VII. Man's moral and spiritual well-being requires just what the Sabbath precept provides, and hence it is moral.
Here, again, a wide field opens before us; but our space will allow us to explore but a part of it and that hastily. What are the proper uses of the Sabbath day? Simply the cessation of labor is not all. The day is to be employed in meditating upon God's works, in talking of his greatness and mercies, in studying his word, in going to the house of God for singing, prayer, Sabbath school, social meeting, hearing the word of God, and like exercises.
Deprive society wholly of this weekly rest day; abolish your Sabbath schools, prayer meetings, and regular sermons; let work of all kinds and classes go right on seven days in the week, and what would society be? If you want to know, go to heathen lands where they have entirely forgotten the Sabbath, and behold their ignorance, superstition, degradation and crime. That is just what would follow in any nation by the abolition of the weekly rest day. We are social beings, and one of the greatest means of improvement is social intercourse. Take the child that is kept away from Sabbath schools and Sabbath gatherings, and is kept at work in the same clothes seven days in the week, and he soon loses respect for himself, feels degraded in his own estimation, and his moral sensibilities become blunted. There are thousands of such examples as this. On the other hand it does have a refining and elevating influence upon children and youth to leave their ordinary work once a week, wash up, put on their best clothes, and assemble with others for social and religious purposes. Nothing else can take the place of this. All other means combined scarcely equal in importance the influence of the Sabbath for this purpose.
But take it from a religious point of view, and how inestimable are the benefits and advantages of the Sabbath day. To properly estimate this, we must suppose the Sabbath to be entirely laid aside and no fixed rest day to be regarded by society. What a condition of things we would then behold! We should have no Sabbath schools, no Bible classes, no regular days for meetings or divine worship, no day of rest from constant, wearisome toil; but everywhere shops and stores would be open, mills running, farm work going on, and, in short, one continued tide of work, work, work, business and worldliness. The anxiety of the employer to make the most out of his capital, and of the laborer to make the most of his time, crowds out all rest days. If the poor laborer wishes to rest, his employer will not allow him to do so. If one house closes the other will take its custom. And so all rush on in hot haste after the world, while God and man's spiritual wants are forgotten!
What could a minister accomplish with such a state of things? How long would the members retain their spirituality? How long would the church survive under such circumstances? Compelled to labor against disadvantages, it would not have been possible for the church to have accomplished one-hundredth part of what it has,—if, indeed, it could have survived at all. By taking advantage of a weekly day of rest when the people have leisure to come together to hear the word of God, the church has gained its strongest hold upon the people.
In wide contrast with the sad state of things which would result if the no-Sabbath theory were carried out, and the church and the world were entirely deprived of a weekly rest day, let us suppose for a moment that the Sabbath precept was carefully kept by all the world. What a delightful, what a heavenly sight we should behold. For six days all men are busily and honestly employed in their secular affairs; but now God's holy rest day comes. All business is suspended; all labor is laid aside; every shop and store is closed; the mills are stopped; the cars and the boats stand still; all toil on the farm is suspended; the beasts are allowed quietly to repose in the barn or in the field; all around the world everything is quiet and still; the children and youth, cleanly and neatly dressed, are wending their way to the Sabbath school, where they will learn about their Creator, their Saviour and a pure and holy life. The people gather at the house of God, where solemn prayer, and sweet songs of praise are offered to the Lord. The elevating truths of our holy religion are set forth before them. This would be a scene for angels to behold with delight. Heaven would come near to earth, and man would be lifted up into a higher and purer life.
Of the influence of Sabbath observance, an eminent author says:
"Its calm and heavenly stillness, when, after six days of labor and amusement, the activity, bustle, noise and tumult of worldliness die away, speaks of God. And as the Sabbath sun rises in his glory, and no man goes forth to labor, and all creation seems to listen, there is not an obedient child in the world, who knows the reason of this, and has been taught his duty, who does not feel more than he did before the Omnipresence of Jehovah; and have a more operative conviction that he sees everything, and hears everything, and knows everything, and is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity. Earth becomes like the house of God, and the Sabbath like the gate of Heaven. It seems to raise a ladder like that of Jacob, and to show him angels ascending and descending upon it. He can hardly forbear to say, 'Surely, God is in this place.' For him, in keeping the Sabbath, so to play the fool as to say even in heart, 'no God,' is next to impossible." Sabbath Manual, pp. 172, 173.
Reader, if the Sabbath day is not a moral institution, then God has never given one to man. It is one of the relics of Eden, a golden link that binds us to the throne of the Creator, and brings Heaven's blessings near to man. May it long remain, with all its hallowed and dear associations.
We grant, says one, that all the above-named evils would follow if there was no regular day for rest and public meeting; but the church or society could agree and fix upon some day for this purpose without a definite appointment by the Lord. Indeed! This admission is the strongest argument in favor of our position; for it admits that the necessity for a Sabbath day is so great that men would appoint one even if God had neglected to do so!! What does this show? Just what I am trying to prove, viz., that God in giving us a Sabbath day simply met a generally felt and acknowledged want of mankind, which grows right out of their nature physically, mentally, morally and spiritually. It shows that the Sabbath rests upon the same basis as all other moral precepts do, viz., the wants of man's nature.
It is a noticeable fact that our opponents who contend that there is no Sabbath day at all, do still keep a weekly rest day and use it for social and religious purposes. In this we see an illustration of the old proverb, "Nature will out." Why do they do this? The fact is that nature is stronger than their theories and will assert itself.
Another says, We agree that one-seventh part of time should be set aside as sacred to God; but it makes no difference which day it is, provided all are united upon it, which is the important idea. Here, again, they unwittingly admit all that we claim. They admit that it is a moral duty of man to devote one day in seven to the service of God. Thus they give it a moral basis,—just that for which we are contending! Again, they strongly urge the great importance of all uniting to keep the same day. They dwell upon the inconvenience to society, where one keeps one day and another some other day, and so on;—how this interferes with business; how each one annoys the other; how it breaks up society, &c. Thus they readily name a long list of evils which follow where men keep different days for the Sabbath.
Do they not see that these very facts overthrow their own position? They maintain that it is no matter which day you keep provided you keep one day in seven, and that every man has the liberty to choose for himself. Then they turn square about and show how very important it is that all keep the same day! Why, then, do they advocate the very principle which, if carried out, would produce the very division, discord and confusion which they deprecate so much? Did not the Lord have as much wisdom as man? Did he not know that it was important that all should keep the same day? Did he not see that, if he left it to every man to choose what day he would keep, confusion would inevitably follow, as all men would not be likely to choose the same day? Is God so unwise as to leave his laws in this slack manner? Is this not charging God with folly? What is gained to God or man by leaving every man thus to choose what day he will keep? The only way that union could be secured in observing the Sabbath, would be for the Lord himself to designate the definite day which all must keep. Then all would keep the same day, and all confusion would be avoided. We say, then, that reason and the nature of things teach us that if God should give man a Sabbath day at all, it should be a definite day, selected and appointed by God himself. That this is just what God has done in the Sabbath precept we will now show.
"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work. But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates. 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. 20: 8-11.
Notice this language carefully, and see if it does not designate a definite, particular day, not merely one day in seven, or simply one-seventh part of our time. The Lord says, Remember the Sabbath day. What are we to remember? Not the Sabbath but the Sabbath day, or rather the day of the Sabbath. The day, then, is the important thing which we are to remember. The Lord does not say that we shall remember a Sabbath day, some Sabbath day, any Sabbath day, one day out of seven, or one seventh part of our time. No such indefinite language is used; but it is just as definite as language can make it. "Remember the Sabbath day." The definite article the is used. If we wish to point out a definite, particular man, we say, The man. Otherwise we say, A man. So, here, the Lord says, The day, the Sabbath day. But which day is that? He makes it still more definite. "Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work, but the seventh day," &c. "Well", says one, "that is just what we do. We work six days and rest on the seventh, and this is all that the commandment requires, viz., that we should rest one day after six days of work, no matter where we begin to count." But look a little farther. The Lord does not leave it in that way. Which seventh day we shall rest upon is pointed out in the most definite manner. "But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God, in it thou shalt not do any work," &c. Here, again, we notice the Lord does not say a seventh day, or one day in seven, or one seventh part of time, nor is any such indefinite expression used. It is the seventh day.
But now comes the clincher, which settles beyond all doubt, just which seventh day we must rest upon. "But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God, in it," &c. Which seventh day are we to keep? It is that one which is the Sabbath day, or rest day of the Lord. Sabbath signifies rest. Sabbath day, rest day. The Sabbath day of the Lord, the rest day of the Lord, or the day upon which the Lord rested. Now which day is this? Let the same commandment tell us. "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."
The Lord worked the first, second, and so on for the first six days of the week. He did not rest upon either of these days. Hence neither of them is his rest, or Sabbath, day. Then he did rest upon the seventh day, the last day of the week. Nor was this simply one-seventh part of time, and no day in particular. It was a definite day, the last day of the week, and no other. When the Lord had rested upon the seventh day, that day thus became distinguished above all other days as the rest day, or Sabbath day, of the Lord, as Sabbath signifies rest.
To illustrate: Washington was born on the 22nd of February. That day thus became distinguished as Washington's birth-day. The day of the month, and of the year upon which he was born, and no other day, was, is, and always must be Washington's birthday. Could he change his birthday from the day upon which he was born to one upon which he was not born? Certainly not. Just so the Lord's rest day must come upon the very day of the week upon which he did rest. The commandment requires us to keep, not our rest day, nor the Jews' rest day, nor the Christian's rest day, but to keep the Lord's rest day. Which day is that? Every honest man must answer that it is the day upon which God rested.
Notice now how plainly the Lord has stated this. "Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God, in it thou shalt not do any work." The seventh day, then, upon which we must rest, must be the one upon which God rested; else it would not be the Lord's rest day. The commandment, therefore, was given to guard God's rest day and not some other day which any man's fancy might choose. Did God bless and hallow a day? Yes. Which was it? His own rest day, for so it says. Are there other days upon which God did not rest? Certainly. Has the Lord sanctified any of these? No, indeed. Thus we might go on to show in the plainest manner that the language of the fourth commandment in the most distinct and definite manner designates as the Sabbath day, not simply one day in seven, but the very day upon which the Creator himself did rest, the seventh and last day of the week. This view of the case is consistent. It is eminently reasonable that God should require men to reverence his own hallowed rest day; and farther, as we have already shown, in requiring man to keep a rest day, it is unreasonable to believe that God should leave it to every man to select which day he will keep, as no benefit would accrue to any one by such an arrangement; but great confusion and inconvenience must of necessity be brought upon all by such a course. God could easily designate a definite day which all must keep; and thus harmony would be secured. And this is just what the Lord has done in the fourth commandment.
D. M. CANRIGHT.
Fine Manners.
By The Christian Remembrancer
It would be vain as it would be ungracious to combat against the favorable influence of charm of manner. Engaging manners and bright conversation must and will always sway those brought under their attraction, and it is right that they should do so, for they are good qualities, though they may be only natural ones; and the enjoyment of them in others may be accepted as one of the amenities of our lot, if we meet with them in the order of Providence, and do not go out of our way to put ourselves under their influence.
What a catalogue of social virtues it needs to make a man generally beloved—sweetness of temper, good-nature, a yielding will, and a ready compliance; a toleration of others' infirmities, and forbearance under small slights and hindrances; sympathy with others' modes of feeling, and delicacy of adaptation.
Many a hero—we may add, many a saint, is without them, and makes his great cause to suffer from their absence. The reward of his labors is sought in a higher sphere, not in the praise of men; and his greatest admirers have often to become his apologists in the minor details of deportment and manner, conscious that he who would sacrifice his life for the sake of religion, or for the good of his fellow-men, yet failed to make himself agreeable to his personal acquaintances. — The Christian Remembrancer.
Among the Nations.
LIGHT IN NEW ZEALAND.
ABOUT one year since a sister who works in the Review Office sent the Review and Herald and some tracts to a friend in New Zealand. The following is from a letter which she has recently received from her friend, which shows that the Sabbath question is being agitated in New Zealand:—
"I have a friend in the South of New Zealand who has recently left these parts, and has read your Review, &c., and is anxious that I should continue to send them to him. I should like my brother to have mine when he comes up. I am sure my friend would remit any expense it might be to you to send two copies of the Review. If I was sure he was likely to remain in one place I would send you his address; but he is an interpreter in the House of Lords, and only remains in Wellington three months in the year. He will pay the postage from here. I believe if he was in America he would become a true convert to your faith. I noticed the Sabbath question was agitated in our Church Gazette last week. I believe many are pondering the question. Our bishop has been challenged to answer the Sabbath question. He did so in the paper last week, but made a very, very lame attempt. I am going to mail him some of your pamphlets on the subject, 'Who Changed the Sabbath,' 'The Seventh Part of Time,' 'God's Answers to Man's Excuses,' and the 'Seven Reasons for Sunday-keeping Examined.' And as I shall send them anonymously I shall not get them back. Could you send me another copy of each? as I value them. Your interpretations of prophecy I am convinced are correct. I read many of them with widely different views from those I once entertained."
NEWS FROM NORWAY.
A sister writes from Chicago, as follows:—
"It gives me great pleasure to receive the visitors of our dear paper, Advent Tidende, from month to month. Each number, it seems to me, is better than the previous one. I would not be without it, even if it should cost $10.00 a year. On the other hand, I can readily do without the articles of luxury, which it speaks against, such as jewels, artificial flowers and fashionable articles of dress, coffee, tea, etc.
"May the Lord continue to bless our dear paper, and all those who are employed in preparing it. May it bring light to many who are now sitting in darkness, and, instead of following the laws and doctrines of men, may they receive 'the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.' I will try to get as many new subscribers for the paper as I can.
"We have received a letter from sister Reirsen in Norway. Among other things, she says: 'You may believe, dear sister, that there are many voices calling upon us, and you may rejoice that you are among a people who love God and his commandments. My husband and I wish that God would either let us go over to the dear friends across the ocean, or that he would in his providence send somebody from America to preach the third angel's message, which is now sounding among you, as there are many who are longing to hear the last message of mercy. We have commenced to keep the Sabbath of the Lord, and rejoice in the soon coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The people here have become interested in reading the Advent Tidende, and as they cannot resist the truth, we hope that some will receive it, and be prepared for the glorious coming of Jesus, and thus have a home in his everlasting kingdom.'
R. LORENZEN."
November, 1874.
THE WORK IN SWEDEN.
We hail with joy the interesting news from our fatherland that the people are becoming awakened to the proclamation of the third angel's message. A Baptist sister writes:
"What astonishing truths! They are light in darkness. Can I and my friends have the Harold another year? Tell us the directions, that we may send the money for it."
A Baptist preacher who has recently embraced the Sabbath, and who is spending his life in the Lord's service, writes:—
"The Harold has reached me, and I have read it. It is astonishing that such truths have been so long concealed, while one after another has searched the Scriptures and claimed to have noticed the law of God and the faith of Jesus. But when even the truth shines in their face, many still close their eyes to it. I preach every Sabbath evening, and where we are assembled there is a full house; and from all sides is the call made, 'Come over and help us!' The country is opening; the harvest is great; workers are few."
CHARLES LEE.
LINCOLNSHIRE, ENGLAND.
A sister living in Tuscola Co., Mich., has been sending the Review and other publications to England. The following is from a letter written by her:—
"I must tell you the good news which I received from home. Father is so much better as to be able to write me a letter. He and his wife are keeping the Sabbath. They spend the day in reading the Review, our tracts, and the word of God. The minister who preaches where they attend meeting Sunday morning, is very much interested in reading our publications, and those to whom I send the Review like it very much. This to me is good news indeed. I think that my efforts have not been fruitless, and I am encouraged to still try to spread the truth."
SABBATH-KEEPERS IN SCOTLAND.
THE following is from a letter written to the Vigilant Missionary Society in New England from a sister in Scotland:
"I thank you sincerely for your very kind and sympathizing letter. It gives me great pleasure, though coming from one I have never seen and can scarcely ever hope to see in this life. Sympathy is always welcome whether coming from friends who are near or those who are far off. I fully appreciate the spirit in which you endeavor to direct my thoughts to the hope of future happiness amid the trials of this present life."
In speaking of the Sabbath Conference held at her house when Bro. Andrews was there, she says: "I suppose you have already heard of the Sabbath Conference held at our house on the 8th of October. You will doubtless be pleased to hear that we have held prayer-meetings here every Sabbath evening since then. These meetings are usually attended by six persons, including my mother and myself. Five of us have decided that the seventh day is the true Sabbath. The sixth I believe is convinced, being regular in attending the meetings. I feel much obliged to you for your kindness in sending me tracts. But I am sorry to say they have not reached me."
DAKOTAH TERRITORY.
THE light of present truth was first spread here, by reading the Advent Tidende nearly two years ago. Several families commenced to observe the Lord's Sabbath, but after a few months a worldly spirit crept in, and through discouragements, all but one family lost their interest in the truth, and finally gave up. This family continually called for ministerial help. Finally, the Lord sent our brother John F. Hanson to teach the truth in our midst, and the cause has moved steadily forward since that time, for which I bless the Lord.
Since going forward in the ordinance of baptism I have felt the sweet blessing of the Lord continually, and my peace has been like a river.
There are now four families of us who have covenanted together to keep God's holy commandments, and we feel his blessing each week in our Sabbath meetings, which continue full of interest to us who want to learn the way of truth more perfectly.
We feel the greatest gratitude to God for the labor received from his servant; and have it in our hearts to make payment for the same; and would do so if the grasshoppers had not left us so destitute, they having taken nearly all our crops, leaving us barely enough for bread and seed; but we hope by the blessing of the Lord, to be able in the future to help in his cause. In behalf of the friends.
O. F. FREDERIKSON.
The following is a letter received since my visit:—
DEAR BRO. HANSON: We thought it would cheer you to hear from us in regard to the cause here. Our interest in the truth is unabated, but on the other hand we feel very much encouraged. One more family has embraced the truth since you left us, making five families in all. We are also trying to spread the truth among others, and two families have commenced to read our publications. We pray that it may result in good. We feel the need of more tracts, in both the Danish and English languages. If you can send us some, please do so, and we will try to place them in the hands of those who will read them.
You remember that when you left us, I could not see the force of all you told us as you seemed to see it, but now I am fully persuaded that this is the last message of mercy to the world. Also in regard to man's nature, I now see the beauty and harmony of the Scriptures on that point. In fact, I am in full sympathy with all the views you presented, and desire to unite myself with the people of God. We hope the time is not far distant when you can again be permitted to come and minister to our needs.
Yours in hope,
N. JENSON.
In addition to the above I would say that while in Dacotah, I found an earnest desire with the people to hear the truth, especially among the Americans, and was frequently requested to speak in the English language. I consider it a fine field of labor in that tongue, and would suggest the propriety of sending help to that part of the wide harvest field.
JOHN F. HANSON.
Napa and Vallejo.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
DEC. 24, I went to Napa and held meetings over Sabbath and first-day. I spoke six times, celebrated the ordinances, and had one business meeting. They have a neat house of worship here and it is kept in good order, as every house ought to be.
After the first meeting, the friends turned out well. On the Sabbath we had a goodly number out. The Sabbath school numbered that day seventy six. I believe that, in numbers, it is the third school in the city. Bro. Bartlett makes a good superintendent. I wish there was more interest in the parents to provide books, &c., to make the school interesting. Two united with the church. A good interest is manifested in the missionary work. There is not much outside interest here at present. A few attended who seemed interested.
I stopped one evening at Vallejo and held a meeting at Bro. Whitney's. All were out except one aged brother, and were feeling strong and hopeful in the truth. Elder G. made a great effort to draw them away from the truth, but utterly failed, as not one was in the least shaken, but rather confirmed. So it has been every place he has visited, so far as I can learn. Every one here takes right hold of the work in good earnest. Their s. b. is promptly paid up, and all joined the Missionary Society.
I then came to our good meeting at Oakland.
D. M. CANRIGHT.
The Christian's Hope.
By S. E. A.
OH! what a glorious hope. Dear brethren and sisters, if we have this hope ever before us we can endure all things, suffer all things. It is this hope that buoys us up when sorrow and afflictions, which fill the heart with woe, come upon us. It is the hope of eternal life, of everlasting peace, that cheers us onward through this dark world of sin and sorrow, to seek salvation through the atoning blood of Jesus. Oh!101it fills my heart with joy unspeakable to think that I may at last be free from sin, free from all temptation to do evil, and be permitted to gaze on the dear face of my blessed Saviour.
I hope through the help of God to be able to point some poor sorrowing heart to the Christian's hope, Jesus Christ the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world. Thank God for the Christian's hope. S. E. A.
The Cause in the East.
By John Norton Loughborough
THE first number of Vol. 45 of the Review, has come to hand, filled, as usual, with good matter, and with cheering reports of progress in all parts of the field ; in Iowa, Wisconsin, Kansas, Nebraska and Kentucky, we see souls are taking their stand for the Sabbath. We are much interested in the report of Bro. Osborne from Green Co., Kentucky, where a score of prominent citizens have embraced the truth. It has been a battle to get the work started there, but, like other fields, persevering efforts are receiving their reward. Success to the vigilant.
J. N. L.
Meetings in Oakland.
By John Norton Loughborough; Dudley Marvin Canright
THE Conference Committee decided at the time of the State quarterly meeting that it was best to give another course of lectures in Oakland. Accordingly, 5,000 bills were circulated, stirring notices put in all the dailies, a bulletin board placed in the principal thoroughfare of the town, a large lighted transparency hung evenings in front of the hall, and meetings opened with a good audience on the evening of January 7. Already six lectures have been given. There is good attendance, good interest, and books are taken quite freely, and we look for good results, with God's blessing. Believing in advertising, we put out to-day 5,000 more bills, advertising spiritualism for this evening.
The cause is still onward in San Francisco and vicinity. Two more kept their first Sabbath in San Francisco last Sabbath. They were persons who had heard at the tent and read our books. They thought they would write to their parents in Iowa to see what they thought of it, when, lo! they learned that their parents in Iowa had just heard a course of lectures, and had come out on the truth there. So the truth goes.
Bro. Knud Brossen called last week on a Danish family, in Alameda county, who had read some Danish tracts, talked and prayed with them. They took their stand, and kept last Sabbath for the first.
We had a most interesting baptism in Merritt's lake, Oakland, last Sunday morning. Four candidates, but representing four different nations; one Russian, one German, one Swedish lady, who embraced the truth by reading the Harold and Swedish tracts in Sweden. She moved to San Francisco and married a Swedish brother here. She is now a member of the San Francisco church. She and her husband are sending documents and letters to Sweden. The other candidate was an estimable English sister. After baptism, we joined in singing the verse,
"Let every kindred, every tribe on this terrestrial ball," &c.
God blessed. Praise his name. Thus steadily on the cause advances. J. N. L. & D. M. C.
Quarterly Meeting.
By John Norton Loughborough
The State quarterly meeting, of which we give a business report in another column, was a decided success. It was well attended, not only by our people both sides of the bay, but from other parts. With the important business considered, there were also several discourses given, and a good social meeting was held on the Sabbath. The ordinances were celebrated, near 150 participating. It was a refreshing season, many testifying that it was good for them to be here. The spirit of the Lord impressed our minds with the magnitude and importance of this work, many testified that they felt this as never before, and meant to go home to labor more earnestly for the advancement of truth. The Lord will bless them if they do so. J. N. L.
Biblical Institute.
By Uriah Smith
FROM the editorial columns of the Review, published Dec. 22, we quote concerning the important Biblical Institute then in session at Battle Creek, Mich.:
The lectures of the Biblical Institute course are proving deeply interesting and profitable to a class of about 150. The meetings on the Sabbath were of special interest. After a social meeting, wherein many spirited testimonies were given, Bro. White, in the forenoon, gave a discourse from a large painted chart of the "Way of Life," showing the harmony of the two Testaments, and pointing out the presence of Christ in all the Bible, and that his work is not confined to the present dispensation.
In the afternoon sister White gave one of her most powerful appeals, directed especially to the ministers and those who expect to engage in the ministry, but applicable to all. At the close there was a call made to come forward for prayers, but it was in vain to carry out the design of giving place to those who desired to seek a closer walk with God. The whole house was moved. It was a solemn time. Most of the ministers felt, as they never felt before, the sacredness and the magnitude of the work, and the necessity of purity of heart and life to engage in this work, and be prepared to stand before the Judge. . . . It is the intention to continue to make it a season of revival interest to the close.
Still later.—In the Review of Jan.1, we read: The Biblical Institute, is drawing to a close. Many young men and some men of age, all strong in faith, and most of them strong in body, have spent the time in an earnest review of the evidences of our position. And with the study of the theory has gone a spirit of devotion, and a desire for more spirituality and the power of the truth. This must be a characteristic of that work which is to fit up a people for translation to Heaven. We expect soon to hear from these earnest soldiers, from all parts of the field.
And the end is near. Soon the rest will repay all the weary toil. The warfare is almost over. A little longer the jeers and scoffs of an unbelieving world may fall upon our heads; but soon, in the crown of God's everlasting approbation, they will all be lost and all forgotten.