Earlier text: Facts relating to the Course of DayTo the Overcomer.
By C. Lawton
In every state of the church, there is a glorious promise to the overcomer; but as we come down near the time when our High Priest is about to close up his work in the inner sanctuary, and come forth clothed with kingly authority, to gather his subjects, we hear him say, “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.” One would think with the clear evidence we have of soon meeting the fulfillment of this high and exalted position, we would set ourselves about the work of overcoming with a zeal that would soon fit us for it. Is there not a power in the Laodicean message which should move every one to action? Is it possible that with some this message has lost its power? How can any read the solemn appeal of the Faithful and True Witness unmoved? Hear his startling declaration: “So then, because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.” Do any feel the spirit of lethargy creeping over them, or a desire to shun the cross? Is it too much to bear reproach for Christ and his cause? Does the favor of the world get between us and our duty to God? Which is worse to have, the disapprobation of God, or the frowns of the world? One or the other we must have; it is impossible to please the world or the carnal mind, and our Heavenly Father also. Certainly, if we have faith in the word of God and the Testimonies to the church, we know a very narrow way is before us. The true people of God have always been a peculiar people, separate from the world. It cannot be otherwise. Our faith, and especially in these last days, draws a close line of distinction between us and the world; it will require decision and much of the grace of God to live it out as we should. This will be the secret of our success in overcoming. When we make a full surrender of the world, and consecrate ourselves wholly to God and his cause, the cross will not be so heavy to lift. O brethren and sisters, do you realize the deceptive power of the enemy? the danger of yielding a moment to it? The last Testimony is enough to stir the hearts of all genuine believers in the truth. Characters are being developed. I believe the time is near when it will be known who are on the Lord’s side, and who are not. Oh! for the transforming power of God to rest more fully on the church, a launching out into the broad ocean of his love, a cutting loose from the world, and a renouncing of our own wills and becoming wholly submissive to the will of God. If we venture out by faith in his word, the blessing of God will follow. We have no time to waste. It should be all improved in the work of overcoming and doing good. It is the privilege of all to have stars in their crowns. A rich reward awaits the faithful overcomer. Let us be among the number that will sit down with Christ in his kingdom. At the holy hour of twilight, as the last rays of the setting sun throw their soft, mellow light over woodland, hill, and vale, tinging the face of nature with a golden hue—lingering, as it were, to take a final view of this side of the globe, before taking its departure for the opposite—it seems to say, “Man, another day has gone into eternity, never to be recalled. Its blessings, whether improved or otherwise, can never be enjoyed again. The precious moments that have been allowed to run to waste since I last appeared in the eastern horizon, have been registered by the recording angel, for which you will have to answer in the great and coming day.” What an hour is here afforded for reflection! The toils of the day are over, and the thoughts naturally go up to God. Our minds soar aloft, as it were, on wings of fancy, to the city of the Most High, to take a view of the celestial abode of his saints. There we behold his chosen few walking the streets of the New Jerusalem, singing songs of praise to their Maker for redeeming them from the gall of bitterness. And as their voices blend in sweet harmony, making the vaults of Heaven echo and re-echo, again and again, the only sound that is wafted back to our mortal ear is, “Holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!” Oh! the grandeur and sublimity of the scene! Mortal tongue cannot describe the glories of the unseen world. Language utterly fails of making any comparison, and we become so enraptured with the beauties of that fair land that we forget we are still on earth, until we are brought to a state of consciousness by our own feeble attempts to sing the same song that falls from angel's lips. When our mind does return to its accustomed channel, and we take upon us again the active duties of life, we feel that we have been blessed and profited by the few moments spent in thought at the close of day.—Moore's Rural New Yorker. The world knows no victory to be compared with victory over our own passions. The struggle of life is between the flesh and the spirit, and one or the other finally gain the ascendancy. Every day and every hour of the Christian's life, is this contest going on, and sad it is to think how often victory is declared in favor of this earth with its sinful passions. The apostle Paul, after having labored long and earnestly in his Lord's service—after having done more for the spread of the truth than all the other apostles, still felt that he was a human being and liable at any time, through the weakness of the flesh, to lose all. “I keep under my body,” says he, “and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” If this watchfulness was needed on the part of this aged and long-tried servant of God, what care and diligence ought we to exercise, lest we should lose all in an unguarded hour! Our pathway through life is thickly set with snares for our feet. The seductions of passion, the allurements of vice, things to arouse our anger and stir up our heart's feelings, await us at every turn of life's devious ways, and blessed indeed is that man or that woman who meets them all without harm.—Sel. PERSEVERANCE is a virtue much talked of, yet but little appreciated. What might be accomplished in the mental and moral world, as well as in the material one, if people would only put perseverance to the helm! Who is there who has not felt this in his or her experience? How many times when we are all alive to the beauty of good deeds, we yearn to perform them, we resolve that hereafter we will be more vigilant, more faithful in the performance of our duties; but the glow of our feelings dies out because the little virtue above mentioned is not practiced, and we fall back into our old way of acting on the impulse of the moment, and not according to our highest conviction of right. How often we feel the ability to perform something with the talents given us, and we promise ourselves that we will rouse and try to make the most of our gifts! But the enthusiasm passes, and lack of time or energy prevents our carrying out our plans, and when we next review ourselves we feel unmixed regret at our lack of perseverance.—Rural New Yorker. Scripture References to the Resurrection Life
Bickersteth states, upon careful examination, that at least one verse in thirty of the New Testament points onward to the resurrection life. How to Teach Children.
By Jos. Clarke
“And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children; and shalt talk of them, when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” Deut. 6:7. Here we have the true method of education; children can receive but very little instruction at a time. Little by little, the parent sows the seed; little by little, the child comprehends the wondrous plan of salvation. Many are the lights in which it may be seen; many the side views; many the illustrations which the anxious, fond parent finds to attract the attention and instruct the mind of the little ones. Around his family circle, at the family table, and the altar of prayer, he is on the watchtower of observation, ever wakeful to improve the favorable moment. Thus without a seeming effort, he enlists the hearts of his children before they are aware, and unites them to the throne of God. Such a house is a school, a place of true learning, where knowledge descends like the dew. Instruction should fall upon the young mind like the dew or the gentle rain, not like the whirlwind or the tornado. Children need to be drawn, led (not pushed), to God; and home is the place to do this. The parent is the one to work here; as he walks or rides by the way, as he labors or rests, as he stands or sits, at every turn he will find a pleasant illustration of an important principle, a terse remark here, or a text in another place, ever noticing the effect upon his child, ever studying both to profit and to please, each day of the three hundred and sixty-five year after year. Thus he grows in grace himself and witnesses the effect upon his children. Jos. Clarke. Statistics on Languages, Religions, and Human Life
THE number of languages spoken in the world amount to about 3,064. The inhabitants of the globe profess more than 1,000 different religions. The number of men is about equal to the number of women. The average of human life is about 33 years. One-quarter die previous to the age of 7 years; one-half before reaching 17; and those who pass this age enjoy a felicity refused to one-half the human species. To every 1,000 persons only one reaches 100 years of life; to every 100 only six reach the age of 65; and not more than one in 500 lives to 80 years of age. There are on earth 1,000,000,000 inhabitants; and of these 33,333,333 die every year, 91,824 every day, 3,730 every hour, and 60 every minute, or one every second. The losses are about balanced by an equal number of births. The married are longer lived than the single, and above all, those who preserve sober and industrious conduct. Tall men live longer than short ones. Women have more chances for life in their favor previous to being 60 years of age than men have, but fewer afterward. The Wonder and Power of Music
MUSIC.—There is something very wonderful in music. Words are wonderful enough; but music is even more wonderful. It speaks not to our thoughts as words do—it speaks straight to our hearts and spirits, to the very core and root of our souls. Music soothes us, stirs us up; it melts us to tears, we know not how. It is a language by itself, just as perfect in its way as speech, as words, just as divine, just as blessed.—Kingsley’s Sermons. Good deeds are very fruitful; for out of one good action of ours, God produces a thousand, the harvest whereof is perpetual. Even the faithful actions of the old patriarchs, the constant sufferings of ancient martyrs, live still, and do good to all succession of ages by their example. For public actions of virtue, beside that they are presently comfortable to the doer, are also exemplary to others; and as they are more beneficial to others, are more crowned in us. If good deeds were utterly barren and incommodious, I would seek after them for the consciousness of their own goodness; how much more shall I now be encouraged to perform them for that they are so profitable to myself and others, and to myself in others.—Hall. Idleness and the Danger of Vacant Hours
The ruin of most men dates from some vacant hour. Occupation is the armor of the soul. There is a satirical poem, in which the devil is represented as fishing for men, and fitting his bait to the taste and business of his prey; but the idler, he said, gave him no trouble, as he bit at the naked hook. Troubles Grow Big by Nursing
TROUBLES are like babies; they grow big by nursing. Our last report was written on the train from Milton Junction, Wis., to Prairie du Chien. There we mailed the report, and hastened to the boat which took us across the Mississippi to North McGregor, Iowa, where the train was waiting to take us to Medford, the place of the Minnesota Camp-meeting. At ten in the evening, we took the sleeping car, as fine a car as we ever entered, and at five in the morning of fifth-day we reached Medford station, one-half mile from the camp-ground. Already the brethren had pitched the large tent, erected speakers’ and provision stands, and had put up nine family tents. The ground is very beautiful for this country, where groves suitable for camp-meeting purposes are very scarce. Straight River forms the western boundary of the ground, just back of the speakers’ stand which fronts to the east. In front of the stand, and to the right and left, is sufficient shade for a large gathering of people. The brethren and sisters from different parts of Minnesota continued to come in, and tents were being erected till near the close of sixth-day, until there were in all twenty tents upon the ground. These tents were pitched in a half circle, each end of which commenced at the creek, at the right and left of the speakers’ stand, at a suitable distance so that a complete half circle might receive all the tents, at a proper distance apart, and also give room for the crowd on Sunday. Beside the twenty tents, there were back of the family tents quite a number of covered farm wagons, which served the purpose of family tents. Money is very scarce in Minnesota, and some of the brethren were kept from this meeting for want of means. The brethren in this new State, with few exceptions, are poor, and nearly destitute of ready cash, and it is with no small effort that they hold their annual camp-meeting. And the good taste manifested, and the prompt action of these brethren, under existing circumstances, to say the least, is very commendable. The regular services of this camp-meeting commenced fifth-day evening. There were about one hundred and twenty-five present. On sixth-day the congregation increased at each of the services until evening, when Mrs. W. spoke in the large tent to a crowded assembly. At the close we were threatened with a storm, but our fears were not realized, and Sabbath morning was clear and comfortably cool. The social meetings on the Sabbath were deeply interesting. Bro. Littlejohn spoke words of instruction and comfort in the morning, and Mrs. W. spoke in the afternoon to a large and attentive congregation. At the close of her remarks, the first seats were vacated, and sinners and back-sliders were invited forward to bear the cross of separating themselves from the congregation as mourners on account of their sins, and as anxious for the prayers of the people of God in their behalf. Between thirty and forty came forward. It was a solemn season. Those who came forward manifested earnest sincerity and deep feeling. Several earnest prayers were offered when this interesting meeting closed at five P. M. After a short intermission social meetings were held in most of the family tents. This gave an excellent opportunity to follow up the good work of the afternoon, and the brethren in the several tents improved it well. Probably, in no way do we suffer as great loss at our camp-meetings as in the want of social and personal labor in the family tents. Without this labor but little can be done at our camp-meetings for the salvation of souls. The preaching may be pointed and with power, the more public social meetings may be characterized with fervent exhortations, sinners and back-sliders may be greatly moved in feeling, but unless they have personal labor in the family tents, they may not after all take their stand fully on the Lord’s side. The very time to help convicted men and women is when conviction is upon them. Our people should come to camp-meeting to labor for the salvation of souls, and when on the ground should commence in earnest to labor for this object. In the evening following the Sabbath, we spoke to a very attentive audience on the law and the gospel. The evening was clear and comfortably cool. The full moon shone with a silvery luster upon our encampment, semi-circled with white cotton dwellings, in which the occupants slept sweetly all night, to awake only at five in the morning, at the sound of the bell. There is something wonderfully refreshing in a full night’s sleep in a well-ventilated cotton tabernacle, in the pure air of a Minnesota grove. First-day morning, the sun rises upon our encampment with a cheerful brightness, and at the ringing of the bell, the entire camp arise, to admire the clearness, coolness, and surpassing beauties of the new morning. In thirty minutes the bell rings again, and the brethren and sisters are called by it to the large tent to the morning prayer-meeting. At a proper time in this meeting, Bro. Wm. S. Ingraham arose and gave a sketch of his experience in the Advent cause from the time he heard William Miller in 1842. He spoke freely of trials, and some mistakes he had made in arranging his secular matters in the hope of benefiting his family. He spoke of his unshaken faith in the position of Seventh-day Adventists, not excepting the subject of spiritual gifts, and stated that he received, as from the Lord, a recent reproof of his errors. His unqualified statements met the feelings of the brethren, and he and they wept together. We were happy to see Bro. Ingraham in the affections of his brethren, and rising in hope and faith, resolving to gird on the armor anew. At nine A. M., a social meeting was held at the stand, and those desiring prayers were called to the front seats. As this meeting progressed, one after another of these inquiring souls arose and confessed Christ, until all were fully committed. The discouragements that were upon the minds of the brethren at the commencement of this camp-meeting are passing from them, and they are becoming hopeful and free. At half past ten, Bro. Littlejohn addressed the people upon the subject of the Sabbath. This is a very candid community, and our several services here have been characterized by all that good order and respect from the people, as is usual to the most orderly services in church. In the afternoon, Mrs. W. spoke to a large and orderly assembly, who listened with deepest interest. May God set home the word spoken. In the evening, we spoke upon the four fundamental points of the great advent question; first, the personal second appearing of Christ; second, the application of the prophetic symbols; third, prophetic time; and fourth, the event to occur at the end of the prophetic days. We showed that on three points out of four, William Miller and his friends were correct; but on one point, the event to occur at the end of the days, he was mistaken. True, the time of expectation passed. And we have had, in the providence of God, light upon the sanctuary question, which corrects the one mistake of the Adventists of 1844. And this is done in a manner not to affect the main positions, only to make the system, as a whole, clearer and stronger than at any former period in the history of the Advent movement. Second-day, Bro. Van Horn baptized twenty-four persons, most of whom were the fruits of our camp-meeting labor. And there were many incidents of this good meeting of the deepest interest, which we have not time to notice. One only we will briefly notice. At the commencement of the Sabbath we were introduced to a Danish Baptist minister, who had come thirty miles, at the urgent request of some of our Danish brethren, to attend our meeting. This brother had had some light upon our views. He did not embrace them, and fell into a doubting, discouraged state of mind. He came to our meeting for help, and felt before he left that a degree of help had come. We loved his spirit, and enjoyed his visits much. He had labored hard and ardently for his people, as a missionary. He had published a paper in Chicago, and a hymn book, in the Danish language, in which enterprise he had lost money. Discouragement was upon him. We exhorted him to look to God for help, and to follow the light. May God lead him to all the truth important for this time. The brethren took down their tents third-day morning, and returned to their homes, feeling satisfied that they had enjoyed a very excellent camp-meeting. In company with Bro. and sister Van Horn we remained on the ground one day longer to finish articles for the Review and the Reformer, intending to go from Medford, Minn., to Washington, Iowa. But when we reached Medford station, fourth-day at 11 A. M., a moment before the train came up to the station, the operator announced that a telegram was coming over the wires for Eld. White from Battle Creek. Just before the train stopped the telegram, hastily and imperfectly written, was put into our hands, containing the sad intelligence that our venerable father was low, and very near the close of life. This hastily read, we decided to change our course to Chicago and Battle Creek, and in a few seconds we were on our way. SINCERITY and good, old-fashioned honesty are of inestimable value to the Christian. Would God there were more of these blessed characteristics in the professing church. These fill a place of vast importance. Without them the Christian profession is simply a hypocritical farce. It is a duty to be honest. God demands honesty of all his servants. But there are other great and important duties for the Christian. Christian obedience cannot all be summed up in our efforts to be honest men and women before God. We would not attempt to here mention all that God calls upon us to do and to be. We call attention to one point. Says Christ, “Search the Scriptures.” The noble Bereans were highly complimented by the apostle for their daily searching of the Scriptures. Again, Christ prayed that his disciples might be sanctified through the truth. And the beloved John, the very man that might, from his lovely temper, be expected in danger of compromising revealed truth for a broad platform, has said, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” 3 John 4. God help us to search for wisdom and truth as for hid treasures. The following may be read with interest. It well illustrates the course of those who shut their eyes to the great Sabbath truth, and move on in the old, beaten path of human custom, trying to still conscience with the popular maxim, “If you are only honest, that is all.” We give it the more readily, as it comes from the Child’s Paper: NOT RIGHT BECAUSE WE THINK SO.
The mill was doing a great business that day, when Jack and David Jamieson rode up with their bag of corn to be ground. They lived on a small farm five miles off the main roads, and were therefore not sorry at the prospect of waiting several hours for their grist. It gave them a chance of seeing something of the liveliness and bustle of “The Corner,” as that part of the village was called where the tavern, store, and mill, stood. They ran about here and there, and saw and heard a great deal. At last, a heavy shower coming on, they went back to the mill to eat their lunch, and see when their turn came. The miller’s son and the squire’s son were engaged in a brisk talk, which soon took Jack’s attention. David went to look after the corn. The miller’s son was urging with the squire’s son the importance of finding what truth the Bible enjoined, which the squire’s son parried by saying, it “was no matter what a man believed, provided he’s sincere.” The rattling, off-hand tone of the young man pleased Jack, and he wished he could talk so. Wouldn’t he shut up his grandfather? Yes, that he would. “No matter what a man believes, provided he’s sincere,” said Jack to himself, bridling up, and bracing up his conscience against the godly conversation of his relations. “He’d fix ’em now,” he said, with a slight cant of the head. It was not until late in the afternoon that the boys’ grist was ready, when the old mare was brought out of the shed, the bag hoisted on her back, and Jack and David both mounted her—bag, boys, and mare, homeward bound. “You’ve got a longer ride ahead than I wish you had, boys,” said the miller, casting his eyes toward a black cloud which was rising and darkening the western sky. “There’s plenty of water up there for my mill.” The mare set briskly off, and was soon lost to sight among the windings of the forest road. But the gloom gathered faster than the horse trotted, and it was quite dark when they reached a fork in the road where it might make considerable difference which road they took home. One was the traveled road. This way, there was a good bridge over Bounding Brook, a mountain stream, which was often dangerously swelled by the spring rains. It was the safest, though the longest way home. The other was a wood path through the pines, often taken by farmers living on the east side of the town, to shorten the distance to the Corner. In this road Bounding Brook was crossed by fording. “Father told us to be sure and take the traveled road, if ’t was late,” said David. “Going to,” said Jack; and the mare stopped at the fork, as if to let the boys be sure which road to take. In fact, Jack was a little confused. The windings of the road with nothing but woods on each side, and, of course, no distinct landmarks to govern him; the gloom of night hiding what objects might serve to direct him, together with his small acquaintance with the road, did puzzle the boys, although Jack, being the older of the two, with a dash of pride about him, would not own it. As the mare stopped, he came to a conclusion, and whipped up. “All right!” he cried. “Are you sure?” asked David. “This way, I know,” answered Jack. “I don’t know,” said David; “let me jump off and run down to that light yonder, and ask; there must be a cabin there, and folks.” “Oh! we can’t stop for all that,” said Jack. “I honestly believe this is the traveled road, David, and that’s enough; can’t you trust me?” “But your honestly believing it don’t make it so,” muttered David. “I haven’t a doubt of it, Dave; you be still,” cried Jack, angrily. “I think we ought to ask, so as to be sure,” persisted David. But Jack whipped up, and poor David’s fears and words went to the winds, as gust after gust of the coming shower roared through the forest, and Jack urged the horse to all the speed which her heavy load would allow, on and on through the dark woods. Jack was well pleased with the correctness of his hasty decision about the way; and the farther he went, the more and more confirmed was he that it was the right way. Presently the roaring of Bounding Brook arose above the rattlings of the woods. “A switch over the mare’s haunches, and we shall be over the bridge in a jiffy!” cried Jack; “and then, old fellow, what’ll you say?” David privately muttered, “I’d like to feel myself over,” when, a few more canters, and—Jack, David, meal, and mare went floundering in the raging waters of the swollen stream, pitch dark, the storm on them, and miles from human help. The first few moments of horrible suspense it were in vain to paint. Jack at last found himself anchored on a log of drift wood, the icy waters breaking over him, and the bridle still fast in his hand. “David!” he shouted at the top of his voice, “David!” “The Lord have mercy!” cried David, “I’m somewhere.” The meal? ah! that was making a pudding in some wild eddy of the Bounding Brook, far below. “No matter what a man believes, provided he’s sincere,” cried poor Jack, thoroughly drenched and humbled. “It’s the biggest lie the devil ever got up. It is matter. Being right is the main thing. Sincerity don’t save a fellow from the tremendous consequences of being wrong—that it don’t. Then what’s the use of all a fellow’s sincerity? It can’t get him out of a scrape; he’s got to take it. Lord help us! Didn’t I honestly believe I was on the bridge of the traveled road, when I was like going to perdition in the ford of the wood path?” And the woeful disaster of that night completely and forever cured poor Jack of a popular error which has pitched many a poor soul into the wilder surges of unbelief and irreligion. Thoughts on the Book of Daniel.
By Uriah Smith
Verse 3. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars forever and ever. The margin reads “teachers” in place of “wise”: And they that be teachers shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; that is, of course, those who teach the truth and lead others to a knowledge of it, just previous to the time when the events recorded in the foregoing verses are to be fulfilled. And as the world estimates loss and profit, it costs something to be teachers of these things in these days. It costs reputation, ease, comfort, and often property; it involves labors, crosses, sacrifices, loss of friendship, ridicule, and not unfrequently, persecution. And the question is often asked, How can you afford it? How can you afford to keep the Sabbath, and perhaps lose a situation, reduce your income, or it may be even hazard your means of support? Oh, blind, deluded, sordid question! Make obedience to what God requires a matter of pecuniary consideration? How unlike is this to the noble martyrs who loved not their lives unto the death. No, the affording is all on the other side. When God commands, we cannot afford to disobey. And if we are asked, How can you afford to keep the Sabbath? we have only to ask in reply, How can you afford not to do it? And in the coming day, when those who have sought to save their lives shall lose them, and those who have been willing to hazard all for the sake of truth and its divine Lord, shall receive the glorious reward promised in the text, and be raised up to shine as the firmament and the imperishable stars forever and ever, it will then be seen who have been wise, and who, on the contrary, have made the choice of blindness and folly. The wicked and worldly now look upon Christians as fools and madmen, and congratulate themselves upon their superior shrewdness in shunning what they call their folly and avoiding their losses. We need make no response; for these who now deride this decision, will soon themselves reverse it, and that with terrible though unavailing earnestness. Verse 4. But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the29 end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. The “words” and the “book” here spoken of, doubtless refer to the things which had been revealed to Daniel in this prophecy. These things were to be shut up and sealed, until the time of the end; that is, not to be specially studied or to any great extent understood, till that time. The time of the end, as has already been shown, commenced in 1798. As the book was closed up and sealed to that time, the plain inference is that at that time, or from that point, the book would be unsealed, or people would have their attention specially called to this part of the inspired word. What has been done on the subject of prophecy since that time? It is unnecessary to remind the reader. The prophecies, especially Daniel’s prophecy, have been under examination by all students of the word, wherever civilization has spread abroad its light upon the earth. And so the remainder of the verse, being a prediction of what should take place after the time of the end commenced, says, “Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” Whether this running to and fro refers to the passing of people from place to place, and the great improvements in the facilities for transportation and travel, made within the last half century, or whether it means, as some understand it, a turning to and fro in the prophecies, that is, a diligent and earnest search into prophetic truth, the fulfillment is certainly and surely before our eyes. It must have its application in one of these two ways; and in both these directions the present age is very strongly marked. So of the increase of knowledge. It must refer either to the increase of knowledge in general, the developments of the arts and sciences, or an increase of knowledge in reference to those things revealed to Daniel, which were closed up and sealed to the time of the end. Here again, apply it which way we will, the fulfillment is most marked and complete. Look at the marvelous achievements of the human mind, and the cunning works of men’s hands, rivaling the magician’s wildest dreams, which have been accomplished within the last fifty years. It was recently stated in the Scientific American that more advancement had been made in all scientific attainments, and more progress in all that tends to domestic comfort, the rapid transaction of business among men, and the transmission of intelligence from one to another, than all that was done for three thousand years previous, put together. Or, on the other hand, look at the wonderful light which, within the past thirty years, has shone upon the Scriptures. The fulfillment of prophecy has been shown in the light of history. Applications are made which are beyond dispute, showing that the end of all things is near. Truly the seal has been taken from the book, and knowledge respecting what God has revealed in his word, is wonderfully increased. We think it is in this respect that the prophecy is more especially fulfilled. That we are in the time of the end when the book of this prophecy should no longer be sealed, but be open and understood, is shown by Rev. 10:1, 2, where a mighty angel is seen to come down from Heaven with a little book in his hand open. For proof that the little book, there said to be open, is the book here closed up and sealed, and that that angel delivers his message in this generation, see “Thoughts” on Rev. 10:2. Verse 5. Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river. 6. And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? 7. And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. The question, “How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?” undoubtedly has reference to all that has previously been mentioned, including the standing up of Michael, the time of trouble, the deliverance of God’s people, and the special and antecedent resurrection of verse 1. And the answer seems to be given in two divisions: First, a specific prophetic period is marked off; and secondly, an indefinite period follows before the conclusion of all these things is reached. Just as we have it in chap. 8:13, 14. When the question was asked, “How long the vision . . . to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?” the answer was, a definite period of 2300 days, and then an indefinite period of the cleansing of the sanctuary. So in the text before us, we have the period of a time, times, and a half, given, or 1260 years, and then an indefinite period of a continuance of the scattering of the power of the holy people, before the consummation. The 1260 years mark the period of papal supremacy. Why is this period here introduced? Probably because this power is the one which does more than any other in the world’s long history, in scattering the power of the holy people, or oppressing the church of God. But what shall we understand by the expression, “Shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people”? A literal translation of the Septuagint seems to present it in a clearer light: “When, he shall have finished the scattering of the power of the holy people.” To whom does the pronoun “he” refer? According to the wording of this scripture, the antecedent would at first sight seem to be “Him that liveth forever,” or Jehovah; but, as an eminent expositor of the prophecies judiciously remarks, in considering the pronouns of the Bible, we are to interpret them according to the facts of the case; and hence must frequently refer them to an antecedent understood, rather than to some noun which is expressed. So here the little horn or man of sin, having been introduced by the particular mention of the time of his supremacy, namely 1260 years, may be the power referred to by the pronoun “he.” For 1260 years he had grievously oppressed the church, or scattered their power. After his supremacy is taken away, his disposition toward the truth and its advocates still remains, and his power is still felt to a certain extent, and he continues his work of oppression just as far as he is able, till—when? Till the last of the events brought to view in verse 1, the deliverance of God’s people, every one that is found written in the book. Being thus delivered, persecuting powers are no longer able to oppress them, their power is no longer scattered, the end of the wonders brought to view in this great prophecy is reached, and all its predictions are accomplished.