WE left Battle Creek July 23d, and stopped over night with our old friends at Jackson. Next morning, accompanied by Bro. A. A. Dodge, we took the cars for Detroit, and spent most of the day in Dr. T. A. White's (Dentist) rooms. Mrs. W. and self had each two teeth decayed near the gums which we could not spare, and could hardly trust with our common dentists. Dr. White has done a splendid job for us, at a reduced price. He is a gentleman, and master of his business.
Thursday, 25th, we passed over the long dusty road of three hundred miles to the tent ground at Eagle Harbor, N. Y. Here we met Brn. Hull, Cottrell and Whitney, tent company, enjoying health, and having a good and strong influence in the community.
Friday, the brethren came pouring in from all directions, bringing provisions. The citizens of the place courteously came forward and took the crowd to their houses to lodge. Most of the brethren, however, took their meals at the tent, of the abundance brought in.
Bro. Hull preached Sabbath evening to a large and attentive congregation. We followed on Sabbath, the evening following, and first-day morning, with four discourses. Then Bro. Hull baptized eighteen, nearly all of whom were brethren who feel the duty of burial since having been slain by the law of God. Our plain, close discourse on death and burial, or true conversion, probably prevented some from going forward in baptism who designed to. This we trust will work out right. It should be known that people are dead before buried.
Elder P. A. Smith, an Adventist of the right stamp excepting the Sabbath and third message, was present on first-day, and proposed to discuss the perpetuity of the Sabbath with Bro. Hull, who accepted the proposition for a friendly discussion of the subject. It comes off first-day, August 4th. Eld. S. represents his brethren in the vicinity as being in difficulty on the Sabbath question, and feels called upon to meet our positions on the subject. The result will probably be reported. Bro. Hull preached in the afternoon an able discourse on the resurrection.
The labors in the N. Y. tent are exerting a strong influence in the western part of the State. Bro. Hull's labors are greatly needed, and will probably accomplish as much here as in any other field. The brethren are sustaining the cause well, and design to keep Bro. Hull in the State if they can.
We were happy to meet the brethren at this meeting, especially those who have embraced the message since we last visited this part of the State. Here we met Bro. and Sr. Lindsay with their entire family of sons and daughters all in the work. We had witnessed their anxiety for their children, in time past, and their tears, and wept with them. Now we mingled our tears of joy.
July, 29th, we reached Bro. Lamson's, at Rochester. Here, about nine o'clock in the evening, a messenger came for us from North Parma, stating that Bro. C. W. Sperry was again bleeding at the lungs, and wished to see us. We took the first train, which was a quarter after five the next morning, and reached our afflicted Bro. and Sr. Sperry before eight A. M. We found our dear brother quite comfortable, but much reduced by frequent bleeding. He had just bled a pint. We had a season of prayer in his room which he enjoyed much. Last evening, the 30th, about ten o'clock, Bro. S. bled again. It was exceeding painful to see him, so weak and pale, raise mouthful after mouthful of fresh blood, till he raised a pint. He is very low.
It is painful to see one so useful and one so desirous of fighting the battles of the Lord, thus cut down upon the battle field. Many fervent prayers have gone up to heaven in his behalf during his sickness, and sweet, and sometimes powerful, have been the answers. It is duty to pray for the recovery of the sick believer. James v, 14. Yet it is not always the will of God to raise him up. Rev. xiv, 13. It is the blessed privilege of some to sleep during the closing period of anguish to God's waiting people. When we pray for the sick, and God graciously pours out of his Spirit, how natural to take that as an evidence that they will be raised up. Suppose it be not the will of God to raise up some, how merciful to bless and give evidence of his love and acceptance. Should he withhold his blessing lest it be incorrectly interpreted, with what gloom would they sink away in death without leaving special evidences of acceptance with God, which are so consoling to bereaved friends. God knows best. We must submit to his will.
We leave our dear sick brother in about two hours to go on to the Roosevelt conference. God is able to raise him up, but we should not be surprised if he should not live ten hours.
BRIEF COMMENTS.
By Uriah Smith
DAVID in describing some of his afflictions, says in one place, "I am become like a bottle in the smoke," Ps. cxix, 83. From any experience which people in this country have in regard to bottles, it would not be apparent what effect smoke would have upon a bottle, or what David meant by this language. It is all plain, however, when we remember that in the eastern countries bottles are made of skins of animals. These being hung up in the smoke must soon be parched and shrivelled up. David uses this figure to represent the exhausted state of body and mind to which he had been reduced by bodily and mental distress. This fact in regard to bottles must be borne in mind also in our Saviour's parable, Matt. ix, 17. "Neither do men put new wine into old bottles, else the bottles break and the wine runneth out." By receiving the liquor poured into it, a skin bottle must be greatly swelled or distended; and still more, if the liquor be wine, by77its fermentation while advancing to ripeness; so that if no vent be given to it, the liquor may overpower the strength of the bottles and burst them, and thus the wine would run out and the bottles perish. New bottles on the contrary, being in the prime of their strength, may resist the expansion of the fermentation, and preserve the wine to maturity.
Luke vi, 38. "Give and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over shall men give into your bosom." To understand what is meant by giving into the bosom, it must be recollected that the orientals generally wore long, wide, and loose garments; and when they wished to carry anything that their hands could not contain, they made a fold for that purpose in the bosom of their robe, above the girdle.
Ps. ciii, 5. David when gratefully reviewing the mercies of Jehovah, says, "Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things, so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's." David does not mean here to say, of course, that the youth of the eagle is actually renewed, so that an old bird becomes young. He only alludes to the fact that eagles at certain times shed their feathers, which are supplied by a new growth, by which means even old age assumes the appearance of youth.
That oft-quoted text, Ps. lxxxiv, 10, seems to be improved by the marginal reading. The text reads, "I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness." Now a door-keeper in some instances is quite an honorable, and withal a profitable position. But the margin reads, "I choose rather to sit at the threshold;" that is, he would choose the very lowest and humblest seat in the house of his God, rather than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
A Sabbath-Day's Journey. We often hear persons express the desire to make a Sabbath-day's journey toward the kingdom. Such persons express a wish, unconsciously no doubt, for very slow progress. A Sabbath-day's journey, as regulated by the traditions of the Jews, was only about two miles; while an ordinary day's journey was regarded by that people as about twenty. Of the limited distance which constituted a Sabbath-day's journey, we have an account in the New Testament. Luke [chap. xxiv, 50] says that our Saviour just previous to his ascension, led his disciples out as far as Bethany. Bethany is declared in John xi, 18, to be from Jerusalem about fifteen furlongs off. In Acts i, 12, we read that after the ascension of the Lord, the disciples returned unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, [on which Bethany was situated] which is from Jerusalem a Sabbath-day's journey. These three passages show that a Sabbath-day's journey was about fifteen furlongs. There are eight furlongs in a mile, which makes the distance to be about two miles. Desires for great and rapid advancement would be therefore better expressed by a day's journey, than Sabbath-day's journey, which was not more at most than one tenth as far.
U. Smith.
ADMONITORY PARAGRAPHS.
By J. CLARKE
It is a false humility which needlessly depreciates one's self (very few are liable to do this); God is not pleased by it, nor is the individual benefited by so doing, but rather weakened. A due degree of self-respect is necessary and right, and in accordance with God's plans, and this self-respect is consistent with humility, and necessary to the courageous soldier. The good man strives to hold fast his integrity. In the majority of instances, however, what should be only a consistent regard for the talents committed to us, and a sense of responsibility therefor, becomes by incessant cultivation an arrant self-esteem, so strong as to drown most of the benevolent traits of mind; thus as generations of men pass away and leave their impress upon their successors, selfishness becomes more and more potent, until it fairly rules all that is good.
"The wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night, until the morning." Lev. xix, 13. Generally those who work out are in immediate need of their wages; and withholding wages for one day often causes more sorrow and poignant misery, than the unthinking (and often selfish) employer ever hears of. First, do not hire unless your ability to pay is probable, or at least fully understood by the laborer; then fulfill this obligation with as much fidelity as you would minister to the wants of your own appetite.
RELIGION A RADICAL PRINCIPLE.—Christ, in the parable of the sower, has clearly illustrated the manner in which the truth of God operates upon the hearts of men, and has thus proved that the same truths (good seed) dispensed in like manner upon each mind, produces different effects, because of the condition of the mind (soil) which receives it.
In that parable are three kinds of hearers, the wayside, the stony ground, and the thorny ground hearers, who could not endure for the reason that the radical principle (the root) was either not set at all in the earth, or the ground being stony, or thorny, or barren, refused to give sustenance to the root.
Thus we see, and no doubt it will be more and more apparent, that all those who try to hold on to the truth, with inadequate or secondary motives, are as sure to give way to persecution, and to faint under trial, and so leave the narrow way, as the wheat-blade will be scorched, which vainly sends its roots in quest of moisture among the dry, hard rocks of Judea, where months of drought succeed each other.
It is an awful thought that so many who set out with flattering prospects so soon fall off; and others who seem to continue for a season do finally succumb to trial, and, fretting under discipline, lay aside the armor, and return to the world, which after all was the object of their affections all the while.
Religion (undefiled) has its root in the heart; and to live and succeed, it must have an unencumbered soil; it cannot exist long as a secondary affair. It cannot, or rather it will not, elbow its own way among the crowd of rival principles (thorns) which thrive in the carnal heart.
The present condition of the people of God is such as will soon develop the true character, and will show what kind of soil the truth falls upon. Such is the nature of present truth, and such the surrounding influences, as to put to the testing ordeal every individual who endeavors to obey it.
No matter how sincerely the truth is embraced; no matter how firmly believed, or how zealously upheld, unless the truth finds a proper and prepared soil, unless it is the great and ruling principle of the heart, unless it reigns absolutely and unrivalled, it will sooner or later wither and die, or be choked out of existence in such a heart.
A person may desire and long for a home in the beautiful city; may as he supposes fully embrace the truth, and yet some foul clump of thorns (cares, or carnal desires and passions) may spring up, and finally root out by degrees, silently and unobserved as it were, this goodly plant, and leave the heart once so lighted up with the truth in midnight darkness.
Truth must reign in the heart and life, or be exterminated. We cannot serve God and mammon; and the cause of God is first in the heart or it is not there long. The Spirit may strive long with the half Christian, but this is not the communion of the saint, but rather a struggle between good and evil; and so it should be regarded. It is unsafe to rest satisfied while this struggle is continued. While this contest is yet undecided let us beware of the drowsy stupor peculiar to enchanted ground.
Our lives are the index of our hearts, and our actions and words betray to ourselves and to others the character of the fountain within, and happy is he who severely or justly weighs his own character in the scales of the word, and reprimands his own departure from right, and omissions of duty, before his sins become stereotyped in the record of unpardoned and unpardonable sins.
Hypocrisy is the sin of the age we live in. It is licensed and legalized, and stalks forth in all low and high places, with stubborn and shameless effrontery, and we are so steeped in the same by education and habit, that it is often a besetment to be overcome. But woe to him who expects this low and disgusting sin to be harbored now in the church. He who rebuked the proud Pharisee with the appellation of "viper," stands as our only advocate, and he as much detests this sin as ever, and is as much a sin-hater now as eighteen centuries ago.
The truth of the present time is peculiarly a testing truth, and it calls for room in the heart; it cannot occupy a corner. He who truly embraces it will make his arrangements accordingly. He will not make any arrangements to do his worldly work first, and attend to religious duties if possible; but will see to it that nothing shall stand in the way of the performance of every duty binding upon him; and the world must stand aside whenever they meet upon the same track. He who takes such a course has the evidence that so far he can hope; and if in addition to this he has the witness of the Spirit in his heart, he may conclude it is genuine.
THE POINT AT ISSUE.—It seems to me that the whole matter in question turns upon a single point, viz., that defending our property, and defending our religion, are very distinct matters.
The world has as just views of the right of property as any person can have. They acknowledge a just system of weights and measures, and although in practice they often defraud, yet in theory they see it would be suicide to theorize incorrectly, consequently their laws relating to property do not conflict with justice as a general thing, therefore to do business under just laws is consistent for those who acknowledge God's law as their guide.
In religious matters the case is different. To defend one's religion by law, and to incorporate a church as such, for the purpose of asking the protection of the strong arm of law relating to religious matters, would be stultifying our own teachings; but to incorporate a body merely to carry on monetary affairs, is distinct in its nature; for while we ask for authority to buy and sell, to borrow and lend, to sue and be sued, as citizens of the world, we at the same time may plainly state and show that for our religious doctrines we ask no protection from the powers that be, but rely solely on our God; and if the same disorder prevailed in this world on financial affairs that does actually prevail on religious, we should of course carry out the principle here, and ignore alike our country's finance and religion.
In law all regulations respecting property (except the slave) are as fairly adjusted as they can be by man. O that it were carried out in practice. Were it so, and were laws on religious matters as just and true, then indeed might we hope the seven last plagues might be averted, and a temporal millennium might yet rescue our race from Satan's power.
But no, for although man in instinctive desire to hold and secure his money and home, has made just laws for this cause and to this end; yet his sagacity and foresight seem to have failed him when he began to legislate where his present, immediate and selfish interest did not so clearly present itself to his blinded mind.
Nothing is more clear than that the mark of the beast is a breach rather of the first table than of the second; that is, it is a blow aimed by the enemy against God himself, rather than at the rights between man and man, and from the tenor of prophecy it is the beast that is to prohibit commandment-keepers from buying and selling, not that the saints are to cut themselves off from the benefit of just and equitable laws.
Let us go on, then, buying and selling, and taking to ourselves all just benefits, and investing on the Lord's side what we can of right and justice, only rendering to Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's, and to God the things that are God's.
As to mistakes and errors of opinion in the past, let us say with the apostle, forgetting the things that are behind, let us press forward to the things that are before, and opportunity will present itself for each one to show the consistency of advancing from one step to another in the race for perfection, not counting ourselves to have attained, bearing in mind that mistakes do not require what willful sin does, only correction and humility.
MISAPPLICATION OF SCRIPTURE.—"Rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Tim. ii, 15. All forms of error have their origin in perversion of scripture. Even the oppressor seeks to hide his sins under some precedent found in the inspired records. The polygamist, the fatalist, and the universalist, the papist, and all the isms of modern theology, find their foundation in some misapplication of scripture.
When we view the grievous evils which have befallen the church from this perversion of its doctrines, we are warned of the dangers which attend a superficial view of any or the least of its precepts.
O how we need the anointing, the eye-salve, as says David, "Open thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law."
Long have the Scriptures been abused and perverted. The man of sin has led the way, and has opened the flood-gates of error. He has made the Bible a book of dark sentences, a puzzle, a game of chance, and each ism has more or less followed in its wake, until each has peculiar views of his own, and prides himself in this originality, as it is often called.
But it cannot be expected that the church can arise until the Bible is more thoroughly studied; not read only, but studied. How many who have begun to taste its sweets, come to a halt, having attained to a knowledge of some of its cardinal doctrines, they rest here, having, as they suppose, the work nearly accomplished.
Let us consider the effect of a single mistake in interpreting scripture. Paul says to Timothy, "Them that sin, rebuke before all, that others also may fear." This was addressed to Timothy, an elder, a man full of wisdom and the Holy Ghost, a man of judgment and discretion, not to the whole church. Christ has given the rule for the church, that an individual having anything against another, repair to him in private, and then and there settle their differences; and then when that fails, to follow out the course laid down in Matt. xviii, 15–18.
What a broad ground there is for Satan to work upon with such a perversion of scripture. If each individual member may cast his private grudges out in the social meeting (often they cannot be understood except by the contending parties), and thus poison the atmosphere and invite hell itself to partake of the feast spread only for the children of God, gladly does Satan enter in, and who is able (until scripture is rightly divided) to cast him out?
On the contrary, if my brother sees that I come to him in private with my complaints, and in public he sees that I spare his delicate feelings by forbearing to make public his fault, and all my brethren understand that it is the edification of all which we seek, he will appreciate the kindness, and his heart is won to me.
But the Timothy must often make public those sins which call for public rebuke, and so fulfill the word. Let us therefore fear God and do his will.
CHEAP RELIGION.—Those who expect a cheap religion have made a sad mistake in embracing the third angel's message; for the time is soon coming when the line will be drawn so closely between the church and its foes, that property will be unavailable, and the rich, and all who have withheld their Lord's dues, will sigh in vain for an opportunity to perform neglected duties; duties which, had they been cheerfully performed, would have been a lasting treasure in heaven.
The popular churches make so much of money, and salaries, &c., that some are in danger of falling into the error of supposing that in this work all such calls for money are a departure from the faith, and a step backwards toward the Babylon we have left behind. Nothing can be more fatal to the best interests of the individual than such an error. It is contrary to scripture and reason. Examine the Bible from first to last, and all is full with the sentiments of liberality and self-sacrifice.
LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
By Ellet Joseph Waggoner
The Bible everywhere abounds with lessons of instruction on this subject. It seems to have held a very prominent place in the mind of the apostle Peter. "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently." To my mind there are three important features to this text: 1. We are required to purify our souls in obeying the truth. 2. This cannot be done without the aid of the Spirit. 3. Our love for each other must be unfeigned and fervent. Among all the evidences that could be gathered from the Scriptures that they had passed from death unto life the beloved disciple chose this: "We know," said he, "that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren." And there was never seen a truly converted soul but gave evidence of this fact.
Again he says, For he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? Here is the test. Our love to God is evinced by our love to each other. O, for the love of God shed abroad in the heart that it may flow forth in all our words, and tender compassion accompany every act of life. What are we doing? We are talking about the coming of the Lord; talking about overcoming, and getting ready for translation; but what are the evidences in our lives that we are making any progress in this work? What have we added to our faith in the third angel's message? Is it patience? godliness? brotherly kindness and charity? In short, may all men know that we are the disciples of Jesus because we have love one for another? If not, we have nothing but the theory of the truth; and it can no more save us than it could the Jews who were once the favored people of God, but the Saviour plainly taught the disciples that unless their righteousness should exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees they could in no case enter the kingdom of heaven.
I do believe there is power enough in the present truth to purify our souls and cause the fruit of the Spirit to appear in our lives; which is, love, joy, peace, long-suffering and kindness; that is, if we obey it through the aid of the Spirit. Vain is the attempt to keep the commandments while the heart is yet carnal. Here is the grand difficulty. We have tried to bend the law of God to the carnal mind, when we are plainly taught that it "is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." First cleanse the fountain, then the streams will be pure, no matter in which direction they may flow, whether toward God or man.
Blessed privilege! to have Jesus come into the heart and take up his abode there, and daily cheer us with the blessed hope of immortality in a little while without tasting death. Who does not crave such a privilege? Nothing short will satisfy the longing desires of my heart. I call to remembrance former days, and I am humbled before the Lord, because of the little progress that I have made, and the language of my heart is, Thy face, O God, will I seek.
E. J. WAGGONER.
Battle Creek, Mich.
The Spirit of Adoption
As long as we feel the presence of God to be a terror, as long as we feel, "Thou God seest me," to be the same as the eye of a keeper upon a maniac, or of a task-master upon a miserable slave, we have not the Spirit of adoption; for as soon as we feel the Spirit of adoption, we feel every sound of the footfall of God to be music in our ears; the sweep of his glory, as it passes by, we regard, not as the lightning-flash, that crushes and consumes, but the sweet sunshine that warms, cheers, and makes happy.
Prayers full of deprecations of God's wrath are not most scriptural. We ought to pray less as criminals in the dock, deprecating the vengeance of the judge, and more as sons, disobedient sons, sinful sons, but still sons asking their fatherly blessing and forgiveness.
THE GREAT QUESTION.
For another illustration of this, let us pass to the world of Commerce. We see there a successful child of fortune. The winds of heaven have wafted his ships, richly laden, to the nearest and the most distant parts of the habitable earth. The waves and rocks of the ocean, as if in league with the winds, have reserved their desolating power for other barks, and his have passed speedily and safely on to their destined ports. Times, and seasons, and circumstances have combined with wind and sea to prosper every voyage, and send home his mariners rejoicing in the pride of his gains.
Yea, rather, "God hath given the man power to get wealth." He has gained his heart's desire. He has laid up "gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks." He is enriched in all manner of store. His name as proprietor is known on land and ocean, and in the costly dwellings of the goodly city. He has become as it were a nation's banker, and his name will go down to posterity as one of the rich men of the earth. But what shall these things profit him when he comes to die, if he be not also rich toward God?
We would derogate nothing from the benefits which these naturally confer. We press not now the divine declaration that a "man's life consisteth not in the abundance which he hath." Let us admit that the above condition gives to the man power, and respectibility, and influence over others—that it removes from him all the inconveniences attendant on restricted means, and supplies all his bodily wants. Yet how long is he to enjoy those blessings? Will not a few years bring them to an end? Will not the grave soon make him as lowly and as poor as any other man? Then what will his possessions avail to his soul, when it comes before the tribunal of a God requiring righteousness? To say that one word of pardon, one smile of acceptance from his Judge would then be worth more to him than his former gains, would be a sentiment too obvious to require utterance. And yet, for these same gains, the man has voluntarily forfeited every good, and every mercy, which this Almighty Judge has power to confer upon him.
If these things be so, does it not become men who are striving to lay up treasures here, but none in heaven, to look well to the final issue, before it is too late to consider it? Yes, in the midst of all their cares and labors they will, if wise, regard the ultimate result. They will often put to their judgment and conscience that great, that moving question, which lies at the foundation of all pecuniary enterprises—"What will it profit me?" and then, applying this question to that world which concerns them most, they will stop and inquire, What am I likely to gain by living on as I have lived? If I pursue my present course with that exclusive and absorbing interest as heretofore, shutting out Christ and his religion from all my time and thoughts, what is to be the end of it? As God's word is true my soul is lost.
Besides, do we not learn from the Scriptures that the time for repentance which is most pleasing unto God, and which he even calls his "accepted time," is not the future, but always the present? "Behold now [saith he] is the accepted time: behold now is the day of salvation." Why should we not be of the same mind with our Maker, and let his chosen time be ours? The moment we bring our wills to this point, there breaks upon us the dawn of a glorious destiny. We then have one thing which ought greatly to cheer and encourage us. We have the certain prospect of success, and final acceptance. If in answer to his own invitation we become co-workers with God, and thus link our own weakness to his strength, we cannot fail. We shall become accepted through Christ—accepted for his sake "who loved us, and gave himself for us." We shall no longer tread the journey of life with the loneliness of an alien's heart, feeling that we have no friend in heaven. We shall receive the spirit of adoption. We shall be made the sons of God, and heirs of that kingdom which he hath prepared for all who love him. This is the highest reward we can conceive of. More than this tho79heart of man cannot crave. What insane delusion then, must possess an otherwise rational man, to risk the loss of so great a blessing? "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"—Western Episcopalian.
THE PILGRIM'S COUNSELOR.
By E. W. Darling
I HEAR a voice, a voice within me speak,
Dost thou, O pilgrim, love thy Saviour well?
Hast thou aught with thee thou wouldst not forsake
To gain his favor or to do his will?
Do earthly friends entice thy steps astray?
Do earthly hopes excite a warm desire?
Do earthly treasures steal thy heart away?
Or earthly passions kindle up strange fire?
Oh pilgrim, let not earthly things allure
Thy heart's affection from thy God above;
But keep the temple of his Spirit pure,
And thou shalt know in truth that God is love.
Then murmur not though all the great of earth,
And those that walk in pomp and earthly power
Despise thy name, despise thy humble birth,
And scorn with thee to spend a fleeting hour.
Oh better far, more worthy of thy choice,
The sweet communion that He deigns to hold
With those that meekly listen to his voice,
Than all the wisdom man has ever told.
If thou canst gain His favor here below
By walking in the way of righteousness,
O blessed portion thine; for thou shalt go
To spend an endless life in realms of bliss.
E. W. DARLING.
Waukon, Iowa.
Sr. Lee’s Conversion from Spiritualism
By Mary Lee
From Sr. Lee.
DEAR BRO. WHITE: For the first time I would say a few words to the brethren and sisters through the Review, and tell what the Lord has done for me. I was brought up according to the strict rules of the Church of England, and for seven years was in the families of learned men and preachers of that denomination. I often wanted to know something of Jesus. The Bible was a dry book to me, and seemed full of mystery, confusion and contradiction from the manner in which it was preached and practiced.
I came to this country in 1850, when Spiritualism was rising. I thought it all a humbug and was sorry to see so many dear friends carried away with it. I was struck down with sickness and sorrow. I lost a dear companion and protector. In the midst of my affliction the enemy came with his sympathy, and I received it, and became a firm believer in his delusion until the Lord in his tender mercy sent his messenger, Bro. Phelps, this way to preach the last call of mercy to us here. What love and harmony and beauty I then saw in that precious book, the Bible. What precious promises to those that believe! What a stream of light fell on my hitherto bedarkened soul! I saw that the Lord had snatched me from the brink of destruction. I had been holding communion with the spirits of devils in darkness. I then saw why my Saviour died. What a plan of salvation! How gladly I received it! I was made to cry aloud, Glory to God in the highest, and at this moment I feel to say, Bless the *Lord O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name; for he has done much for me and mine. He has given me my present companion to join with me in the new song he has put in my mouth. I do not know how to express my feelings for such mercy to such an unworthy worm of the dust. O that I could be more faithful! that I could walk closer to my pattern! O that the Lord may cleanse me from the last remains of sin, for I want to be meet for the Master's cause.
I feel very thankful for the Review. It has been a great help to me. How we love to hear from our brethren and sisters that we have never seen, but expect to see, if faithful, at the marriage supper of the Lamb. My heart is drawn out in love to the messengers, and to all those that have borne the burden through battles sore. We feel to weep over the trials some have to pass through. May the Lord help us to bear each other's burdens.
Myself and companion love Sr. White's teaching. We feel that it is good for our instruction; and we hope to have the privilege of seeing her and yourself in our vicinity soon. We are young in the cause, but we have a desire to grow strong. The church here have prayer-meetings twice a week, and have commenced Sabbath School and meetings on Sabbath-days. The Lord blesses us in so doing.
Our hearts were pained at the step Bro. Phelps has taken; for we love the cause and we love Bro. Phelps; and if we could say one word of good cheer to him we would do it. He has our heart-felt sympathy for his labor of love amongst us here. He labored day and night to spread the truth, and he has passed through deep trials with us, and borne our burdens. He truly is near and dear to us. We are his children; he has begotten us through the gospel. Words cannot describe our feelings for him. O that the Lord may direct him in these perilous times, and lift up the light of his countenance upon him, that he may see his way plain.
I want to be on the side of truth, to take the word for my guide, and to get on the whole armor so that I may stand against the wiles and delusions of the enemy. Pray for your unworthy sister, and not for me only; our whole church desires the prayers of the faithful, that we may do every known duty and come up to our high privilege, and live wholly devoted to the Lord.
Your unworthy sister,
MARY LEE.
Sandusky, Sauk Co., Wis.
P. LIGHTNER
By P. Lightner
From Sister Lightner.
DEAR BRO. WHITE: I would say to those of like precious faith that I am still striving for the goodly land. Although my progress is very slow, and I have to mourn over my many short-comings, yet I do feel to praise the Lord that he has not forsaken me. It is something over two years since I first commenced to try, understandingly, to keep all the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Since that time I have had some sore temptations and trials; but I am not tired of the way. I feel that there is great reward in keeping the commandments. I want to be an overcomer and stand on mount Zion. I want to enter in through the gates into the city.
The Review is a welcome visitor to me. It is all the preacher we have here, except our Bible, which we can truly say is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. O that we may have grace to live out the truths contained in that blessed book. I ask an interest in the prayers of all the saints, that I may be able to bear the cross, despise the shame, and at last be accounted worthy to walk the streets of the New Jerusalem.
Yours looking for the blessed hope and a glorious immortality when Jesus comes.
P. LIGHTNER
Russiasille, Ind.
LETTERS.
By Omira M. Gray
“Then they that feared the Lord, spake often one to another.”
From Sr. Gray.
DEAR BRO. WHITE: With your permission I wish to make known through the Review to the saints scattered abroad, the position I now occupy with regard to the truths you advocate. I am, through the mercy of God and the influence of those whom I believe to be his approved messengers, standing upon the broad platform of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. One year ago last June I stood identified with the Baptist church at Marion, having united with that church with a sincere desire to do the will of God, and to aid in the promotion of the cause of our Redeemer. I had watched the progress of that and the other denominations with which I was surrounded with the deepest interest; and while I had hoped to see the church become a light to the world, and longed to see it shine forth in all its primitive simplicity and purity, with regret I saw that it was becoming more and more conformed to the world; seeking popularity, nourishing pride, formality, and everything of this kind which has a tendency to depress the spirits of those who would rise, and to hinder the progress of the religion of Jesus. Such a spiritual dearth pervaded the church that it seemed that its highest aspiration was the honor of this world. My heart was made sad when I saw the desolation of Zion; and when the Lord sent Bro. Cornell to our town, and he told us plainly of these things, it needed not to be proved: the experience of every true christian must have borne witness to its truth. And while he taught from the fulfillment of prophecy that we were in the last days, that the time of the second advent of our Saviour was near, he also taught us plainly from the sacred Scriptures that we were not keeping all the commandments of God. He demonstrated clearly to our minds, that each of the ten commandments given on mount Sinai is now binding on all men, and proved his position by such pointed testimony, that the whole clergy of Marion could not gainsay it. It is needless for me to say that the whole town and country were stirred up: for the result of that meeting is generally known, and the church in Marion, standing as a light to the world, will, I trust, ever remain a living monument of the great power of the glorious truth of God.
Having been one of that favored company who was enabled to see the light of present truth, I am, after one year's experience, still rejoicing that I have found a people who are striving to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus,—a people who seek not the honor of this world, but whose chief object is the salvation of souls and the advancement of the cause of our divine Lord. I think myself happy to be numbered with such a people. O what gratitude do we not owe to God! We have been encouraged by the way, and our hearts have been made to rejoice at times, through the labors of Bro. B. F. Snook, and other messengers of the cross. Our course is still onward.
We feel the necessity of entire consecration to God, and are determined, the grace of God assisting us, to try to have on the whole armor, that we may be prepared for the conflict of life, and for the final test.