On page 136 he says: "In Gen. i, 26–28, we have a statement of the fact that God created man; and a declaration of man's superiority to other living creatures in the fact that he was created to have dominion over them.
"Such was his state before the fall; but since he became a sinner, and has rebelled against God, he no longer has this pre-eminence over them.
"In Gen. ii, 7, however, we have the fact described, the existence of which is simply declared in chapter 1:
"And the Lord God made man out of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became (or was thereby constituted) a living soul."
"Here, then, it is distinctly stated that after God had created from the ground the corporeal part of Adam, the soul was added, which was, of course, not produced from the earth or elements as the body was. If, therefore, the soul was not formed from the same material as the body, on what principle can it be said to perish with the body?"
On page 141, after stating in brief that materialists "with great parade proceed to show first, that all other animals are called living souls; and secondly, that all other animals have the breath of life;" he says,
"It seems out of character to enter into thorough philological criticism with such men; for they cannot understand it."
"The idea in the original is sufficiently obvious; God had made the body of the man out of the dust of the ground, as the animals had been made. But as yet man was only their equal. But more than this was needed; an intelligent governor over them was required; and hence something was to be added to the mere animal life, derived from the dust of the ground.
"Had man remained as he then was he would have been as unfit to be their governor as the ourang-outang. Hence in his case God did what was done in no other instance of all the animal creation.
"He imparted to him directly (breathed into his face, countenance) a principle of intelligence. Then his creation was complete, and he too, took his place as a living, moving creature upon the earth.
"It seems impossible to mistake the obvious sense of the passage. And I now ask, What have the objections of Mr. Dobney and his coadjutors to do with this argument? But let our adversaries show a solitary instance in which it is said that God, in creating other animals, constituted them living creatures by breathing into them the breath of life. If Mr. Dobney can do this, let it be done. If he cannot, then we must charge upon him and his friends a culpable equivocation in pretending to meet the issue which is presented in the aforesaid argument."
I transmit the above argument, exposition or criticism without comment, confessing that I am one of those who do not UNDERSTAND IT.
Respectfully yours,
M. M. H.
Lapeer, Mich., Nov. 15th. 1859.
EASTERN TOUR.
By James White
NoRTHERN Michigan is an interesting field of labor. We look back with much pleasure to the conferences at Lapeer, North Plains, Wright and Monterey.
At North Plains we found storm and mud, and close quarters for those who came in from other towns. Here we were happy to meet a son and daughters of Bro. R. Griggs, one of the first Sabbath-keepers in the State, and other friends of the cause. Sister (widow) Brigham and her sons did well in entertaining nearly all of us, for which they have the sincere thanks of all who shared their hospitality, yet the influence of the meeting would have been much greater in Orleans where there was room to entertain all. We left the arrangement of this meeting to others, who utterly failed to do their duty. It is useless to make efforts to advance the cause, and then leave things at loose ends. No enterprise calls for more prompt, energetic and systematic action than the cause of present truth, which is making its way onward against wind and tide.
But we have no great reason to complain. We rather pity those who drove out of their way because there was no definite appointment given, while we, though we lost on our tickets we took for Ionia, got a hint that we should get off at Lyons, happened to get off at the right station, happened to find a team to take us direct to sister Brigham's, where we found rest. God bless all the dear brethren and friends whom we met in Ionia Co. Next time the appointment shall be all in black and white in good season. A general gathering should be either in June, or in September or October.
Our conference at Wright held Sabbath and First-day. Storm and mud hindered many from attending, yet the house was well filled. More than one hundred have been immersed since the work commenced in Wright less than two years ago, and these with very few exceptions stand firm. They have taken hold of Systematic Benevolence in a prompt manner, and now find means in the treasury to liberally assist those who labor among them.
Our conference at Monterey was cheering. Their house of worship was extremely crowded. People oppose our views, but they cannot keep away from our meetings. It was with difficulty that some pressed the door open wide enough to squeeze in where they had to stand up so close that they could hardly turn around. We dismissed the crowded assembly expressing the hope that before long another house of worship would be built in Monterey, which would be large enough to give all a comfortable seat. For their common Sabbath meetings, their house answers very well; but for conferences, and on funeral occasions, it is extremely uncomfortable for both people and speaker to be crowded into so small a place where the heated, poisoned air is breathed over so many times by so many persons.
This church is ready however, to do anything that seems to be duty. They have had their trials. They have been disappointed in men who have professed the faith. There is still a class hanging to, or around the church, who do not seem to have the spirit of "through" in them, while most of the church have another spirit, the spirit of go through to Canaan, in them. They have a box there which never gets dry, or, at least, there always seems to be something in it. It is their Systematic Benevolence box. These are becoming very numerous in Michigan. Hope they will be called into use extensively East and West. We shall get out second edition of blank books soon so that all our churches, however small, may have one. First lot all sold.
J. W.
OPPOSITION MEETINGS AT PARKVILLE, MICH.
By John Norton Loughborough
We give below a few extracts from the notes of a couple of sermons preached against the truths we had presented in Parkville. Not that there is anything very new and powerful in them, but to show the weakness of some men that oppose us.
The first discourse was by one Eld. Sackett, in which he endeavored to establish the immortality of the soul, as follows:
1. Some deny the immortality of the soul because there is no argument in Scripture to sustain it; but it does not necessarily follow that the soul is not immortal.
2. Eccl. ix, 5. "Dead know not anything." I have not made up my creed from a few Old Testament effusions.
3. Ps. cxv, 16-18. "Dead praise not the Lord." The dead in this text means worshipers of idols.
4. Ps. cxlvi, 4. "In that very day his thoughts perish." This is said of princes. That princes come to naught is clearly inferable.
5. Mal. iv, 1. "Burn them up and leave them neither root nor branch." This is all in symbols. "Burned up," means banished from God's glory. "Root."—"Love of money is the root of all evil." "Branch."—"I am the vine, ye are the branches." They are banished from the presence of the Lord and know no more of his blessings.
6. Eternal life is not eternal being; but it is eternal well-being.
7. "Inward man." It is the hidden man of the heart which Peter declares is not corruptible. It is the soul. It is not corruptible, and therefore is immortal.
8. The good and great of all ages have not received the view of the sleep of the soul &c.; these views have only been held by a few.
9. "It is appointed unto men once to die." Not (as we are told), to die, and be raised from the dead, and die again.
10. The tendency of this doctrine is bad. A young man in Sandusky, Ohio, went into drunkenness because he heard his father preach the doctrine of the non-immortality of the soul.
After the elder had quoted some of the common round of texts to prove the immortality of the soul, elder Duncan arose to make some remarks as follows:
1. Some argue that there must be a resurrection of the body, because the body is responsible for the deeds we do here. If the body is responsible, then all our bodies are responsible. A man that has lived sixty years, according to physiology, has occupied forty-eight different bodies, and these must all be raised in order that the man may be punished.
2. If we are to have literal bodies in the resurrection, then we shall be clothed upon with one of our enemies, for the flesh is an enemy.
3. The reason our courts of justice do not hang idiots who commit murder, is because they consider that the man who has no mind is not responsible for his acts; and therefore the body is not responsible for the deeds of the man.
One of the congregation asked the elder if he believed idiots had souls. His answer was that they had not. He also informed his congregation that he did not believe in the resurrection of the body, but believed that all men went to their reward or punishment at death. We thought truly this Methodist minister is far in advance of Wesley.
The second discourse was from elder Duncan, on the Sabbath question, in which he made the following as some strong points.
1. The Sabbath has been brought up as the seventh day, and one of the principal arguments in its support is that it is ancient. There are other things that are ancient. The Jews kept every seventh year. It is still obligatory upon them and they keep it. If I was a Jew, I would keep the Sabbath.
2. The Lord said the Sabbath was to be an institution between him and his people, and said "This shall be to commemorate my bringing you out of Egypt." He also said, "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy, because I have brought you out of Egypt."
3. When we get along to Num. xxiii, the first day is spoken of as sacred. The feast was to be kept seven days. The first day was a holy convocation, and the eighth day was a holy convocation, which would be the first day of the week again.
4. Christ repudiated the idea of laying so much stress on the Sabbath. The Pharisees upbraided Christ for breaking the Sabbath, and not for taking grain out of another man's field. Is there not danger of our running after the Sabbath and neglecting other duties.
5. If we are to keep the seventh day, when shall we begin to reckon? From the first day of creation, or man's own first day. Man was created on the sixth day, and the seventh day to him would be our Friday. This is the day the Jews scrupulously observed
6. Our seventh day friends have based themselves on the reckoning of the Quakers. The Quakers said calling the days Sunday, Monday, &c., savored of heathenism; so they called Sunday first-day, Monday the second-day &c. Our seventh day friends have taken for granted that their reckoning was right and so call our Saturday the seventh day. So you see that our seventh day friends are based on the Quakers.
7. There has been a great amount of intelligence on the side of Sunday, and that ought to make us respect the institution. Query. In the absence of law (?) what is the rule? Answer, Caution.
8. Didn't your fathers set aside the day, and did not God bless them in keeping it? Will you suffer your fathers to be treated in the manner they have been? I want to know if there is not patriotism enough in Park, to stand up for your fathers?
9. But some one will say, Where is your Bible for keeping Sunday? Where has the Lord said, Ye shall not keep the seventh year? When you will bring testimony to show that we are not to keep the seventh year, I will give you Bible for Sunday-keeping.
10. Don't follow those who say "Lo here is Christ, and lo there." Christ will appear in our hearts. This is the second coming of Christ. But when Christ was asked by his disciples in regard to the time of his coming, he said he knew nothing about it. But our friends at the tent profess to know more than Christ. To how many Christ has made his appearing and found them watching.
After Eld. D. had finished his discourse, Eld. Sackett arose and said: "Man's physical and spiritual wants require a day of rest. I keep the fourth commandment. I labor six days and rest one Christians have always supposed that the man who labored six days and rested one kept the commandment. When man begins to labor, God begins to count." He next told us: "I can see but little that is good in the decalogue. It is too short for the gospel dispensation. I object to it because it tolerates slavery. All the inducement it holds out to children to obey their parents is long life in Palestine. God talks to men according to their ability. If men can comprehend the decalogue, I have no objections to their keeping it." He stated that it had all passed, and those who contended for it ought to have lived about two thousand years ago.
Thus we were carried gradually down the hill. We endeavored to review in a candid manner all that was worth reviewing in the two discourses. It was not without effect. Some who had been waiting, anxious to hear the other side, became settled on the truth and have begun to obey.
J. N. Loughborough.
Battle Creek, Nov. 28th, 1859.
HUMOROUS PREACHING.
By J. O.
DID Christ or his disciples make any attempts at humorous preaching? Think of Christ in his sermon on the mount, bringing down his audience in peals of laughter, or Paul in his discourses before Felix, or before the people, attempting to display his wit, of which he had an abundant supply no doubt, if he had been disposed to desecrate it to so low a purpose.
Think of one in the pulpit, preaching Christ and him crucified to admiring crowds, and ever and anon (as if for amusement) assuming the manners of a theatrical clown, in order to produce laughter.
Have not the American and English pulpits descended very low indeed, when their most popular preachers on this and the other side of the Atlantic, entertain their audiences with displays of their wit, as they hold forth the holy doctrines of the Bible?
What must be the state of the professed church, when a secular paper like the London Times, administers such a rebuke as the following, with such cause? No wonder it jars upon the ears of a political man, who hoped for better things from an ambassador of Christ.
Has not the time come for every true child of God to cry out, Babylon is fallen! come out of her my people! when the pulpits of the two leading nations of the earth are prostituted to such purposes? The following I clip from the N. Y. Tribune. J. O.
“The London Times of Aug. 9, has the following:
“Mr. Spurgeon, in preaching at Norwich last week, indulged in some of his characteristic humor. Content, he said, made our cup run over, while discontent knocked the bottom out. The story which had recently appeared in the papers about his having a large fortune left him was a complete hoax; if he were to have a guinea for every falsehood told about him, he could build his great chapel very soon, and probably have enough left for a cathedral or two. . . . Christian men sometimes fell terribly foul of each other, like the two English ships which broadsided each other for two hours in a mist without knowing that the British flag was flying at their mastheads. The lazy man was one of the biggest sinners on earth; if he did nothing else, he broke one of God's greatest commandments. There was a very strict Sabbatarian gardner, who was very hard upon his master about the observance of the Sabbath. His master said to him, ‘Why, you break the commandments yourself!’ ‘How?’ said the gardner, ‘I don't work on Sunday.’ ‘No,’ quoth the master, ‘nor on any other day. Just repeat the commandment.’ The gardner obeyed, and when he came to ‘six days shalt thou labor and do all that thou hast to do,’ his master said, ‘There, stop there; that is as much a part of the commandment as that ‘the seventh day is the Sabbath.’ . . . The stickling for sectarian distinctions was as absurd as if a hungry man, about to eat some bread, were told by a Churchman, ‘No bread like the tin loaf;’ or by a Methodist, ‘You must eat twists.’ The hungry man would say, ‘Give me some bread, and I will settle the shape afterward.’ It jars, somehow, upon the feelings to see the copious reports which the country papers give of Mr. Spurgeon's ‘sermons,’ curiously interlarded with ‘laughter.’ ”
TO THE FEMALE DISCIPLES IN THE THIRD ANGEL'S MESSAGE.
By B. F. Robbins
You will pardon my special address to you when I say it is because I have my fears that many of you who I believe are sincerely endeavoring to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, are lacking in that entire heart consecration to God and his cause which he requires of us all; and a want of the experience of the promise of the Father to his sons and daughters of the gift of his Spirit, the endowment of power from on high in order to their usefulness. The promise of the Father was as much to the female as male disciples of Jesus. "And on my servants, and on my hand-maidens, will I pour out in those days of my Spirit, and they shall prophesy."
Here in the precious promise there is neither male nor female, all are one in Christ Jesus. I know that the most of us have been gathered into the message of the third angel from the sectarian churches where we received our religious training, which we now, in the clear light of God's truth see was defective, both in doctrine and practice; and we are aware that in them the pride, and popularity, and conformity to the world, and worldly fashions tolerated by them, and besides in some of them the prejudice against woman's efforts and labors in the church, have crushed out her usefulness. This kind of training has in many of you caused tim-22idity, and discouragement, and the neglect of the use of gifts designed to edify the church and glorify God. Perhaps many of you feel the embarrassing influence of our former associations; for I believe it is so with some with whom I am acquainted, and to such, scattered abroad, let me speak a few words of encouragement and exhortation.
Go with me in imagination to the gathering of the few disciples of Jesus on the day of Pentecost. There with their brethren in humble expectation sat the faithful Marys. They had followed their beloved Master in his sojourn here as the Man of Sorrows, and with unyielding love and unflinching constancy in the dark hour when all forsook him, they stood by amid scenes of ignominy, suffering and terror. They followed the footsteps of those who bore his lifeless form to the tomb, and their loving hearts prompted them to be first at the sepulchre on the morning of his resurrection.
Now with their brethren in their assembly they wait the promise of the Father, the endowment of power from on high. And did not the tongue of fire descend alike upon them as upon their brethren? Assuredly it did. And think you that their Spirit-baptized lips were closed in silence in that solemn assembly? No: the servants and the handmaidens prophesied there as the Spirit gave them utterance.
I have said there were gifts among you designed of God for the edification of the body of Christ, his church, and for his glory; and I have not misspoken. I shall always remember the fervent spirit of a young sister years ago, my most efficient fellow-laborer in the gospel, whose effectual prayers were my encouragement, and whose labors of love in the congregation were abundantly blessed in gathering fruit unto life eternal.
And it is not egotistical if I say here that but a few months ago the testimony of a sister in a public assembly aroused me from a state of despondency and unbelief to humble confidence in God, which I trust has resulted in the consecration of myself, my all, a living, and I trust an ever-consuming sacrifice upon the altar which sanctifies the gift laid upon it. And O how providential that testimony. And that dear disciple will probably never know the influence of that testimony upon poor me until her humble faith is lost in sight, and her hope in eternal fruition.
Can I, think you, despise or undervalue woman's gifts for usefulness in the cause of her Master? No: I mourn that in our social religious interviews she is so prone to inactivity and silence, in prayer and exhortation, when by divine grace she may be so abundantly qualified to edify and encourage.
My sisters, do you say, I am weak and disqualified, I am doubting and fearful? Be as consecrated and faithful as the loving, blessed Marys. Let the consecration to God of your all be entire. Rest not until your all is in sacrifice laid upon the altar. Rest not until in perfect love you are consciously the Lord's, dead indeed unto sin and the vain show of earth, but alive unto God. Seek unweariedly the endowment of the promise of the Father, the power from on high, which is alike the privilege of both the servants and handmaidens of God.
And has the hallowed fire touched your lips? Open them for Jesus, and in testimony everywhere of the truth and faithfulness of our covenant-keeping God. It may be an abundant source of strength to some of his tried ones amid the discouragements of earth. It may be it will lift up the hands that hang down, and strengthen feeble knees. At any rate it will win the commendation of the Master, "She hath done what she could."
"O, that each in the day of his coming may say,
I have fought my way through;
I have finished the work thou didst give me to do.
"O, that each from his Lord may receive the glad word,
Well and faithfully done!
Enter into my joy, and sit down on my throne."
B. F. ROBBINS.
Friendship, N. Y., Nov. 24th, 1859.
WHY
By J. Clarke
Do we not hear more from the brethren and sisters, through the Review? The Review is the acknowledged medium of a people who are mutually striving for holiness of heart and life, seeking for the truth; its columns are open for the most unworthy of us who are honestly seeking for the truth, purity and holiness, and as great indulgence is granted to liberty of speech and freedom of expression as is consistent with order and good and wholesome rules. And its usefulness and interest is greatly increased by means of its varied correspondents who from week to week and from time to time vent their feelings in the expression of their desires, their victories, their troubles, their conflicts and trials, queries, doubts, &c., thus as it were producing a weekly paper wholly devoted to truth and godliness, taking the place of a weekly conference of all the remnant. Here all earthly distinctions, such as pertain to wealth and rank, are lost sight of, and ample scope is given to all who will, to enter the lists and bear testimony to the goodness of God, or their desires for holiness and truth.
There are thousands of Sabbath-keepers who read the Review, and most of these dear people of God do welcome it to their dwellings very much as they would welcome a tried and faithful friend, (this is no fiction, no flattery, but fact); and many a tear of joy and gratitude to God falls upon its pages as they trace in its columns the progress of the cause, and the struggles of the honest ones to get free from Satan's chains. Many an honest heart swells with emotion as it realizes something of the grandeur of the last great effort of heaven in behalf of poor lost man, as promulgated in the message of the third angel.
Many a heart is filled with pity in view of the stupidity of our race in rejecting this great light upon prophecy, and as from week to week testimony is found in the columns of the Review from almost all parts of our country and Canada, proving that in every locality Satan is doing his best and most desperate work of deception and preparing the snare which is to ensnare the whole world.
Many a lonely one who never greets a brother or sister of like precious faith, situated among hypocrites, wolves, beasts of prey (figuratively speaking), whose only earthly companion and guide to the temple of truth is the Bible, many a persecuted one is delighted weekly as the Review presents its honest, cheerful face, and away in some corner it is hidden perhaps until a favorable opportunity occurs in which it may be read, free from fear of some domestic friend who would burn it if it were discovered.
We live in peculiar times, in a land of peculiar institutions and laws. Strange things are daily being enacted under the banner of the stars and stripes, and many of the remnant are alive to the perils of the times, but I aver some are asleep, or we should hear from more, and oftener. I do believe that if any one in the present truth does with good motive open his heart to the lovers of God and his truth in any proper and fitting place, time and manner, as in conference or social meeting, or in the Review, God will bless him. I appeal to those who have tried it if it is not so.
J. CLARKE.
WHEN the Gentiles from whom we descended, were strangers and enemies to God by wicked works without Christ, without God, and without hope; then came the dear Saviour to draw them near to God and to speak peace to them. God who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved them, saved them through faith in his only begotten Son, and made them fellow heirs with his chosen people, to the unsearchable riches of Christ; and chose Saul to bear these blessed tidings to them, and to call them from the darkness and bondage of sin, into the glorious light and liberty of the gospel. Saul, or Paul was made a prisoner by the envious Jews and idolatrous Gentiles, because through him salvation and glory through the true God were offered to the Gentiles. While a prisoner he writes to his Gentile brethren thus: [Eph. iv, 1, 2, New Trans.] "I beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which ye are called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love." We being Gentiles, are called as well as they. Let us further consult the text-book that we may learn how to walk worthy of our calling; for it is
a great calling; even to God's kingdom and glory. "Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory, but in lowliness of mind, esteem each other better than yourself," for the Lord "hath respect to the lowly," while he "resists the proud." "Whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased," but "with the lowly is wisdom," even that wisdom which is "from above, and is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, without hypocrisy; full of the fruits of the Spirit, which are "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith meekness and temperance." Walk then "worthy of the Lord to all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might according to his glorious power, unto all patience, and longsuffering, with joyfulness, giving thanks unto the Father who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light."
Put on therefore as the chosen of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if any have a quarrel against any, even as Christ forgave you; and above all, put on love, which is the bond of perfection. "Let all bitterness and wrath, and anger and clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice, and be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake forgave you." Should ye be angry, sin not; let not the sun go down upon your wrath, nor give place to the devil (New Trans.). "If any be overtaken in a fault ye who are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering yourselves lest ye also be tempted; bear one another's burdens and so fulfil the law of Christ." Those who are strong (to resist temptation) ought to bear (with) the infirmities of the weak; and not seek to please themselves, but seek to edify or build up the weak brother or sister. For even Christ (the divine pattern) pleased not himself. "Whatsoever ye would that others should do to you, do ye even so to them." And to sum up all; "Whether ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." May the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that hath called you who also will perform.
M.
THE BIRTH OF THE SAVIOUR.
History records no event so momentous to man. Through the vista of eighteen hundred years, the eye of faith still sees the unfolded radiance of the halcyon morning whose orient beams were the first dawning of an immortal day, and over which the lapse of ages has thrown no obscurity. It was an era which time can never blot from the recollections of man—which eternity cannot expunge from the archives of heaven. Then it was that the great scene of redemption opened, and the stupendous scheme of mercy, projected in the sublime councils of heaven, began to be developed. Then the great prophecy of ages was turned into history, and the Shiloh of early promise stood revealed. Then were promulgated those "good tidings of great joy" which first cheered to ecstasy the shepherds of Bethlehem, and which were soon to be "published to all people." Then "the morning stars sang together," and the arches of heaven rang with the hosannas of angels. Vain were the attempt to portray the glories of the auspicious day, which filled the earth with shouts of jubilation, and lighted up new lustres in the skies. The pens, the tongues, the language of mortals are impotent in the effort. Eloquence may array all its topics and figures; the muse may combine all her imagery, and soar on her sublimest wing; and, without the promptings of inspiration, leave the lofty theme all untold.
But, although we cannot portray the scene, we love to dwell on the portrait already drawn in the gospel, by more than mortal pen. We love to go back in imagination, to the long-lapsed period of his nativity; to linger around the hallowed spot; to witness the train of wonders involved in the process, and to ponder the auspicious sequel. The scene spreads itself anew23before the eye, and solemn awe gathers around the heart. The mighty birth is proclaimed in our ears. We see the infant Immanuel "wrapped in swaddling-clothes," and him to whom "is given all power in heaven and in earth," pillowed upon the rude manger of a stable! We see the "star in the east" stand gleaming in the heavens to guide the footsteps of the wise men. We hear him, while yet a child, confounding the wisdom of sages, and baffling Pharisaic subtlety. We follow him into the great scenes of his labors and toils, and behold acts of godlike benevolence circling his path, and miracles of mercy sealing his divine mission. We see water blushing into wine at his volition, and a few loaves and fishes swelled into profusion for thousands by his blessing. The eye-balls of the blind are unsealed at his touch; the sick are healed by his word; and the dead start into life at his summons.
We pursue him in his sufferings, mingle in his sorrows, and weep over the woes which beset his path to the cross. We see him treading the wine-press alone, and whelmed under waves of guilt not his own. We weep with him in the garden of Gethsemane, in the hour of agony, when the bitterness of anguish drew blood from every pore. We behold him betrayed by the kiss of a perfidious disciple; arraigned as a felon; tried in solemn mockery, amid the vociferations of a mob; and doomed to death by malice and perjury. We hear the declaration of his innocence and the sentence of his condemnation together, from the same mouth. We see the crown of thorns twining around his sacred head, and the last vial of wrath poured out, and the great tragedy of the cross closing the scene.
Closing, did I say? Does the scene close here? O, no! It only changes. A day of joy breaks upon this midnight of sorrows. The hour of triumph is at hand. Though he could not come down from the cross, he could break the seals of death, and the enclosures of the sepulchre. He arose, "the first fruits of them that slept," and taught us that sleeping millions shall one day burst their tombs and spring to life—the life of gods. If angels shouted at his birth, what notes of holy rapture should warble forth from human tongues at his triumph over the grave! This is the theme of human exultation. Here our human nature puts on immortal robes, and virtue dresses up for heaven. This great fact sweeps away at once the dreams of heathen speculation, and disperses the cloud that veiled the brightest pages of early philosophy.—Sel.
L E T T E R S .
By J. S. Wicks
“Then they that feared the Lord, spake often one to another.”
From Bro. Wicks.
Bro. Smith : I feel like giving in my testimony on the Lord's side, although it has only been about eighteen months since I embraced the third angel's message. I was brought to behold the truth of the third message under the preaching of the word by Bro. Frisbie, and I can truly say that I thank God that he ever showed me that I must keep all his commandments and have the faith of Jesus. O may I ever walk in the light of the blessed truth as it is in Jesus. The Lord saw fit, as I trust, to show me light in the first message in the winter of '43–4. Then and there I was first led to seek an interest in the atoning blood of Christ.
Dear brethren and sisters, how pleasant it did then, as it does now, seem to me, to hear and feel that Jesus is soon coming. But then I, with many others, met the sad disappointment of my Master's not coming at the supposed appointed time, but was not satisfied to give up my hope. Nay, I have ever since believed from my heart that the time would come when I should behold Jesus coming in the clouds of heaven, and ever since have been seeking to know his will concerning me, and to be prepared to meet him when he should return from the wedding. But I find that the enemy of all good has been engaged in leading me, in that great city, Babylon, from one street (denomination) to another, till he led me into Spiritualism, and then told me that the Bible was false, that it was a fable, and not the truth; that there was no Devil, no Saviour, &c. But, dear brethren and sisters, that was too much for me; the still small voice seemed again to say, Flee from the wrath to come. I then renounced him and his work, and I do know him to be a liar and the father of lies. Now I feel to thank God that he has again called after me and has taught me that I must keep his holy commandments and the faith of Jesus. Although I often have trials, yet I feel that the Lord is with me. Yes, thanks be to his holy name, I believe the time is fast hastening when he that is to come will come and will not tarry. Let us be prepared to meet him with joy and not with grief.
How it cheers my heart to read the testimonies from the remnant scattered abroad. Let us not be discouraged when almost in sight of the prize, but let us lay hold of the promises of God with an unyielding grasp, for the promise is to the faithful. I am determined by the grace of God to be a faithful follower of the meek and lowly Jesus. Pray for me, dear brethren and sisters.
J. S. WICKS.
Wright, Mich.
Alone in Keeping God's Commandments
By T. Ramsey
From Bro. Ramsey.
Bro. Smith: For some eight months I have been trying to keep the commandments of God; but many times I think I come far short of keeping them as God requires. My daily prayer to God is that he may keep me in that strait and narrow path that leads to eternal life. It cheers my heart to read the testimonies from the lonely ones scattered abroad, especially from those that are circumstanced as myself, being the only Sabbath-keeper in this place. I think it very lonely indeed to be alone in keeping God's commandments; but when God says his grace is sufficient for me, I feel more and more like putting my trust in him, and relying on the many gracious promises he has made unto me, and unto all those that love the appearing of the Saviour.
I thank God that he ever gave me an ear to hear and a heart to believe the third angel's message. May God grant me the full pardon of all my sins, that I may be perfect, even as my heavenly Father is perfect. I pray God to speed the day when our conflicts will all be over; when we shall have seen the salvation of our God; when we shall be taken away from this wicked world, and go to dwell with Jesus, where we shall be forever at rest.
My dear brethren and sisters, are we doing all we can to become a pure people, zealous of good works? How often I think I might do more to spread the present truth if I was only more energetic in doing my duty. May God help me to let my light shine before the world. When I see the wickedness around me, especially of those that profess to be followers of Christ, I cannot help feeling that God cannot suffer this wicked world much longer. Let us, one and all, come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty. I do feel more like doing my master's will now, than when I first believed. I have many things to contend with here, but by the grace of God I expect to overcome.
Yours striving for eternal life. T. Ramsey.
Leipsic, O.
SAMIRA NICHOLS
By Samira Nichols
From Sister Nichols.
Bro. Smith : I cannot be grateful enough to my heavenly Father for his goodness to my family, and his tender care over us in leading us in ways that we knew not. O how good the Lord has been to me, and still is! He has been my physician, my counsellor, my guide, my all. I know that if I follow my Saviour he will lead me to mansions prepared for the blest.
Dear brethren and sisters, let us arise, and in the strength of the Lord do all that is required of us at home or abroad. I want to get out of the way of sinners. I hope that we shall as a people be very careful in this respect to not stand in the way of others and hinder those who would be sanctified through the truth. I want to see the cause moving onward. Why will we not open the door of our hearts and let the Saviour in? We can if we will. The Lord requires nothing of us but what in his strength we can do. Let us struggle for the victory. When we feel tempted and tried if we hasten to the closet and there plead for strength and wisdom, we shall not be sent empty away. Good angels will attend us, and we shall be enabled to rejoice even in affliction. I do praise the Lord that he lends a listening ear to the cries of his children. Can we not give all for a home in heaven? to be with the lovely Jesus and enjoy his smiles, to no more feel the power of the enemy, no more be looked upon with scorn and derision? I praise God for the truth of the third angel’s message. If we live this we shall go through to the kingdom. Lord help us to do this, is my prayer.