THE angel of Rev. vii, 2, 3, having the seal of the living God, cries to the four angels to whom it is given to hurt the earth and the sea, "Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads." This indicates a time of comparative peace during which the work of sealing will be accomplished. When the servants of God shall be sealed, the winds will blow unrestrained.
Jer. xxv, 31-38: "A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the Lord hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the Lord. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Behold evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth; they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground. Howl, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye principal of the flock; for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished; and ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel. And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape. A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and an howling of the principal of the flock, shall be heard; for the Lord hath spoiled their pasture. And the peaceable habitations are cut down because of the fierce anger of the Lord. He hath forsaken his covert as the lion; for their land is desolate because of the fierceness of the oppressor, and because of his fierce anger."
The above is doubtless a prophecy of the unrestrained blowing of the four winds, after the work of sealing shall have been accomplished. The dreadful scourge of war shall go forth from nation to nation. The winds of political strife and war will rage with such fury as to be here represented by the prophet, by a great whirlwind being raised up from the coasts of the earth. Terrible day of slaughter! From one end of the earth to the other will be the slain, unlamented, ungathered, unburied. And this is to be followed by the seven last, dreadful plagues, which, judging from their description in chap. xvi, will far exceed in anguish the slaughter of the battle field.
Then the false shepherds, who have been teaching that there was no cause for the alarm given by the Seventh-day Adventists, and have been proclaiming peace when God hath not spoken it, and have been teaching that the nations were soon to cease to learn war, will be dreadfully exposed to the desperate anger of the people whom they have deceived. They will, howl, and cry, and fall like a pleasant vessel.
But before all this, the faithful watchman, seeing the sword coming, has given the alarm, and stands clean from the blood of souls. He has obeyed the prophetic injunction, "Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain; let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand." Joel ii, 1. He has not only heralded the near coming of that day, but has also set forth the necessary preparation in order to stand in that day; namely, the keeping of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Under this preparatory message the servants of God are sealed.
The seal preserves the servants of God in the day of wrath from the seven last plagues. The first plague falls on those who have the mark of the beast. Rev. xvi, 2. From this we may suppose that those who have not the mark of the beast, but have the seal of the living God, will not suffer from this and the succeeding plagues. The prophetic language of the Psalmist is most applicable. It inspires the mind with confiding trust in God, and lights up the dark future to those who make the truth their shield and buckler.
Ps. xci, 1-10. "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust; his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noon-day. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the Lord which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling."
The vivid illustration of the prophet Ezekiel, chap. ix, 2-6, also shows the safety of those who have the seal or mark of God:
"And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughtering weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer's ink-horn by his side; and they went in and stood beside the brazen altar. And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the men clothed with linen, which had the writer's ink-horn by his side. And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city and smite; let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity. Slay utterly old and young, both maids and little children, and women; but COME NOT NEAR ANY MAN UPON WHOM IS THE MARK."
Those whose eyes are opened to the sins of the age, who sigh and cry for the abominations that are done in the land, receive the sacred mark, and are safe in the day of slaughter. Those who are at ease in Zion, lulled to sleep by the song of peace and safety, dreaming of worldly prosperity and happiness upon the very threshold of the day of unmingled indignation of the Almighty, will not receive the mark, but will fall in the slaughter which follows the work of marking.
Dear reader, seek for the truth, and be sanctified through it, and soon, when all earthly hopes are perished, it will be your shield and buckler. Now is the time for humiliation and prayer before the God of high heaven. The mark is placed upon the foreheads of those who in the sealing time, sigh and cry for the abominations done in the land. Do not let these precious moments pass, and you be left in hopeless anguish when the sealing work is finished, to pay your devotions to rocks and mountains. Rev. vi, 15-17.
Micah and Joel on the War.
Both of these prophets speak of war, and it is evident that both refer to our times. See Micah iv, and Joel iii, 9–16. Micah speaks of the implements of warfare being turned into utensils of agriculture; and those looking for a temporal millennium suppose that God by the prophet really declares that this shall be, and that the nations are to cease to learn war. But what shall be done with Joel? He speaks of utensils of agriculture being turned into implements of war, and that the men of war are to be aroused. Before admitting that those two prophets contradict each other, let us examine their testimony more closely.
"But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths; for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: and nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." Chap. iv, 1–3. Read also Isa. ii, 2–4.
Here we learn that it is not God who had spoken peace; but "many nations" join in the prophecy that in the last days implements of warfare are to be turned into agricultural utensils, and that men are to cease to learn war. It is evident that Micah prophesies of the wide-spread, deep-rooted, delusive doctrine, so popular among Christian nations, that the gospel is to triumph over all forms of error, and all nations of the earth be so brought under its influence, that the soldier will engage in tilling the soil, and military schools be closed for ever.
And let it be borne in mind that this doctrine of peace and prosperity,—this false prophecy so popular among many nations—goes forth in the last days, when the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, or when the religion of the meek and lowly Jesus is, through worldly policy, exalted to the pinnacles of worldly governments.
The prophets describe the last days as dreadful in the extreme. Jesus declares them like those of Noah and of Lot. Paul says they will be perilous, and that in them many will depart from the faith. The doctrine of human progress to a state of perfection and holiness, as held all the way from the most prudent, down to the extravagant Spiritualist—that the golden age is soon to open—we regard as Satan's master-piece to bring the mind of the Christian world into an unprepared state to meet the impending dreadful crisis, described by the prophet Joel. By this prophet the Lord speaks as follows:—
"Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: Beat your plow-shares into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about, thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Lord. Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision." Chap. iii, 9–14.
The preparations for war, both in expenditure, and dreadful engines of slaughter, never equaled the present time. The men of war are awake. Armies are mustering and moving to the battle fields. Hundreds of thousands are leaving agricultural pursuits and are taking up arms. Our nation is not alone. All Europe is getting ready for the general slaughter.
The Lord by the prophet Joel describes the close of the present dispensation as it will be witnessed in dreadful reality. By the prophet Micah he foretells the delusive hopes of popular religionists, of peace and prosperity, while standing at the threshold of the day of slaughter. Hence Micah is not against Joel, nor Joel against Micah.
Our Duty and the Nation.
By John Harvey Waggoner
Our brethren have generally desired to be as harmless as doves; there is also a commandment connected with this, to be as wise as serpents. It strikes me that this wisdom is very much needed at the present time. While men's hearts are failing them, it is not surprising that the minds of God's people should be strongly exercised in our present critical position. That our position is a critical one I need not argue, though I fear some have not sufficiently realized this, as they seem to think and act as if the crisis was sprung upon them unawares. Such are usually tried with Bro. White's position on the nation. I must confess that at first sight I was somewhat startled by his article; but on carefully reading it I freely expressed my opinion that it would result in good to the cause, and this opinion has been greatly strengthened both by reflection and observation. That it brought relief to many minds, none can deny; and some who oppose its position have yet freely used it, by showing it to opposers to silence their opposition. To such I would ask, If the position is unlawful, can it be lawful to avail ourselves of its benefits?
That there is a principle involved in this question, none will deny; but where does it tend? Will it lead133us to resist the present action of the government? I think not. I fear our feelings in this crisis have been too selfish—quite too destitute of gratitude toward those who are exerting themselves for our good.
It is possible for us to work our minds up to feel that we are martyrs, where no wrong or oppression has been intended; but to do so would be highly fanatical, and result in our shame. One freak of fanaticism, at such a time as this, would work more injury to the cause than could be undone in years, and we have no time to spend in correcting such a work now. Let all be careful, and endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Divisions will weaken and destroy us. That we should feel grateful toward our government and rulers, instead of denouncing their action, is evident to my mind from several considerations:
1. A draft is not an act of oppression, but of necessity. All human governments depend on the war power for their existence. Our government is doubtless in some respects, the best on earth, but it is no exception to the above declaration. It is not reduced to the necessity of making a desperate struggle for existence, and that it should call on the militia of the States to act in defense of our common rights, is certainly no strange thing.
2. The design of the government in drafting, is not to oppress, but to defend. We should remember that the efforts of our rulers, and of the thousands of men on the field of battle, who are toiling, bleeding, and dying, are all made in our defense. They are doing all to perpetuate the privileges that we have all our lives enjoyed, and still enjoy. This certainly presents a wide difference between their actions and those of persecutors, such as are noticed in Dan. iii and Acts v. Those who find a parallel here must lose sight of motives, without which moral actions cannot be truly measured. All objections that I have yet heard urged are fully met by this consideration.
It has been urged that some have volunteered under the influence of Bro. White's article. This is a great mistake, because the article cannot be so construed as to exert any such influence. I think in all such cases there is but a revulsion of fanatical feeling; and I am the last to depreciate anything that will separate between the true and pretended friends of the cause of God.
I heartily concur in Bro. White's remarks on petitions. At a special session of the Legislature in Iowa, a general bill has been passed exempting from military service those who are conscientiously opposed thereto, on their payment of $100,00 as an equivalent. This may be all right, and the intention of the Legislature may have been good, yet I cannot refrain from astonishment that any should regard this result as an answer to prayer. My present conviction is that I would sooner suffer the result of a draft, and trust in God for the consequences, than to accept a $100,00 valuation of my conscience. I consider it not only doubtful in principle, but inefficient as a practical measure of relief. Not over one in one hundred, if so many, could avail themselves of its provisions, while the poor, the great mass of our brethren, whose consciences are as tender and as valuable as those of the rich, stand precisely where they would stand without it. Beyond this, it divides the interest of the brotherhood; for some will rest secure on this provision, and thus their sympathies be in a measure withdrawn from the trial of their poorer brethren. "Let brotherly love continue." Were I a citizen of that State, such a law would bring no relief to me; but if it would, I would scorn to accept relief on a money consideration, while one poor brother was oppressed because of his poverty.
There are some considerations that have cheered me up under the thought of impending trials and dangers. The third angel's message is the work of God. His hand has been in the work all along; and I do not believe he has called us out so far, and led us by his truth and his Spirit, to leave us in the wilderness to perish at such a time as this. And he has chosen his own instruments to do his work, and guided them according to his will; and we who love this truth have seen too much of God's leading in the past to falter and distrust his fatherly care now. We want
A faith that shines more bright and clear
When tempests rage without;
That, when in danger, knows no fear,
In darkness feels no doubt.
We want union. Division is Satan's choice work. Let us beware, for "rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness as iniquity and idolatry." May the Lord spare his people, and bring not his heritage to reproach.
J. H. Waggoner.
Burlington, Mich., Sept. 21, 1862.
Is the Nation Guilty?
By Jas. Sawyer
FAR be it from my wish to become involved in fanaticism; nor would I attempt to run clear of the censure of what is commonly called conservatism. If I err in setting forth the relation that the United States hold to the institution of African slavery, let it be an error of ignorance.
Many of our ancestors came to America on account of the religious persecution in the Old World. They early watered the holy plant of our religion here on the Western continent. The rock-bound shores of New England received the feet of the Pilgrim Fathers, and North America became an asylum for the oppressed. Even while the principles of religious liberty became widely disseminated, the colonists were loyal to Great Britain. They contributed as faithful subjects to the maintenance of the crown.
But Great Britain became outrageously oppressive by her acts of parliament. The colonists appealed to the court of heaven for a redress of grievances. They promised God they would be just. They entered into a solemn compact or covenant with the great Jehovah in 1776, after this manner: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created free and equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," &c. Then the mother country waged a cruel war to force them to submission. She wished to exercise tyranny over them. They promised God if he would deliver them from this yoke of bondage they would be just, and sustain human rights and civil liberty. God did deliver them.
Ten years passed, and the representatives of a happy people met to decide upon a plan of government. Among the names of the delegates to that federal convention are found those who stood high in point of virtue, sound sense, and science. With others alike eminent, were assembled Washington, Randolph, Franklin, Hamilton, and Madison. After a session of three and a half months a constitution was adopted.
Great was the struggle to digest an instrument fraught with so few verbal errors. Its terms sounded well on the American ear, but its intention opened unto intrigue. One portion sacrificed justice to another's self-interest, and another left an opportunity of doing well for a system of expediency. The constitution called all human beings persons, but it meant that a part should be slaves. It was a lamb in its words, and a dragon in its meaning.
Luther Martin, a delegate from Maryland to the convention which drafted the constitution of the United States, says, "The delegation from Georgia and South Carolina said their States would never agree to a system which put it in the power of the general government to prevent the importation of slaves. A committee of one from each State was chosen by ballot to take this part of the system under consideration, and endeavor to agree upon some report to reconcile those States. The staple and commercial States had a proposition referred to the same committee, to wit: No navigation act shall be passed without the assent of two-thirds of the members present in each house."
He further says, "This committee, of which I had the honor to be a member, met and took under consideration the subjects committed to them. I found the Eastern States, notwithstanding their aversion to slavery, were very willing to indulge the Southern States, at least with a temporary liberty to prosecute the slave trade; provided the Southern States would in their turn gratify them by laying no restriction on navigation acts. The committee agreed upon a report that the general government was to be prohibited from preventing the importation of slaves for a limited time. This report was adopted, but not without considerable opposition. It was argued in that convention in language like this: 'That we had appealed to the Supreme Being for his assistance as the God of freedom who would not but approve our efforts to preserve the rights which he had imparted to his creatures; that now when we had scarcely risen from our knees from supplicating his aid and protection in forming our government—a government formed pretendedly on the principles of liberty—in that government to have a provision not only putting it out of its power to restrain and prevent the slave-trade, even encouraging that most infamous traffic, by giving the States power and influence in the Union in proportion as they cruelly and wantonly sport with the rights of their fellow creatures, ought to be considered a solemn mockery of, and insult to, that God whose protection we had then implored, and could not fail to hold us up in detestation, and render us contemptible to every true friend of liberty in the world. It was said it ought to be considered that national crimes can only be, and frequently are, punished in this world by national punishments, and that the continuance of the slave-trade, and this giving it a national sanction and encouragement, ought to be considered as justly exposing us to the displeasure and vengeance of Him who is equally Lord of all and who views with equal eye the poor African slave and his American master.'"
Allowing the slave-trade, introduced the most inhuman system of traffic. The government itself afterward declares the African slave-trade piracy. But slave-traders often escaped the vigilance of national war-vessels. Judge ye whether the nation became hypocritical then.
Imported slaves had soon increased so that more territory was required for their propagation. This exigency called for another sacrifice at the shrine of slavery; and what is now the State of Missouri was given to strengthen that peculiar institution which prevented phraseology sanctions in the ninth section of the first article of the Constitution of the United States. Many dreaded the consequences of that compromise. The contest for freedom was terrible, but not in blood. But government yields. A broad expanse of territory is consigned to serfdom.
The serpent which has its coils now around the body begins to crush. Those persons that constitutional interpreters called property, began to run away from their masters. How plausible that a nation should protect the property of her subjects. Revenue Cutters, United States marshals and magistrates, must take care of our property, cries one section of the country. You shall have our care, responds all sections. The serpent now begins to push its fangs into its victim. One section say their property gets among the Indians and are sheltered in the swamps and sacred hiding-places in Florida, and nothing but blood-hounds and arms will avail us. The government responds by getting back the slaves at the expense of millions, and then advises the Indians to move further westward. Do not the annals of my country vouch for the assertion? Ye of ready memory, deny it if you can.
The serpent which now enjoys one victim, gets hungry and seeks another. Texas, of large dimensions, helps stop its insatiate maw.
The serpent now gets aggravated because another (Mexico) interferes, and wallows in the blood of a new victim. Shall we drop the curtain now? Shall we tell of it in Gath? Other shames are too common. Withhold them not. This nation's sins must rise up in judgment against her. Shall a private citizen withhold the warning? Where are the watchmen? Do they know the hour of night?
Supreme judges get charmed, and the whole area of freedom is bartered away to a sort of servile despot. The unalienable rights of my sable friend must not be protected. Men must go hungry; the naked must not be covered. They crucify my Saviour. Conscience must be bound. A fugitive-slave law clogs me with fines, confinement, and a dungeon, when my hand is raised in support of the compact our ancestors entered into with Almighty God.
That awful day of national punishment will surely come. Are you ready for the conflict? Are your loins girded for battle? Who is your deliverer? Is God your pavilion? Are his arms your mighty battlement? The hosts of hell shall not prevail against you then.
But is there no mercy for the government? None but in repentance toward God. The nation must withdraw her aid from the system of slavery. Other iniquities are registered against her, but a sorrow for that alone may allay the indignation for a little moment.
Statesmen and politicians may assert that the people of the North are not responsible for the monstrous growth and curse of slavery; they may say that England forced it upon us, &c. Is that more than a fable to lull their hardened consciences? Trust it not.
Great men of this mighty republic have required the full amount of brick with no straw save the stubble from the field—like the taskmasters of Egypt. Ye have forgotten your brother in bonds as bound with him. Ye have cast your suffrages for ambitious men who have hugged the delusive monster of slavery, and now you must grapple with the victim yourself. Will you be humbled? Let your garments be sackcloth. Pray for a little respite until the servants of God be sealed, and then as loyal subjects you may enjoy everlasting fruition in the kingdom of our Lord and his Christ.
JAS. SAWYER.
Coopersville, Mich.
Liberal.
By Ellen G. White
I WISH to say that none of the friends who so liberally donated for E. W. S. have accepted my offer to return to them the amount of their donations. Fearing that a burden would fall upon me in this matter, friends have sent to me the sum of ten dollars to assist me in refunding what might be called for. The following is from the church at Grass River, St. Law. Co., N. Y. :
"Whereas, Sister White, in her love to God's cause and his servants, has done what she could to procure a home for E. W. Shortridge, and
"Whereas, Said E. W. S. has proved himself unworthy of such help, which has thrown a heavy trial upon sister W., therefore,
"Resolved, That we as a church do deeply sympathize with sister W. in this additional trial, and we do hereby promise, if sister W. shall have to refund the sums paid to her for E. W. S., to pay our share of the whole amount to her again.
"After reading the Supplement, I drew up the preceding preamble and resolution, and presented them to the church in this place at our church-meeting last Tuesday night, when they were unanimously adopted. It was also voted to send $5 in advance to you.
"Your unworthy brother. H. G. BUCK."
I would express my thanks to the liberal friends of the cause of truth, who have manifested so much sympathy and liberality in assisting me to bear the burden of this unpleasant affair. The ten dollars sent to me I shall apply to the Association.
It is a painful reflection that those who wish to honor the Lord with their substance, cannot assist those who appear to be true objects of Christian liberality without, in at least three cases out of four, being stung with proofs that it is unworthily applied. These things should teach us all caution for time to come.
ELLEN G. WHITE.
Special Request.
By M. E. Dartt
Bro. White: My mother Mrs. Amy Dartt has been sick for the past four weeks and now lies at the point of death.
We think she is beyond human aid; but we know God is able to save her, and we wish to ask for the prayers of the church in her behalf.
We do not feel as if we could give her up, as we three, mother, a younger sister, and myself, are all the Sabbath-keepers in this place, and we know of no one we could call upon to comfort us, and pray with us for her recovery.
She feels that the prayers of the church may prevail in her behalf, as they have done in many instances, and she yet be spared to her family and the church of God.
Oh pray for her! We do not yet feel strong enough to do without her counsel and advice. Pray that with her returning health, (if God in his mercy should see fit to spare her,) we may all have more grace given us to take a firmer stand for God and the truth.
M. E. Dartt.
Baraboo, Wis.
Light and Gladness.
By George Wright
It is recorded by the sweet singer of Israel, in Ps. xcvii, 11, that "light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart." Again, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."
Interspersed throughout God's blessed book, are exceeding great and precious promises. These are surrounded by a halo of light and glory. And what is the design of all these? Let Peter answer: "That by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." 2 Pet. i, 4. Then follows that sum in Christian addition: "Giving all diligence, add to your faith, courage [Macknight], and to courage, knowledge, and to knowledge, self-control [Whiting, and Wakefield], and to self-control, patience, and to patience, piety [Sawyer], and to piety, affection [Wakefield], and to affection, universal love [Wakefield]. How beautiful is this catalogue of Christian graces. Surely light is sown for the righteous like autumn leaves. Happy they who have these graces,
"Planted, growing in the mind."
The following which was related in my hearing from an authentic source will be in point here. A pious boy sat by the wayside reading. A proud infidel passing accosted him thus:
What are you reading my boy?
The Bible sir.
How do you know it is the Bible?
(Pointing to the sun), What is that?
The sun.
How do you know?
I see its light and feel its warmth.
Well, I know this is the book of God, for I see its light and feel its warmth.
The infidel was silenced. Is not this the experience of every child of God, who searches for the truth as for hidden treasures? For one I can say with all my heart with David, "The entrance of thy words giveth light."
"If the way to heaven," says Bishop Beveridge, "is narrow, it is not long, and if the gate be straight, it opens into endless life." Yes, praise the Lord, the prospect brightens as we draw nearer home. How sweet the words of the poet,
"The road may be rough but it cannot be long,
I'll smooth it with hope and I'll cheer it with song."
The sure word of prophecy assures us that this long dark night of sin and woe and death is almost past. The day is at hand. Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armor of light. Rom. xiii, 12. Press together. Watch over each other for good. Provoke unto love and good works. Says the beloved disciple, He that loveth his brother abideth in the light. "Awake," says inspiration, "thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." "How stands the case with me?" should be the earnest inquiry of every heart in this truly solemn time. Am I walking in the light, as He is in the light? Have I a tender affection for my brother in the Lord? Am I living and letting my light shine so that others are being led to glorify our Father in heaven? Has the blood of Jesus cleansed me from all sin?135These are times which try men's souls, and perils are thickening fast, and none will be able to stand but those who have God for their refuge, and their feet firmly planted upon the rock Christ Jesus. Let every man prove his own work. Then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone and not in another. Gal. vi, 4.
"Let your lamps be burning bright,
In God's word is beaming light,
Live by faith and not by sight,
Crowns are your reward."
GEORGE WRIGHT.
Lapeer, Mich.
The Christian's Refuge.
By J. A. Dayton
WHEN overwhelmed with grief
Thy chastening hand I feel,
I would not murmuring bow,
But humbly, meekly kneel:
And reverent bless the tender love,
Which kindly chides me when I rove.
When friends from my embrace
By death's relentless hand
Are torn, I'll bow in hope
To thy all-wise command.
Dear Lord, my anguished heart shall feel
Thy smile hath balm each wound to heal.
When Satan's active power
Defies my boasted strength,
And proves how frail I am,
Where should I turn at length
But unto thee, if strength I'd claim,
And find it, Lord, in thy dear name.
Nor would I thee forget
When blessings thicken round,
In gladness or in gloom,
I would, oh Lord, be found,
Where every joy may tempered be,
And sorrow finds a balm in thee.
Oh yes, I'd ever crave,
Nor for one moment cease,
Wisdom and grace to guide
In wisdom's paths of peace.
Till thou shalt say, Receive thy crown,
Thy toil is o'er, thy warfare done.
J. A. Dayton.
Chesaning, Mich.
The War! The War!!
By Joseph Clarke
I HAVE been very anxious to know duty respecting the war, not so much for fear of the draft, as because I want to see treason receive its just deserts.
Consequently, I have written to Bro. White, to know if it would be allowable for us to go into the ranks.
I have had my fancy full of Gideons, and Jephthahs, and fighting Davids, and loyal Barzillais.
I have thought of brave Joshua, and the mighty men of war that arose to deliver the Israel of God, from time to time.
I have thought of Daniel as he supervised the affairs of Babylon, of which the military interest composed a chief part.
Often as I have thought of the baseness of slave treason, and how it hinders the message from moving forward, how it instigates Kansas raids, how it prompts to fugitive slave laws, and Dread Scott decisions, how it separates families, how it does violence to innocence, how it tars and feathers, and hangs, innocent travelers, pedlars, school-masters, &c., how it makes the soil barren, and the government corrupt, how it tantalizes, how it tyrannizes, how it traduces, in fact how it sums up in itself every horrid crime, how it brands every good patriot as a fanatic, I have wished sometimes that I had it where Joab had Absalom, and almost fancied that the time might come when a regiment of Sabbath-keepers would strike this rebellion a staggering blow, in the strength of Him who always helped his valiant people when they kept his statutes.
Last winter I had the war fever so high, that it injured me somewhat. I am well aware, that I felt too deeply on the matter, and when I mentioned my feelings to a judicious friend, he warned me of my danger.
But I find as I look to God for light, he does not seem to frown upon me for my hatred to treason.
Well I know, that the North has sinned, and this is the greatest of our sins. We have not abhorred the deeds of the bloody deceitful southern tyrants, but have bowed, and scraped, and truckled meanly to the monstrous system of slavery.
While I have been going probably somewhat to an extreme in my hatred to treason and oppression, I see that on the other hand, many are whining lest they might be drafted.
Now brethren, let us all stop pestering Bro. White on this subject, and go to God for guidance.
I have no doubt that when the time for drafting arrives, God will shed light on the path of the S. D. Adventists.
We have the gift of prophecy, and if we look to God, he will guide our leaders, and they will walk in the light. Praise the Lord.
For one, I am willing to abide the counsel of the Lord. Either to stand still and see his salvation, or to fight till my sword cleaves to my hand, or to march around treason as the hosts of Israel did around Jericho.
I do not expect the full destruction of slavery; but the south must be humbled, else the slave cannot get the present truth.
Still we must be patient, for we at the North have sinned by our cowardly submission to the monster in years past, and must meet our punishment. After that, let southern traitors tremble.
JOSEPH CLARKE.
Unity Among God's Children
By Martha Rice
From Sister Rice.
BRO. WHITE: I feel very thankful for the privilege which I have of reading the Review. It is truly a welcome messenger to me from week to week. Much light and truth has been presented to my mind through its columns, for which my heart has been made to rejoice in the Lord; also, the many and stirring epistles from the brethren and sisters scattered abroad, have been to me as food to a hungry soul; and I would that I might drop one encouraging or comforting word in return, to the tried, the tempted, the sorrowing, or afflicted ones. I feel that I would share in the trials and afflictions of God's children, that their sorrows may be my sorrows and their joys my joys. I feel in unison with them and glad to see them striving to come to the unity of the faith.
The apostle Paul, in writing to the church at Corinth, says, "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." The people of God united will stand, and I for one want to be with that people, and I think the time is soon coming when all God's children will be united. Then peace, love, and joy, will prevail, truth will triumph; God will be honored and glorified. O then let us try to come to that unity which God requires of his children.
It is nearly five years since I commenced keeping the Sabbath, and I can say I still hail its hours with delight, and have been led to say with the Psalmist many times, "O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day." I do not feel like giving up, but I do feel like pressing my way on to the heavenly city. I long to see my Saviour coming in his beauty.
"I long to be delivered from this vain world of sin,"
And with my blessed Saviour drink endless pleasures
I have trials and troubles to encounter, and often feel that the enemy would get power over me, but my trust is in the Lord who has said, "My grace is sufficient for you." To those who are tried and afflicted; I would say, Trust in the sure promises of God. Cling to them by living faith. The Lord will never leave nor forsake those who put their trust in him. The Lord will be the hope of his people. David has said, "Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God." I desire to so live that I may be prepared for what is coming on the earth, and for an entrance into the coming kingdom. O who will be inheritors of that glorious land? "He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart, who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity."