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Review and Herald, Vol. 7, No. 4.

WHAT IS THE LAW?
Earlier text: WHAT IS THE LAW?

Did the Creator Perform a part of his Labor on the Seventh day?

By John Nevins Andrews

BY J. N. ANDREWS.
MANY suppose that he did. This idea is inferred from Gen. ii, 2. "And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made." But we think this an entire mistake. The following reasons show that such a view is false.
1. The narrative in Genesis shows that every thing was completed in the work of creation, or to use the expression of the Scriptures, "finished," in six days, and that at the close of that period the Creator pronounced it all "very good." Consequently there was nothing unfinished or incomplete about it. This will be seen from the last verse of Chap. i, and the first verse of Chap. ii. "And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them." This testimony is conclusive. "Thus" says the sacred writer, that is, in the manner and time which he had just stated, "the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. This is an explicit statement that the Creator's work was finished in six days. The other fact in these verses which marks the close of the sixth day as the point of time at which the work of creation was complete, is this: "God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good." Each day, with the exception of the second, it is stated that God saw what he had performed, "that it was good." But at the close of the sixth day it is stated that "God saw every thing that he had made, and behold it was very good. God had pronounced on each part of his work separately that it was good, even saying this on the sixth day after creating the beasts of the earth; but after creating man and arranging the government of the creatures which he had formed, he "saw every thing" and "behold it was very good." Each was perfect in itself, or good; but when all the parts were complete, God saw that the work was very good. It is thus that the close of the sixth day is distinguished from that of each of the other five.
2. Not only is there nothing in the various other records of the creation week, to give the least idea that any part of the work of creation was performed upon the seventh day; but they directly teach the reverse of such an idea. "For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it." Ex. xx, 11. "It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed." Chap. xxxi, 17. "For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works." Heb. iv, 4. These texts we think fully meet the point. The first shows the reason why God requires men to labor six days and to rest on the seventh. It is because he performed all his work in six days and rested on the seventh. If he labored on the seventh day his example and his law contradict each other: for the very law which requires men to rest during the entire seventh day requires them to follow in this the example of the Creator. The second text is placed immediately after a solemn prohibition of any labor on the seventh day. Ex. xxxi, 15, 16. And it declares that this Sabbath of rest after the six days of labor is a sign between God and Israel his people, for in six days the Lord accomplished his work and on the seventh he rested and was refreshed. If God wrought the six days and a part of the seventh and then solemnly forbade his people to labor on the seventh day that their observance of that day in this manner, after six days of labor might be a sign of his own labor and rest at creation, there is a manifest inconsistency, such as nowhere appears in God's dealings with men. The third text simply presents the seventh as the rest day of the Lord—a fact which is emphatically set forth in those scriptures in which it is called the Sabbath of the Lord—a term which literally signifies his rest day.
3. The word translated "ended" in verse 2d is by some eminent critics rendered "had finished." This would show that when the seventh day commenced the work of creation was complete; thus agreeing with every other part of the divine record. It is not improbable that this is the true idea. It is thus rendered in the "London Quarterly Journal of Prophecy," see also the "Cottage Bible."
4. But the following note from Dr. Adam Clark's Commentary is worthy of particular notice:
"On the seventh day God ended, &c. It is the general voice of Scripture, that God finished the whole of the creation in six days, and rested the seventh; giving us an example that we might labor six days, and rest the seventh from all manual exercises. It is worthy of notice, that the Septuagint, the Syriac and the Samaritan, read the sixth day instead of the seventh; and this should be considered the genuine reading, which appears from those versions, to have been originally that of the Hebrew text.—How the word sixth became changed into the seventh, may be easily conceived from this circumstance. It is very likely that, in ancient times, all numerals were signified by letters, and not words at full length. This is the case in the most ancient Greek and Latin MSS. and in almost all of the rabbinical writings. When these numeral letters became changed for words at full length, two letters nearly similar might be mistaken for each other: vau (ו) stands for six, zain (ז) for seven; how easy to mistake these letters for each other, when writing the words at full length, and so give birth to the reading in question!"
This statement of Dr. Clarke respecting the Septuagint, the Syriac and the Samaritan, is worthy of attention. The Septuagint was translated from the Hebrew about 300 years before the Christian era.
The Samaritan Pentateuch is much more ancient than this; some even preferring it as an original, preserved in the same condition in which Moses left it. The Syriac version is by some supposed to have been made from the Hebrew as early as the apostles' days, while others think it as late as the second century. See Buck's Theological Dictionary; Clarke's Commentary; Murdock's Syriac Testament, page 511.

Note from Bro. White.

By James White

After the close of the Bristol (Vt.) Tent-meeting we tarried one night and a part of a day with Bro. Everts and family, of New Haven, who kindly cared for us, and aided us on our way to Boston. We also spent a few days very happily with Bro. Nichols' family of Dorchester, and Bro. Folsom's of Summerville. The Lord reward them for all their kind and benevolent acts to pilgrims. At Portland, Me., we called on Brn. Chamberlain and Lunt, and were glad to find a few in that city still on the rock of truth. Some have recently become specially interested in the truth. Sabbath, Aug. 4th, met with old friends in Topsham, and were refreshed.
On First-day, in company with several brethren, we attended the meeting of Bro. L. I. Howard, about two miles from Brunswick Village. By invitation of Bro. H. we spoke in the forenoon on the three angels of Rev. xiv. In the afternoon Bro. H. gave a very appropriate and instructive discourse on the exhortation of the apostle James to his brethren to be patient unto the coming of the Lord. His scriptural positions in regard to the organization and perfection of the Church of God, and the restoration of the gifts, were highly interesting. In the evening we spoke on the law of God and the Sabbath, after which several spirited testimonies were given. Bro. H. received his first second advent principles from our lectures in that vicinity about twelve years since. For some years he has been a preacher, and for a year or more took part in the recent time movement. We were indeed happy to meet him again, occupying so good ground. The Lord help him to see clearly the third and last message for the church, and gird on the armor anew for the final conflict. We design returning to Rochester the first of September. J. W.

Tent Meeting at Roosevelt.

By John Norton Loughborough; Roswell F. Cottrell

This meeting was well attended, although held in a very busy season of the year, (in the midst of harvest.) The meeting continued over two Sabbaths and First-days. On both First-days our Tent was well filled. Some brethren came in from other places. Our social meetings were spirited and solemn.
After pitching the Tent, we learned that one Eld. Brown, a Protestant Methodist minister, had an appointment to preach, on the second First-day, a discourse on the immortality of the soul, in a school-house near by the Tent. After Eld. Brown's friends learned that we had an appointment for the second First-day, (the time that Eld. B. was to preach,) they commenced circulating reports that we had given out the second appointment on purpose to draw away the Eld.'s congregation. It would be well for such, perhaps, to read the appointment in the Advent Review, which was written before Eld. B. gave out his appointment. As there seemed to be quite an excitement getting up in the minds of the people, some of the Eld.'s friends (as inconsistent as their proposition looked) thought we had better give up our meeting in the Tent, and go to the school-house and hear the Eld. We were not much in favor of a congregation of 1000 going into a small school-house. At this juncture we sent a proposition to the Eld. to preach in the Tent in the afternoon, and we should claim the privilege of reviewing his discourse. To this he consented, and gave a discourse at 1 o'clock, occupying 1½ hours. He occupied his time, 1st. in striving to draw a distinction between immortal, immortality and eternal life. 2d. He quoted a class of texts to show that our eternal life commences here when we believe on Christ. 3d. He claimed there could be no true religion unless based on the immortality of the soul. He wound up by quoting the texts commonly used to show the conscious state of the dead.
We endeavored to weigh all his scripture testimonies, and show the harmonious testimony of the Bible that we are dependent on Christ for eternal life, as the Eld. himself had proved by the class of texts he had quoted to show that our eternal life commences here when we believe on Christ. It seemed to be a hard matter for the Eld. to maintain his gravity because we would not keep up the distinctions he had made between immortality and eternal life.
These meetings held in Roosevelt, we trust, will tell for the advancement of the cause of Christ.
On the second Sabbath we enjoyed the privilege of witnessing five planted in the likeness of Christ's death. One of these had commenced the observance of the Sabbath but a few weeks since. The others had not been long in the way.
At the close of the second Sabbath, we met at the house of Bro. T. Finch, and enjoyed a heavenly season in attending to the ordinances of the Lord's house. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH. R. F. COTTRELL. Vanburen, N. Y., Aug. 4th, 1855.

Duties of Christians.

By T. Brown

WHEN we look around over the world, and see how little attention is paid to the duties of Christianity, well may we exclaim with the prophet, Darkness has covered the earth and gross darkness the people. The professed church is joined hand in hand with the world, and with her eyes closed to God's word is fast rushing down the world's broad way to ruin, to the great conflict that is soon coming on the world to try all those that dwell upon the earth. In view of these things, what are the duties of the christian? We will let the Word answer the question. We will examine.
  1. The duties of the Christian.
  2. What is forbidden in God's Word.
  3. The blessings attending such as obey.
1. The first duty of christians is to love each other. The lawyer asked Jesus this question: Which is the greatest commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Matt. xxii, 37-40.
A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye have love one to another. John xiii, 34, 35. Read also John xv, 12, 13, 17; Rom. xii, 9, 10; xiii, 8-10; Gal. v, 13, 14; Eph. iv, 2; v, 2. In Phil. i, 10, Paul gives the reason why we should love each other: "That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere, and without offense till the day of Christ."
It is also the duty of Christians to admonish each other. Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone; if he shall hear thee thou hast gained thy brother. Matt. xviii, 15. See also Luke xvii, 3, 4; Gal. vi, 1; Col. iii, 16; 1 Thess. v, 14; 2 Thess. iii, 14, 15.
2. Christians should bear rebuke and admonition from each other. The Psalmist while making supplication to God, exclaimed, Let the righteous smite me it shall be a kindness; and let him reprove me, it shall be an excellent oil which shall not break my head. Ps. cxli, 5.
As it is the duty of Christians to admonish each other, there is a right way to do it. Much good may result in reproving a brother if done with the spirit of meekness. As each spirit will beget its own likeness, before we give reproof we should be certain that we have the meek spirit that Jesus possessed. How often it has been the case that professed Christians have reproved with a harsh, overbearing spirit that has caused God's children to be grieved and burdened for weeks or perhaps months, when one kind word spoken in the spirit of meekness would have removed all difficulty and love and union have been the result. Oh, for that love for each other that Jesus had for us; that union of spirit, that emanates from God, that forbearance that will cause us to overlook each other's faults. Oh, for that charity that our Saviour taught. If we are the children of the Lord we shall seek for it as for hidden treasures.
How rich is the possessor of these gospel graces. Truly we are pilgrims and strangers here seeking for a city that hath foundations whose builder and maker is God.
Paul, in his epistle to his Corinthian brethren, speaks of the sin of ancient Israel; that though they drank of the same spiritual rock, and all ate of the same spiritual meat, yet they were some of them idolaters and fell in the wilderness. Paul tells us these things happened for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come. (1 Cor. x, 11.) Again in Prov. we find testimony to the point. Reprove not a scorner lest he hate thee; rebuke a wise man and he will love thee. Give instruction to a wise man and he will be yet wiser, teach a just man and he will increase in learning. Prov. ix, 8, 9, again, He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction, but he that refuseth reproof erreth. Prov. x, 17, also read chaps. xiii, 1; xviii, 15; v, 10. How great the difference now in the professed churches.—Their eyes are closed, their ears are shut against hearing reproof, and they are fast sinking into darkness and error.
3. Christians should be of one mind. Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity: it is like the precious ointment upon the head that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard, that went down to the skirts of his garments. Ps. cxxxiii, 1, 2. Jesus' testimony is to the point. He prays to the Father that his disciples may be one as he and his Father are one, and here gives the reason; that the world might know that the Father had sent him. John xvii. And the multitude of them that believed were of one mind and one soul. Acts iv, 32. Paul, in his epistle to the Romans, gives the reason why Christians should be of one mind; it is that we may with one mind glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Also read 1 Cor. i, 10; 2 Cor. xiii, 11; Eph. iv, 3, 4; Phil. i, 27; 1 Pet. iii, 8. Thus we have noticed a few of the many texts of Scripture that teach that God's children should be of the same mind. Let us then examine ourselves whether we are of the same mind one towards another; and if we find we are not, let us then hasten to comply with the word of God. Do we love God with all the heart? do we love our brethren as we should? do we receive reproof from our brethren as we ought? do we realize that love is the fulfilling of the law? If we do not, then we are not in the place we should be.
We now pass to notice a few of the many sins forbidden in God's word.
Pride is a soul-destroying sin.
Moreover, the Lord saith because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go and making a tinkling with their feet; therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will discover their secret parts. In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, &c. Isaiah iii. Please read the remainder of the chapter.
Pride is a sin that the world and majority of professors are more or less guilty of; and it is a sin which will sink many a soul down to perdition. Let us hear what the prophet says: "But if you will not hear it my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride, and my eyes shall weep sore and run down with tears because the Lord's flock is carried away captive." Jer. xiii, 17. The prophet predicts the overthrow of that kingdom. If pride is a sin sufficient to overthrow a kingdom, is it not a sin sufficient to shut one out of the kingdom of God?
We might speak of many other things that are forbidden in God's Word, such as selfishness, back-biting, evil surmisings, contentions, and many other things, but time and space will not permit.
We will now notice the glory attending those that obey.
If we look to the earth we behold darkness and error, but by the eye of faith we can behold the glory that is soon to be revealed. If we would claim an heirship to that blessed inheritance we have much to do, and but a short time to do it in. We must overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. Hear what the Revelator says of those that overcome. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my father, and before his angels. Rev. iii, 5. Him that overcometh, will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the City of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. Rev. iii, 12. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am sat down with my father in his throne. Verse 21. Wherefore are they before the throne of God, and saw him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat; for the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them into living fountains of water: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Chap. vii, 15, 17.
John saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away and there was no more sea. And John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away. And there shall be no more night there, and they need no candle, neither light of the sun, for the Lord God giveth them light and they shall reign for ever and ever. Oh who would not want such a blessed home? there is but one way to obtain it, which is by keeping the Commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus. Let us seek for those joys that are promised to the final faithful. May God give us grace that we may overcome and inherit eternal life, is the prayer of your unworthy friend.
T. BROWN.
Locke, Mich., Aug. 6th, 1855.

The People and Progress of the United States.

By Editor

[Everything relating to the prosperity and rapid rise of this Republic will be interesting to our readers, especially, viewed in the light of prophecy, Rev. xiii, 11, &c. We extract the following from an article in the U. S. Magazine for August, 1855. The results here given may be depended on as correct, being compiled from the last census.]
Among all nations, and in all times, the facts usually collected under the head of census statistics, have the deepest value and significance wherever their accuracy can be depended on. All the varying conditions which mark the development of a community in numbers, health, morals, and enlightenment, throughout their infinite details, are thus indicated; and, as it were, daguerreotyped in figures, for the benefit of the historian, the philosopher, the political economist, and of the people themselves.
Unfortunately, such statistics were rarely attended to among the nations of antiquity, except as the exigencies of revenue or military power required some knowledge of the numbers and wealth of the State; and it is on this account chiefly that we must always remain perplexed, and often totally ignorant, of the condition of the earlier communities in many important respects. Statistical science, as it now exists among the most cultivated nations, is at once the fruit and the exponent of a higher civilization. It owes its origin to a couple of Prussian Savans—Achenwall and Schlozer—who lived about a century ago. It has since been further developed, both on the Continent and in Great Britain.
In the United States of America, where, for obvious reasons, this science should be thoroughly attended to, the system of collecting statistics has been poorly arranged, though it has steadily improved from one decade to another. The superior intelligence of our people, however, may balance the errors of system, and render our statistics as accurate as those of the Old World. And whenever our means for pursuing statistical investigation shall be as well adjusted as they are at present in England, we may look for results more satisfactory and important than have yet been obtained in any part of the world. Though a large force has been employed much of the time during the last four years by the Census Bureau at Washington, the returns are not yet all reduced, and the statistics of crime and mortality would each fill a volume the size of the compendium;—at present, the results given under these heads are very limited.
Figures are sometimes said to be eloquent—they are never more so than when made to exhibit the character and progress of a distinguished people—the figures and the results of the historian often speak more forcibly, and to the point, than the most labored display of words. Besides, it is in tables that the aggregated and compared results of the census are most easily exhibited, and many important elements brought together within reach of the eye on a single page.

AREA OF THE UNITED STATES.

All facts relating to the climate and topography of a country are properly included in statistical science. Although we have made but slight progress toward a full knowledge of the meteorology, or physical geography of our continent, like that already attained by the science and statistics of Europe; yet even rough and general details, often approximate in their accuracy, must be of considerable interest. Think for a moment of the countless relations existing between man and the world he inhabits, and you soon perceive that the greater part of these depend on the climate and geography of the earth. It is not a matter of small account or interest whether we have above us skies of lead or azure—a brisk and pure air, like that of Scotland and the Alps, or an atmosphere heavy and surcharged with mist like that of the Norwegian coasts—whether the earth beneath us is regular or abrupt in level, and what is the nature of its forests, lakes and rivers.
Science, aided by many practical observations, has already mapped out Europe in all these respects, and more; and we long to see the work begun in our own country, but it must, of course, await the more complete spread and growth of the people. We ought to say, however, that much is being done in this kind of investigation by the Coast Survey, and that, too, in such a thorough and extensive manner as to excite the admiration of Europe itself. Most of the results we shall copy under the present head, were ascertained, either wholly or in part, through the labors of this and the Topographical Office. Seeking for the most natural division of our territory into sections, and one more in accordance with its main geographical features than any hitherto adopted, Mr. DeBow separates the Republic into four great divisions, or slopes. These are—1st. The Mississippi Valley, comprising all that portion of our country drained by the Mississippi and its tributaries. 2d. The Pacific slope, including all that territory whose waters enter the Pacific Ocean. 3d. The Atlantic slope, drained by all the waters which enter the Atlantic north of the Mississippi Valley. 4th. The Gulf slope, or that portion of territory whose waters flow into the Gulf of Mexico. The following table shows the number of square miles included in each of these divisions of the Union, and also the area of several European States, with which the reader may make some interesting comparisons:—
Square miles, Ratio to total area.
Mississippi Valley, 1,217,562 41,47
Pacific Valley, 766,002 26,09
Atlantic Slope north of Mississippi Valley, 627,065 21,35
Gulf slope, 325,537 11,09
Total area, 2,936,166
Area of the United States at the peace of 1783, 820,680

INCREASE OF POPULATION.

The aggregate rates of increase diminished regularly during each successive census decade from 1790 to 1840; but between 1840 and 1850, it increased over three per cent., corrections being made for the admission of new territory.
During the last census decade, Wisconsin increased in population 891 per cent., this being the largest percentage of increase which has occurred in any part of the Union during any decade in the last fifty years. Michigan stands next in order, and gained 574 per cent., between 1830 and 1840, and Indiana gained 510 per cent. between 1810 and 1820. In some of the Eastern and Middle States, however, the ratio of increase is much less, being in Connecticut only 0,28 per cent. during the last census period, and in Delaware there was even a decrease of 0,14 per cent. between 1810 and 1820.

THE PRESS.

The earliest newspaper in North America was the "Boston News-Letter," issued April 24, 1704. In 1720, there were but seven newspapers in the American Colonies. In 1775, there were thirty-five, seven of which were in Massachusetts, and nine in Pennsylvania. The census of 1840 gave 1,631 as the number of newspapers and periodicals published in the United States. In 1850, the number was 2,526. The following table shows the number and circulation of each class of papers:—
No. Circulation.
Literary and Miscellaneous 568 1,692,403
Neutral and Independent 83 303,722
Political 1,630 1,907,794
Religious 191 1,071,657
Scientific 53 207,041
Aggregate 2,526 5,183,017
An intelligible abstract even of the Agricultural and Commercial statistics of the census would extend this article far beyond the space it was designed to occupy. The industrial development of a people indicates, in a high degree, its condition with regard to progress and enlightenment. For, in the commerce and occupations of a community, we view directly the character and effect of the laws by which they are governed, we see unfolded the peculiarities and resources of the country within its limits; and we may observe the steady progress of mind in its subjugation of nature and her vicissitudes. Commercial, Agricultural, and Manufacturing statistics, therefore, when fully exhibited, claim a high importance, and should be carefully studied by themselves. The following table is abridged from the Census Report. It is only approximate in accuracy, but doubtless the most reliable that can be obtained:—

VALUE OF SOME AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS OF THE UNITED STATES IN 1850, AND AMOUNT OF LAND ACTUALLY CULTIVATED IN THE SEVERAL CROPS.

Value. Acres cultivated.
Indian corn $296,035,552 31,000,000
Wheat 100,485,944 11,000,000
Cotton 98,603,720 5,000,000
Hay 96,870,494 13,000,000
Oats 43,975,253 7,500,000
Butter 50,135,248
Potatoes—Irish 26,319,158 1,000,000
Potatoes—Sweet 19,134,074 750,000
Wool 15,755,087
Tobacco 13,982,686 400,000
The total value of agricultural products, including stock of all kinds, for 1850, was estimated at $1,299,197,682, and the total of improved lands at 113,032,614 acres.

OCCUPATIONS OF THE MALE POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES, OVER FIFTEEN YEARS OF AGE.

Several hundred different occupations are given, and the number of persons engaged in each was ascertained as nearly as possible. The following table shows the number of persons engaged in the leading occupations. The figures include both white and free colored persons:—
Farmers . . . 2,363,958 Physicians . . . 40,564 Laborers . . . 909,786 Coopers . . . 43,694 Carpenters . . . 184,671 Students . . . 42,159 Cordwainers . . . 130,473 Cabinet and Chair-makers . . . 37,359 Clerks . . . 101,325 Boatmen . . . 32,454 Merchants . . . 100,752 Clergymen . . . 26,842 Black and Whitesmiths . . . 99,703 Lawyers . . . 23,939 Miners . . . 77,410 Printers . . . 14,740 Mariners . . . 70,603 Editors . . . 1,372 Masons and plasterers . . . 63,392 Authors . . . 82
During the last decade, the percentage of those devoted to the learned professions has nearly trebled, and that of those engaged in commerce and manufactures has increased in about the same proportion. Of those occupied in agricultural pursuits, the proportion has slightly increased, and in navigation the percentage has doubled. The proportion of all those engaged in the various employments, as compared with the total population, seems to have about doubled within the last fifty years. We can only give a few of the results presented by Mr. DeBow, under the head of moral and Social Statistics. Viewed in connection with the other returns of the census, these statistics possess the highest interest, and should be carefully studied by all who have access to the Census Report.
The following table gives a general view of the facts ascertained relative to

RELIGIOUS WORSHIP.

Churches . . . . . . . . . . . 38,183 Total value of church property . . . . . . $89,983,028 Average value of churches . . . . . . . $2,357 Capacity of accommodation . . . . . . 14,360,038 Average capacity of accommodation . . . . . 376
The Methodists have the largest church accommodations. Next are the Baptists, then the Ptesbyterians. There are, on the average, 4 churches to every 300 square miles, or one to every 75 square miles of territory. In Massachusetts, there are nearly 19 churches to every 100 square miles, whilst in Texas, the number is only 1 to about every 700, and in Arkansas, 1 in 175 square miles.
The Methodists and Presbyterians have a larger amount of church property than any other denomination, that of the former amounting to $14,826,148, and that of the latter, $14,557,089. The Baptist and Episcopal are next, and are also about equal. The Catholics, though they have but one-eleventh as many churches as the Methodists, have much more than half the church property.

EDUCATION.

The total number of Colleges, exclusive of theological, medical and law schools, in the United States, in 1850, was ascertained to be 119, and including these, 215. The total number of students belonging to these institutions was 18,733. The total number of Academies and Public Schools was 6,085, and of their pupils, 263,096.

POPULATION.

There was no general enumeration of the United States, earlier than the census of 1790, and conjectural estimates alone can be formed of the population of this country during the colonial period.
As near as can be ascertained, however, the total white and slave population was, in 1701, 262,000, in 1749, 1,046,000, and in 1775, 2,803,000, of which 500,000 are estimated as slaves. The aggregate increase during the first 48 years, was 299,24 per cent., and the average increase per annum for the whole 74 years, 13,11 per cent. At the beginning of the revolution, the Southern colonies had 812,000 white inhabitants, and the Northern, 1,491,000. Connecticut was then the fourth State in rank. Massachusetts and Pennsylvania were each a third larger than New York, which was even excelled by Connecticut.

POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES AT THE SEVERAL CENSUS PERIODS.

White. free col'd and slave Total.
1790 3,172,464 757,363 3,929,827
1800 4,804,469 501,436 5,305,925
1810 5,862,004 1,377,810 7,239,814
1820 7,866,569 1,771,622 9,638,191
1830 10,537,378 2,328,642 12,866,020
1840 14,195,995 2,873,458 17,069,453
1850 19,553,068 3,638,808 23,191,876

CLASSIFIED POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES AT THE CENSUS OF 1850.

Total White . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19,553,068 White native born . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17,312,533 " foreign born . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,240,535 Free colored . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 434,495 Free mulattoes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159,095 " unmixed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275,400 Slave . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,204,313 Slave mulattoes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246,656 " unmixed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,957,657

AREA OF SOME EUROPEAN COUNTRIES.

Russia in Europe 2,120,397 Prussia 107,921
Austria 257,368 Spain 182,270
France 207,145 Turkey 210,585
Great Britain 121,912 Sweden and Norway 293,313
To these, Mr. DeBow adds the area of 26 other European States, the whole making only 3,811,594 square miles. The territory of this Republic covers over one-third the entire area of the North American continent. It is nearly ten times as large as that of Great Britain and France combined; three times as large as the whole of France, Britain, Austria, Prussia, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Holland and Denmark together; one and a half times as large as the Russian Empire in Europe; only one-sixth less than the area covered by the fifty-nine or sixty Empires, States and Republics of Europe, and of equal extent with the Roman Empire, or that of Alexander, neither of which is said to have exceeded 3,000,000 square miles. In less than sixty years our territory has increased over three-fold. The following table, showing the comparative distances between American and foreign cities, affords a good idea of the extent of our continent:—
Miles Miles
Pittsburg to Boston, 616 Paris to Vienna, 625
New York to Mobile, 1,476 Paris to St. Petersburg, 1,510
Philadelphia to Pensacola, 1,443 St. Petersburg to Constantinople, 1,450
Boston to Nashville, 1,590 London to Constantinople, 1,490
N. York to Charleston, 790 London to Vienna, 760
Boston to Galveston, Texas, 2,256 Stockholm to Madrid, 2,160
New York to New Orleans, 1,640 London to Rome, 910
Source to mouth of Mississippi, 2,986 St. Petersburg to Thebes, Egypt, 2,800

COMMUNICATIONS.

By H. S. Boyd

From Bro. Boyd.
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS:—With feelings of solemnity I would address you upon a subject of vast importance, one that interests every child of God. The subject is love; the love that Christ commanded us to have for one another. How many of us would lay down our lives for the Brn.? Alas! are there not many who profess to be commandment-keepers who would not willingly suffer an inconvenience, nay, who would not do what would be perfectly convenient if they did not love self and the world too well, for the sake of doing their brethren good? Is not there a reserve and coldness existing which ill becomes the remnant in these last days? Ah! my Brn., these things ought not so to be. We can never enter the pearly gates of the New Jerusalem unless we love with pure hearts fervently. We lack neither precept nor example for this love of which I speak. Christ our worthy pattern has given us both, and we shall be left without excuse. Indeed there can be no excuse, for the enlightened Christian failing in so plain a duty. Let me urge you by all that is dear to you, as you value the joys that we expect to be soon revealed, to assimilate to the lovely Jesus in this and all other matters.
We profess to be that peculiar people zealous of good works, that God is purifying unto himself for translation at the appearing of his Son; but can we expect to be of that happy company unless we become more like him here? "God is love, and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him." "Herein is our love made perfect that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as he is so are we in this world." Are we truly so? We ought to be, and we shall need that boldness of which the beloved disciple speaks. We profess to keep all of God's commandments and the faith of Jesus, and this is his commandment that we should "love one another." "He that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him and he in him, and hereby we know that he abideth in us by the spirit which he hath given us."
Do we realize the time in which we live? The unmistakable signs of Christ's soon coming have thickened around us and we know that it is the last time. How careful then we should be to walk with God, to work out our salvation with trembling and fear. We have no time to lose, but should, while the day lasteth, labor diligently to make our calling and election sure, that when Christ shall appear we may be like him, and see him as he is, and so ever be with the Lord.
Yours in love of the truth. H. S. BOYD.
Lyme, Aug. 4th, 1855.
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