcome him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, while his wrath increases as his time grows short. Verses 13-17. And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man-child. And to the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood, after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. But little comment is necessary on the verses last introduced. Suffice it to say that here we are again carried back to the time when Satan became fully aware that he had utterly failed in all his attempts against the Lord of glory in his earthly mission; and seeing this he turned with tenfold fury, as already noticed, upon the church which his antagonist had established. Then we have again brought to view the church in her wilderness state, a time, times and a half, 1260 years, verse 6, the flood of persecution which the Devil cast out after the church through the medium of the papacy, the help the church received from the Reformation, which being espoused by various princes and earthly powers, restrained the spirit and work of persecution, and finally the last assault of the dragon upon the commandment-keeping remnant, just in the future. It may be proper to notice that in this chapter three powers are made use of by the Devil to carry out his work, and hence are all spoken of as the dragon, he being the inspiring agent in them all. 1. Pagan Rome. 2. Papal Rome. 3. The two horned beast, Protestant America, which is the chief agent, as will hereafter appear, in making war upon those who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus. What the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus are, the readers of the Review, or, at least, all believers in the third message, already full well understand. The Shining Ones.—It is said that a pure diamond may be easily recognized by putting it under water, when it retains all its brilliancy while all other precious stones lose their peculiar appearance. Thus it is with the person who is made pure in the blood of Jesus. However deep the waters are which overflow his soul, still his light shines, showing the peculiar excellency of the Christian's hope, and the power of divine grace. Of such it may be truly affirmed, "Ye shine as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life." This message is given in prophecy as the last merciful warning to mankind. We need no doctor of divinity to tell us this. It is evident to every one who will think upon it. 1. It is followed by the coming of Christ, as symbolized by one like the Son of man, seated upon the white cloud, with kingly crown and sickle, to gather the harvest of the earth. 2. The terms of the message prove it to be the closing message of probation—a judgment message, by which the living at the advent will be judged. Wrath unmixed follows upon all that do not heed it, consequently there can be no later proclamation by which men can be saved. It is evident that when this message is proclaimed, there will be great danger that the very elect, if it were possible, should be seduced to worship the beast. Such a fearful warning and dreadful threatening indicate great danger. This shows that the mass of professed Christians of the last generation will be following some doctrine, custom, or tradition of the papacy; and that there must be a reform in respect to the false teaching of popery, to prepare the saints, living at that time, to be translated at the coming of Christ. The result of the message in developing a people that keep the commandments of God, proves, 1st, That previously they had not all been kept. "Here are they" does not indicate that it had, all the while, been common for Christians to keep all the commandments of God. 2d. That they will be tested by the commandments of God as opposed to the worship of the beast. Before the test they are in error in respect to the commandments, after the test they are right upon them all. We need not labor to prove that the ten commandments are the commandments of God. The phrase must include the ten, whether it excludes others or not; and when coupled with the faith of Jesus, which embraces church ordinances, and all requirements peculiar to the faith of the gospel as a means of salvation from sin, it must mean the ten exclusively, for they embody all the great principles of right, and consequently detect every sin. To be wrong on these commandments, then, is to be in sin. Hence the propriety and the importance of this test. But upon what point in the commandments can the test come? Though some hold that it is impossible for Christians to be perfectly agreed upon the commandments, yet there is no disagreement in respect to nine of the ten. All are agreed that the nine are binding. They are also agreed in respect to their meaning. It is the Sabbath commandment alone upon which there is any disagreement; and to this is the plainest and most explicit of all the ten. It tells us to "remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy." It instructs us how to keep it, tells us which day is the Sabbath and why, and for what reason, it was instituted. Yet the disagreement is all upon this commandment, and consequently the test is upon this alone. Some say the day has been changed, others that the commandment has been abolished, while a few hold the commandment to be unchangeable and perpetual—the only position that can be harmonized with scripture or reason. It is evident then that when the last message is proclaimed, the Sabbath question will be the test question. Just before the wrath is executed which is threatened in this last message, the servants of God are signed or sealed in their foreheads, to prepare them to stand in the great day of wrath. Rev. vii. In Ex. xxxi, and Hos. xx, the Sabbath is four times declared to be a sign between God and his people—a sign of the knowledge of the true God. The reason of this is obvious. The Sabbath commandment is the only one of the ten which distinguishes the giver of that law as the MAKER of all things. We might choose a crocodile for a god, and keep all the commandments, except the Sabbath, to him; but we cannot keep the Sabbath in honor of any but the Maker of the heavens and the earth. On the other hand, the papacy gives us a sign or a mark of his authority and power to make laws, to bind men's consciences, and command them under sin. What is it? In the language of an approved Roman Catholic writer, it is "the very act of changing the Sabbath into Sunday." If the papal church did change the Sabbath into Sunday, as it claims, to keep its "Sunday" instead of the Sabbath, is an acknowledgment of its power and right to change the law of God, and an acceptance of its proffered mark of the same. Hence, those that keep all the commandments of God will not have the mark of the beast, and those that accept of the mark of the beast will not keep all the commandments of God. This is the test on the commandments. The faith of Jesus—the plan of salvation through Christ, and the ordinances of the Christian church, will be restored to primitive purity, under this last message. When this is done, baptism will commemorate the resurrection of Christ, as in primitive days, and there will be no further need nor excuse for honoring the resurrection day of the Son at the expense and dishonor of the rest-day of the Father. Signs fulfilled declare the coming of Christ and the end of probationary time at hand. Several lines of consecutive prophecy have been all fulfilled, except the concluding act—the coming of Christ, the dashing in pieces of the nations, and the establishment of the kingdom of God, the everlasting kingdom. The events fulfilled are so many signs that the remaining great event will follow. To disbelieve the remaining event or events of a prophecy, is to disbelieve the prophecy; and to disbelieve the prophecy is to disbelieve God, the author of the prophecy. Therefore if you do not believe that the coming of Christ is at hand, you are in unbelief, and so far an infidel. "But," says a friend, "I do believe that the coming of Christ is at hand. I am looking for that event continually." "You are! And what do you think about the third angel's message?" "I don't know anything about that, but I am looking for Christ almost daily, because so many signs have been fulfilled." You are a believer then, and not an infidel. But how is it that a believer ignores the third angel's message? If it is infidelity to reject past fulfillments of prophecy, what is it to reject so solemn and important a message, which is so evidently placed before the coming of Christ! The word being true, he will never come till this message has been proclaimed with a loud voice. It is the most solemn and fearful prophetic message of the word of God. It is placed immediately preceding the coming of the Son of man. It will be the most thrilling, the all-important, all-absorbing truth for the people of that period of time; the great preparing truth, without which no living soul will be prepared to stand in that day. And yet men professing faith in the word of prophecy, tell us that they are expecting Christ immediately, ignoring, if not repudiating and virtually expunging from the word the only message that can prepare any one for that event. If this is not infidelity, what is? But, says one, I believe this message has been fulfilled in the past. Then you believe that probation closed, and wrath unmixed came upon all those that rejected it, or neglected it in the past. Says another, I believe this message will be fulfilled after the coming of Christ. You must have some good reason for placing that after the coming of the Lord, which the word of inspiration has placed before that event. If your position is correct, the beast will be worshiped, and the unmixed wrath of God will be poured out after the beast has been destroyed by the brightness of Christ's coming. But the solemn message has been announced, and is now doing its fearful work. It has come in the order and place assigned it in the prophecy. The reason people do not see it and acknowledge it is, because they are not in harmony with the great test which it brings. But for this test, Adventists would believe this prophetic message just as they do any other prophecy of the kind. But your law-abolishing, no-Sabbath theory cannot be harmonized with the test on the commandments in this message. This is the reason you are not willing to have the message here, where God has placed it, and is fulfilling it. If he should hear your prayer, and put it over beyond the coming of Christ, into the "age to come," you would not like it any better than you now do. The message would mean just what it does now. The worship and mark of the beast would be the same, and the test on the commandments would be the same. The message would cut up your theory just as it does now; and if you will not have it now, you would not receive it then. But the message is doing its work in harmony with the prophecy. That which has been a message in prospect for nearly eighteen hundred years, is now a message in fact. The Most High is redeeming his promise. All the prophecies are like promissory notes; and the Lord has never failed to meet each obligation as fast as they have become due, and never will. Men who will not believe when prophecy is fulfilled, are like those who will not give up a note when it is paid. Anciently God gave circumcision and the ceremonial law as a sign and pledge of his promise, to give Christ to the world, of the seed of Abraham. Time passed on, the obligation came due, and the promise was punctually fulfilled. But the Jews would not give up the note. They hold fast the sign, and thus still claimed the promise made to Abraham, as being yet unfulfilled. Thus they proved themselves infidels. Payment has been made, the obligation canceled, whether they accept it or not, and it will not be fulfilled again to cure their unbelief. Should Christ come and die again, they would still be infidels. It is just so now. God is fulfilling his promises as they mature. In addition to all other signs in heaven and on earth, he has caused the first, the second, and the third angels' messages to be announced in their order. Infidelity is left without excuse. The light upon the work of the beast is clear; being attested by scripture, its fulfillment in history and the claims of the papacy itself, not only that it has power to make laws to bind men's consciences, and command them under sin, but that it is the author of the very change in question, the change of the Sabbath into Sunday, and as papists very truly say, "without any scriptural authority whatever." But still unbelief will not acknowledge that God is fulfilling his word. Men will not give him credit for the redemption of his promises, and would not, of course, should he repeat the fulfillment. This he can never do. He cannot deny himself. His word once fulfilled, is fulfilled forever. To deny that the third message is being fulfilled, is either to deny God's providence in fulfilling his own word, or to deny the existence of facts which are forming a portion of the history of the present time. Could we take a stand-point in the future, and look back upon what God is now doing for this generation, and view the incurable unbelief of the mass of professed believers in the Bible, we should be astonished beyond measure. The unbelief of the Jewish people in the prophecies which they professed to believe, is truly a wonder; but what is that, compared with the present time, a time when the still increasing light of the prophetic word fulfilled, is illuminating our pathway, and showing us where we are in the foretold history of the course of time. Be entreated, dear reader, to believe God's word, and give him credit for what he is now doing in fulfillment thereof. Do not attempt to remove the present message into the past or the future, but investigate its claims, and meet its just demands, while God, in his providence is causing it to be proclaimed. The Lord's own time has come for its fulfillment, the work is being done, and when it is done, it will be done forever. You have no time to spend in ruinous delay, brooding over your doubts of God's faithfulness. The last merciful warning is growing louder and louder, and soon it will be said, "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved." O let us escape the fate of the unbeliever and the transgressor. Let us not be left to mourn, when salvation's gate is forever barred, that we might have entered, but we are too late! ThE HaPpY MaN.—If thou hast a Christ in thy heart, a Cross on thy shoulder, a World under thy feet, and a Heaven in thy view, thou art the happy man. Have only one entrance into your heart, and have that well fortified against all evil thoughts. Doings of the N. Y. Conference.
At Roosevelt, N. Y., evening after the Sabbath, Oct. 25, 1862, the N. Y. State Conference held its first business session. Prayer by Bro. Andrews. For the purpose of organization, Bro. J. N. Andrews was called to the chair, and J. M. Aldrich appointed Secretary. On motion of Bro. Cottrell, all brethren present in good standing with the body of S. D. Adventists were invited to take part in the business proceedings of the Conference. Moved by Bro. D. Arnold, and carried, that we now call for the representation of the different churches. In pursuance of this resolution, nearly all the churches in the State—whether organized or unorganized—duly responded by their delegates, and desired to become members of the State Conference. On motion of J. M. Aldrich, resolved that we now proceed to consider the applications of the various churches to become organized into a State Conference, and ascertain what churches are qualified therefor. After a careful examination of the standing and condition of the several churches, as presented to the conference by the delegates, the following named were deemed duly qualified for such organization, viz., Ulysses, Potter Co., Pa., Mixtown, Tioga Co., Pa., Willing, Catlin, Olcott, Somerset, Mill Grove, Eagle Harbor, Clarkson, Rochester, Kirkville, West Monroe, Grass River, Mannsville, Oswego, and Roosevelt, N. Y. On motion, Brn. J. N. Andrews, R. F. Cottrell, N. Fuller, S. B. Whitney, D. Arnold, and J. M. Aldrich were appointed a committee to draft necessary rules and regulations as the basis of organization, and for the government of the Conference when organized; also to prepare business for the further consideration of the Conference. Adjourned to meet at 8½ o'clock first-day morning; whereupon the committee went into immediate session, and labored faithfully until sun-rising. At the hour appointed, Conference again convened, and the committee reported the following preamble and rules, which were adopted: Whereas, In view of the great work before us of keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and the truths connected with the third angel's message, and the importance of order, union, and concentration of action in the dissemination of these truths, therefore, Resolved, That the several churches assembled in Conference at Roosevelt, Oct. 26, 1862, which, after due examination, were deemed qualified for organization into a State Conference, be formed into an Association, to be called the New York State Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, and to be governed by the following rules and regulations: Rule 1. The officers of the Conference shall be a President, Secretary, Treasurer, and a Conference committee of three, said officers to be chosen annually. Rule 2. The duties of the President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall be such as usually pertain to those offices, and they shall make a faithful report to the Conference annually. Rule 3. It shall be the duty of the Conference committee to appoint the time and place of the annual Conferences, and to call special Conferences, whenever in their judgment it may be needful to do so; to take the general supervision of all tent operations, and property belonging to the Conference; to audit and settle accounts with ministers and others in the employ of the Conference, and to exercise general directory power in all matters which shall be for the advancement of the third angel's message. Rule 4. It shall be the duty of the clerk of each church belonging to this Conference, to transmit to the Secretary thereof, before the first of January in each Conference year, the number of members in good standing in their respective churches, and also the amount of weekly receipts of systematic benevolence in each church; and it shall be the further duty of the Conference committee to ascertain as near as practicable, the amount of money needed for the current expenses of the year, and determine what percentage shall be needed of the S. B. fund therefor, and to return thereafter as soon as is practicable, to the several churches a statement, showing the amount of percentage due from them respectively, which amount should be paid over to the Treasurer, one-half by the first of May, and the remainder by the first of September in each year. Rule 5. All duly accredited S. D. Adventist ministers that are located or may be laboring within the bounds of this Conference, shall be considered as belonging thereunto. Rule 6. The churches composing this Conference shall be represented in all meetings of the same by their duly authorized delegates, be the same more or less; provided however, each church to the number of fifteen members or under, shall have the privilege of casting but one vote, and one vote for every additional ten members. The Conference next proceeded to the election of officers, which resulted as follows: For President, D. Arnold, of Fulton, N. Y.; for Secretary, J. M. Aldrich, of Somerset, N. Y.; for Treasurer, J. B. Lamson, of Rochester, N. Y.; for Conference committee, J. M. Lindsay, of Olcott, N. Y., H. Hilliard, of Grass River, N. Y., and J. M. Aldrich, of Somerset, N. Y. The following resolutions were presented by the committee on business, and adopted by the Conference: Resolved, That this Conference determine who are the evangelical ministers within the bounds thereof, and that suitable credentials be given to the same, at this and each annual meeting hereafter. Resolved, That we deem Bro. J. N. Andrews, N. Fuller, and R. F. Cottrell, approved evangelical ministers of this Conference, and that we give them suitable credentials. Resolved, That the Conference committee be authorized to exercise discretionary power in giving credentials to such ministers as have not already been approved by this Conference, and shall in the interval between this and the next meeting thereof, give evidence that they are laboring in the order of God. Resolved, That our ministers should make a written report at each annual Conference of the amount of their weekly labors during the Conference year, and also the entire amount of their receipts and expenditures during the same time. Resolved, That we deem the labors of Bro. J. N. Andrews necessary to the good of the cause of present truth in this State, and that we hereby tender him a hearty invitation to remove his family among us, and labor with us as the way may open, and also with the tent during the next tent season. Resolved, That we earnestly request Bro. James White, J. N. Loughborough, and John Byington—the Michigan Conference committee—to whom was referred the power of assigning to ministers their respective fields of labor, to provide in due season a messenger to labor in this State with Bro. Andrews during the next tent season. Resolved, That we recommend and invite Bro. Andrews and Fuller to labor at present in Central N. Y., if it shall appear to be duty, and the way properly opens for them so to do. Resolved, That we instruct the Conference committee to purchase a new tent, and man the same for operations next season, and pay the expense thereof from the funds of the Conference. Resolved, That we earnestly recommend those churches which have united with the Conference, and those churches and companies which have not yet thus united, but desire and intend so to do, to lose no time in getting S. B. thoroughly established among them; and that in view of the largely-increased amount of funds that will be necessary for the purchase of a new tent, and other immediate demands of the cause, we urgently enjoin upon them the necessity of being more than usually liberal in their subscriptions to the S. B. fund. Resolved, That we recommend to the several churches in Central N. Y. to establish monthly meetings among them, and that they hold the first meeting with the church at Roosevelt, on the first Sabbath in December; and also that we recommend the same to the churches in Northern N. Y., and that they hold the first meeting with the church at Norfolk, on the fourth Sabbath in November. Resolved, That the State Conference exercise a watch-care over the unorganized companies of believers and individuals within the bounds of the Conference, and recommend that they make haste to become organized, and unite with the Conference. Resolved, That while we pray for the restoration to the church of the gifts of the Spirit, we fully recognize the gift of prophecy, which has accompanied the message from its very rise. Resolved, That we request the labors of Bro. and Sr. White at the meetings of this Conference, and that we stand by them in the discharge of the duties and responsibilities which God has laid upon them. Moved and carried that the proceedings of this Conference be published in the Review. Three sessions were occupied in the transaction of the proceedings above recorded. The discussion that took place during the passage of the foregoing resolutions was spirited and interesting, and some heart-searching and very affecting testimonies were given. Perfect harmony prevailed throughout the whole meeting. J. M. ALDRICH, Secretary. Business Proceedings of the Minnesota Conference.
THE conference assembled for the transaction of business evening after the Sabbath, Oct. 4. Prayer by Bro. W. Morse. Elders present, Jno. Bostwick, W. Morse. The following churches were represented: Oronoco, Ashland, and Deerfield. An item of business with reference to W. M. Allen was disposed of. Report of the Tent finances was given by Bro. Bostwick, and accepted by vote of the conference. It was then Voted, That the organized churches in the State shall constitute the Minnesota conference of Seventh-day Adventists.183 Moved, That a conference committee of three be chosen, and that said committee be composed of the following brethren, the first to act as chairman; viz., W. Morse, Elias Sanford, Ezra Odell. Carried. The advancement of the cause, and labor connected therewith, was next taken into consideration, and the following action taken: Whereas, Minnesota is, as we believe, a favorable field for labor, and, Whereas, Our present tent is unfit for service, therefore, Resolved, That an effort be made to secure a serviceable tent for Minn., and labor from abroad to assist in preaching. Voted, That the conference committee is hereby directed to confer with Bro. White in relation to purchasing a new tent, or tent circle, and the probable cost, and report the result of their consultation at the next conference. By vote Eld. Jno. Bostwick was invited to become a member of this conference. It was also voted to give him credentials. The demands of the cause for the ensuing winter were next canvassed. At the request of the brethren, Bro. Bostwick decided to make Minnesota his field of labor during the winter. In connection with this it was Moved, That this conference urge upon the churches and brethren generally throughout the State the necessity of promptly meeting the wants of the cause by systematic benevolence. Carried. It will be seen by reference to the action upon tent operations, that it is necessary we should hold a business conference the coming winter. Upon this the following was passed: Resolved, That the conference committee consult with Bro. White in relation to our next conference, and designate the time and place for holding the same. CALVIN KELSEY, Chairman.
F. W. MORSE, Secretary. It is said that the exile who chances to hear,
In the land of the stranger, his own native tongue,
Or some strain that in childhood delighted his ear,
Though he listen with rapture yet weeps o'er the song. For then what bright visions appear to his view!
What scenes of enchantment rise quickly around!
The land where the first breath of freedom he drew,
His home, his loved kindred, he seems to have found! But though sweet the delusion, not long can it last :
In a moment the lovely deceptions are flown :
With the sounds that produce them, too quickly they passed,
And the exile still finds himself sad and alone. And is not the Christian an exile on earth ?
And is not sweet music the language of heaven ?
Of that land whence the spirit received her high birth,
And from whence the bright grant of her freedom was given ? And thus, while he listens to anthems of praise,
Or some soft-stealing melody falls on his ear,
Those regions of joy he in spirit surveys,
And seems the sweet song of the ransomed to hear. Nay, he seems to have entered that haven of rest,
To have bidden farewell to temptations and woes :
Already he joins the bright bands of the blest,
Already partakes their eternal repose. But the charm is soon broken ; the sounds die away ;
No mandate, as yet, is sent down of release :
He mourns to perceive still so distant the day,
When his sufferings and labors forever shall cease. That day of delight, when an exile no more,
His country, his home, his loved friends he regains,
Tunes his harp to the chorus oft longed for before,
Where sorrow and sighing ne'er blend with the strains.