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Review and Herald, Vol. 9, No. 13.

ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED
Earlier text: ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED

THE JUDGMENT.

By James White

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God, and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 1 Pet. iv, 17, 18.
This text we must regard as prophetic. That it applies to the last period of the church of Christ, seems evident from verses 5-7, 12, 13. In the judgment of the race of man, but two great classes are recognized—the righteous and the sinner, or ungodly. Each class has its time of judgment; and, according to the text, the judgment of the house, or church, of God comes first in order.
Both classes will be judged before they are raised from the dead. The investigative judgment of the house, or church, of God will take place before the first resurrection; so will the judgment of the wicked take place during the 1000 years of Rev. xx, and they will be raised at the close of that period.
It is said of all the just, "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection," therefore all their cases are decided before Jesus comes to raise them from the dead. The judgment of the righteous is while Jesus offers his blood for the blotting out of sins. Immortal saints will reign with Christ 1000 years in the judgment of the wicked. Rev. xx, 4; 1 Cor. vi, 2, 3. The saints will not only participate in the judgment of the world, but in judging fallen angels. See Jude 6.
"Some men's sins [the righteous] are open before hand, going before to judgment, and some men [the wicked] they follow after." 1 Tim. v, 24. That is, some men lay open, or confess their sins, and they go to judgment while Jesus' blood can blot them out, and the sins be remembered no more; while sins unconfessed, and unrepented of, will follow, and will stand against the sinner in that great day of judgment of 1000 years.
That the investigative judgment of the saints, dead and living, takes place prior to the second coming of Christ seems evident from the testimony of Peter. "Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick [living] and the dead. For, for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according [in like manner] to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer." 1 Pet. iv, 5-7.
It appears that the saints are judged while some are living, and others are dead. To place the investigative judgment of the saints after the resurrection of the just, supposes the possibility of a mistake in the resurrection, hence the necessity of an investigation to see if all who were raised were really worthy of the first resurrection. But the fact that all who have part in that resurrection are "blessed and holy," shows that decision is passed on all the saints before the second coming of Christ.
The judgment of the house of God is evidently shadowed forth by the events of the tenth-day atonement of the house of Israel. That, in a certain sense, was a day of judgment. The high priest wore the breast-plate of judgment on which was represented the tribes of Israel. Ex. xxxix, 8-21. "For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that day, he shall be cut off from among his people." Lev. xxiii, 29.
The 2300 days [Dan. viii, 14] reached to the cleansing of the Sanctuary, or to the great day of atonement in which the sins of all who shall have part in the first resurrection will be blotted out. Those days terminated in 1844. We think the evidence clear, that since that time the judgment of those who died subjects of the grace of God has been going on, while Jesus has been offering his blood for the blotting out of their sins.

THE BLOTTING-OUT TIME.

When are sins blotted out? Is it at the time when they are forgiven? We think not. We must look to the great day of atonement as the time when Jesus offers his blood for the blotting out of sins. It is at the time of the cleansing of the Sanctuary. Said Peter to the wondering multitude who witnessed the lame man healed, "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began." Acts iii, 19-21.
Here the time for blotting out of sins is placed forward just prior to the second appearing of Jesus. It is evidently the last great work in the ministry of Christ in the heavenly Sanctuary.

ARE SINS WRITTEN IN HEAVEN?

We think the Scriptures fully warrant the view that a record of the acts of all accountable men are written in heaven. "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." Rev. xx, 12; Dan. vii, 10. "Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name." Mal. iii, 16.
The book of life contains the names of all who become the special subjects of divine favor. See Dan. xii, 1; Rev. iii, 5; Phil. iv, 3. In the other books are recorded sins, also the pardon of sins repented of, and forgiven with those good works necessary to secure the favor of God. This whole account stands, as written during the probation of every subject of special divine favor since the fall of man, till the time of the judgment of the house of God; till Jesus enters the Most Holy to offer his blood for the blotting out of the forgiven sins of all the just.

CHRIST OFFERS HIS BLOOD IN THE MOST HOLY FOR THE BLOTTING OUT OF THE SINS OF THE WHOLE ISRAEL OF GOD.

Christ is the only Saviour offered to the race of man. All who are saved will be saved through him. All, of every age, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation, who shall be redeemed, will be redeemed to God by the blood of Jesus Christ. His blood was shed for all. At the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens, he is ready to plead the cause of every repenting sinner, and through him sinners may find pardon. He also offers his blood in the Most Holy for the blotting out of the sins of all the just of every age.
"For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh; how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance." Heb. ix, 13-16.
In the great day of atonement for the blotting out of the sins of all of every age, the cases of patriarchs and prophets, and sleeping saints of all past ages will come up in judgment, the books will be opened, and they will be judged according to the things written in the books. It is thus, at the end of the 1335 days, [Dan. xii, 13.] that

DANIEL STANDS IN HIS LOT.

The first and second definitions of the word lot, as given by Webster, are, 1. "That which in human speech, is called chance, hazard, fortune, but, in strictness of language, is the determination of Providence; as, the land shall be divided by lot. 2. That by which the fate or portion of one is determined; that by which an event is committed to chance, that is, to the determination of Providence; as, to cast lots; to draw lots."
By reference to the Englishman's Hebrew Concordance, we find that the Hebrew word from which lot in Dan. xii, 13 is translated, is "goh-rahl." This word occurs, and is translated lot, seventy-five times in the Old Testament, besides Dan. xii, 13. That the reader may be able to determine the signification of the word, we will give the seventy-six instances of its use.
There is another word [gheh-vel] which is translated "region," "country," "lot of inheritance," &c., as in Deut. iii, 4, 13, 14; xxxii, 9; Josh. xvii, 5, 14; xix, 9, 29.
It will now be seen that Daniel does not stand in the "lot of his inheritance," as it has been expressed, at the end of the 1335 days, but he stands in his lot in the decisions of the judgment of the righteous dead.
When did those days end? Evidences are conclusive that the 1335 days ended with the 2300, with the Midnight Cry in 1844. Then the angel [Rev. x, 1-6] swore that time should be no longer. Time here cannot mean duration, as measured in months and years, for 1000 years are measured after this; but it must refer to prophetic time, which was the burden of the angel's message. As Daniel was to stand in his lot at the end of the days, we must conclude that the judgment of the righteous dead commenced at that time, and has been progressing more than twelve years.
When will the cases of the living saints pass in review in the investigative judgment of the house of God? This is a question worthy the candid and most solemn consideration of all who have a case pending in the court of heaven, and hope to overcome. In the order of heaven, we must look for their judgment to follow that of the dead, and to occur near the close of their probation.
It is most reasonable to conclude that there is a special call to the remnant, and a special work to be performed by them, and for them, preparatory to the decisions of the judgment in regard to them, and that their salvation depends upon fully obeying the calls and counsel to them. And we most solemnly believe that this preparatory call and work is brought to view in the testimony to the Laodiceans, and parallel portions of the word of God.
The judgment call and counsel to the Laodiceans finds them lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot. It finds them in a state where it is necessary for them to be zealous in the work of repentance, that they may find pardon, and obtain that preparation necessary to stand in the judgment. Those who do not fully receive and obey this testimony, but remain lukewarm, Christ will spue out of his mouth, or cast them from his favor and blot their names out of the book of life. The decisive hour is at hand. In this awful hour either sins or names will be blotted out. Those who are zealous and repent of all their sins, buy the gold tried in the fire, (true faith,) the white raiment, (the same as the wedding garment, or white linen, which is the righteousness of Jesus Christ that saints will be clothed with—but one place to buy it—Jesus says, buy of me,) and have their eyes anointed with eye-salve, (the anointing of the Holy Ghost,) will have their sins blotted out, while those who remain careless, disobedient and lukewarm, will have their names blotted out of the book of life. Life and death are in this judgment call of the dear Saviour. It is life to fully receive it; death to be careless and neglect it. Now is the time to fully understand what it is to

OVERCOME.

"He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment, and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels." Rev. iii, 5.
The white raiment in this text is the same as that offered by the true Witness. Hence we conclude that the overcoming, which is necessary in order to have the names of the people of God retained in, and not blotted out of, the book of life, consists in obeying the testimony to the Laodiceans.
Dear brethren, perfect faith by works be clothed with the righteousness of Jesus Christ, and get the anointing of the Holy Ghost, which will enable you to see sin in its sinfulness, holiness in its beauty, and the path to life as straight and as narrow as it really is, and retain these priceless treasures, for in this you overcome. And your names will be retained in the book of life, and Jesus, in the judgment of the living just, will confess your names before the Father, and your sins will be blotted out.
We feel confident that but very few realize the consecration necessary to stand the judgment. Behold that dying saint. He first gives up the world and all its hopes. How carefully he reviews his past life, and confesses from the heart every wrong act and feeling. He then commits his family to the Lord, and himself he throws upon the mercy of God. O what a struggle! But when this work is done, Jesus smiles; and leaning upon the bosom of his Saviour, the saint breathes his life out sweetly there. His probation is closed, and his case rests till the record of his life is opened, and his case passes in review in the judgment. His sins were all repented of, therefore, in the great day of atonement, the blood of Jesus Christ can blot them out.
A consecration every way as complete as this will be necessary in order for the names of the living saints to be retained in the book of life, and their sins blotted out. What a struggle to die to this world while in full strength! We feel confident that many will go with the people of God who will fail in their feeble efforts to overcome. But very few realize what a real Bible death to this world is. O church of Christ awake! arise! The judgment is passing! Very soon will your names either be confessed by Jesus Christ before his Father, or they will be blotted out of the book of life. Consecrate all to God, then you will be prepared to act your part in saving others from ruin. The great work of consecration now required is set forth in the following scriptures:
"Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger." Zeph. ii, 3.
"Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: and rend your heart and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God." Joel ii, 12, 13.
"Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." James iv, 6-10.
"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous therefore and repent."
We leave this subject for the present and give room for the pointed communications from Bro. Ingraham and Stone. J. W.

Letter from Bro. Stone.

By Albert Stone

BRO. SMITH: Permit me, through the Review, to say a word to the remnant of the people of God, scattered abroad. And in the first place, I feel it my duty to confess that I have not spoken to them through the Review, as often as I should have done. By the grace of God I will try to be more faithful in this respect in time to come. I confess that I have been too much under the influence of a worldly, Laodicean state of mind, disqualified for the acceptable performance of the duties of our holy calling; that I have had too little power to prevail with God, to keep my heart, and to watch against sin. I confess that I have, for many years, till within a few months past, been in the habitual use of tobacco, which I now feel determined to abandon forever, as I now see its use to be prejudicial to my spiritual interests.
On account of all my sins I feel to repent and humble myself before the Lord, and to wake up and gird on the armor anew.
In behalf of the little church in this place I would say, that we have taken a position upon these two great principles upon which God is now accomplishing the work of gathering the remnant of his people, that they may be prepared for the momentary change to immortality when the Lord shall come; viz., the Commandments of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ, earnestly desiring and fervently praying, that God will so lighten up, with the torch of truth, the narrow pathway that leads to mount Zion, that we shall be enabled to meet the sanctified host there, in the day of the Lord.
For a few months past we have passed through a great diversity of scenes. We have been called to take hold of the reins of discipline, by which some trials have been removed, the erring have been corrected, and disorderly walkers excluded. At the same time there has been among us, a spirit of confession. The Lord seems to have laid upon each individual the burden of his own sins. Much time has been spent in our church meetings, and Sabbath meetings, in the confession of faults, and thus, while confessing, praying and weeping together, our stony hearts have been melted, and seemed to run together like two drops of water, and confidence and brotherly love have been revived among us. Praised be the name of the Lord!
I cannot close this communication without expressing my approval of the view that what is written to the angel of the church in Laodicea [Rev. iii, 14-22] has its application to the remnant at the present time. The arguments that have been presented seem to me to be quite conclusive. And besides, the fitness of the application seems to add much strength to the argument.
The instruction to the Laodicean church involves the most solemn and awful responsibility to those to whom it is addressed. It may be proper for each one to inquire, Does the unfolding of this scripture at the present time, indicate anything in regard to the progress of the work of our great High Priest in the heavenly Sanctuary? Does it indicate that judgment is now immediately to pass upon the living saints? To me these are important questions.
Dear brethren and sisters, let us all arise and heed the counsel of the true Witness. Let us know our poverty, blindness, and misery. Let us heed the voice of him who "stands at the door and knocks." Let us open the door and let the Saviour into the church, and into our hearts.
We have talked much of the Commandments of God, and the Testimony of Jesus Christ, but we have had too little of Christ in our hearts. Let us open the door, and he will come into our hearts, and into the church, and when he comes into the church, the gifts will be fully restored, the lame will walk, the blind will see, the Third Angel's Message will go with a loud voice, the dragon's wrath will be manifested, the church will be perfected, and Jesus will come personally and take her to himself, that where he is there his people may be also.
ALBERT STONE.
Eden, Vt., Jan. 19th, 1857.

Letter from Bro. Ingraham.

By William S. Ingraham

BRO. SMITH: I am glad to know that the remnant are zealous to repent of their lukewarm state, and make strong efforts to gain eternal life. Our condition as a church for a year or two past has been deplorable indeed. Never has there been a people since the apostolic age favored with greater light than those who profess to be keeping the Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. But notwithstanding the light given, and the power manifested among us, the church have been too dilatory in the cause we profess to love, and have suffered the spirit of the world to overcome them to a great degree. Many find themselves so completely absorbed in the cares of the world that they hardly know how to extricate themselves from this snare. Others have fallen in love with the world, and it has already become their god; and instead of a disposition to help the cause of truth onward with their means, their money is banked and heaped up for service against a "wet day;" yet a wet day is coming, but not such an one as many expect; but a day of vengeance and darkness; and neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them; but it will eat their flesh as it were fire.
Some must loose their strong hold on the world or give up their hope of eternal life in the kingdom of God. I am glad that the Lord in mercy is giving us a message calculated to awaken the careless and indifferent. And it is my prayer that the gifts and graces of the Spirit may return to the church. And in praying for a revival of the gifts and a baptism of the Spirit, I hope there will not be a lack of eye-salve and discernment so that we may rightly appreciate the power of God and not be found fighting against the truth. Some are praying for the gifts of the church and are rejecting the gifts already among us. The Lord help us to be consistent with our prayers.
We must be a holy people, zealous of good works. God says, "Be ye holy; for I am holy." Without holiness no man shall see the Lord. The way to life is narrow, and the gate is strait. Those that have pure hearts and clean hands will ascend to the hill of the Lord. If we stand on mount Zion we must overcome. If we would enter into the city we must keep the Commandments. It is not enough for us to merely assent to the truth: it must take hold of our feelings and life.
O let us as a church awake and put on strength. The Lord has promised to come in to us and sup with us and we with him. This embraces no ordinary blessing. Does it not embrace the gifts of the Spirit and latter rain? I believe the Lord is about to do a great work for us; and how important it is to dedicate all to God. The last conflict is coming. We call for valiant-hearted ones who are not afraid to die—those that will not turn traitors in the hour of trial and temptation! How much the cause has suffered from half-hearted believers, those who are driven by winds and storms, and are never found anchored. It is time for us to be in our watch-tower, and Galilean like gaze into heaven for the return of our Messiah.
Yours waiting for the consolation of Israel. WM. S. INGRAHAM.

Query for Bro. Bates.

By Joseph Bates

IN your late article in Review, in your summary disposition of God's plans, both before and subsequent to the end of the one thousand years' reign, whereabouts are the Lord's promises to "Israel" and "the land of Israel," to be placed or fulfilled, as prophesied in Eze. xxxvi, and Amos ix, 8-15?
Ans. We understand that the Lord's promises to "Israel," and to "the land of Israel," referred to in the texts above named, will all be fulfilled to living Israel, in the commencement of the day of the Lord, previous to the resurrection of the just.
"The day of the Lord" commences before the thousand years of judgment, [Isa. xiii, 9; Zech. xiv, 1, 2; 1 Thess. v. 2, 3,] and continues beyond the thousand years. See Zech. xiv, 8-11; 2 Pet. iii, 10, which compare with Rev. xx, 7-9, 12-15.
God's promises to Israel and the land of Israel in the above named chapter, are, I will gather you, and cleanse you, a new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I renew within you. "I will take away the stony heart. . . . and I will put my spirit within you." "And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers." And the desolate land shall be tilled." "And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced and are inhabited. Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the Lord build the renewed places, and plant that that was desolate." Verses 24-38.
By reference to chapters xi, 17-21; xx, 34-44; xxxiv, 25-31; xxxvii, 18-23, 26, you will see that Ezekiel frequently referred to these promises, showing their fulfillment to be at the time of Israel's coming into the land of the covenant of peace, at the time that God puts a "new spirit" within them.
Jeremiah was contemporary with Ezekiel. He prophesies of the same events, pointing to the same time. See chap. xxx, Jacob's trouble. Also xxxi, 1-14, 18-30, 35-40; xxxii, 36-44; xxxiii, 7-26; xxxiv, 4-7.
Amos ix, 8-12, points to the same time, and also harmonizes with the following prophecies in Isaiah. Chap. ii, 1-12, 20-22; xi, 10-16; lxvi, 18-21; lix, 21; also Lam. xi, 27.
The 15th verse of Amos ix, in connection with Ezekiel xxxvi, 12-15, and the first clause of verse 10, will, we believe, be fulfilled in the last end of the day of the Lord, after the resurrection and utter destruction of the unjust. When, as it reads, the land shall devour men no more. The same as Zech. xiv, 11, "And there shall be no more utter destruction."
As Joel's entire prophecy, to the 17th verse of chap. iii, has its fulfillment in the commencement of the day of the Lord, and before the commencement of the thousand years at the resurrection of the just, we will examine part of it in connection with Eze. xxxvi, 24-38; Amos ix, 8-14.
Chap. i, 9-20, points us to the distressing state we are now approaching, of drouth and famine, both for man and beast. Chap. ii, shows a restoring of the land again, and the precious fruits of the land, to man and beast, and afterwards God's Spirit to be poured out on all flesh. "And in the remnant whom the Lord shall call." Then "the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel." Chap. iii, 16.
You see that God calls Israel "his people," and "my people," in this prophecy of Joel, the same as he does in Eze. xxxvi, and Amos ix, 8-14, and shows their gathering and deliverance will be at one and the same time, and also the pouring out of the Spirit on the living saints. At the resurrection of the just, God's people are called, the whole house of Israel. Eze. xxxvii, 11, 12.
Joel is also in harmony with Eze. that the desolate land becomes as the garden of Eden.
We are therefore taught most clearly in the foregoing, as we are in other prophecies, that the gathering, deliverance, and the pouring out of God's Spirit on Israel, is all at one and the same time, and includes all the living saints of every name, just prior to the resurrection of the just. See Luke xviii, 7, 8; Zeph. ii, 1-3; Jer. xxx, 7; Dan. xii, 1.
In accordance with the prophecies of Isa. xi, 11, 12; lxvi, 18-21; Zech. xiv, 1-3; Joel iii, 1, 2, 12, many of the remnant of literal Israel, will be gathered and delivered in Jerusalem in Asia, at the battle of the great day of the Lord. At the same time all the Israel of God in every nation will be delivered, and receive the Spirit of God, and afterwards be redeemed from their respective nations with all the righteous dead, at the second appearing of Christ. JOSEPH BATES. Allegan, Allegan Co., Mich., Jan. 2d. 1857. N. B. The above "Query" from Bro. M. Adams of Philadelphia, would have been answered before, if his letter had not miscarried. J. B.

E. O. MEACHAM

By E. O. Meacham

"By whom shall Jacob Arise?"

WHILE viewing the Laodicean state of the church, the threatening of God, and the counsel of the true Witness to them, we are led to inquire, "By whom shall Jacob arise: for he is small?" Since the true light has shone upon the church, and we have been made to realize our condition, some feeble efforts have been made to extricate ourselves from the awful state into which we have fallen. Still there is a great lack of faith in Him who is able to save and deliver. There is a lack of energy—a lack of consecration—of giving up and sanctifying all to Christ. O for a spirit of self-denial, a spirit of self-examination, a spirit of deep humility before God, a rending of the heart, and not of the garment; for to "obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken, than the fat of rams." There is too much of a conformity to the world—too much of a desire to follow the fashions, even at a respectable distance. Many have been hearers of the word, and not doers. They have looked into the gospel glass, and have seen all their imperfections, and turned away, forgetting what manner of beings they were. The gospel glass is a faithful mirror in which we may see all our faults, and our situation before God, and if we continue therein we shall be blessed in our deeds.
"Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners, and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep; let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." Jas iv, 8-10. "Be zealous and reform," is the command given us, and it is a work to which the attention of every follower of the meek and lowly Jesus is directed.
The time has come when the plumb line is to be set in the midst of God's people, that he may pass by them no more. God is sifting out, and sanctifying for himself a people, who will be zealous for his name. And shall we who have enjoyed his favor, turn away from obeying the command and heeding the counsel of the true Witness, and finally perish by the way, just in sight of the kingdom? O brethren, arouse, awake, gird on the whole armor! diligently ply the oar, lest we be shipwrecked upon the shoals and quicksands of unbelief.
"Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy, break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you." Hosea x, 12.
Seek righteousness, seek meekness, before the decree go forth," "he that is holy, let him be holy still; and that is filthy, let him be filthy still."

E. O. MEACHAM

Savanna, Ills., Jan. 11th, 1857.

COMMUNICATIONS.

By William W. Miller

"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another."
From Bro. Miller.
He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches: To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Rev. ii, 7.
Bro. Smith: Through the labors of Brn. Rhodes and Sperry, we, the little few here in Norfolk, have been enabled to see that we were wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. I trust that we have in a measure been led to see and confess our faults one to the other. We have reason to praise God for what he has done for us of late in bringing us together where we can feel a union again. O how precious the truth is!
I do believe that the testimony to the Laodiceans is meat in due season. I believe it is the only message that could rouse God's lukewarm people from their indifferent state. I know that we have thought we were rich, and increased in goods, and had need of nothing. We have felt that we were well posted up on the Sabbath question, the truth of man's mortality, the signs of the times, &c. We have had the theory, but have lacked the power. My prayer now is, Give us the Spirit, and give us the power. O that I may be able to heed the counsel of the faithful and true Witness, and buy gold tried in the fire that I may be rich, and white raiment that I may be clothed, that the shame of my nakedness do not appear; and anoint my eyes with eye-salve that I may see. I want to keep pace with the light of the Third Angel. O God, quicken thy remnant people to a sense of their condition.
My mind feels solemn in view of the straitness of the way, and I feel like weeping between the porch and the altar, on account of my falling so far short of living out the testimony of Jesus.
Yours striving for the kingdom.
Wm. W. Miller.
Norfolk, St. Law. Co., N. Y., Jan. 10th, 1857.

A Call to Repentance

By H. N. Bates

From Bro. Bates.

Bro. Smith: The cause of present truth is still precious to me. I rejoice that the message to the Laodiceans ever reached me. How lukewarm it found us! The cares of this world seemed to take the uppermost seat in our hearts. But the time has come for us to awake, be zealous and repent, to buy gold tried in the fire that we may be rich, and white raiment that they may be clothed, and eye-salve that they may see.
Our salvation depends on our future course. If we want eternal life, if we prize it above every thing else, we must be zealous and repent; speedily show our faith by our works. "Faith without works is dead." James ii, 26. If not he will spue us out of his mouth. We must leave all for the kingdom, if we ever sit with Christ on his throne.
O brethren, let not the cares of this life drown us in perdition, but let us awake—the cause demands that we should awake. The remnant must and will arouse from their present condition. There is too much of the world in the hearts of the professed people of God. But God is calling upon us to repent, get the world out our hearts, and let the Saviour in. O let us heed the admonition of Christ: "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth . . . but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven." He adds, "For where your treasure is there will your heart be also." Matt. vi, 19, 20, 21.
Let us strive to overcome. The Lord requires the whole heart. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Says Christ, "Behold I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice, and will open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him and he with me." We must have every thing else taken away before Jesus will come in. Let us strive for the Faith of Jesus, keep all the Commandments of God, let Jesus into our hearts, and finally overcome, and sit with Christ on his throne.
Yours striving to overcome. H. N. Bates. Elkader, Iowa, Jan. 4th, 1857.

J. A. LAUGHHEAD

By J. A. Laughhead; M. M. Laughhead

From Bro. and Sr. Laughhead.

Bro. Smith: The Review and Herald has ever been a welcome messenger to us. We prize it much for the truths it advocates, and the cheering communications from the dear saints. We feel like pressing our way on to the heavenly city, being fully persuaded that the reward of the faithful [Rev. xxii, 14; ii21] is well worth all things pertaining to this world.
When we enlisted about nine years ago in our heavenly Master's service, we enlisted for a warfare, and we are determined by God's grace assisting, to be more zealous, and fight on until we are discharged or victory is won.
When we read Bro. White's first article on the Laodicean state of the church, we were satisfied we were in the state there represented, "neither cold nor hot," and we felt to plead with the Lord for the forgiveness of our sin, (for it is a sin to be lukewarm in the Lord's service; for says the faithful and true Witness, "I will spue thee out of my mouth,") and with prayer and fasting plead with him for victory over the carnal mind, and that we might be more consecrated to do his will. We feel like placing ourselves and all we have anew upon the altar, to be used as the opening providence of God may direct.
Dear brethren and sisters, we fully believe that the message to the Laodiceans applies to us as a people, and represents our true condition. O then let us heed the admonition of the dear Saviour, and be zealous and repent, that our sins may be blotted out, that we may be numbered among those "that keep the Commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus," and have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

J. A. LAUGHHEAD

M. M. LAUGHHEAD.
Elmira, N. Y., Jan. 14th, 1857.

Receiving the Third Angel’s Message

By Maria Annalie

From Sister Annalie.

BRO. SMITH: I esteem it a privilege to write a few lines to you, to inform you that there is yet another poor erring mortal who has heard, and with joy received, the glad, the glorious tidings, of the Third Angel's Message. I live far from any of like precious faith. There are not any that believe as you do, and as I do now, nearer than Fremont, Ohio. I have never heard any lectures on the Sabbath. I have never seen but two who keep it, in the right way, and they were good, faithful, yet persecuted, sisters, with whom I formed an acquaintance in Michigan—Sisters Eaton and Stevens. I had some conversation with Sr. E., but still more with Sr. S., as I taught school in the same district in which she lived, and boarded with her some during the Summer.
When I first became acquainted with Sr. S. I thought that undoubtedly her views were erroneous; but as I was not well versed in the Scriptures, and consequently not able to argue with her upon the subject, I wished her to say nothing to me, but let me live on in the good old way of Sunday-keeping. But I bless God that she did not stop there, but notwithstanding all my indifference and opposition, she still strove with me, she labored with me, and prayed with and for me, until I saw clearly where I was. I felt that the Spirit of the Lord had been striving with me for many long years, that it was about to take its flight, and that this was perhaps the last call I should ever receive, and I did not dare longer to turn a deaf ear to her entreaties, and the strivings of the Holy Spirit.
I had once been a member of the M. E. church, and a professor of religion, but did not then enjoy it. I began to pray and read my Bible, together with some works which she had, and a few copies of the Review, until I was convinced that I was not keeping the true Sabbath.
In the meantime I had returned to my home in this State, hoping that my grandparents with whom I was living, would also investigate the subject, and receive the truth, and so be a help to me. But alas! they had traveled in the old path too long to be induced to forsake it now. As I saw that I must either go alone, or if disobedient, receive that awful doom which is coming upon all who will not keep God's Commandments, I concluded that I had much rather forsake relatives, friends, and all, and follow my Saviour in the lonely path he trod, than to remain with the great mass who are yet within the walls of Babylon, and receive the mark of the beast.
Although I am away here, and feel like a stranger in a strange land, and am not permitted to meet with any but the professed christians of the day, yet my heart is with the commandment-keepers; for I believe them to be God's little remnant, and I desire to be one of the number.
Pray for me that I may overcome all, and have my Father's name written in my forehead when Christ appears. MARIA ANNALIE. Findlay, Ohio
Continue reading: A Testimony of God's Leading