BRO. SMITH: The Review is truly a welcome visitor to us. We are well satisfied that it is founded on the Bible. We believe God is calling us, who are trying to keep his commandments and the faith of Jesus, to be zealous, therefore and repent. We feel to arise from our lukewarm state, and heed the counsel of the Son of God.
We are willing to account ourselves but pilgrims here. We have but little of this world's goods; but we trust we are made rich through Jesus our Lord. We think we have no right to spend the little means God has given us for such hurtful articles, as tea, coffee and tobacco. Better by far give it to the bleeding cause of our Redeemer. And we hope no Sabbath-keepers, who feel that all is the Lord's will indulge in such habits. We consider that very many precious truths of the Bible are now being unfolded; and we trust God has, and will continue to give us faith to believe them. We know he will if we love him with our whole hearts.
We do not believe God has, or ever will, require any more of us than we are able to do. God will make known to us our duty in every respect; for if we ask believing, we shall receive. Neither will he withhold any good thing from those that love him. We find the precious promise of everlasting life if we endure unto the end. We are trying to take the word of God for our guide, and are determined through his divine aid to live up to his teachings.
"Thy word is everlasting truth,
How pure is every page!
That holy book shall guide our youth,
And well support our age."
The time is fast approaching when we shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. "And who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth?" "He that hath clean hands and a pure heart." May God keep us all humble and unspotted from the world, so that we may hail the coming of our Saviour with joy and not with grief.
HENRY N., & BETSEY A. PACKARD.
Bowne, Mich.
A Lonely Traveler’s Sabbath Hope
By S. J. Voorus
From Sister Voorus.
Bro. Smith: While reading the Review I am reminded of the solemn time in which we live, and of the importance of having our treasure laid up in heaven where moth and rust doth not corrupt. I can say with many of like faith,
"I'm a lonely traveler here,
Weary, opprest,
But my journey's end is near,
Soon I shall rest."
And while spending the Sabbath alone, I have almost coveted the blessing that many enjoy of meeting others of like faith, and the privilege also of partaking of the Lord's supper in memory of the broken body of our blessed Jesus. Yet I would try to be reconciled to the will of God concerning me. I tremble at the lukewarm or Laodicean state of the church. My prayer is daily that God will wake up his people that they may arise from these low grounds awake to righteousness and sin not, lest our Lord come and find many of us like the foolish Virgins with no oil in our lamps. I intend to make it the business of my life, to do the will of the Lord that when he comes I may be ready."
S. J. Voorus.
Oran, N. Y.
Awakening to the Laodicean Message
Sister N. Gibbs writes from Hubbardston, Mass.: "When I embraced the Sabbath of the Lord in the Third Angel's Message, I was told that we were in the Philadelphia church, and until the last four months I supposed it to be so. Since that time I have been looking for the love which characterizes that church, and I could not find it; and at times I would be in trial because I could hardly tell where we were. It seemed to me that the world was fast ripening for the harvest, and every thing was doing its work, but the church. The powers of darkness seemed to be rising, and God's people slumbering on every hand. I felt to say, Watchman, what of the night? But I now bless the Lord that he has by his word and Spirit shown us where we are. We had thought we were rich and increased in goods and had need of nothing, but the faithful and true Witness has told us we are poor, and naked, and blind, and has counseled us to buy of him those things that we need."
Standing on the Apostolic Platform
Bro. H. Main writes from Leonardsville, N. Y.: "I rejoice to know that the church in Brookfield and Winfield have resolved to place their feet on the apostolic platform and there stand. We have become satisfied that the higher we raise the standard of truth here, the higher the dragon's wrath is raised against us; but still we feel to lift up our heads and rejoice, knowing that the day of our redemption draweth nigh."
Standing Firm in the Sabbath Truth
Sister Mary Beasley writes from Pharsalia, N. Y.: "I commenced keeping the Sabbath of the Lord in February last. After receiving the Review, No. 19, Vol. VII, and reading the note on the case of the young man and his father, I felt that I would not longer suffer the vain reasonings of my friends and neighbors to keep me from reverencing God's holy day. My companion and family are all against me; but I mean still to stand firm in the truth, though alone."
OBITUARY.
By Cynthia B. Simonds
It becomes my painful duty to announce to you the death of my husband, Horace B. Simonds. He died Dec. 14th, 1856. His disease was of such a nature (spinal, and terminating in softening of the brain) that he was deprived of his senses for twelve days before he died; but the last he was known to say on religious subjects was in confirmation of his professed belief in the Third Angel's Message. He had felt for a long time that his time was short, and that he must rest from his labor, which we trust he does, and that in the morning of the resurrection he will be called forth to his reward.
CYNTHIA B. SIMONDS.
West Hartford, Vt.
AMUSEMENTS AND GAMBLING IN NEW YORK.
There are now about twenty places of public amusement in the city of New York. Among these are an Italian opera house, eight regular theatres and two Ethiopian opera houses holding theatrical licenses. These theatres are nearly all new, and about two millions dollars are invested in them, in buildings, lands, decorations, scenery, properties and costumes. The nightly expenses of the Italian Opera seldom fall below one thousand dollars; those of the theatres will probably average three hundred dollars per night.
There are at least two thousand gambling houses in New York city, and probably a hundred Faro banks. They are at present in full blast, and were never in a more prosperous condition, according to a New York paper.
The Fulfillment of one Duty will not Excuse the Neglect of another.
By Scott
Let me ask, Where did a man of your natural sagacity pick up the strange notion of the performance of one duty compensating for the neglect of another? Not from the Scriptures; for, if any keep the whole law and offend in one point, he is guilty of all. Not from the measures of human government; for if you break one law, they do not inquire whether you have broken others, or kept them, but condemn the transgressor of one.
Not from your dealings with your neighbors: you would think him a poor customer who would suppose that, by paying for one article, he compensated for defrauding you of another. Not from reason; for, assuredly, we can pay God no more than his due, when we do all that he commands. Even then we are but unprofitable servants.—Scott.
The Lord's Mercy.
The Lord is ever merciful to his people. This is manifest in all his dealings with the children of men. When the cry of Sodom had come up before the Lord, and he had determined to destroy the place, [Gen. xix,] he sent a warning of his purpose by angels to his servant Lot. And we read that even “ while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters.” The Lord not only made known to him the coming destruction, and warned him to flee from it lest he be consumed, but even while in face of this dreadful threatening, he lingered, the angels laid hold upon his hand to hasten him away; and the next sentence contains the secret of all this dealing: “the Lord being merciful unto him.”
Thus it is with us. We have been apprised through the light of revelation, that sudden destruction is coming upon the world. We have been warned to flee from it. We have been aware that for now a number of years, the last message of mercy to the world was going forth; and yet we have lingered. One thing after another has more or less engrossed our affections and diverted our minds. We have lingered till we have become heedless and lukewarm in the service of our Master. And now, as though he would lay hold upon us and hurry us out of this condition, he sends a last message to his people. We are notified of our situation; we are exhorted to be zealous and repent; we are counseled to buy gold and white raiment; and we are warned if we do not do this, that he will spue us out of his mouth. Why is all this? It is because he is merciful unto us. Then shall we longer linger? Let us arise and escape for our life, and tarry not in all the plain.
The Immortality of the Soul
TRUE.—Says "Rev. Jno. Macnaught," of such passages as Ps. vi, 5; lxxxviii, 10, 12, &c., "if they had been found in Aristotle, instead of the Hagiographa, they would have been taken as indubitable denials of the immortality of the soul."
APPOINTMENTS.
By C. W. Sperry; A. S. Hutchins
PROVIDENCE permitting there will be a Conference at Rouse's Point, N. Y., commencing February 6th, at 10 o'clock A. M., and continue as long as thought best. Will not the brethren come to this meeting prepared to take hold in earnest, on this last note of warning, and observe February 6th as a day of fasting and prayer, that the Lord may give us the eye-salve to see the importance of securing the white raiment and the gold tried in the fire, by which we shall stand the conflict that is before us.
In behalf of the church. C. W. SPERRY. A. S. HUTCHINS.
General Conference in Washington
There will be a general conference held at the house of Bro. John Stowell in Washington, N. H., commencing sixth day evening Jan. 23d, and continue over Sabbath and first day. Will Brn. Hutchins, Sperry, and Stone, make an effort to attend and as many other brethren from abroad as have a mind to work.
As it is not convenient for Bro. Stowell to accommodate as many as formerly, it will be necessary for brethren from abroad to come prepared to take care of themselves as far as they can, and thereby help bear the burden of this meeting which is designed for the especial benefit of the saints that are zealous to repent.
In behalf of the church.
E. L. BARR.
D. PHILIPS.
Appointment at Olcott
By William S. Ingraham
Providence permitting, I will spend the third Sabbath in January with the Church in Olcott, N. Y.
Wm. S. Ingraham.
Business Items.
By Editor
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Hymns for those who keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus. This Hymn Book is designed to promote not only public worship, but also social and family devotion. It is a selection of Hymns expressing the faith and hope of the Church as set forth in the Scriptures of truth, free from the popular errors of the age. The Book contains 352 Pages, 430 Hymns and 76 pieces of Music. Price, 60 cents.—In Morocco, 65 cents.
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The Four Universal Monarchies of the Prophecy of Daniel, and the Kingdom of God, to which is added a condensed view of the 2300 days and the Sanctuary.—Price 8 cents.
The Sabbath. Containing valuable articles on 2 Cor. iii; Col. ii, 14-17, Who is our Lawgiver? The two tills of Matt. v, 18, Consistency, &c.—Price 5 cents.
The Law of God. In this excellent work the testimony of both Testaments relative to the law of God—its knowledge from Creation, its nature and perpetuity—is presented.—Price 12 1/2 cents.
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Man not Immortal: the only Shield against the Seductions of Modern Spiritualism. Without the great truth that man is not immortal, and that the dead know not anything, none are prepared to stand against wicked spirits in high places. We commend this work on the immortality question, as an able discussion of the subject.—148 pp.—12 1/2 cents.
Last Work of the True Church.—Price 7 cents.
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Address URIAH SMITH, Battle Creek, Mich.
Conference at Wolcott, Vt.
By A. S. Hutchins
This meeting was held agreeably to appointment in the Review. Brethren were together from several counties in Vt. Brn. Rhodes, Byington and Taylor, from N. Y. were also with us, and helped us much. And a spirit of union and love characterized the meeting. The light which had just begun to dawn upon us, respecting the Laodicean church, led us to a searching of our hearts; and the exhortation from the faithful and true Witness, "be zealous therefore and repent," gave edge to the testimony of the brethren and sisters. From W. we went (several of us) to Eden and Johnson, to help the dear brethren there. Here we spent about two days, which resulted in good to the Church. We think permanent, lasting good. It was expected that a full report of this interesting meeting would have been given before this. Minutes of the conference were sent me some weeks since, but they have not yet been received. We hope to be able to report fully soon.
A. S. HUTCHINS.
Waltham, Vt. Dec. 19th, 1856.
A. S. H
By A. S. H.
P. S. I wish here to add that a happy change is taking place among us. The solemn and stirring message to us, Laodiceans, is arousing the Church to action now.
We now hear much said about the "gold, white raiment, and eye-salve," and less about farms, houses and the vanities of this life. Parents are confessing to children, and children to parents. The child of a few years of age, begins to mingle its sweet little voice in prayer with the parents, for the first time. Indeed there seems to be in the heart of every sincere lover of truth, a voice whispering Let us awake and arise. Sad and fearful will be the doom of such as are not moved out from their luke-warmness, by the warning to the last stage of the Church.