Earlier text: The State of the DeadPrepare War.
By Uriah Smith
THE directions which the Lord gives by the mouth of his prophet to the nations of the present day, are these: "Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men; let all the men of war draw near; let them come up; beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears." Joel iii, 9, 10. Religious teachers have marked out a very different course from this in which they propose to have the world travel from this time onward. They declare that the swords must and will be beaten into plowshares, and the spears into pruning hooks, and the nations learn war no more. But the world is rushing on in the most utter disregard of the voice and predictions of man, but in the most exact accordance, unconscious though it may be, with the declarations of God's word. As well might men declare that at a certain time this rolling earth will reverse its course and revolve from east to west, as that the nations will deviate from the prophetic commands of the Lord, when the time has come for them to fulfill them. That the prophecy above quoted from Joel is now receiving its fulfillment the following statements, which we find in late numbers of the Scientific American, will show, as far as our own nation is concerned. ANOTHER MONSTER GUN. One of Rodman's fifteen inch guns was successfully cast a few days ago at the Fort-Pitt works in Pittsburgh. This is the third casting made of these guns, and the work will soon be regarded as an every day performance. The process was as follows: The rough casting in the pit weighs about 78,000 pounds, and nearly forty tuns of metal were melted for the purpose in three furnaces. The furnaces were fired about five o'clock, and at eight minutes past ten the first furnace was 'tapped.' A line of troughs or 'runners' had been laid from the furthest furnace some eighty feet, the second furnace about midway joining in, and the two streams, emptying, with that from the first furnace, into a large cauldron at the edge of the pit, from which two streams diverged and, passing around the pit, emptied into the gun on opposite sides of the core barrel. The furnaces were tapped in succession, and nearly all the metal allowed to run out before the next in order was opened. At twenty-four minutes past ten the mold was filled in just sixteen minutes from the opening of the first furnace, showing that the metal must have poured into it, at the rate of nearly two and a half tuns per minute. Think of the above statements for a moment. Think of the vast amount of science that is brought to bear upon the formation of these mighty implements of war. Think of forty tuns of iron being melted and formed into a huge instrument of death, to deal terrible destruction against any opposing thing. Truly the spirit of war does not lack for instruments by which to attain its bloodiest aspirations. The above is spoken of only one gun: below we have an account of the ordering of fifty of nearly the same prodigious size: MORE LARGE GUNS ORDERED. The Pittsburgh Chronicle says:—'We understand that the Navy Department has ordered the casting of fifty 15-inch Dahlgrens at the Fort-Pitt Works, in this city. The draughts for the molds, &c., have been prepared by Captain Dahlgren, and it is understood that the guns will be much shorter and thicker than 15-inch Rodman guns. Most of them will be smooth bored, and are designed for use on board the new vessels, of the Monitor style, and others, whose construction has been already directed by Secretary Welles. These guns will weigh, in the rough, over seventy thousand pounds each, and will carry a ball weighing over three hundred pounds. They will doubtless be ready by the time the vessels for which they are intended are completed.' Another peculiarity of modern warfare consists in the iron plated war vessels. The day of wooden ships of war has gone by. In more senses than one have we reached the age of iron. A description of the process of plating as it is now going forward on the steam frigate Roanoke in the Brooklyn navy-yard, will be interesting and give the reader some idea of the magnitude of the work. None but the present generation would have found itself adequate to such achievements. Swords, plowshares, pruning-hooks, and spears, are scarcely to be mentioned by the side of the huge slabs of iron weighing from two to four tuns each, which are bolted all over these modern floating batteries. We quote again from the Scientific American: "The steam frigate Roanoke, which is now in the Navy Yard at Brooklyn, has been razed, and is being converted into an armor-clad turret war ship. She is to be clothed amidships with thick iron plates, which are to extend about five feet below the water-line; and she will have three great revolving gun turrets on deck, and a powerful iron beak or ram on her bow. This beak resembles a huge axe, and is formed of plates twenty feet long, and four and a half inches thick, thus making nine inches of iron on the front edge. Each of the revolving gun turrets will be twenty feet inside diameter, and the sides will be formed of eleven courses of inch iron plates. These plates are laid over and riveted to one another in such a manner as to 'break joints,' and vertical plates are also bolted to several courses so as to secure the whole in the most rigid and perfect manner. These gun turrets, for the Roanoke, are now being constructed at the Novelty Works, in this city, where the plates for them, likewise those for the armor, are bent to the proper curves. Each plate for a turret is about nine feet in length, by forty inches in width, and an inch in thickness. Two courses of rivet holes are punched out in each, and they are all bent cold in a powerful hydraulic press. The bed plate of the press is of a concave form, and the top block is of a convex form. A plate to be bent is placed upon the concave bed plate of the press, and when properly adjusted, the pump forces up three rams under it, and the plate is reduced to the proper curve against the top block. The pressure to which each plate is submitted, to give it the proper curve, is three and a half million pounds. By this method of bending the turret plates cold, there is perfect uniformity and accuracy secured for the whole. The turrets for the Roanoke will be of a superior character, but only six courses of plates have as yet been laid on two of them." "The bending of the thick plates for the ram, and also for the sides of the frigate is quite a different and difficult operation to perform, compared with those of the gun towers. Each of these plates has to be bent to the proper curve to suit its own particular place on the vessel, and not only the broad side, but the edges also must be bent to suit the particular curves. The bending operation is under the charge of Mr. George Bonniwell, an intelligent young shipwright. All these plates are of hammered iron, and are furnished by several companies, in Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts. When they arrive, they resemble huge strait iron slabs, varying in length from eleven to twenty-two feet, and in breadth, from twenty-two to twenty-four inches, and their average thickness is four and a half inches. One of eleven and a half feet length weighs about 4,240 lbs.; one of twenty-two feet length, for the ram, weighs over four tons. Such masses of iron are difficult to move about, and the operations connected with bending them are necessarily tedious and troublesome; and they require great care and skill to conduct properly. Of course it is impossible to bend such masses of iron cold, hence each plate is first heated to nearly a white heat in a long furnace, shaped somewhat like a baker's oven, with a movable arched cover. The press for bending is quite different from the one used for the turret plates. Outwardly it resembles a long, strong iron screw press, used for pressing woolen cloth. Its top block, or platen, is moved up and down, but its bed is fixed and very solid. A Dudgeon hydraulic jack at each end supports and moves the top block up and down. The bed upon which the heated plate is laid is formed of a series of adjustable bolster blocks, each of which is capable of being set by a screw to any desired hight on either side, and at any desired angle to suit the bend to be given to a plate which is compressed between the descending top-block and the adjustable bed. A plate is first placed in the furnace, and it is then raised to nearly a white heat. The cover of the furnace is now raised by a block and tackle, and the plate is then raised by a powerful crane, secured on a carriage. The heated plate is now lifted, the crane carriage moved back, and the plate swung around and placed in the press, where it is perfectly adjusted to obtain the proper curves. The huge top-block is then forced down, upsetting the great mass of iron into the desired shape. In about half an hour the plate has acquired a permanent set, and it is taken out, ready to have its edges planed, when it is fit for bolting to the frigate. The bolt holes in these plates are all drilled. It requires a large number of men to move such great heavy masses of iron, and from the time a glowing plate is lifted out of the furnace until it is secured in the press, the scene is one of extraordinary activity and excitement, as the plate requires to be placed in the press as expeditiously as possible, before it becomes cool. The metal of these plates appears to be first class; but until within a few days past they were furnished very slowly by the different contractors. The plating of the Roanoke will now proceed with greater rapidity; still she will not be finished for several months to come. We were told that this frigate is expected to obtain a speed of about ten knots per hour." THE IRON FLEET OF THE UNITED STATES.—By the month of November next, the United States will have ready for service fifteen iron-clad war vessels, independently of the Galena, besides a large number of iron-plated river steamers. Truly the mighty men are "waked up;" and not only so, but all the mighty achievements which the science of the present hour is able to accomplish, they are bringing to bear upon the art of war. They not only fulfill the prediction, but it would almost seem that they go beyond anything contemplated in the prophecy. And what is to be the end of these things? After the mighty men are waked up, and the preparations for war made, there follow, in quick succession, the gathering in the valley of Jehoshaphat, the thrusting in of the Lord's avenging sickle, the multitudes in the valley of decision, and the great day of the Lord which closes up the drama of earth. Read the prophecy and prepare for the issue. Overacting.
By A. S. Hutchins
"It is a good thing to be zealously affected always in a good cause;" yet it is possible to have a zeal of God "not according to knowledge." Wisdom is profitable to direct in winning souls to Christ; for he that "wineth souls is wise." "Behold," said the compassionate Redeemer, "I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; be ye therefore wise as serpents and77 harmless as doves." It is deeply to be regretted that there is such a ruling passion for argument with some, who have some knowledge of and love for the truth. In their effort to talk the truth, they often injure rather than advance the cause of God. For want of gentleness and meekness, they sour and prejudice the minds of those they seek to help. Had such persons never been spoken to on the subject of present truth only at the right time and place, and in a Christian manner, ere this perhaps God would have given them "repentance to the acknowledging of the truth." To those who have thus retarded the work of the Lord, we may say, "How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?" Better watch and pray more, talk less, live nearer to God, and let your good works speak. "For so is the will of God, that with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men." 1 Pet. ii, 15. The precious reality of the religion of Jesus, is better told by the blameless life of its possessor, than by a multitude of words. Again, the zealous brother may overact in the house and hours of divine worship. His anxiety to clinch every nail of truth, as the servant of God speaks, may lead him to strike too often. He may confuse the speaker and the congregation. He may trig the wheel on the wrong side, and hinder rather than help on the good work. In one instance David says, "And let all the people say, Amen." To the solemn, heart-felt and meaning "Amen," in its proper place, as the clear, consistent, and harmonious light and truth are brought out of the Bible, we do not object. But when we hear response after response added and multiplied, till one can hardly credit what he knows to be true, in regard to the number in one short discourse, we think it is altogether too much. Here is overacting, in respect to which we may use this proverb: "Too much of one thing is good for nothing." Reporters, Beware!
By R. F. Cottrell
It is said that the most secret plans of the government officers at Washington are known among the rebels before they can be carried into execution. If this is so, it must prove disastrous to the Union cause. This may illustrate the tendency of that indiscretion (to use the mildest term), that reports church matters before investigation, and sets afloat rumors that this brother has done or feels so and so, and that such and such a one has given up, or will soon give up the truth. If one desires evil to come upon the church, he cannot devise a better plan to insure it. But if we desire the good of the church and the cause, let us not be so eager, like one of old, 2 Sam. xviii, 22, 23, to run with tidings before we have any to carry. Is not such a course playing into the hands of the enemy? We are commanded to lay aside "all evil speakings." Can we do this while we report evil, without an absolute necessity for the good of the cause and the church? Beware, brother, sister, lest your course be opposed to that charity that "rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth." If you take no pleasure in bearing evil tidings, wait till the matter is investigated! It is no good thing to desire to be the first to communicate evil tidings. If some one else is the first to tell it, you will not be the loser. Wait—you may have better news to tell. R. F. COTTRELL. Sunday Battles—the Assailants Victorious.
By J. F. Byington
SINCE the defeat of the northern army at Bull Run, it has been said by the advocates of the first day of the week as the Christian Sabbath, that the reason of the defeat was on account of the attack being made by the northern forces on Sunday. Not only has this foolish idea gone the rounds of religious and political periodicals, but individuals use it as an argument in favor of the sacredness of that institution. Not long since a friend used this so-called argument while in conversation on the subject of the Sabbath. And so certain was he that Providence always favors the army which is attacked on Sunday, no matter how wicked and unrighteous its cause, that he reiterated what has so often appeared in print of late, and made the broad statement that history recorded no event of this kind where the assailants were victorious. I could but think at the time how foolish a Sabbath-keeper would appear if he should use a similar argument in defense of the Sabbath of the Lord. And yet, as far as my knowledge extends, Sunday advocates have no better arguments. Every passage of scripture brought forward from the New Testament as having any bearing on the subject, only proves that the Sabbath still existed in the days of the latest Bible writers as a sacred institution, and that the first day of the week was then known as a day of secular business. Therefore Sunday observers and defenders endeavor to solace themselves with such arguments as the above. But for the benefit of my friend, and all others who have been so greatly strengthened in their Sunday-Sabbath belief by these remarkable providences in favor of the institution, I give below five instances in which commanding officers have attacked their enemy on the first day of the week, and gained a complete victory. The battle of Monmouth, N. J., was fought Sunday, June 28th, 1778, an account of which we have in the following words: “On the morning of the 28th, the light-horse of Lafayette advanced against the enemy, but, being briskly charged by Cornwallis and Clinton, was forced to fall back. Lee, surprised by the sudden charge of the enemy, ordered a retreat across a morass in his rear for the purpose of gaining a more favorable position; but part of his troops, mistaking the order, continued to retreat, and Lee was compelled to follow, briskly pursued by the enemy. At this moment, Washington coming up, and both surprised and vexed at observing the retreat, or rather, flight of the troops, addressed Lee with some warmth, and ordered him to rally his troops and oppose the enemy. Stung by the reproaches of his general, Lee made extreme exertions to rally, and, having disposed his troops on more advantageous ground, opposed a powerful check to the enemy, until at length, overpowered by numbers, he was forced to fall back, which he did, however, without any confusion. The main body soon coming up in separate detachments, the battle became general, and was continued until night put an end to the contest. Washington kept his troops under arms during the night, designing to renew the battle on the coming morning; but Clinton, in the mean time, silently drew off his troops, and proceeded rapidly on his route toward New York. The British left on the field of battle about three hundred killed, while the loss of the Americans was less than seventy.”—Willson's History of the United States, pp. 248, 249. The capture of Fort Erie by generals Scott and Ripley, which took place on Sunday, July 3d, 1814, history records as follows: “Early on the morning of the 3d of July, generals Scott and Ripley, at the head of about 3000 men, crossed the Niagara river, and surprised and took possession of Fort Erie without opposition.”—Id., p. 319. Sunday, Aug. 15th, 1813, the following naval engagement took place: “An action between two schooners deserves particular notice, for the desperation and gallantry with which the Americans achieved a victory over a vastly superior force. On the 15th of August the privateer Decatur, of seven guns, fell in with the British government schooner Dominica, of fifteen guns, and engaged her for two hours. The Decatur then ran into and boarded her enemy. After a desperate conflict, hand to hand, the Dominica was taken. The Decatur was the better manned of the two, but the great inequality of force in other respects, renders this one of the most brilliant naval achievements upon record.”—Goodrich's Pictorial History of America, p. 717. The battle of Cerro Gordo in the late Mexican war, Sunday, Apr. 18th, 1847, furnishes another instance in which battles commenced on the first day of the week have resulted in favor of the assailants. The record of it is as follows: “The way was now open for the march toward the Mexican capital, and on the 8th of April general Twiggs was sent forward, leading the advance, on the Jalapa road. But Santa Anna, although defeated at Buena Vista, had raised another army, and with 15,000 men, had strongly entrenched himself on the heights of Cerro Gordo, which completely command the only road that leads through the mountain fastnesses into the interior. General Twiggs reached this position on the 12th, but it was not until the morning of the 18th, when the commander-in-chief and the whole army had arrived, that the daring assault was made. Before noon of that day every position of the enemy had been stormed in succession, and three thousand prisoners had been taken, together with forty-three pieces of bronze artillery, five thousand stand of arms, and all the munitions and materials of the army of the enemy.”—Willson's History of the United States, pp. 356, 357. The battle of Chepultepec, Sunday, Sept. 12, 1847, is another instance in point. “The reduction of the castle of Chepultepec itself, situated on an abrupt, rocky height, one hundred and fifty feet above the surrounding grounds, was a still more formidable undertaking. Several batteries were opened against this position on the 12th and on the 13th the citadel and all its outworks were carried by storm, but not without a very heavy loss to the American army. The battle was continued during the day, on the lines of the great causeways, and when night suspended the dreadful conflict, one division of the American army rested in the suburbs of Mexico, and another was actually within the gates of78the city. During the night which followed, the army of Santa Anna, and the officers of the national government, abandoned the city, and at seven o'clock on the following morning, the flag of the American Union was floating proudly to the breeze above the walls of the national palace of Mexico.”—Id., p. 360. Any person can satisfy himself that the days above mentioned were Sundays, by reference to any perpetual calendar, or to a rule for ascertaining upon what day of the week any given day of the month fell, in any past time, found in Bliss' Sacred Chronology, pp. 12–14. Borrowing Trouble.
By E. S. W.
I RECOLLECT reading a fable of the pendulum of a clock, that had always performed its office well until it commenced to "borrow trouble," began thinking over the number of vibrations it would have to make in an hour, then in a day, and finally in a year. When the whole was summed up it was astonished, and without further reflection said within itself, "I shall never be able to accomplish so great a task," and immediately stopped. Upon being interrogated as to the reason of its standing still, it replied, "I have been counting up the number of strokes I shall have to make in a year, and find it so many millions that I know I shall never be able to accomplish the task." The matter was explained to the pendulum, and it was shown that notwithstanding it would have a large number of vibrations to make in a year, it would have but one to make in a second; and that for the many millions of strokes it would have to make, it would have just as many seconds to make them in. This explanation was satisfactory to the pendulum, and it went on ticking as before. Although this is but a fable, we may learn a lesson of instruction from it. It may serve to illustrate the course of many professors of Christianity. All goes well until they commence to "borrow trouble." They will let their imaginations run, and conjure up real or imaginary difficulties which are likely to occur. They picture to themselves lions in the way. They brood over trials to come, and finally sum them all up and bring them before the mind as a whole, and then think that they never can endure them; and then they become discouraged, and backslide at least, if they do not entirely fall away. Whereas if they would but consider that although they will have many trials to endure, and much to overcome, many strait places to pass through, and many difficulties to surmount on their journey to the better country, they will not have all these to encounter at once, but in accordance with the promises of God, grace will be given. "As thy days, so shall thy strength be." "Where sin abounds grace will much more abound;" and to those who are in trial and affliction, he says, "My grace is sufficient for thee." Tent Meetings in Fletcher, Vt.
By D. T. Bourdeau
AGREABLY to our appointment, the Eastern tent was pitched in Fletcher, Vt., where we remained upwards of three weeks, and gave about thirty-five lectures. Notwithstanding the war excitement, and the efforts of ministers to prevent the people from coming to the tent, we had quite a good attendance, and the people observed order, and paid strict attention to the truths that were presented. My brother and Bro. Evans assisted in preaching the word. At the close of our last meeting Bro. Hutchins requested those who believed that the Bible teaches the observance of the first day of the week, to arise, and not one arose in favor of the first day. A Free-will Baptist preacher was present. One man arose and said he had thought the first day was the Sabbath; but he was not prepared to say that we should keep it. Then Bro. Hutchins called for those who believed that the seventh day is the Sabbath, and several arose. A few have come out on the truth. Bro. Hutchins and my brother spent last Sabbath in Fletcher, and held a Bible-class to help the minds of the people on the subject of the Sabbath. They say there are several who are powerfully convicted. O, that they might make haste, and not delay to keep the commandments. The tent is now pitched at Essex Center. The people here have heard much on the Advent doctrine, and seem to be prejudiced against it. Besides, this is a busy season of the year. But we mean to do our duty, and leave the consequences with the Lord. Yesterday a discourse was given on the subject of the sanctuary, and when the cause of the disappointment was explained, the countenances of some were lighted up. At the close of the discourse an Advent brother came to us in tears, and invited us to go to his house, and manifested a desire to help support the meeting. May the Lord reward this brother, and help him to receive the whole truth. Brethren, pray for us. How Shall “I” Overcome?
By J. Clarke
PAUL says that when the commandment came home with force to his conscience, self was slain. I died; I here is the difficulty, I gets in the way of God's good Spirit, and just where Jesus should shine forth, I puts himself in the fore-front. I, is not crucified, slain wholly, but still lingers about the portals of the soul. O how happy for Paul, how happy for all who have felt his influence, that with him I was slain completely, at the outset of his Christian course. No doubt when he held the raiment of Stephen's murderers, when he (clothed with power and authority) persecuted the church from city to city, I held a very high place in his mind: distinction, power, wealth, and honor, all of which were grand inducements for self to aspire after. But a change came, radical and universal in the mind of Paul; and I died. I was taken out of the way. A crucified and risen Saviour took the place, that I had occupied before. Here was the great secret of Paul's success, I was dead, dead, crucified, never more to even gasp or struggle; or if it did, Paul was soon the conqueror; for he gives no account of it; nor does his life furnish any evidence that I ever rose again, after it was slain in his case. I, that mischief-working I! sometimes it must be petted, sometimes justified, sometimes indulged, and so in many cases, I is resurrected, time after time, until he begins to retort, and boast, and assume the helm. And thus many a poor soul is driven madly about, among the quicksands, and perils of the dangerous seas which we are now passing over, and in all cases the great cause is overlooked, that I has got just where the pilot ought to be. Oh God let self be slain, then will we follow in the way of thy commandments.
J. CLARKE. THE N. Y. Independent of July 31, ult., thus discusses on the war: The war news of the week announces not one movement of importance in the field. Whatever there is of significance must be sought in the North, where the enlistments are proceeding, and abroad, where profound uncertainty and the most contradictory reports conceal the purposes of European powers about intervention. The picture is at this moment sufficiently gloomy. Our armies are idle. The North, discouraged at the slowness, indecision, and inefficiency of Government and generals, hesitates whether to risk in the same hands a second exhausting installment of men and money; and with increasing frequency the avowal is plainly made, that if the war is to be conducted as heretofore, the sooner we acknowledge the Confederate States of America, the better. A Few Signs of a New Policy.—There are a few not very decisive indications of an intention to use some energy, and to practice some military principles, in the prosecution of the war. Gen. Halleck has been made Commander-in-Chief, has visited McClellan, and as one reporter says, has "ordered the spades to the rear and the muskets to the front"—too good news, we fear, to be true. Gen. Pope has, it is true, followed his boastful inaugural proclamation with another still worse, offering five cents reward for one captain Harrison who resigned and came home. But Gen. Pope seems both to proclaim and to act; for he keeps his cavalry busy in the Rappahannock Valley, and west and south of it, has rebels forced to take the oath, or else to go South, uses rebel property for army purposes, and really seems to be making war on military principles. Gen. Mitchel is, it is said, about to be put into an important command, and the charge against him by Col. Norton seems likely to result only in the disgrace of his accuser, who has suddenly disappeared, after making his accusation, in a manner which is, to say the least, curious. Thus in the East we may hope for some activity.
In the West there is not so much evidence of it. The attack on Vicksburgh seems to be given up; the army of Halleck is scattered disjointedly along the line from Memphis to Chattanooga, and is undoubtedly being discouraged and exhausted by inaction and the silly "conciliation" policy of guarding rebel property and killing off our soldiers by labor, while the negroes are idle and look on. And in any event, if the more vigorous policy we speak of is in fact to be pursued, even at this late day, it is not from any energy or conviction or resoluteness in the Government, but in slow obedience to the universal groan of anger and remonstrance that comes up from the North. Speaking of the Confiscation Bill passed by Congress, and the President's proclamation thereon, the same paper says: The proclamation is strictly a business statement, precisely as called for by law, and its restriction to such terms indicate, if anything, the non-existence of any enthusiasm or interest in the President about the matter. The Guerrillas.—It has been estimated that the guerrilla operations which have been made practicable by the inaction of our armies west of the mountains, have already resulted in the destruction of fifteen millions of dollars' worth of public property.
We hear rumors, probably correct, that guerrilla parties are rising in Missouri and gathering toward the Southwest, toward a rebel army supposed to be intended for a new invasion of Missouri. In other parts of the military field, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Virginia, guerrilla bands are rising and plundering in all directions. McClellan; Scurvy.—The awful scourge of scurvy is beginning to appear in McClellan's crowded camp. This general, long besieged in Washington by an inferior force, and now beaten and besieged before Richmond by a superior one, has of late achieved, it is reported, one complete victory—over the newspaper correspondents. These noxious persons, we are told, are at last wholly expelled from his lines, and at Fortress Monroe manufacturing army letters.
Foreign Intervention.—The late reverses of the Union cause very naturally set afloat all manner of reports about intervention. And of course, they do in fact render such a measure less improbable. Napoleon is sending a strong fleet over the Atlantic, on the pretence of dealing with Mexican matters; and we receive very plausible reports that if there is a chance he will79 use them to "intervene" with. If he does so, and wishes the aid of England, he will have it.
The very latest English news is, that "mediation" has been discussed in the parliament, and the consideration of the subject postponed. More English Friendship.—The large English iron steamer Tubal Cain, heavily laden with military stores, has been captured on her way to Charleston. And the rebel papers claim that so large a number of cargoes have gotten safely into rebel ports, as to supply their armies and people with all the foreign and military merchandise they want during the coming fall.
A Handful of Corn. Ps. lxii, 16.
SCATTER the corn o'er broken ground,
When suns and dews are free,
And ere a few brief moons are told,
Look! what the change shall be,
The lofty stalk, the tassl'd crown,
The sheaves like gold that glow,
And bread for man, and food for beast,
Up from those kernels grow. Scatter good thoughts on pages pure,
With prayer and humble trust,
And though they fail to germinate
Till thou art laid in dust,
Yet may it be thy lot to meet,
When earth away hath fled,
Glad souls before the Saviour's seat,
Who on their fruits have fed. 'Tis not for glittering wealth we ask,
But for the pleasurable task,
Some good to do;
To dry some mourner's falling tear,
Some sad and lonely heart to cheer,
And joy renew. Thus be our every moment spent,
Upon some kindly good intent,
Till time shall end.
Then from this earth we'll wing away,
To dwell in realms of endless day,
With Christ our friend. Note from Bro. Goodenough.
By John R. Goodenough
Bro. White: According to appointment I commenced a course of lectures in Otsego, Columbia Co., Wis. When I gave out the appointment it was prophesied by the people that I should not have many hearers, and it was so for the first two or three nights; but the interest soon increased, and the house was filled to overflowing. I had good liberty in presenting the truth, and the Lord accompanied his word by his Spirit. Eight have commenced keeping the Sabbath. Already a good work is going on here, and I think about twenty will decide in favor of the truth, and go with the remnant to mount Zion. Pray for us here. Yours striving to overcome. Bear Ye One Another's Burdens.
By Eliza J. Waggoner
NEVER was there a time when the importance of this command was more manifest than the present. Truly everything in the political and religious world attests the truth that, "United, we stand; divided, we fall." Considering the evil tendency of our own nature, and the wrath with which our great spiritual foe has come down upon those who labor to pull down his strongholds, we conclude that in union only there is strength to resist the evil. We are all, in a certain sense, dependent upon each other as well as upon God. We need not presume to go through to the kingdom alone. Should we undertake this, we may expect to fail at the hill of difficulty, the slough of despond, or finally get into the way that leads to Doubting Castle, and lay our bones in Giant Despair's great castle yard. The members of the church of God were designed to be mutual helps to each other: to possess a oneness of spirit, a oneness of faith, and a oneness of feeling; to carry out the great principle, "Love thy neighbor as thyself." A little before Jesus left the world, he prayed that his people might become one. Not only his disciples and apostles, but all who should believe on him through their word. Therefore it reaches our time, and is especially applicable to the remnant church, of whom it is said, "And in their mouth was found no guile; for they are without fault before the throne of God. Without fault! Is it possible that erring mortals can ever arrive at a state of perfection, where God can find no fault with them? Undoubtedly they may, since Paul says, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. But say one, How may we bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ? Go into a well-organized family, and there learn something of the duty of the great family of God to each other, of whom Christ is the head. We find in this family the father's commands cheerfully obeyed, the mother's law not despised, and the rights of the children not disputed. Their interests are the same. When one suffers, the sympathies of all are touched; and if one is rendered incapable of acting his part, how readily is he excused. Others, cheerfully bearing his burden, release him from all care. This bond of sympathy constitutes the sweets of the home circle. So also it should be with the members of the body of Christ. However associated together, whether in the church, in the work-shop, in the counting room, or on the farm, in the social visit, in the sewing circle, or in the kitchen, each has a part to act, a burden to bear, and we need not excuse ourselves from taking it. And if our sympathy is touched by the care-worn brow or troubled countenance of a child of God, and we are induced to take a share of their burden, never fear; we shall be sustained even though it rest with more weight upon us than it did upon them. May the Lord help us with all his people to see to it that we as individuals act our part, that we may be of the church that is presented without spot, wrinkle, or any such thing. “WhERE have you been in this rain?” said Mrs. Walker to her husband, as he came in with his garments thoroughly drenched. “I have been watching Thurston’s mill.” “What need was there of that?” “It was in great danger of being carried away by the flood; it would have gone if I had not got the waste-gate open when I did.” “I don’t think it was your duty to be out in such a rain, attending to his affairs.” “Because he ought to attend to his own affairs; and besides, he is no friend of yours.” “The facts are as you state them, but the inference is unsound. I should say he is no friend of mine, therefore I should strive to do him good: that is gospel reasoning, is it not?” Mr. Walker was one who really believed that it was necessary for a Christian to love his enemies, and to do good to those that hate him; hence though unasked, and without any expectation of being thanked for it, he watched his enemy’s mill, and saved it from destruction. God does a great deal of unasked watching for us. He has held us up many a time when we would have fallen. He has watched over our property, our health, our lives, and the condition of our souls. We speak of having accomplished this object, of having escaped that danger, of having sustained ourselves in such and such positions; and yet, without God’s watchful care and assistance, we could have done no one of those things. Did we ask him to watch over us and help us? Or was all that watchful care and assistance unasked? Shall we pass the remainder of our days in the same atheistic manner?—Presbyterian.