Earlier text: REPORT FROM CALIFORNIAGETTING READY FOR THE MARK.
A SERIES of articles on the Sabbath, by J. M. Stephenson, has just been concluded in the Herald of the Coming Kingdom. In his conclusion, Mr. S. says: “We are required to be in subjection to the powers that be, as far as possible without violating the law of Christ. . . . In the absence of any precept for the observance of one day above another, we are left to the law of the land, and the example of Christians as our guide. No man has a right to ignore the claims of civil law, unless it requires a clear and palpable violation of the law of Christ; and he who shall do so, will violate some of the plainest precepts in the Christian constitution.”
Eradicate from the minds of men the idea that God has any requirement in reference to the Sabbath, as Mr. S. is laboring to do, and, of course, they are ready to yield to the requirements which any power, however antichristian, may set up in reference to this institution. So far as his teaching shall be received, men will be prepared to receive the mark of the beast, prepared to take a course by which they will render themselves subjects of the most terrible threatening ever uttered against men in this mortal state. Fearful thought! God has told us, in language that cannot without a great effort be misunderstood, which day is his Sabbath; and he requires us to remember it to keep it holy. The great antichristian power of this dispensation has undertaken to set aside this institution of Jehovah, and erect in its place a rival one of its own; and this, if we interpret the prophecy aright, is to be enforced by the civil law. Now it matters not on what ground men yield to such a law, in opposition to the requirements of God. Whether they do it with a clear conviction in their own minds that God requires something different, and commands them not to yield to the opposing requirements of men, or whether they do it with the belief that God has no law upon the point, the result is the same: the institution of Jehovah, in the face of the plain precept by which he has guarded it, is ignored and set aside, and the authority of that power which has thought to exalt itself above God, and has endeavored to change his times and laws, is reverenced and obeyed. To openly break the law of God, in deference to the requirement of men, under a full sense and conviction of what they were doing, would involve a degree of presumption of which we may charitably believe that not many professed Christians would be guilty; hence it is more natural to suppose that they will do it after first having made themselves believe that God has no law upon the point, and hence that their practice in this respect is a matter of complete indifference. In this case, why should they not yield to the civil law, whatever its requirements may be? And to this point, Mr. S. is laboring to bring all those to whom he can find access; and he is not content with simply attempting to show an absence of any precept for the Sabbath, but he even seems to anticipate the enactment of the civil law, and counsel obedience thereto, under the divine sanction of Christianity. Who can fathom the responsibility of such a course! Of his arguments for no Sabbath, we need not speak particularly. They are such as he has himself a thousand times refuted, if, before his apostasy from the Sabbath truth, he became at all posted on the subject, or if he ever defended it with any degree of ability. As a specimen of his present dealing with the question, let us look at his remarks on Rev. 1, 10. “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day.” He says, “The thousand years is called the Lord’s day.” “There is no difference,” he asserts, “in the import of the phrases, ‘Lord’s day,’ and ‘day of the Lord;’” and adds, “John was carried forward in spirit, or vision, to the thousand years’ reign of Christ.”
Unfortunately for him, the text does not assert anything of the kind, but just the contrary. John does not say, I was carried away in the Spirit to the Lord’s day, as he says concerning the woman in chap. xvii, 3, but, I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day. The first, natural, and only conclusion to which the disinterested reader can come on this passage, is that it is given to denote the time when, just as the previous verse gives the place where, John’s vision was given. It was in the isle of Patmos on the Lord’s day. The word rendered “on,” is en (ἐν), and signifies time when; it is not peri (περί), which means about, concerning, or in reference to. Now if John had meant to say that he had had a vision concerning the day of the Lord, he would have used the word peri. What he does mean to tell us is, on what day he had his vision, and hence he uses en, which just expresses it. Mr. S. offers no criticism on this word. He professes great candor in his treatment of the subject. But any candid criticism on that word is fatal to the view he advances. In not one of the many hundred times of its occurrence in the New Testament, is it translated about or concerning; and from none of the definitions can we draw a meaning which we should have to assign it, according to Mr. S., in this construction. This text is one of great importance. It settles forever the question that there is a day in this dispensation which the Lord has set apart to himself, and calls his day; and at our peril, we use that day for common or secular purposes. This day cannot be the day of Judgment; for John could not, in the year 96, have a vision on that day, which was many hundred years in the future. It cannot be the gospel day; for John would not be guilty of the folly of stating that his vision was in this dispensation, sixty-five years after it had commenced, as though his readers would not be aware of that fact. It cannot be the first day of the week; for the Lord has nowhere spoken of that day, nor set up any claim to it whatever. It must be the seventh day of the week; for the Lord, in the Old Testament and the New, in the former dispensation and the present, has expressly claimed that day as his. Connected with the no-Sabbath theory, there is a certain anomaly everywhere noticeable. The logical deduction from that theory is, that the observance of the seventh day is a matter of complete indifference; it does no hurt, it is as good as any other day, and does not mar, in the least degree, our acceptance with God. Yet they will labor and declaim against it, with all their energies, as a fatal and damnable heresy. Thus Mr. S., even within the compass of one article, makes the following assertions. On the question of whether one day is to be observed more than another, he says: “Paul meets this issue fairly. He affirms that every day, in contrast with one day, is alike; and that whether a man observes one day above another, or every day alike, he is equally acceptable to God.” Mark the close of this declaration, and contrast it with the following, which we find only nine short paragraphs further on: “We leave the subject with the reader, hoping the foregoing articles may be instrumental in opening the eyes of some who we believe have imbibed a great error, and of preventing others from embracing this erroneous doctrine.” Imbibing great error, embracing an erroneous doctrine, and yet “equally acceptable to God!” Strange theology. Why not permit people to embrace and practice it, if they can thereby better satisfy their own conscience, and are equally acceptable to God? Why? Because the human heart, in spite of the theories and asseverations of its possessor will persist in bearing witness to the truth of Paul’s declaration in Rom. viii, 7. The Episcopal bishop of Michigan writes to the archbishop of Canterbury a gloomy account of the state of religion in this country. Of the churches not Episcopal, he says:— “A rapid process of disintegration is going on among them. They are fast slipping away from all their standards of faith; and, as a necessary consequence, must sooner or later fall into infidelity. This is emphatically the case in those States in which Puritanism prevailed. My own opinion is that unless the church can step in and direct men to the truth as it is in Jesus, preserved and handed down to us by the catholic church, they will be under the dominion and power of Rome within less than half a century.” Prophecy will be fulfilled, though it takes opposite events in different countries to do it. Thus in one section the power of the Papacy was to be taken away, and destroyed; and this we see fulfilled in the waning away of its power in its ancient European strongholds. While in another portion of the earth, it was to manifest sufficient vitality to secure worship from another power, though in its youth and vigor. See Rev. xiii, 12. And this we see drawing toward its fulfillment in our own country. While in Europe its power is declining, in this country it is increasing. Prophecy requires both these phases; hence their exhibition before us. The same thing we are taught in the light given through spiritual gifts. All these things admonish us to be ready for the end. CONVOCATION MEETING AT CLYDE.
By John Nevins Andrews
This meeting, according to appointment, convened Sept. 23, and continued until Sept. 28. During nearly the whole period of the meeting the weather was cloudy and chilly, with seasons of rain. But the last two days of the meeting we were favored with fine weather. We cannot, however, express regret that the weather was thus unpleasant for so considerable a portion197 of our meeting. Our camp-ground was close to the meeting-house of the Clyde church. We were obliged to be somewhat crowded, but were, nevertheless, very well accommodated in this house while the wet weather continued. Our meeting was one of deep solemnity. The burden of the meeting pertained to the condition of the brethren. Our congregation during the wet weather being mainly composed of our own people, there was an excellent opportunity to reach them with heart-searching truth. We have certainly had a meeting of great solemnity and interest. Our business has been to discover and to correct existing faults and evils in our midst. We have felt it a matter of the utmost importance that we should see our own cases in the light in which we shall appear in the great day of final accounts. Bro. and Sr. White have spoken with great freedom, and their testimony has been listened to with deep interest. A spirit of humiliation, confession, and repentance, rested upon our brethren and sisters. The scenes of the Judgment seemed present to our view, and the greatness of the preparation for that great event was deeply impressed upon our minds. We believe that there will be lasting good fruit of this meeting. We trust that works meet for repentance will be seen in many lives, and that worldlymindedness, overreaching in deal, carelessness in business transactions, foolish talking and jesting, and envyings, jealousies, and evil speaking, and unbrotherly conduct, shall be with many who have attended this convocation, forever laid aside. Quite a good attendance of the people in this section was present on the first day of the week, which was indeed the first day of fair weather. Good attention was given to the preaching of the word, and candor and solemnity characterized the people present. Among the closing events of the meeting was the baptism of some 8 or 10 persons, and the ordination of Bro. T. M. Steward. The meeting closed with words of solemn exhortation, and with deep feeling in many hearts that the future shall be filled up with deeds of usefulness and devotion to the cause of Christ. Happy will it be if the vows here made to God are faithfully paid by our lives of piety and self-sacrifice. A serious accident happened to Bro. Brister, of Elkhorn Grove. He was kicked in the forehead by his own horse, causing a severe and dangerous fracture of the skull. This has been treated by surgical operation, and it is hoped that he is in a fair way to recover. Clyde, Ill., Sept. 29, 1868. THE CAUSE IN THE WEST.
By James White
THERE is a great work to be done for the brethren in the West. The love of the things of this world, the cares of this life, and the deceitful power of worldly gain, have a fearful influence over many. For this reason our meeting at Clyde was not attended by some in Illinois, and many in Wisconsin, who most needed the benefits of just such a meeting. Such an effort was our last remaining hope for such. As they have not availed themselves of this opportunity, we have reason to fear for them. It seemed almost impossible to wake up those who were in attendance at the Clyde meeting. And it was not till near the close that the brethren seemed to feel their lost condition without decided change. Confessions were made by many, and a good degree of freedom came. But the thought is painful indeed, that brethren living from thirty to one hundred miles from that meeting excused themselves from attending it because home matters seemed to them urgent. They could have attended the meeting by sustaining a little pecuniary loss. They chose to avoid this, and let the spiritual blessing go. This is a sad mistake. A few such may learn this when the Master rises up, unready to have their account closed. In proportion as our brethren take on the spirit of this world, and reach out for more land, do they lose their interest in the circulation of books. Some seem to have done caring for the cause. They respond to but few, if any, of the calls for means. They have no idea of laying up a treasure in Heaven as Christ commanded, and feel at full liberty to lay up treasure here, which he positively forbade. God save them from utter ruin! They are asleep, and it is not so easy to wake them to a consciousness of their terrible condition. In proportion as our brethren awake to their real condition, do they take hold of the book enterprise. At the Wright Camp-meeting I sold and gave away more than a ton of books and tracts. At that meeting more than $600 were pledged to assist in giving to those who should have our books. At Clyde I sold and gave away nearly half a ton of books and tracts, and received pledges amounting to nearly $300. This important branch of the work must be pushed ahead. While the world is terribly cursed with erroneous and mean books, let us bless some at least with those that are true and good. From this fund I circulate, and give ministers to circulate, at the lowest rates, such works as Life Incidents, Law and Gospel, God’s Memorial, Review of Objections to Spiritual Gifts, and Little Will. As it shall increase, the catalogue will also be increased. I shall appeal to our people here upon this subject, and report the result. Pilot Grove, Iowa, Oct. 1, 1868. TO THE CHURCHES IN OHIO.
By Ohio Committee
Those who attended the camp-meeting at Wright were astonished at the amount of labor performed by Bro. and Sr. White; and as calls came in, their minds seemed to be directed to the West, and we gave up all idea of receiving a visit from them in Ohio this fall, for it did not seem possible for them to pass through the two camp-meetings in the West, and labor as they did in Michigan. By this you may judge of our surprise and gratitude when we learned that they intended to attend the Ohio Conference, as appointed. It being too late to pitch the tent, it was decided to hold the Conference at Bowling Green, where we have a meeting-house, and a church large enough to entertain those who come from abroad. As the New York Conference immediately follows that in Ohio, the visit of Bro. and Sr. White in Ohio will necessarily be very brief, and we trust the friends at a distance will improve the opportunity of hearing them at Bowling Green. We think there never was a time when the labors of these servants of God were more needed among us. Never had they a more important and stirring testimony than they are now giving. The Lord has specially committed it to them, and he is owning the work, and blessing it to the good of those who gladly hear it. All who are acquainted with their labors know that they would speedily sink under them were they not daily sustained by the hand of the Lord. We urge upon all to pray for these faithful, toil-worn servants of God, and to come up to this meeting praying for the spirit and power of this last message to prevail among us, and renew your consecration to God, that the testimony to us may find a ready response in our hearts, that we may be benefited, and bring forth fruit to the glory of God. Brethren, remember our request, “Watch and pray.” Ohio Committee. REPORT FROM BRO. MATTESON.
By John Matteson
SABBATH, Sept. 19, I met with the brethren at Orleans. A goodly number were present, and we had a profitable meeting. We realized that the Lord was with us, and felt encouraged to press forward. First-day, I went to the town of Montcalm, and commenced preaching to our Danish friends. I obtained a small school-house to preach in, and have now had four meetings with them. The house has been well filled, and the hearers very attentive. Deep solemnity has been over us, and some hearts have been moved by the blessed news of our Saviour's soon coming. This is truly a new field to labor in, for these people are generally ignorant of the first principles of religion. Worldliness, swearing, and quarreling, are common, and with all this a strong tendency to believe that they will be saved because they are Lutherans. They have had a Danish priest here from Wisconsin a few times to sprinkle their children. He preaches one sermon, receives about thirty dollars, and turns right198 home again. They have tried hard to get one to settle among them permanently, and in a week from next first-day the same man will come again, and has promised to bring another, a beginner in the office, with him, to remain here. I am anxious that all who will come to our meetings should be prepared for that time, for he will try all his powers of persuasion to keep the people away from the truth. Pray for us that our meetings may be characterized with solemnity, and the deep movings of God's Holy Spirit, that sinners may be converted to God. Four are now trying to obey the truth, and others are convinced already. May the Lord bless for the glory of his own great name. Greenville, Mich., Sept. 24, 1868. Idleness Is the Sepulcher of a Living Man
IDLENESS is the sepulcher of a living man. CAMP-MEETING
By Joseph Bates
The camp-meeting at Wright, Mich., Sept. 1–7, 1868, under the supervision of Bro. James White, and J. N. Andrews, was one of the best conducted, most orderly, and quiet meetings of the kind that I ever attended. There were twenty-two tents from the churches, and two large State tents, all beautifully arranged in a circle around the preachers’ stand and seats for the congregation, in the eastern edge of a beautiful grove, a short distance from the main traveled road. The preaching of sixteen discourses, eleven by Bro. and Sr. White, four by Bro. Andrews, and one by Bro. N. Fuller, was convincing, pointed, and soul-stirring, and accompanied by the Holy Spirit of God, which aroused the dormant feelings of his professed people, and sent conviction to the hearts of the listening multitude. It was indeed meat in due season to all that were waiting for their coming Lord. When the social meetings commenced, of which we probably held more than twenty, it was evident that the great mass of the people were reined up to labor for God, and give themselves to work in his vineyard as they have not heretofore. When the invitation was given for those who wished to be prayed for, the scene was truly affecting, to see parents and children, husbands and wives, by hundreds, making their way to the anxious seats, that in answer to the fervent prayers of others they might be forgiven for all their transgressions, and find peace and pardon through their crucified Lord, and soon-coming Redeemer. And then the voice of thanksgiving and praise to God from many, for what he had done for their souls, was additional evidence of his gracious work in our midst. In addition to these were also the social morning and evening meetings in all the family tents, after the meetings closed at the stand, until the signal for silence was given by the ringing of the bell at nine. Thus as this series of meetings continued, the Lord owned the effort of his people in confessing and putting away their wrongs to draw near to him. His Spirit graciously rested upon us, and many were strengthened and made glad. Most prominent among the truths presented was the startling fact that we are now in the fourth or morning watch, (Mark xiii, 35,) and the return of our Lord from the wedding (Luke xii, 36,) is not his coming in the clouds of heaven, as has been supposed, but his return from the Most Holy place, where he went as a bridegroom to the marriage in 1844, back again to the Holy place in the heavenly sanctuary. As this coming is sudden and we know not at what hour he will come, we are commanded to watch, “lest coming suddenly he find us sleeping.” Let us arouse from our slumbers, and watch, for at his coming we must be ready to open unto him immediately. Among the books eagerly sought for at the bookstand was Bro. White’s work, “Life Incidents,” just from the press. This book treats of subjects of deep interest. We hope that every lover of Bible truth will furnish themselves with at least one copy. All that were interested in the great movement of 1844 and onward, will be deeply interested in perusing this work. From it all may learn the grounds of difference between S. D. Adventists and other classes of Adventists. Also that the Advent movement from its commencement, by following down the track of prophecy, leads directly to the position now occupied by the S. D. Adventists. We recommend a perusal of this work to all who are interested in the salvation of their fellow-men, and are in earnest to find a resting place in Heaven. Battle Creek, Sept. 24, 1868. REPORT FROM BRO. VAN HORN.
By I. D. Van Horn
Some time has passed since writing my last report, and I wish to say that I have not been idle, even though I have been silent. Since closing my labor in Croton, as seen by my last report, I have been laboring in the town of Casnovia, Muskegon Co., Mich., where I have been engaged the most of the time for ten weeks. Nearly two weeks of this time, however, I spent at Wright at the time of camp-meeting. There was no religious society here of any kind, and only a very few who made a profession of religion. The minds of most of the people were either skeptical or in darkness and ignorance upon many portions of the word of God. It was a neighborhood in which but few meetings had ever been held, and where all forms of religion had long ago been laid aside. The Lord has helped to set the truth before this people in its beauty and power, and it has affected the hearts of some. There has not been much opposing influence at work against us, and, though there was some prejudice, the result of our effort here is full as good as could be expected. I have given sixty discourses, besides holding a few other meetings. I have disposed of about forty dollars' worth of books, sold and given away, which, I trust, will help to carry on the work. Fifteen have fully decided to keep the Sabbath, with the rest of the commandments, and try to lead Christian lives the few remaining days of their probation. Last Sunday, the 19th, I closed my labors in this place for the present. It was a good day to us all. In the forenoon, I spoke upwards of an hour, with much freedom, on the subject of baptism. An audience of nearly a hundred listened with good attention. Immediately after the discourse, we all went about a mile to a beautiful place where twelve, obedient to their Lord, were buried in baptism, and, we have reason to believe, have arisen to walk in newness of life. One of the number was Silas, the son of our much afflicted Sr. Fox. God is blessing her efforts to serve him, in giving her sons to go with her to Mount Zion. May her last days be full of peace and joy in the Lord. This baptismal scene was the first of the kind that had ever transpired in this place. Good order prevailed on the occasion, and a feeling of solemnity rested upon nearly all who witnessed the scene. In the evening, I spoke with good freedom on the ever-inspiring theme of the saints' eternal glory. By faith we took a view of the heavenly land, and we felt to take courage and press onward, believing that a home in that blest abode will be worth more than all the sacrifice we can make to obtain it. I have reason to believe that the little company here appreciate the truth they have heard. One good feature of the work in this place is, that where the truth has taken hold, whole families have received it. May the Lord bless them, and continue to work for them, until they shall have made thorough work, and shall stand with their palms of victory on Mount Zion. Be faithful in your duty, dear friends, and the victory is certain. Casnovia, Mich., Sept. 21, 1868. REPORT FROM A. C. BOURDEAU.
By A. C. Bourdeau
ON Friday Aug. 14, 1868, in company with Bro. N. Orcutt, I started on a trip to hold meetings in Stowe, Braintree, Sutton, and Irasburgh, Vt. I had not visited these places for several months, yet my object in visiting them was not merely to have a good time with the brethren and sisters, but it was especially to set things in order, to assist the churches in these localities to be in readiness to report their standing to the coming annual session of the State Conference, &c. I would here say, that ever since I have been connected with the cause, I have endeavored to labor, as far as circumstances would permit, where I thought I could accomplish the most good. Hence I have never deemed it expedient, or profitable to the cause, to leave a church where I was laboring, at home or abroad, that needed special help, to go and visit churches that could very well get along without my help, even though by so doing I might not meet with some churches for months, or years. Sabbath, the 15th, we held a good meeting at Stowe. We each spoke once, had a good social meeting, and at half past 5, P. M., had a profitable season with the church in attending to the ordinances of the Lord’s house. The church here are prompt in coming up to the figures on s. n., and are firm believers in the present truth on all points; yet I noticed here, as I have in other places, that old Sabbath-keepers are generally slower to adopt all the principles of health reform, especially the reform dress, than those who are young in the truth. We visited several families, and we think that our time was not misspent in this direction. We reached Braintree, Aug. 18, visited a few families, regulated the church records, and s. n. book, held an evening meeting in a school-house near Bro. E. Cram’s, and Sabbath, the 22nd, met with the church at Bro. Dempster’s. Bro. and Sr. Hutchins were present. In the morning Bro. H. spoke, to edification, on the messages of Rev. xiv. In the afternoon I followed on our duty to each other as a people. The social meeting which followed was cheering to all present, and we were blessed in attending to the ordinances of the Lord’s house. Sunday morning, at 9 o’clock, arranged figures on s. n., received one into the church, and raised nearly $5.00 for benevolent purposes, and through the day held two preaching meetings in the village for the benefit of the friends from without, who turned out well, and heard us gladly. On Thursday, the 27th, met with the few at Sutton, Vt. Several of the neighbors attended this meeting. Bro. Orcutt led out in preaching. The social meeting was encouraging. The church were prompt in paying up their advanced figures on s. n. for last year, and showed a willingness to pay as much the ensuing year. The next day we visited our afflicted brother, William Barrows, at Barton Landing, Vt., who had been sick, nigh unto death, of inflammatory rheumatism, and was then a great sufferer caused by a severe blow that he had received in one of his eyes. We were glad to find Bro. and Sr. B. trying to hold on to the truth whereunto they have attained. Aug. 29, we attended the Quarterly Meeting held with the church at Irasburgh. Brethren and sisters were present from Sutton and Charleston, Vt., and from Compton, C. E. Bro. and Sr. Hutchins also attended. Meetings commenced at half past 10, A. M., and continued till 9, P. M. All appreciated the word spoken, and felt to take new courage in the good work. At the business meeting more than $50.00 were pledged for benevolent purposes. The day following we traveled forty miles to Enosburgh, and on reaching home we learned that Eld. J. Byington, of Michigan, had just held a two-day’s meeting with the church in this place; and found the brethren and sisters feeling well on account of this visit from our venerable brother, accompanied by Bro. Hilliard of New York. Through the week I met twice with the church here. Was sorry to find that a spirit of fault-finding, and of casting off the erring, had crept into the hearts of some. I realized that it needed wisdom to check this spirit, and to help the erring at the same time. In our effort in this direction we were quite successful. To God be all the praise. Testimony for the Church, No. 16, has just come to hand. I have read the article “To Ministers” with deep interest. Hope to profit thereby, and will endeavor to heed its timely warnings and instructions. Bordoville, Vt., Sept., 1868. THE GIFT IN THE CHURCH.
By Jos. Clarke
In studying the history of the third message, we find that from the first the gift of prophecy has been intimately connected with the work. All along the pathway of this people light has been received which has led the way to investigation, and progress has thus been made. While without this gift discord and contradictory views would have obtained, to a greater or less extent, and long ago we, as a people, would probably have been scattered wide asunder. It seems to me that one of the greatest sins of this people is ingratitude to God for this precious gift; and often I am filled with surprise that men can receive this truth and yet oppose and despise the very means God ordained to bring it to their ears. It seems like a man who is starving for food, and gladly receives bread from a friendly hand, yet denies credit to the agent who is sent to dispense the precious substance. I often, when a youth, used to wonder in my own mind why God did not deal with his people now as anciently. But to my joy I find it the sin of unbelief that has hindered this work. I do not rejoice that unbelief exists, but that God exists as of old, and the change in the condition of God's people is not in him but in them, so that now we have only to change our position and all will be well. Skeptics gravely tell us that the Bible is sufficient. So it is; and this is the very book which guarantees to the church not only these gifts which the church anciently possessed, but an increase in their power. Do you ask me to prove it? I answer, It has been many times proved from Scripture in the columns of the REVIEW, and may be found in different publications of the S. D. A. Publishing Association. The object of this article is not to prove the divine nature of the gifts existing among us, but to show that it is greatly undervalued by many, and I fear most of us are very unfeeling and hardened in respect to this gift. Volume after volume has appeared, and some sixteen numbers of the Testimonies have been issued, yet they make but a feeble impression. In fact, but a part of the readers of the REVIEW read them at all, and of these how many with hesitation and doubt? And when an appeal was made to spread them among all, how feeble was the response. I cannot find language to express my gratitude to God for this help we have had in our dangerous journey thus far in this path; and there are some others who value these testimonies. But, alas! how many neglect and despise them, and of those who are thankful to God for these reproofs and instructions, how many can say, “We have heeded them?” For one, I confess my fault here; but now I find much help in reviewing these works. Brethren, let us read these testimonies daily; they are to us what the manna was to Israel. A day's neglect may make work for repentance. Let us read them as from God, not from an erring mortal. We do not worship Paul, but we worship the God who inspired him, and we highly esteem his accredited and approved agent. I would not be too positive, but it is my deliberately formed opinion that the low appreciation in which these testimonies are held by many is the great cause of the present lukewarmness in the church. The importance of this gift, probably, is overlooked by some who preach the third angel's message. And let me reverentially ask, How we came by an understanding of this truth? How have we progressed thus far? Will we put the argument or theory before the spirit which dictates it? Will we exhibit the skeleton and withhold the beautiful outlines of the truth which only the Spirit of God can dictate? And only by an intimate knowledge and diligent study of these testimonies can any one fully estimate and appreciate the third message, or proclaim it to others. Here is the great cause, no doubt, of the lethargy now upon us. We have not fully appreciated nor valued these works, nor could we, while so underrating them, have heeded them. First, let us consider the value of the gift, then heed its instructions. Reflections on Life Incidents and Christian Readiness
By C. R. Austin
BRO. SMITH: Life Incidents came to hand promptly, and as I have perused its pages, some of them over and over again, I could but say, Thank the Lord for putting it into Bro. White's mind, and giving him strength to sketch some of the incidents in his own life and in the history of the Advent cause. How cheering to believers in present truth to look back and see how clear the light from Heaven has shone on our pathway in the past, and how brilliantly it lights up the present and the future. Surely, the path of the just is one that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. How important that we walk in the light, and keep pace with it. How much reason we have for heartfelt gratitude and thankfulness to our Father in Heaven for his patience and longsuffering with us, in giving us time to learn the truth, and opportunity to cleanse ourselves from every wrong, and become pure in heart, holy in life and conversation, so that he can sanctify us wholly, soul, body, and spirit, and preserve us blameless unto the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. How can we close our eyes to the solemn realities of the judgment hour, or sleep over the fact that each of us has a case pending in the court of Heaven, for eternal life or death, and the decision of that case depends on our own course of action. Is not all Heaven interested in our salvation, and can we not see the love of God, and feel the watchcare of holy angels in showing us the wrongs in ourselves, while there remains time to correct those wrongs? And when we feel the crushing weight of the sins of one heart, can we not realize, in a faint degree, what the Lord of life and glory suffered for us when the sins of the whole world were laid upon him, causing him to sweat, as it were, great drops of blood falling down to the ground? And can we not have confidence to bring our burdens to him, knowing that he still pleads with his Father to spare us a little longer, and is calling us199 to come unto him, all weary and heavy laden as we are, with the promise that he will give us rest! What a blessed privilege, that when all this load of guilt that has been accumulating during our whole life, rises up before us and calls for vengeance, we can bring it to the great Burden Bearer, and he will free us from it, and teach us how to live in order to have the testimony that we please God. Oh! what a privilege it is, that we may have this testimony, and that Jesus and the holy angels are ever ready to help us obtain it! May God help all his dear people to overcome all the temptations, and escape the wiles of the Wicked One; and whatever conflicts arise, or trials we meet, may our walk be so close with God that heavenly help shall ever be by our side; and whatever burden may oppress, let us remember to “take it to the Lord in prayer,” knowing his ear is ever open, and his heart is full of pity. He remembreth our frame; he knoweth we are but dust; yet he desires us to form such characters that he can change these vile bodies, and fashion them like unto Christ's most glorious body, and stamp us with immortality and his own name, with the name of his city, give us a right to all its privileges, and bring us to dwell with him where we shall see his face, and go no more out from him forever. Yours, hoping to be one of those whom the Lord when he cometh, shall number for his own, and save for Jesus' sake. C. R. AUSTIN. The Accident at Clyde.
By R. F. Andrews
For the satisfaction of the brethren and sisters that attended our Camp-meeting, and know of the serious accident that befell our dear Bro. N. Brister, I would say that he still lives, and though he is insensible and very restless, most of the time, yet we hope in God that his life will be spared. Bro. Wick's daughter who was taken down with fever during the meeting, is still in a very critical condition. May the afflicted be remembered at the throne of grace. R. F. ANDREWS. Clyde, Ill., Oct. 2, 1868. The Sabbath a Delight
By E. E. Sturges
SR. E. E STURGES writes from Connecticut: The fifty-two Sabbaths, with which the years are interspersed, are welcomed with unspeakable joy by the weary pilgrim plodding his lonely way Zionward, as a sort of resting place, where he may renew his wasting strength for time and for eternity. God blessed and sanctified the holy Sabbath; and why have not Sabbath-keepers abundant incentives to exert themselves to admonish the world to keep God's perfect law? Shall we, standing on the very threshold of eternity, remain at “ease in Zion,” and behold honest souls perishing for lack of food that we are abundantly able to bestow? Is all done for our poor fellow-mortals that lies within our power to do? Sad indeed will be our cases with all the light we have been blessed with on present truth, to fall when not far from the kingdom. Brethren and sisters, little can we appreciate how the tender Spirit of the Lord has been grieved these many years by wicked and perverse generations teaching and following for doctrine the commandments of men, trespassing upon the sanctity of his holy day, prophesying a lie in the name of the Lord. The day is surely coming, we are already entering its shadows, when redemption's work shall cease. Then will God take vengeance on the nations that have dishonored him by trampling under foot his righteous law, and the help and pity of man will be of no avail. But to whom the Sabbath is now a delight, even now do they anticipate with joy the glad hour when redeemed from every peril, and borne on the bosom of a favored tide, they shall safely moor their bark in the haven of eternal rest.