Under this heading a correspondent of the Examiner not long since penned the following language:
"Will not this prayer prevail? It was presented by our Lord for the encouragement of his people. They are to pray after this manner. It is a prescribed manner. Prescribed by the Lord Jesus Christ; and in accordance with the promise given in the second psalm: 'Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.' Glorious promise! Radiant with light from the celestial throne! Christ, the Messiah, is instructed by his Father and our Father to ask this great extension of his kingdom; and Christ, as a Son over his own house, instructs his people to ask that our heavenly Father's kingdom may come, and his will be done on earth as in heaven. How certain we are that this prayer will be fulfilled—answered, though trials attend Zion! Though the fulfillment tarry, wait for it. Let us therefore rejoice that neither divisions, opposition or poverty shall defeat the promise. Then let us still labor in faith, and still pray, 'Thy kingdom come.'"
The above gives a good idea of the general belief on this subject, and shows how radical a departure has been made in this respect from the teachings of the sacred word, as well as in regard to the subjects of the Sabbath and nature and destiny of man.
The prayer is certainly right enough, and will be so until that time comes when prayer shall be lost in praise. The kingdom was not set up by Christ nor his apostles; it is not set up yet; and the instruction of our Lord to pray, "Thy kingdom come," is still of force.
And this prayer will certainly be answered. It was presented for the encouragement of God's people, and will not be in vain: the kingdom will come; but how different from the general expectation!
"Glorious promise!" says the above writer, referring to the promise which says, "Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for a possession." Why glorious? Because he regards it as a promise that all the heathen shall be converted, and the uttermost parts of the earth filled with righteousness; and then Christ's kingdom will have come. But when people read the above psalm, why do they not, before drawing their conclusion, read the whole of the declaration? Why do they take that text alone, and discard the context? To be sure, God has promised to give to his Son the heathen for an inheritance; but what will he do with them? Convert them, and append a millennium of glory to the scenes of time? Not a syllable of it; but—"Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron, thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." This declaration ought to be sufficient to dispel some of that cloud of imaginary glory which popular theology throws over the heathen and the uttermost parts of the earth.
But the dream is too pleasing to be disturbed or broken by any motive naturally found in the heart of man. The prophets see visions of peace, and the people love to have it so. But ere the peace there must be war. When the wheat is gathered into the garner, the winnowing floor is to be thoroughly purged. A thousand years of desolation, and not a thousand years of prosperity and glory, are pronounced upon the earth, ere its final restoration. And when the time comes for that prayer to be answered, which men now so misunderstandingly pray, Thy kingdom come, the heathen and their hopes, together, will be dashed in pieces with a rod of iron.
THE CAUSE IN KNOXVILLE, IOWA.
By M. Hull
BRO. SMITH : By request of the brethren I have just spent four days with the church in Knoxville, which has resulted to the glory of God, and the advancement of his cause. It is true that Satan is yet at work, and the fighters of God's truth are getting new allies; that the dragon's ire is waxing hotter and hotter; that he is determined to have vengeance upon the remnant of the woman's seed which keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus.
But while the conflict is going on, truth is gaining the victory. The result of our last meeting was an addition of fourteen members.
The Lord will bring his jewels out; and the determined hostility to the truth, upon the part of those who are determined to oppose God's holy will, only helps to forward the Lord's work; and we are brought to see the fulfillment of that scripture which says, Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder thereof shalt thou restrain.Ps. lxxvi, 10.
At a business meeting on Dec. 2d, the following resolutions were adopted:
1st. Having tried the plan of systematic benevolence as adopted by the church at Battle Creek, and finding that it works well, therefore,
Resolved, That we express our approval of it through the Review, and recommend it to the churches in Iowa.
2d. Believing this to be the Lord's cause, and the last message of mercy to fallen man, and having an earnest desire that others should know these truths which have made our hearts glad, therefore
Resolved, That we co-operate with other churches west of the Des Moines river to purchase a tent for Western Iowa, and have it in this western field next summer.
3d. Inasmuch as Bro. M. Hull is going West this winter, therefore,
Resolved, That we appoint him to solicit aid, and take subscriptions or notes with which to purchase a tent.
5th. Inasmuch as Bro. James White of Battle Creek, Michigan, is better acquainted with tents and tent operations than we are, therefore
Resolved, That we appoint him to select and purchase a tent for us, when we shall have a sufficient amount pledged to cover the cost.
In the evening before we parted about sixty of us assembled together at Bro. Patterson's, where about two hours were spent in self-examination and confession of sins; after which the ordinances of the Lord's house were attended to; and O! what blessings were showered down upon us. Some of us were more than full, especially while following the example of our Saviour in John xiii, 5.
Truly it is good to obey the Lord. In so doing these poor earthen vessels can be filled unutterably full of glory and joy which cannot be described. 1 Pet, i, 6–8. Truly the work of the Lord is onward in the West. Praise the Lord! Brethren, pray for us.
M. HULL.
Sandyville, Dec. 6th, 1859.
P. S. Many thanks to the brethren in Decatur City for a horse and buggy which they have presented to me. It did not come before I needed it. M. H.
REPORT OF MEETINGS.
By John Norton Loughborough
Bro. Smith: Since I left home I have held meetings at Parkville and White Pigeon, Mich., and in North Liberty, Ind. At Parkville I found there were about twenty-five keeping the Sabbath, who are growing stronger in the good way. They have two prayer-meetings a week. I spoke four times in Parkville and vicinity. Considerable interest was manifest in the word spoken, and others, I trust, who are half persuaded to obey the truth, will yet come out, and join the commandment-keepers. I have already given some notes of the opposition sermons in Parkville. Since giving these notes, another discourse has been preached on the coming of Christ and the judgment, in which the elder claimed that the judgment of the great day meant the judgment at death. All days, he said, were alike to the Lord. So its being the judgment of the great day could only mean that it was a great day to us, and, said he, the greatest day to us is the day of our death. So the great day must be the day of our death. Christ's coming, he said, was at conversion.
I preached a discourse at the same school-house, in which I endeavored to set forth the Bible doctrine of the judgment and coming of Christ in opposition to Eld. Duncan's mystical coming and judgment.
On Tuesday evening, Dec. 6th, by request I gave a discourse near White Pigeon to an attentive congregation, on the subject of the Christian's hope. Last Sabbath I met with the church in this vicinity. The Lord met with us, and although our numbers were few we felt that it was good that we had met together.
On first-day I listened to a discourse from one Eld. Brown, a Methodist minister, who gave out that he should prove in his discourse that our Sunday was the seventh day from creation. I had often heard it stated by Methodist ministers that time had been lost so that we could not tell when the seventh day was. You may imagine, then, that some curiosity was awakened in me to see the process by which the said elder would prove to a demonstration that our Sunday was actually the seventh day of the week from creation. I found the principal authority produced was the celebrated Dr. Akers' chronology, and that the common plea, that time had been lost, was now to be set aside. The Eld. proceeded to tell us just where the sun was at its creation, and just exactly how many days, hours and minutes it was from the creation of the world to the year 1900. And then dividing his number thus obtained by seven he found that the fraction over the weeks would make our Sunday the seventh day from creation.
This man said that the idea of keeping Saturday as the seventh day, grew out of following the Roman calendar, which was gotten up b. c. 45, by which calendar the day of the sun was called the first day of the week, and from that on the numerals were applied to the seven days of the week which were then only known by their heathen names. The Jews, he said, fell in with this, and that was why they celebrated the Sabbath on Saturday. He told us that before the time of this calendar, the Jews reckoned their Sabbath from the commencement of the year, the beginning of the month Abib. And that every year the correct reckoning for their Sabbath was pinned down by the feast of passover, which occurred on the fifteenth day of the month Abib.
To still further show that his position was right he told us that the Jews had not been able to keep their Sabbath right, or in the right time since they ceased to observe the passover, and if anybody wanted to keep the Jewish Sabbath they would have to get a Jewish Rabbi to tell them when it was the fifteenth day of the month Abib. He told us that the Jewish Rabbis had lately found out that they had all along been keeping the wrong day, and in Cincinnati they had concluded to change, and keep the right day, and would not keep Sunday.
As he requested those who differed with him to speak, I arose after he got through and read three questions which I had penned down while he was proceeding in his discourse.
1. If God meant to have the Jews keep the sixth day from creation, why did he tell them in the fourth commandment, (which you admit as the great Sabbath law,) that they should keep the day on which he rested at the close of creation week? Can it be that the day he pointed out by miracles for forty years, and told them was the seventh, was actually the sixth?
2. If we are to understand that the seventh-day Sabbath is pinned down each year by the fifteenth day of the first month of that year, must it not each year move one day ahead, like all our annual festivals, such as Christmas, New Years, Independence, &c.? And if so, how do we know that the Jews always kept the sixth day, and that it was the sixth day that was observed by them the year of Christ's crucifixion?
3. If the Jews kept the seventh day from creation in keeping the fourth commandment, then those now keeping Sunday do not keep the day of the commandment. If those keeping Sunday keep the seventh day, then the Jews never kept the commandment. But we believe they did keep the commandment. They still observe the Sabbath on our Saturday. And as they have never changed the day of their Sabbath, Saturday instead of Sunday must still be the day pointed out in the fourth commandment.
About the only definite reply we received to the above questions was a motion made by a United Brethren preacher to close the meeting. I am satisfied that the questions awakened interest in the minds of some, which was fully manifested by their earnest request that I should preach to them. I am now at Bro. Harvey's, expect to start in a few moments to the Morris neighborhood, seven miles south of this, where I commence a course of lectures this evening.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
North Liberty, Ind., Dec. 12th, 1859.
SUCCESS IN OUR WORK.
By B. F. Robbins
WHAT is our hope for success in the work entrusted to us as believers in the speedy return of the blessed coming One, as laborers in gathering the last harvest of "fruit unto life eternal?" This is an important question which should be immediately and scripturally answered in the mind of every servant and handmaiden of our Master.
Our hope for success in the work to which we are called rests upon an entirely different basis than that upon which rests the hope of a popular nominal christianity.
We have not the influence of a popular name which commands the respect of the worldly, for the numbers and influence gathered under it. We have not wealth to display in costly edifices in which to nominally worship, or popular talent in the ministry which wealth alone can make available. Yet much of the boasted success of this age in the churches may be traced to such causes alone; it is merely converting men to a form of godliness while the power is overlooked and denied.
But there are means mighty and powerful, ample and sufficient for us even though the scorn of the world and the church rests upon us as much perhaps as it did upon the despised disciples of the rejected crucified One. They were scorned for their belief in him as the promised Messiah come; we for the confidence we feel and profess in the coming of the Messiah the second time according to his promise, as near even at the door.
But what are the means mighty and powerful upon which we may rely and expect success in our work amid the mighty influences which oppose us? The very same that rendered the first disciples of our Master efficient and successful in their work. They tarried at Jerusalem until endowed with power from on high; and when the promise of the Father was fulfilled and the Holy Spirit was poured out upon them they were qualified to successfully labor in the work assigned them; and the scorned despised Galileans boldly met the prejudices and opposition of the Jews, and triumphantly demonstrated the resurrection and exaltation to the right hand of God of the rejected crucified One; for there before them was their word confirmed in power in the tongues of flame that sat upon each of them.
Brethren and sisters, such an endowment of power from on high in order to success as was given them, is also for us. "The promise is unto you and to your children and to all that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call." What promise? "Upon my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit and they shall prophesy." Are we the called of God? Then the promise is ours by faith.
I am really thankful that the popular means for success are not ours. I am thankful that like the first disciples we are not of the world, therefore the world hateth us. The world loves its own, even though its own wears the profession of nominal Christianity.
But why am I thankful that ours is an unpopular, cross-bearing, self-sacrificing profession? Because it cuts us loose from every hope of success but the promise and Spirit of God; and I bless God for the assurance based upon his promise, that the same power from on high that made the word of God proclaimed by the disciples as the Spirit gave them utterance to be a two-edged sword that pierced to the heart the murderers of the Prince of Life, may be ours, the pledge and assurance of success in our work.
Does a worldly, popular ministry frown and oppose? Does a formal, fashionable church scorn and despise us for our coming Jesus' sake? I am glad; I rejoice; for it works in us an entire dependence upon God and his word, a consecration without reserve, the sacrifice of our all upon the altar most holy, by faith in Jesus, thus by inward purity preparing us for the endowment of power from on high, the tongue of flame to insure success to the labors of the sons and daughters of the Lord.
Here alone is the basis of our hope for success. A holy work to be accomplished by holy and powerful means made available for us all. Shall we then be disheartened and shrink from our responsibilities? No, never. Expectants of the glorious coming One, our time for labor is limited, and "the fields around us are white already to harvest." You may individually38gather fruit unto life eternal, for the means proffered to us are mighty and powerful. Work earnestly, work to persuade the sinner unconverted to be reconciled to God, ere the door of mercy is closed forever against him. Exhibit in your lives the lovely, attractive influence of holiness as a light to shine into the minds and hearts of the formal and worldly, to lead them from dead formality to the life and power of godliness.
The power from on high will enable us all to edify and encourage our brethren and sisters in our testimony to the truth and faithfulness of God, and we should all faithfully improve every opportunity to glorify God with our body and spirit which are his.
B. F. ROBBINS.
Friendship, N. Y.
WILL THEY CONVERT THE WORLD?
By M. E. Cornell
THE Christian Advocate for Sept. 14th, 1859, published a letter from India, from which I extract the following:
"Alas, what sights and sounds meet me! On Saturday evening last I passed a place where it is said ten thousand natives were assembled. And why do you think they had met? It was to adopt a memorial to lord Stanley, the Secretary of State for India, praying that hindrances may be put in the way of propagating the gospel in this land. And while I write, the memorial is lying before me in the Tamil language. Sad, indeed, is the state of matters here. There has not for many years been such a violent opposition to the gospel as there is at present."
The same paper speaks of the heathen cutting up and destroying the Bibles in Bulgaria; a large number were destroyed.
The N. Y. Independent says: "The preaching of the gospel for a few years past (in the Sandwich Islands) seems to have but little influence on the young. Only one church, that at Waimea, reports a revival. Licentiousness in many places is becoming fearfully prevalent. A disposition is also shown to revive some of the old heathenish practices, and the Hula, a most demoralizing dance, is already quite prevalent in Oahu."
Everywhere I go the same evidences greet me, the friends of Christianity are lamenting, while its enemies rejoice over the fallen state of the churches; but the rest are all asleep, having been rocked in the peace-and-safety cradle. The result of the modern revivals in both that and the old country, and the enlarging and multiplying of State prisons, clearly show the downward tendency of the masses.
The aggressions of the slave power the last few years are ominous in the same direction. The lying and misrepresentation, the low slang and blackguard, of the political papers in the United States, have become quite general. If one-third of what each party says of the other be true, then certainly they must be awfully corrupt; but if two-thirds be false, they are equally condemned. Alas! what deception and wickedness is practiced by those in high places, both political and religious. Because iniquity abounds the love of many is waxed cold, and the world is ripening for destruction. What reason we have for gratitude, when we consider that these perilous times have been foretold by the prophets, and that this state of things will not long continue. A little room here for patience and faith, and then "he that shall come will come and will not tarry." Even so. Amen.
M. E. CORNELL.
Tipton, Iowa, Dec. 8th, 1859.
A TEMPORAL MILLENNIUM.
By H. F. Baker
BRO. SMITH: I herewith transmit to you an extract taken from MARY HOWITT's translation of FREDRICA BREMER's Impressions of America, in a letter written to Dr. MARTINSEN, an eminent professor of Theology, in Stockholm, Sweden.
It struck me while perusing it, that those who entertain a belief in a temporal millennium before the coming of our LORD, being unable to shut their eyes to the great and increasing amount of sin, wickedness and iniquity of all kinds, which is abroad in these times must, per force, acknowledge themselves mistaken, or with this learned Professor "conceive it to be a very short period;" and it seems to me, were I to admit such an idea, I could only do so by supposing that GOD himself would of his power interpose and forcibly put away sin—a supposition with which history certainly cannot furnish a parallel, and which cannot be found to be taught in the Scriptures, except by the destruction of those who do wickedly. Thinking the extract might be interesting, I send it. She says:
"Frequently, during my residence in America, was I reminded of your words, in your article on the coming of the LORD and the completion of all things, in which you say:
"'The nearer history approaches to its close, the greater is the impetus attained by the wheels of time; the greater is the speed and the rapidity, the more quick the revolution of dissimilar conditions hurrying onward developement; and he may greatly miscalculate who conceives that in the present condition of the world there still remains as much to do as may require the labor of centuries, and that the end may still be very distant; for, if the LORD so will, it may be done in an eventful day, and without such a one it never will be accomplished. Neither, therefore, is it opposed to the doctrine of the Scripture if we conceive of the millennium as a very short period—as one day which concentrates in itself a fullness and a glory which otherwise would extend over a century.'"
Yours in brotherly love,
H. F. BAKER.
E. MACOMBER
By E. Macomber
From Bro. Macomber.
Bro. Smith: I am persuaded that much good might be done if some brother of the commandment-keepers, one who is furnished to every good word and work, would visit the Rhode Island general conference to be39held the last week of this month, commencing on fourth-day, and ending on seventh-day evening. One half of the days are open for discussion on any subject from the blessed word of God.
The most prominent members of the conference have used me very kindly, and are ready to hear on the subject of the Sabbath of the Lord, and said to me that I must write to you to get some one to come and open these things to them, as they are anxious to see if these things are so. I believe that they are hungering for righteousness, and the promise is that they shall be filled; but you know that the truth must be held up, and it is necessary that some one should rightly divide the word that each may have a portion of meat in due season.
Bro. D. of Peacedale, R. I., has been with the seventh day brethren here, and has given the good word of the Lord, but he has not decided on the fourth commandment, that is, he thinks he fulfills the commandment in keeping the first day.
Now I do believe that much good might be done here in the East. Will some faithful brother hear this Macedonian cry and come and help? May God direct for the Redeemer's sake. Amen.
Dear brethren, we are praising God, and trying to obey the commandments, and have the faith of Jesus, and are looking for the blessed Lord to come. There are fifteen of us here, brethren and sisters, who meet every seventh day, and believe this is the Sabbath of the Lord our God, and we would like to have some one filled with the Spirit of the Lord, come and make us a visit. The Lord direct in this matter, is my prayer.
Yours looking for the Lord to come soon.
E. MACOMBER
New Shoreham, R. I.
PRAYER.
When torn is the bosom by sorrow or care,
Be it ever so simple there's nothing like prayer:
It eases, soothes, softens, subdues yet restrains,
Gives vigor to hope, and puts passion in chains.
Prayer, prayer—oh sweet prayer!
Be it ever so simple there's nothing like prayer.
When far from friends we hold dearest, we part,
When fond recollections still cling to the heart;
Past converse, past scenes, past enjoyments are there,
The memory rejoices in language of prayer.
Prayer, prayer—oh sweet prayer!
Be it ever so simple there's nothing like prayer.
When pleasure would woo us from piety's arms,
The syren sings sweetly, or silently charms,
We listen, love, loiter, are caught in the snare,
On looking to Jesus we conquer by prayer.
Prayer, prayer—oh sweet prayer!
Be it ever so simple there's nothing like prayer.
While strangers to prayer, we are strangers to bliss,
Heaven pours its full streams through no medium but this;
And till we the seraph's full ecstasy share,
Our chalice of joy must be guarded by prayer.
Prayer, prayer—oh sweet prayer!
Be it ever so simple there's nothing like prayer.
COUNSEL.
By J. Clarke
"WHERE no counsel is, the people fail; but in the multitude of counsellors, there is safety." Prov. xi, 14.
"Every purpose is established by counsel." Prov. xx, 18.
There is no necessity for multiplying evidence of the excellence of prudent counsel, and of the wisdom of that man's course who values and seeks for good advice. The Bible abounds with proof that the best and wisest of men, who moved in those times, sought for prudent counsellors, who by their judgment and knowledge, were the strength and stability of any cause which they supported.
True, a man should have an opinion of his own, based upon facts, and strengthened by correct reasoning; and in religious matters especially, should he be established in his own mind; but the very way to be stable and firm is to know from the first all that relates to the matter in hand, to be well posted, thoroughly acquainted with all the relations and bearings of the subject at issue, and then he is prepared to make up his mind unalterably, and firmly; and for this he can find no more appropriate and certain means than by procuring the best, and ablest, and most prudent advice.
We find that worldly men appreciate counsel. Rulers have their counsellors and cabinets, both in war and peace, in public and private life. It is well understood that in order to have success in their undertakings, they must be conducted wisely, and where combined effort is called for, there must be harmony; and for this much counsel is taken, and all the information and advice that can be obtained is sought for before marking out the course to be pursued.
No man is so wise as never to need advice, never to need to be informed, and most men would improve much, both in temporals and spirituals, by asking advice. He is then better fitted to act, because he sees both sides of the question, even though his adviser may not be followed in every case. Christians ought to use every means in their power to make the best of life, the most of time and strength and talent and money, to lay their plans in such a way as to bring the most to pass, not to be at all unfair in their dealings, or dishonorable, but to use every lawful and honorable endeavor to improve the talents committed to their care.
Does a Christian truly consecrate all that he has to the Lord? Satan stands ready, with all his art and cunning, to lessen that man's property by every means in his power. Then let such a steward take plenty of counsel before he moves, lest Satan transfer that property, consecrated to the Lord, over to his own agents. It is trying to pride to admit that our own judgment is not as good as that of any other person; but the quicker we do know our weakness, the better it will be for us. Would the Christian ever attain to that spotless robe, if he had not first discovered that he had a filthy one to put off? and so while he imagines his judgment to be complete, it cannot improve by counsel, for his conceit has locked the door of knowledge against himself. Would Christians do this, it would beget confidence in each other, would create mutual good will, would augment that prince of virtues, charity. It would unite them more closely in love, it would tend to make them one in interest, one in sentiment, one in heart and hand, it would tend to invite all that is good and pure, and repel all that is unholy.
J. CLARKE.
THE FORBEARANCE OF GOD.
By A. A. Marks
“AND account that long suffering of our Lord is salvation.” 2 Pet. iii, 15.
The question may be asked, What does the Lord suffer? We read in 1 Pet. iii, 20, “The longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah while the ark was preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved,” &c. It appears that the forbearance of God suffered the wicked to pass on unpunished until the righteous could be secure; that although the wickedness of men was great, and the earth was filled with violence, yet God suffered it, and the threatened storm of vengeance was stayed or held in check until a shelter was provided for those who loved and obeyed him. But how has it been since God destroyed that generation for their wickedness? Have the nations of the earth been any wiser? Have they learned to obey God, and live any nearer him? O no! They have killed the prophets, murdered the Saviour, and put to death his followers, until the earth has been drenched with the blood of the righteous, and yet God bears and forbears while his people are preparing to take their places in the closing strife of this world's history.
But how slow we are! Year after year has passed away since the warning voice of the third angel has been sounding in our ears; light has been sown for the righteous; the first, second and third messages have brought out light and truth; but amidst it all we have been lukewarm and half-hearted in the work: “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked,” and yet God bears, his long suffering is manifested towards us, and in faithfulness the true Witness is sent to counsel us to be zealous and repent.
Dear reader, who will obey the call, and prepare to have a shelter from the storm that is gathering to burst in fury upon the sinners? Will God always bear? O no! See Rev. iii, 16. “I will spue thee out of my mouth,” also Gen. vi, 3. “My Spirit shall not always strive with man.” Already the muttering of distant thunder is heard, and dark clouds are seen to rise and clash against each other. The nations of earth are preparing to take their places in the mighty struggle. The long suffering of God is waiting for us to prepare for the coming of Jesus.
May you and I, dear reader, cut loose from the love of this world, and get all ready to stand in the day that is coming; be wise, and be wise for ourselves, is my prayer.
A. A. MARKS.
Jackson, Mich.
L E T T E R S.
By Francis Gould
"Then they that feared the Lord, spake often one to another."
From Bro. Gould.
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: It has been about six years since I embraced the Sabbath, and identified myself with those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. I have thought I knew something about the trials of the way, but within a year past they have deepened, and I have become more than ever satisfied that as we journey down the stream of time to the end our trials will increase. God's people are to be a tried people. Says the prophet, "Many shall be purified, made white and tried," and they have the blessed and cheering promise that they shall have strength equal to their day.
For some over a year past I have been prostrated under the power of disease. I have not been able to walk but a few rods without help, and some of the time but a few steps. My distress at times has been severe. There have been many fervent prayers from brethren and sisters offered up in my behalf. Those prayers I highly appreciate, and I have oftentimes been strengthened and encouraged. How good the Lord is! He has promised to be our strength and our shield, and will not forsake those that put their trust in him.
But at the present time while my bodily health and strength seem gradually wasting away, I have been led more fully to appreciate the language of the apostle, "For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened; not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life." But I pray for patience. May it have its perfect work.
Dear brethren and sisters, let us with sweet submission sink into the will of God. Are any of you passing through severe trials? Remember, it is through much tribulation we enter the kingdom of God. Are any prostrated with disease? Remember that Christ has borne our sicknesses, and though we fall, yet shall we rise again. Are any tempted? Remember that God has provided a way of escape. Are any seeking to be holy, and to have all the mind of Christ? "Faithful is he that calleth you who also will do it." May the God of peace sanctify you wholly and preserve us all blameless unto his heavenly kingdom.
FRANCIS GOULD.
East Brookfield, Vt.
Leaving Age-to-Come Views
By Seth Newton
From Bro. Newton.
Bro. SMITH: I am still trying to live for God, though I feel my weakness and unworthiness to be great. But when I look into God's word and see there the glorious promises for them that will overcome, it gives me courage to strive on and try to keep all God's holy commandments and the faith of Jesus.
It has now been about two years since I received the third angel's message, and came out of the Age-to-Come views, and left those with whom I had traveled since 1842. We then started out, believing that Christ would come in 1844, or about that time. We believed that God was in the work, and we had strong faith that the Lord was just about to save the righteous and destroy the wicked. It was a solemn time with us. We felt under it and strove to purify ourselves by living out the truth. We can now ask ourselves, How has it been since? After the time passed we were left in the dark, as it were, in regard to the position we occupied. We thought we were willing to walk in the light, and some did, as we now can see. We are willing to believe that it was the first angel's message that moved us out. Others are not willing to believe in the messages. Such have run off into the Age-to-Come doctrine and other theories which I need not mention.
Dear brethren and sisters, I am thankful to God that I see his goodness in sending some one this way to tell us of the danger we were in. I hope to live so that I shall be saved at last, and with you inherit eternal life.
The church here at Crane's Grove number eleven. We are not without trials and temptations. The same tempter, the Devil, comes this way, and we need to pray often in order to overcome. As we pass on in our journey to the New Jerusalem we must watch and pray much, or the Spirit of Jesus will not abide with us. If we have the Ark of God with us we can prevail.
Bro. Rhodes was with us a few weeks ago, and stopped one week. We were all much benefited by his visit. We have taken hold of the plan of Systematic Benevolence, and would recommend it to all in order that each of us in proportion help the cause of God, that it may prosper, and the warning go forth more fully to the world. If we withhold from God's cause what belongs to God, will not the blood of souls be found on our garments? O let us search our hearts and be willing to work for God.
Brethren and sisters, it rejoices my heart to hear from you. I ask you not to do as I have done, wait and let those that can write well and compose well do all the writing, but let us bring in our testimonies and perhaps the Lord will bless us in so doing.
I want more of the love of God, and more of his Spirit to guide me in this perilous time. I want to be more dead to the world and alive to God, or I fear that I shall not be one of those that will be found ready and waiting when the Master comes. Are we not coming up to the time in which the message will go with a loud cry? I believe we are. My soul cries out to God for grace and strength to do every duty, and to humble myself under his mighty hand, that I may continue to live in obedience to all his commandments. Pray for me that I with you may share in the blessings that God has for his people.
Your brother,
Crane's Grove, Ills.
SETH NEWTON.
Bringing Light Into Darkness
By A. S. Wilkinson
From Sister Wilkinson.
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: Through the infinite mercy of my heavenly Father I still live and enjoy many blessings of which I am not worthy. It is about eight months since I received the present truth through the preaching of the word by Bro. Cornell. I feel daily to praise the Lord that Bro. Cornell's steps were ever directed to this place to give us the third angel's message. I have found by experience that this world is not a friend to grace. Some of my young companions with whom I associated before I came into the truth now seem to avoid my society; but this is no more than I expected. I feel that if they cannot love my precious Saviour who is so worthy, I do not wish them to love me who am but a poor, unworthy, imperfect creature at best. I often think of these words, "He that will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." O, what is this poor, fleeting, wicked world compared with that bright, beautiful and eternal one which all the saints will inherit! I feel that I am willing to forsake all for the kingdom of heaven. I can truly say that I have had far greater enjoyment since I received the truth than I have had before in all my life. O, how cheering it is to my heart to hear from the dear scattered ones who are keeping the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus. It seems to kindle anew the flame of love in my heart. I feel to praise the Lord for bringing me out of darkness into his marvelous light. I feel a desire to do all that I can for him who has done so much for me. I realize that we have but a very short time to work.
Almost every day do I see and hear things which strengthen my faith in the near coming of our Saviour. This bears me up. I will gladly suffer with Jesus, if I can but reign with him in glory. The prospect looks bright ahead. The signs tell us that God's everlasting kingdom is soon to be set up. We are almost home. Courage, fellow pilgrim, a few more "light afflictions," and we shall receive "the far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." We shall soon see the King in his beauty, soon see the mansions that Jesus has gone to prepare for us. O I long to see him whom my soul loveth. Pray for me that I may endure unto the end.
Your sister, seeking for glory, honor and immortality.
A. S. WILKINSON.
Owosso, Mich.
I. M. DAVIS
By I. M. Davis
From Bro. Davis.
BRO. SMITH: We love to hear from our dear brethren and sisters through the Review; and in consideration of this, we feel it our duty to write a few words for the encouragement of those scattered abroad. Myself and companion are still trying to fight the good fight, and win the crown; but we feel very lonely since coming to Iowa. We have not met a brother or sister since we left the little church in Avon, Wis. Much do we miss them; but at the family altar we remember them and pray that the Lord may meet with and bless them with his holy Spirit, even as when we were with them, until we shall all meet where parting is no more.
We have not been to a meeting, or heard a sermon preached, since we left Wisconsin, about three months ago. We heard through the Review that Brn. Cornell and Hull were holding a meeting within thirty miles of us, but we could not attend. We pray that the Lord may soon be pleased to send them this way. There is a large field for labor here, but no laborers. How true the words of our Saviour, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth more laborers into his harvest." And we do pray that ere long he will send forth laborers into Marengo, Iowa Co., Iowa.