Earlier text: SABBATH-KEEPERS IN CHINAOUR RELATION TO OTHER RELIGIOUS BODIES.
By James White
As long as Seventh-day Adventists shall have a world-wide message, which is destined to penetrate all forms of social and religious compacts, it is our duty as much as lieth in us, taking into account the nature and work of our message, to be at peace with all men. And while it becomes our duty to proclaim to the ends of the earth the message which God has given us, it is our privilege to avoid those discussions, as far as possible, which stir up strife, and encourage a spirit of noisy debate. Our strength is in the proclamation of clearly-defined propositions, sustained by the word of God taken in its obvious meaning. The strength of our opponents is in misstating our positions in order to create prejudice. And the contest, to human view, becomes unequal in that we are on the side of the cross, while they are on the side of popular opinion, and the carnal mind. And were it not that God, who is always a majority, is on our side, or, rather, we are on his side, and his hand is with us in the truth, we might expect to be overwhelmed with opposition and discouragement. “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, now may Israel say: If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us, then they had swallowed us up quick.” Ps. 124:1–3. In God we trust to fight our battles for us. A simple glance at the past shows that in him alone we have the victory. Our history is brief indeed, but is wonderful in that so many have been brought to Christ and his truth, and that the foundation has been so well laid for a vast work in the immediate future. A handful of penniless men, who had not been educated in the schools, took hold of the work in earnest a little more than a score of years since, and the good hand of our God has been with us. Had the work been of men, it certainly would have come to nought ere this. We may safely challenge learning and energy combined to accomplish so great a work in the face of determined, popular opposition, in so brief a time. With all the religious bodies, Seventh-day Adventists differ on some points, and with many of them we disagree on most points. And while we may feel called upon to proclaim abroad unpopular religious sentiments, it is very important that we should cultivate that liberality of views and feeling that will lead us to apply to ourselves those warnings and cautions found in the Scriptures to those similarly situated. The fact that we are sustained by the obvious meaning of the sacred writings should be a matter of sincere and humble gratitude to our adorable Redeemer, that the way of life and salvation is so plain, through his dear name, rather than to encourage a spirit of self-exaltation and religious bigotry, which has so often blinded the minds and ruined the influence of God’s people in the ages past, both Jews and Christians. The Bible abounds in admonitions to the Lord’s people to make God their strength, and in warnings against becoming strong in themselves. The New Testament especially is exceedingly plain. One apostle says that “God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” He exhorts in these emphatic words: “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.” 1 Pet. 5:5, 6. “For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” Luke 14:11. Another apostle says that “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” James 4:6. And he adds in verse 10: “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” And still another apostle says: “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” Heb. 12:14. It may be regarded difficult to be at peace with all. And in some cases it may be thought impossible. Some men, it is true, seem filled with determined hatred against those who teach and do the commandments of God. In them we recognize the spirit of the dragon of Rev. 12:17. They, by continued transgression, have so passed under the power of Satan, and are so completely led captive by him at his will, that it may not be in their power to cease foaming out the ire of the dragon. But when we read Paul again we may see that he provides for just such cases. He says in his epistle to the Hebrews, “Follow peace with all men.” This we may all do, and yet in some cases fail to reach the desired result. He exhorts the church at Rome, “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” Rom. 12:18. The apostle here intimates that it is not possible to sustain peaceful relations with some men. There are those whose natural element is strife, bitterness, and war. These are to be disposed of by prayer according to Paul’s epistle to the church at Thessalonica. “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you; and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men.” 2 Thess. 3:1, 2. When we have done our duty, so as to come under the benediction of the Son of God, in these precious words from his sermon on the mount, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God,” Matt. 5:9, and have failed to come into peaceable relations with those who hate the truth of God, then we may pray for deliverance from their influence. And if best for his people, God will dispose of such in a manner to magnify his name, and advance his cause. “Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.” Ps. 76:10. While we have an important message under the direct providence of God to give to the world, it is his will that we should be on peaceable terms with the religious bodies, so far as possible with the free and uncompromising proclamation of the word of life. God save us from the extremes which are the misfortune and weakness of very many. One is to barter away the truth of God for peace. The other is to hold the truth in the spirit of self-righteous bigotry. More men are wanted with sufficient firmness, and breadth and liberality of soul, who can “speak the truth in love.” The gospel of the Son of God was distinctly proclaimed by the angels to the shepherds while watching their flocks by night upon the plains of Bethlehem, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2:14. “Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Verse 11. The heavenly band did not enter the city of the Hebrews, and press their message upon the closed ears and hardened hearts of the leaders of the people. And at a later date the fully converted Peter, once impetuous, but now softened and refined, did not judge it best to crowd the truth of God upon the attention of unwilling listeners. Hear him. “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” 1 Pet. 3:15. “Be ready,” says the apostle. But few are ready for the duties of the present hour. Peter suggests not only a preparation of heart, but also of mind by careful study of the word of God. Be ready to give to every man that asketh the reason of your hope. Be ready always. The spirit of inquiry is out. The Spirit of God is moving upon the minds of men, as the message God has given us rises in power. The demand is for reasons, given in the spirit of meekness and fear, rather than loud assertions. We do not plead for that gentleness that barters the truth of God for quiet, or that sits down and does next to nothing. The times demand firmness and energy. “Be ready always,” says the apostle. Read up. Be fortified with reasons. But we should remember that the present is a time when the prejudices of the people are strong, and are easily aroused. Some men handle the truth of the Bible in a manner to excite prejudice, and call out opposition. They then turn martyrs, and cry persecution. Our message has no need of these. Peter says to such, “Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” Men are wanted with hearts consecrated to the great work of saving souls, whose lives shall be a continued illustration of the teachings and deportment of Christ and his first apostles. Firmness and energy, with meekness and kindness combined, are qualifications necessary for our time and our message. Bible religion is scarce. The more we have of it the greater our influence, especially with those who feel the apostasy of our time, and are hungering and thirsting for living bread and water. Men of God are wanted, who can arise in the strength of the Coming One, and shake off the powers of darkness, put on the armor of light, and cut their way through the moral darkness that lies upon the Christian world like the pall of death, without that darkness cleaving to them. Men of power are wanted, who walk and talk with Christ, and in whom the fruits of the Spirit are ripening, “love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.” As long as we shall have a world-wide message, Christ will go with such men, and they may expect to have that confidence and respect of the people necessary to the fulfillment of their mission. It is best, for the Seventh-day Adventists, and the Seventh-day Baptists, to avoid controversy upon those points in which the two bodies differ. Neither can afford to be in controversy with the other. The Sabbath is a great practical truth of vital importance to both, in the observance of which they find no sympathy in the Christian world only that which each gives to the other. On the broad platform of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ, in which there is a general agreement, both can stand and fight the battles of the Lord. And both can much better afford to bear with minor differences of faith than to enter into controversy. We are happy to give expression to the views and feelings of Seventh-day Adventists upon this subject. And we are very certain that we also express the views and feelings of very many of the Seventh-day Baptists. That body has been favorably represented at four annual sessions of our General Conference by Elders Allen, Wardner, Burdick, and Rogers, who impressed our people with feelings of respect and love for their constituents. If any of the leading men in that denomination feel called upon to expose the errors, or the inferiority of the Seventh-day Adventists, they may be assured that they will have the controversy all to themselves. There is another people who hold important Bible truths in common with S. D. Adventists who are not on as friendly terms with us as the S. D. Baptists. We refer to the several factions of the Adventists. With them we agree on the pre-millennial personal advent of Christ, the resurrection of all the just at that time, the final inheritance of the saints, baptism, and some other point. But with them, with very few exceptions, there seems to be the most bitter prejudice against our views of the third message of Rev. 14, the sanctuary, the perpetuity of the law of God, and of spiritual gifts. As a people, the first-day, or no-day, or all-days-alike Adventists have stood in a more favorable position to receive the light which Seventh-day Adventists have been giving to the world than any other. And certainly, we had reason to expect that a people who professed to take the Bible as their rule of faith and practice, and who also professed to be making ready for the coming of the Son of God to judgment, would treat our honest convictions of truth and duty based upon the Scriptures with Christian candor. But we are sorry to state that the manner of attack of the leading men of this people has been more unchristian than that we have suffered from others. These Adventists had suffered opposition and persecution from other churches, and were better prepared to enter upon controversy. They had felt the strength of prejudice as it had been hurled against themselves, and knowing its power, in their turn, resorted to this shameful manner of warfare against Seventh-day Adventists. In the absence of Bible evidence to meet the plain testimony of the word of God, the leading men among them have resorted to misrepresentations, in order to prejudice their people, and inspire in them a spirit of bitter hatred against that body of the Adventists who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Many of them know very well the strength of our positions, and they also know that they cannot afford to fairly state our positions. Their hope in shielding their people from our influence is in so misrepresenting Seventh-day Adventists before them, in their discourses and in their prints, as to hold them under the power of prejudice. Notwithstanding their loud protestations against sectarian creeds, and their boasted free discussion of Scripture questions, we know of no people this side the church of Rome who are more shut up to dogmas, or more under the control of narrow, bigoted leaders, than these Adventists. There was a time when duty seemed to demand of us a special effort to set the truth before the several factions of these Adventists who differ with us. For a time we were successful in gathering numbers; but in consequence of the want of order among them, and the many false notions imbibed by them, some converts from them have injured our cause much more than they have brought strength to it. This is especially true of those who have been under the lax rule of no-lawism for a score of years. We are happy to state that there are exceptions to the general rule above described. There are those who have more recently embraced the doctrine of the soon personal coming and reign of Christ, the resurrection of the just from a state of unconsciousness, and eternal life alone through Christ, who seem comparatively free from the bitter prejudices and errors above named. We were happy to meet four or five ministers from these Adventists at our late Biblical Institute at Battle Creek, who have recently embraced the Sabbath. These were very grateful that the spell of prejudice had been broken off from them, and for the new home they had found with our people. It is our duty to labor where we can accomplish most. At present we have better success to go where the Advent faith has not been miserably represented by that irreligious looseness that attends those who deny the perpetuity of the ten commandments. Their condition and standing is such in the religious world that we can gain but little, and often lose much, in controversy with them. They deal largely in smut and blacking among themselves when they can spare time from abusing Seventh-day Adventists. God loves his honest people wherever they may be shut up by the bands of cruel prejudice. His hand has been dividing and scattering and breaking up these bitter opponents of the Lord’s ancient Sabbath, and not a few have been and are still joining our ranks. Let us keep to our work in proclaiming everywhere the truth of God, while He in whose hands are the hearts of all men shall expose the wickedness of the misrepresentations and the unchristian conduct toward our people of those who break the commandments of God, and teach others so. The Second Coming of Christ.
By Uriah Smith
IS IT A SPIRITUAL COMING?
In our last article on this subject, in the REVIEW of Dec. 8, 1874, we referred to the testimony of the angels to the disciples who witnessed the ascent of their Lord, when he was taken up from the Mount of Olives. These angels testified that the very same Jesus would return again in like manner as they had seen him go into heaven. There was to be identity as to the individual that ascended. Christ did not ascend as an influence, or a calamity, but as a real, literal, tangible being, the same that had lived, moved, taught, healed the sick, died and rose again, here upon the earth. The second coming of Christ is to be accomplished in the same person; and there is to be identity of manner between his going away and his coming again. This testimony would seem to be sufficiently explicit. It matters not that no others, so far as we are informed, except the disciples saw him ascend. They saw him; and there is no intimation that they were in any other than their normal condition. But in relation to his second coming we have the positive assurance that every eye shall see him, not only the saints, but they “also that pierced him;” and tribes and nations will behold him, who will be so unprepared to meet him that they will wail because of him, and endeavor to hide from his holy presence. It is not therefore owing to any special spiritual condition of the disciples, either first or last, that they beheld him when he ascended, or will behold him when he returns. But to men of the world this is not a pleasing picture; nor is it, we are surprised and grieved to say, to very many who profess to be the followers of the Lord, ministers, no less than laymen. They seem to be far too ready to try to console themselves with the idea that the second coming of Christ is not an event to burst upon the outward world with a splendor tenfold that of the noon-day sun, to startle mankind from their dreams of peace and safety, to reveal to them that the insulted Lamb’s great day of wrath is come, and to excite, too late for them, the sad inquiry, “Who shall be able to stand?” They prefer to look upon that coming as some sudden manifestation of judgment, some silent, and perhaps hidden, operation of divine power, or the cutting short of some earthly career by death. He comes to them in the secret chamber, or has erected his ensign in the far distant desert. But which of these theories is attested by divine authority? We can anchor our faith upon nothing less than this. To the law and the testimony. Whatever is not in accordance with this, is darkness and not light. Doctors of divinity may therefore tell us as often as they please, when some sudden calamity has put an end to the life of a fellow-being, that “we are hereby taught that in such an hour as we think not the Son of man cometh;” they may tell us when a dying man expires in the silent chamber, that to him the Son of man has come; or that a soul in the joys of regeneration has met the second coming of Christ—we pass these declarations61 by for just what they are worth; which is nothing at all, and inquire, “What saith the Scripture?” Christ once intimated to his disciples that one of their number might remain till his coming. “If I will,” said he, “that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?” John 21:22. Did the disciples understand him to mean, “If I will that he tarry, or live, till he dies?” So far from that, the saying went immediately abroad among them that that disciple should not die at all. And would not they be as likely to have a correct view of the matter as could be gathered from the warped and molded and twisted and mystified theology of the present day? Another representative text upon this subject is found in 1 Thess. 4:15–17: “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” The task of harmonizing this Scripture with the figurative view of the second coming of Christ, is not one which we would like to undertake to perform. Some of the difficulties which would beset the attempt will appear if we read the text substituting a figurative coming for the real one expressed in the text. For instance if death is the second coming of Christ, we can legitimately read the text with this idea thus: “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain until we die, shall not prevent them which are asleep; for death shall take place with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them to die in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” Can any rational man for a moment entertain a view which transforms the word of God into such jargon? The sober reader will pardon us for thus carrying out this theory to its legitimate results. The intense absurdity of the view we would refute, is our apology. The coming of the Lord is the Christian’s blessed hope. That day, is to him a day of triumph, redemption, and joy. He is to desire it, and fervently pray for its approach. Titus 2:13; Matt. 6:9, 10; Rev. 22:20. But death is an evil, the penalty of sin, an enemy. 1 Cor. 15:26. How would it sound to read Rom. 6:23, thus: “For the wages of sin is the coming of the Lord: but the gift of God, is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord?” or 1 Cor. 15:26, thus: “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is the coming of the Lord”? And spiritism, that vilest and most brazen-faced development of Satanic delusion, may teach by its peeping and muttering that he is in the secret chamber; that he has come in the manifestation of spirits; and that every good man is himself Christ. But what saith the Scripture? It says this: “Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the secret chamber, believe it not.” Matt. 24:26. The human heart is prone to unbelief. Men seem very ready to adopt almost any negative form of belief. Will they not be ready then to go with the Bible in this respect, and not believe what it expressly tells them they should not believe? Alas! how the perversity of fallen human nature here comes forth! Willingly influenced by him who is the father and promulgator of all lies, multitudes are ready to believe just what the Bible expressly tells them they should not believe, and to disbelieve that which it just as expressly tells them they should believe. So they are seeking for the second coming of Christ in the secret chambers, in the filthy and blasphemous work of the spirits, or in the distant desert. A few, we rejoice to know, will follow the unerring chart and believe not these false cries of error. Is any further reason needed why we should not accept the doctrine of a spiritual and invisible coming of Christ? why we should not believe that he is in the secret chamber, or go forth to meet him in the desert? If so, we have it in the language of the Son of God himself: Matt. 24:27: “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Yes, as visible as is the vivid lightning to all eyes, so visible, open, and apparent, will be the coming of the Son of man. No man will need to apprise his neighbor that the Lord has come; for all will know it, many far too well for their own peace of mind or hope of Heaven. We know of but two passages in which Christ is spoken of as coming in a figurative manner. These are verses 5 and 16 of Rev. 2. But in these messages to the churches Christ himself is represented in a figure; hence the coming spoken of in connection must be of the same nature, and be understood in a figurative sense. There is surely no excuse for confounding these with that coming which is to be in the clouds of heaven, Matt. 26:64, when every eye shall see him, Rev. 1:7, when all the tribes of the earth shall wail because of him, Matt. 24:30, when kings, and the great men, and the rich men, of the earth shall call to the rocks and to the mountains to hide them from his presence, Rev. 6:15, 16, when the Man of Sin shall be consumed by the Spirit of his mouth, and destroyed by the brightness with which his coming is attended, 2 Thess. 2:8, and when all those who know not God, and obey not the gospel, shall be punished with everlasting destruction from his presence and the glory of his power. 2 Thess. 1:8. With such declarations in his hand, the man who can err on this momentous question must be one of those whom Peter calls willingly ignorant. Be sure, reader, that such a coming of Christ as is set forth in the foregoing scriptures is before the world; and for such a coming as this, we now do well to prepare; for we shall show before we conclude these articles that it is even now at the door. U. S. Spiritualism Advancing.
By M. E. Cornell
NOTHING can be more certain to the careful observer of passing events, than the rapid progress of Spiritualism in every part of the world. Their converts are now numbered by millions; and the spirits are predicting mighty strides for it the present year. It has been “exposed,” “exploded,” and “explained,” again and again, and still its wonders, its mystery, its power, and its progress are greater than before. There can be no doubt that it is Satan’s master-piece, to deceive if possible the very elect. The prophets have spoken of the enemy coming in like a flood, and that Satan in the last days would work with “all power and signs and lying wonders.” Truly perilous times have come, and the truth only can shield from the strong delusions of the enemy. The Interior, Jan., 1875, Presbyterian paper, of Chicago, speaks of it as follows:— “There is no doubt that spiritualism, despite the Katie King and similar fiascos, is making rapid progress among the more intelligent classes. Those who are familiar with it claim many persons as believers who occupy high judicial, legal, ecclesiastical, and literary positions. The whole number of believers in this country are reckoned by the million; but as organization is contrary to the policy of the “spirits,” it is not easy either to verify or dispute their statistics. They are ardent propagandists, however, and very skillful as well. Refer to the exposures of trickery as an evidence against the delusion, and a spiritualist will very coolly admit the imputation, but tell you he does not depend upon the frauds, but upon the facts, for his convictions. It is not difficult to surmise the reasons for the recent large success of the delusion. Attacks upon religious views from the standpoint of abstract science are now incessant and at all points, and they are read by everybody. The result is, that great numbers of people are drifting, groping, having no fixed convictions. . . . The religious nature of these people hungers and chafes in the gloomy wastes of skepticism; and they are quite ready to accept a delusion which tempts them with the offer to let them see for themselves the vistas and inhabitants of the world of spirits.” M. E. CORNELL. “I’m a Stiff Methodist.”
By D. H. Lamson
It is not uncommon to hear expressions like this in character from the lips of those who lay claim to a deeply religious sentiment. Nothing is more evident than that the ism is regarded as of far more importance than the truth. “Rise,” said a modern teacher of this class, “and tell what Methodism has done for you.” Not seldom are testimonies given in the social meeting inspired by such appeals as this. Often it may be they are the old, old story of Christ, and his love, of salvation full and free, yet unconsciously multitudes are wedded, not to Christ the head of the church, but to party names. Thus the spirit of investigation is crushed out of the heart, and the command, “Try the spirits whether they are of God,” becomes a dead letter. A lady said but a few days since in private conversation, “I do not easily change my mind, and am not to be turned by every wind of doctrine. When my mind is made up, it takes something to move me.” This was said apparently to close up the discussion of an important truth, and with an evident desire to hear no more of it. The answer was made that individuals who never change their minds are generally such as never stop to reason. When the reformers arose, a Luther, a Calvin, or Wesley, bringing out the burning truths of the gospel, step by step, justification by faith, and free grace; had they been met by all with the statement, I am a Catholic, or, I am an Episcopalian, would there have been seen such glorious results from the dissemination of Bibles and the agitation of Bible truths? or would the sentiments that now have become as household words have been hidden by those who would too gladly take away the key of knowledge? It will not be hard for us, if we will, to profit by the lessons of the past; and the spirit that might be freely condemned, that has actuated men in the ages gone by, will no less certainly be condemned in us, should their example be followed. It is a trite saying that actions speak louder than words; and though there are few, comparatively, who are so outspoken as the parties mentioned above, yet others have all the glory to be derived from such a state of mind, without giving expression to it in the same words. Another person said but recently that the women of a certain locality ought to turn out, and stone Bro. Waggoner and myself from the place, because we had preached obedience to the precepts of the decalogue, and the nearness of the coming of the Lord; and, moreover, she expressed her willingness to do her part. It is doubtful if she would be satisfied to hold the clothes simply of those she would urge to such work, but she would only be contented when using her own muscle. What is remarkable about this circumstance is, that this woman, so far as we know, never heard from us a single discourse, nor ever met us personally. She, too, is a “stiff Methodist,” and the only reason for her raising ire was the fact that several of her friends had learned to love the coming of the Lord, and had begun to observe all the commandments of God. There are many persons in these days who say much about the witness of the Spirit, and are satisfied only with what they call “Holy Ghost religion;” and this witness within is the ultimatum of every argument. It matters not how pointed a truth is that condemns their course, they are always capable of finding the evidence of acceptance in their own heart. Much is it to be feared that such are walking in the light of sparks they themselves have kindled. A circumstance that clearly illustrates this state of self-deception occurred but a short time since in connection with our labor at Grant Center, Mich. After several spirited testimonies had been given in favor of the truth, a lady arose and said that, for her part, she was satisfied with the Sunday. She had always observed that, on those days to which her memory clung, she had been many, many times so happy that she could neither sit nor stand. This, to her, was far more satisfactory evidence than all the arguments we could bring; her feet would joyfully tap the floor, and her hands rub together in an ecstasy of delight. Yet a few days later, when the law chart was displayed, she remarked to some young friends who were seated near, Oh, see! he is getting out his fiddle. Who is going to dance? and some announced themselves ready to take the floor. It is to be regretted that the minds of the young are so often leavened with such inconsistencies, and it is no wonder that purely religious sentiments are losing their hold to an alarming extent upon the public mind. It does certainly require no little discrimination to discern between truth and error, between the operations of the Spirit of God, and the vain deceivings of the heart. The unnatural and unnecessary blindness of the minds of men is a source of constant grief. Vain imaginings, fond anticipations that will never be realized, and hopes that only bud to be blasted, constitute the fleeting shadowy joy of the world. Like the ephemera that flit in the sunbeams for but a few short hours, and perish, so the “false raptures of the mind” end in disappointment and death. It would be a glad day indeed could men understand that the revelation of the will of God first appeals to our reason and better judgment, and that it is a most dangerous experiment to yield to impulse alone. It is too true that much of the religion of the day is lived by impulse only, and is as fickle as the wind. A man stated but a little time ago that the gift of sanctification had been conferred upon him eight years before, and he testified in public that nothing kept him from the joys of Heaven but the brittle thread of life; and the very evidence he had of this has been sufficient to close his ears and heart to the solemn work of the Judgment. Wonderful as it may seem, that soul-hardening, nerve-destroying, devitalizing narcotic of soul and body,—tobacco!—has been to him during all these years a chief joy. Some parts of the Bible must have been, in his case, written in vain as a rule of life; but certainly they will not be as a rule of judgment; for his claims to entire holiness are too high to ignore the command to keep the body blameless, as well as soul and spirit. It is not too much to expect that the church militant just before the final triumph will consider unnecessary filthiness of the flesh as a mortal sin; for they shall not only be without guile in their mouth, but without fault before the throne of God. This same individual only recently came into the field of a brother, saying, “I have left my religion at home this morning, and have come to whip you,” and seemed to be determined to do it. He failed in his object, but not because his will was not sanctified to perform the act. The evidence of sanctification is here. It was the sin set apart, but not by the Lord. Strange as it may appear, this man is regarded by some as a sound Christian, and his claim is respected. Errors in faith, that are errors simply, may give place to truth when properly presented, and often do; but bigotry and superstition are often too deeply laid in human folly to recognize a remedy. Prejudices in favor of preconceived opinions, whether of birth or education, should not hinder in the examination of truth. Position in life, association, or church relations, must not stand between us and duty; and a hope, to be of any real value, must be based upon the living out of the pure principles of the gospel. It is not enough to be a Methodist, a Baptist, or an Adventist. To be a Christian requires more than either, as to name, at least; and they only can be Christ’s who partake of, and retain, his Spirit. Arrival in California.
By J. H. Waggoner
In company with Bro. and sister White I arrived in Oakland, Cal., on the evening of Feb. 2, 1875. We had a pleasant passage over the mountains; there was not a stormy day during our entire trip. Through Illinois and Iowa there was not snow enough to make sleighing, and the ground was bare in Eastern Nebraska. Thus it will be seen that there was no obstruction to encounter. On the Laramie Plains, however, the drifting snow on a heavy up-grade caused a loss of time, so that we left Ogden over six hours behind time. This was all made up on the Central Pacific, which run a lighter train, and had a larger proportion of down-grade. Our friends will be prepared to appreciate the thankfulness we felt for so prosperous a trip when they learn that the next day after we passed over the road a most terrific storm was raging, and the trains are delayed. We felt the sweet blessing of Heaven with us on our journey, and our hearts now testify that “God is good.” The health of our company was mostly good. Sister White had an attack of sickness Feb. 1, and in the afternoon she fainted. But she rapidly recovered; had quite good rest the following night, and, though weak, she seemed to enjoy the glorious prospect of the mountain scenery as we rapidly descended to the warm climate of the Sacramento Valley. We were as much surprised as we were pleased to find her able to speak in the hall in Oakland on Wednesday evening. The meeting was one of interest to me. The congregation was not large, as unavoidable circumstances had nearly broken up the meetings. For some time a fire had occurred almost every evening. But all present seemed to manifest a great interest. Perhaps I could not better give an idea of the spirit of the meeting than to relate that Bro. White thought the singing of last evening was rather heavy and loud! But the singers sung as if they could not help it. The Lord was with us, and the remarks of the servants of God were well received. Fruits of Bible Reading in Christian Nations
FRUITS.—Draw a line around the land where the Bible is read, and you will inclose a people who possess more wealth, more learning, more ability to think, more wisdom, conscience, and enterprise; more creative genius, more refinement, more enjoyments, more social privileges, more power, and higher promises of the future, than all other inhabitants of the earth. Is this fact an accident? Is there not a reason for this? Have we not a cause for this wonderful fact? The word of God is fruitful. Blessings abound where the Bible is loved.—Baptist Union.