BRO. SMITH: I rejoice that God ever had thoughts of mercy towards me, and led me to see that I was keeping the traditions of men instead of the commandments of God, and gave me a heart to receive the truth, and obey it, regardless of the consequences in this life. O how good the Lord is! Praise his holy name!
When I look back on the past I can see that the Lord has led me through thus far. Notwithstanding my unfaithfulness to him, his mercy is extended to me still. The Lord has led me in a way that I knew not; for whereas I was once blind I now see. The Bible is a new book to me, and brings things before our minds so clear, I often exclaim, Why are people so ignorant of the plain truths of God's holy word? It contains a truth perfectly adapted to this generation; but there are but a little remnant according to the word, that will receive this glorious truth into good and honest hearts, and be sanctified through it. But I mean to strive to enter in at the strait gate. By God's grace assisting me I am resolved to go through. I know we must serve God with the whole heart, or we shall come short at last. I do not expect to go to heaven on flowery beds of ease, but through much tribulation I expect to enter. I know but very little what suffering is, compared with what some of God's dear people have suffered; but I have a desire to choose the suffering part of religion, to love God with my whole soul, and my neighbor as myself. I mean to heed the counsel of the true Witness, to buy gold tried in the fire, white raiment and eye-salve, that I may see all the truth as it is in Jesus, and be sanctified through obedience to the same, and have a shelter in the day of the Lord's fierce anger, that is very soon coming upon the earth. God has not left his people in darkness that that day should overtake them as a thief, but his mercy still lingers to give his people time to get ready to escape all those things that are coming on this earth; and if we are left without a shelter from the storm of the wrath of God, we alone must bear it.
O brethren and sisters, let us gird on the whole armor, let us awake out of our cold and stupid sleep, and work for God while the day lasts; for by and by we cannot work for God. The Lord is soon coming, and if we sleep on, that day will find us without that preparation which we must have before we can see him in peace, without spot and blameless. I feel the need of a deeper work of grace in my heart. I have been trying to overcome every besetment, but I see I have a great deal to overcome yet, before I shall be fully prepared to receive the refreshing that all will have who are ready for it. Those who are making speedy repentance of their sins, and trying to overcome every wrong word and action, will most assuredly overcome, have a shelter in the time of trouble, and at last stand on mount Zion with the Lamb.
It has been and still is my humble prayer that the purifying process may go on in the hearts of all the professed Sabbath-keepers, until they are just right, and all speak the same thing. Then Jesus will have a people that he will not be ashamed of, and I desire with that number to be found. I feel that there must be a great work done for us before we shall be prepared for our blessed Saviour.
I have learned by experience that it is no small thing to be a christian and have the approbation of God, and that a form of godliness will not be acceptable to him, nor give us admittance through the gates into the holy city; but we must keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus; for blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have a right to the tree of life and enter in through the gates into the city.
I have stood alone in this place until a little more than a year ago the Lord raised up two families to keep the Sabbath. The past Summer I have been led to rejoice in seeing precious souls added to our number of such as I hope will be saved. Although some considerable distance from this place, I have had the privilege of meeting from time to time with them.
The tent-meetings held at Norfolk and Canaan resulted in much good, yet I think a longer stay would have set the truth before the people more fully. Bro. Daniels meets with them occasionally, and there seems to be an interest to hear the reasons of our hope still, and my prayer is that the Lord will raise up servants, and fully qualify them to sound the last Message of mercy through the wide-spread harvest-field, until every honest one has an opportunity to hear the truth.
LUCY ANN BECKLEY.
West Winsted, Ct.
Strength Through the Review
By Polly B. Rogers
From Sister Rogers.
Bro. Smith: I feel very thankful to God for the privilege of reading so excellent a paper as the Review, (also the Instructor,) and am happy to avail myself of this opportunity to express my gratitude to you for sending them; notwithstanding I had neglected to forward the money. I highly prize the truth as taught in the above named papers, and feel that I would not be denied the light conveyed through their agency to the scattered ones. How often, when my heart has been weary and faint, have I derived strength and encouragement in reading the cheering epistles from the dear brethren and sisters!
It would be a great help and source of consolation to me if I could meet with the dear saints on the Sabbath, and hear the blessed word from the lips of the servants who are giving the household meat in due season; but this is denied me. I therefore devour with eagerness the food furnished in your columns. Present truth is what we want; but we get it not from the hireling, who would fain lead the sheep the wrong way. I thank God that there are watchmen that can read the "signs of times," and are able and willing to interpret them to others. They say unto us, "The morning cometh, and also the night." Yes, it is near and hasteth greatly. Who will be able to stand?
I can sympathize with the weak and lonely ones; for I am weak and make slow progress in the endeavor to overcome.
I do not often have the opportunity to converse with a real believer in the present truth. Some appear convinced upon a few points, but cannot see the beauty and harmony of the whole truth, as taught in the holy Word.
It is my determination to heed the counsel of the true Witness—Buy gold tried in the fire, white raiment and eye-salve—that I may see the whole truth, and walk in the light. I desire an interest in the prayers of God's children.
Your unworthy sister,
POLLY B. ROGERS.
Oxford, N. Y.
Awakening from Laodicean Lukewarmness
Bro. T. B. Mead writes from Madrid Depot, N. Y., Jan. 13th, 1857: "How important is the time in which we live, and the truth which we profess to believe? Is it a fact that the world is hearing the last note of warning, and we as a people in a lukewarm state, neither cold nor hot? How important that we immediately obey the admonition of the true Witness to buy gold, white raiment, and eye-salve. Is it a fact that we are offensive in the sight of the Lord? Certainly, if we are neither cold nor hot.
"I am glad to learn that the cause is rising, that brethren and sisters do feel the importance of making an effort to get up out of this place, this lukewarmness, and have on the whole armor. The labors of Bro. Rhodes, Sperry and others have been a help and blessing to us here. The Lord reward them for their labors of love. O I want to have on the whole armor in this time in which we live."
Signs of Rain.
By D. F. C.
Bro. Smith:—There are some indications of good here and in other places which I hear from. There are signs of rain.
Bro. Ingraham is with us. He thinks that the promise of the True Witness, of coming in to sup with those that open the door, is a promise of no ordinary, common blessing; that it is something greater than the blessings which have been enjoyed in times past. I concur with him in this, and hope that God is about to send the latter rain, and manifest the gifts of the Spirit. I hope to feel a sense of the importance of the present time, and pray that the people of God will sanctify themselves, and be prepared for what he is about to do for them.
D. F. C.
Mill Grove, N. Y.
SILENT SORROWS.
If every one's eternal care
Were written on his brow,
How many would our pity share,
Who raise our envy now!
The fatal secrets when revealed,
Of every aching breast,
Would prove that only while concealed,
Their lot appeared the best.
Prayer Needed for Effective Ministry
By Bridges
The most splendid talents, and the most mighty eloquence, and the most devoted diligence, will be utterly inefficient, except the unction be brought down from heaven by frequent and fervent supplication.—Bridges.
Letters.
A. Egbert, M. J. Ross, Wm. Harris, J. A. Wilcox.
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Address URIAH SMITH, Battle Creek, Mich.
G. W. HOLT
By G. W. Holt
Providence permitting, there will be a conference at the house of Bro. Matthew Hutchins, Green Creek, Ohio, commencing Feb. 6th, at 2 o'clock, P. M., and continue as long as thought best. Brethren abroad are invited to attend and join in the work of the Lord, by fasting and prayer; that we may be zealous and repent, and receive the eye-salve that we may see how much yet remains in our hearts to be put away before Jesus can come in.
Bro. M. E. Cornell is expected. In behalf of the church.
G. W. HOLT
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.
Conference at Irasburgh
By A. S. Hutchins
PROVIDENCE permitting, it may be expected there will be a Conference at Irasburgh, Vt., commencing with the commencement of the Sabbath, Feb. 14th, and continuing until it seems good to the Holy Spirit to close. We hope to meet Brn. here from C. E. and northern N. Y. Will some of the traveling Brn. from Northern N. Y. try to be present. Come brethren and sisters prepared to labor for the Lord. A. S. HUTCHINS
P. S. We expect Bro. Sperry will be with us in this meeting. A. S. H.
Self-Respect
Self-Respect.—When a man is particularly pleased with himself, it is ten to one nobody else is.
The Hour of His Judgment is Come.
By Editor
A Correspondent writes:
"Is there not a definite period of time brought to view in this announcement? How long is an hour? Ans. Fifteen days. Each day for a year would be fifteen years. Commencing on the tenth day of the seventh month, 1844, more than twelve years are in the past. We have several examples of double symbols in the Bible; as in Rev. xi, the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks, and in chapter xvii, the seven heads and seven mountains, and also the woman, that great city. Why may not this be so? It looks to me as if it might be."
ANSWER.—It is true that there are double symbols, and the instances referred to are good illustrations; but we have no instances of time's being doubly prophetic. The rule which is given us for the application of symbolic time is found in Num. xiv, 34, and in Eze. iv, 6: a day for a year. Now if after applying this rule once, and making a prophetic day symbolize a literal year, we may take that literal year, and make it prophetic, symbolizing 360 other literal years, (that being the number of days allowed for a prophetic year,) where shall we place any limit to this work? Why not make a third application, and so on? Thus having a day to start with we might make it symbolize one year, or 360 years, or 129600 years, as convenience or fancy might dictate; and all the force and definiteness of prophetic time would be destroyed.
As a day is sometimes prophetic, so the aliquot parts of a day may also be prophetic; and we have a prophetic hour. But is the hour of Rev. xiv, 6, prophetic? If it is we see that it can, at most, denote but fifteen days. But there exists no necessity for calling it prophetic. The word there translated, hour, is abundantly used in the New Testament in three different senses: 1. As denoting a literal hour of about 60 minutes; 2. Denoting time indefinite; 3. Prophetic. Instances of its use in the first sense need not be multiplied. They are such as John xi, 9: "Are there not twelve hours in a day?" &c. It is used indefinitely in instances like the following: "The hour cometh when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem worship the Father." John iv, 21. "Ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light." Ib. v, 35. "But this is your hour and the power of darkness." Luke xxii, 53. "Yea, the time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service." John xvi, 2. "Now it is high time to awake out of sleep." Rom. xiii, 11. "He therefore departed for a season." Philem. 15. "The time is come for thee to reap." Rev. xiv, 15. And when it is said, "The hour of his Judgment is come;" we think that time indefinite is also brought to view. An instance of its prophetic use is found in Rev. ix, 15.
The hour of his judgment is come. To determine further whether the hour in this text is designed to express definite time, we inquire if there are any other scriptures referring to this period of judgment, which point out its duration. This work of judgment is evidently the cleansing of the Sanctuary. Where it is announced, it says simply, "Unto two thousand and three hundred days, then shall the Sanctuary be cleansed;" [Dan. viii, 14.] but how long a period would be occupied in this cleansing, we are not told. Again: "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God;" [1 Pet. iv, 17;] but how long it would be before the judgment of the house of God would be completed, is not said. There is another text however more definite. The mighty angel of Rev. x, standing with one foot upon the sea, and the other on the land, lifts up his hand, and swears that time shall be no longer. As this angel is supposed to be identical with the first angel of Rev. xiv, his message would carry us to the commencement of the period of the judgment of the house of God. But he declares that time shall be no longer; from which we understand that all the prophetic periods there terminated, and that since then, there are no events to be marked by definite prophetic time. If our application of this scripture be correct, it decides beyond controversy that the word hour, in the proclamation, "The hour of his judgment is come," is not prophetic, and does not denote a definite period of time. A large proportion of that hour of judgment is past. The remaining work in the heavenly Sanctuary we believe will be brief; while a corresponding work on earth will be impelled by the energies of the Holy Spirit, and cut short in righteousness.