Review and Herald, Vol. 4, No. 13.
Views and Experience in relation to Entire Consecration and the Second AdventPage 1
Earlier text: Views and Experience in relation to Entire Consecration and the Second AdventZ. CAMPBELL AGAIN.
By Uriah Smith
IN No. 8 of the REVIEW, we made the following statement: "As Mr. Z. Campbell has announced to the world that the Papal Beast has changed the number of the days of the week, so that our first is in reality the seventh day, we call on him to present the history of such a change. When he will present it, we will publish the language of his historians who make any such statement." To this Mr. Campbell replies in an article in a late number of the Watchman, as follows:— "In a late number of his paper, [REVIEW,] he requests me to show the history of the change in the number of the days of the weeks. We have shown by Sacred History, that Friday occurs three days before the first day of the week, whereas, by his reckoning, it is the second; now whether the change was made by the Sabbatarians themselves, or the Pope, or the Devil, I care but little which; of the three authorities, the editor of the Sabbath Herald may take his choice." Would not such a reply as this from Z. Campbell, with so little regard for his own word, and reputation, have been a disgrace to the infidel, Thomas Paine? Mr. C. asserted that the Papal Beast had changed the number of the days of the week; and as he stated that he had spent much time in searching history, we wished him to present his historical proof, if he had any. But his singular reply shows that he has none, and that his assertion is false. We hoped that Mr. C. would either produce his history, or take back his bold assertion; but he has done neither. Some men choose to be guilty of the folly of going on from bad to worse rather than to confess that they have made a groundless assertion. Read what the wise man has said, Prov. xxvii, 22. Is Sunday the Seventh day?
We give the following from Vol. III, No. 7, of the REVIEW, which is to the point. But, say you, though we have no history that records any such event, as the mistake in question, [the inhabitants of the globe were all asleep when this mistake was made, just as they were when Mahomet wrought his miracle on the moon,] yet we have "plain Bible testimony" that establishes the fact that Sunday is the Seventh day. Here it is: "For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." Matt. xii, 40. It is made to prove the point in this way: Christ was crucified on Friday, lay in the grave this period in full time, was raised on Monday, which is thus shown to be the first day of the week; hence Sunday is certainly the seventh day. An indirect method of establishing a theory that involves the most extraordinary difficulties. But the evidence mentioned shall have all possible weight allowed it. The "three days and three nights" shall be reckoned in full time, though there are certain facts that seem to modify this, which may be noticed in their place. We inquire, then, respecting the evidence on which it is asserted that Christ was crucified on Friday. It is answered, "Every one admits this fact." But why does every one admit this fact? There is but one answer that can be given: Christ was crucified the day before the Sabbath, [Mark xv, 42,] which, according to all records, Pagan, Mahometan, Jewish and Christian, comes on Saturday. For this one grand reason, it has been treated as an established fact, that the crucifixion occurred on Friday. Now mark this point! In order to fill the space of two entire days between the crucifixion day and the day of the resurrection, which this theory presents, you say that two sabbaths came in connection, viz: the passover sabbath and the Sabbath of Jehovah. And that the crucifixion occurred the day before the passover sabbath, and two days before the Sabbath of the Lord. Very well; have your own idea of this also. Now what have you gained? Simply this: the crucifixion did not occur on Friday, the day before the Sabbath, but it occurred on Thursday, two days before the Sabbath. One plain fact ought to put this argument into oblivion for ever. It is this: The Sabbath is the fixed point which determines the day of the week on which the crucifixion occurred, and not the crucifixion day, the fixed point which may set the Sabbath forward or backward. Weigh this fact; its force will be seen. The only way that the day of the crucifixion can be determined, is by its relative distance from the Sabbath; hence it is the height of folly to adjust the Sabbath by the day of the crucifixion. Is it not so? The premises of our brethren who maintain this theory, sadly clash. Their evidence, when allowed in its full length and breadth, amounts to this: the crucifixion occurred on Thursday. But it is a fundamental point with them that it occurred on Friday. The argument at most can only claim to set the crucifixion back, and can never lay the least claim to having set the Sabbath and the resurrection forward. It destroys the very foundation on which it claims to rest! We bespeak serious attention to the point. But does not this idea of making out Sunday the Seventh day, look much more like an ingenious excuse for breaking the fourth commandment, than a real, sincere effort to obey it? On whom does the blessing of heaven rest? On those who obey the commandments, or on those who find an excuse for not obeying? Not Stepping in the dark.
If, in the purpose of God to release earth from the thralldom of the curse, and restore it to its Eden beauty, he designed that man should know when this was about to be accomplished; if, when he appointed a day in which he would judge the world in righteousness, he intended that we should know of its approach, and prepare for the event; in short, if his revealed will, the Bible, is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, then we were not stepping in the dark, or following cunningly devised fables, when we made known the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Based on God's Word, the fundamental principles of the Advent doctrine, as proclaimed in the past—the commencement and termination of the prophetic periods, the first and second angels' messages and the symbolic visions of Daniel and John, are placed upon an unshaken foundation and cannot be moved; and perhaps there is no one thing, more calculated to inspire confidence in our present position, than the fact that we stand upon the same foundation. Though we were subject to a heavy and grievous disappointment in not seeing our Lord at the end of the 2300 days, yet our confidence in the past is unshaken; because the cause of that disappointment is now fully explained, and all is harmonious and clear. But how and by whom is this explanation given? Surely not by those who deny the established principles of chronological reckoning, and contend that the 2300 days have not yet expired, and that, consequently, the past is a failure; nor by those who place the message of the first angel in the days of the apostles, or Luther, or Wesley: before ever the book of Daniel upon which it is based was unsealed! and therefore the move of '43 and 4, was counterfeit; nor by those who locate the messages in a future age, even after the Lord comes! We have said that in the past Advent movement, we have not been stepping in the dark; and we now claim, that, in being guided by the same lamp, the unerring Word, adhering still to the same established rules of interpretation, we are not stepping in the dark, while we follow down the track of prophecy as it is further developed. It is no blind step to believe, as God's Word plainly teaches, that the true Tabernacle is in heaven, a sanctuary which the Lord pitched and not man; and unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the Sanctuary be cleansed; that, since the days have ended, Christ is now performing his last work in the heavenly Sanctuary, as was typified by the work of the priests on earth, in the Mosaic dispensation. We would ask all those who view this point otherwise, this simple question: "What did the tabernacle built by Moses, with its sacrifices, and its work of atonement, signify?" Again, it is no crooked and distorted theory, to believe that when two angels have given their messages, and the Word says that a third shall follow them, that it will be even as the Word declares; and the third angel will follow and perform his work; and it is in accordance with truth to believe that when he shall have finished his message, that the Son of man will take his position on the great white cloud, which is the next event given in the prophetic chain. We do not move unadvisedly, when, perceiving from the plain testimony of scripture, that the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord our God, we throw aside the traditions of men, break away from our early prejudices, and step out on his commandments, and keep his law. To those who do this, is promised, eternal life; to those who do it not, everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord. We say, then, that we are the only class who have the harmony of all scripture, and the evidence of the past to sustain our present position. We are the only class whose views will harmonize with the past, and render all its moves consistent and plain; and all those who still claim that the Advent movement was the work of God, and was founded on the teachings of the Bible, must either admit that we have the truth, or that God's Word has failed. The failure of God's word, I am not yet prepared to acknowledge; but I do most confidently assert that we have the truth,—I know of no class of people who have any truth that we have not: I know of no class of people who have all the truth that we have. Our feet are not enveloped in the darkness and inconsistencies of error. Our way is still lightened by the Word of God. Tho' the darkness covers the earth and gross darkness the people, we still have light in our dwellings. U. S.
Rochester, Sept. 27th, 1853. FAITH is a subject that should interest the mind of every child of God. In these last days, when error floods the world—and when Satan is working "with all power and signs and lying wonders," the last great sign which is to precede the coming of the Son of Man—how necessary that we should arm ourselves with the sword of the Spirit, and the shield of faith. The first question that arises is, What is faith?—Paul answers this question in Heb. xi, 1. "Faith is the substance [margin, ground or confidence] of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." "For we are saved by hope. [Or through faith.] But hope that is seen, is not hope; for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?" Rom. viii, 24. Faith, in one sense, is like a shadow, which leads us to the substance, and when we reach the substance the shadow fails. Some so with faith; it points us forward to that which we hope for, and when we realize our hope, our "faith is lost in sight." But in order to realize our hope, we must "ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed." "Let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord." James i, 6, 7. "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?" Chap. ii, 14. "Faith without works is dead." A man may say that he has faith, but if he does not live, and act out what he professes to believe, his faith becomes dead. For instance, a person pretends to believe that the coming of Christ is very near, and instead of settling up his affairs with this world, he continues to build, and lay his plans as though the world would stand in its present condition for many years. Such a person denies his faith by his works, and his faith is dead. Having fully shown what faith is, and how it should be exercised, we next inquire:— On whom are we to believe? There are many things to which the inhabitants of this earth bow and worship, and to which they look for salvation. But the Word teaches that we are to "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ," and be saved. Well, says one, if that is all I have got to do to be saved, why do you talk so much about keeping the commandments? Because Christ, himself, taught them. He says, "If thou wilt enter into life keep the commandments." Matt. xix, 17. Says another, I believe that Christ abolished the law, therefore all that I have got to do is to believe on him. Let us examine this position for a moment. What is believing on Christ? It is believing all that he has said. Has he told us whether or not he would abolish the commandments? Let Christ answer:—"Think not that I am come to destroy the law. . . . For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." "Whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend in one point he is guilty of all." Matt. v, 17, 18; James ii, 10. Hence we see that such a position not only makes their faith in Christ "dead," but it contradicts his own language! Now one thing is certain: if a person claims to be justified by faith, he must admit that the commandments are all binding; and if he denies them, he denies Christ, and Christ says, "whosoever shall deny me, him will I also deny." Brethren and sisters, the time has come when we not only ought, but it is our duty, to have faith, and trust in the Lord, and believe his promises are yea and amen. That the coming of Christ is just at hand we have no chance to doubt. The prophet Habakkuk declares, "the just shall live by his faith." Hab. ii, 4. We must "walk by faith and not by sight," and have our eyes fixed on Him in whom our strength lies; we must talk faith, act faith, and "live by faith." It is too often the case with many, that doubts and unbelief is their line of conversation. We should bear in mind that "without faith it is impossible to please God." We must have our faith grounded in Christ, and then we can draw strength and nourishment from him continually. Jude tells us that we "should contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints." What was that? They by faith could raise the dead, heal the sick, cause the lame to walk, the blind to see, cast out devils, &c. Well, will the saints do these things, in these last days? They will, for Christ has plainly stated so. "These signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover." Luke xvi, 17. Again, the apostle James says, "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him." James v, 14, 15. Many are very ready to laugh and scoff at such a doctrine. But do they know that it is a doctrine that our Lord taught; and when they scoff at us, they also scoff at him! Can we not afford to suffer for him who has suffered so much for us? This promise is on the same level with the rest of his promises—reject this, and you reject all—if this fails, they all fail! But praise the Lord, he has declared, that heaven and earth shall pass away, but his words shall not pass away; neither shall they return unto him void. We have already shown that they who believed on Christ were none other than the commandment-keepers, "who keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Among them we are to look for "these signs" which "follow them that believe."—Take a glance among them, and behold how many have already been snatched from the jaws of death, and in a very short time restored to perfect health, by no other means than the prayer of faith! I speak not only from what I have seen and heard, but from my own, happy experience. My heart is often led to praise the Lord for the wonderful manifestation of his power in healing my body, and more especially about a year since, when I was struggling with Death for my last breath. I was conversing with a brother a short time since in relation to the prayer of faith, and he thought that the promise in James v, 14, could be applied only to certain cases. For instance, if a brother is sick, and follows the direction of James, the Lord would not raise him up unless he designed to accomplish some great work through him. God has given us roots and herbs to cure disease, and it was our duty to use them. It will be enough, perhaps, to say that this brother is a Physician. But I do not agree with him. The same position would prove that God would not pardon a sinner when he comes humbly before him, and confesses his sins, unless he can make him an instrument of doing a great deal of good. The Lord has given us the promise without any such proviso, and positively declares, it shall be done! I admit that God has given us "roots and herbs," and let such as have no faith use them! I am fully persuaded that God is well pleased to hear prayer for the sick.—Christ says, "Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give you." John xvi, 23. "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight." 1 John iii, 22. Brethren, are not such plain and positive declarations as above quoted enough for us to stand upon? A foundation that Christ says shall not be moved, though heaven and earth shall pass away. Let us rejoice that God has left on record such precious promises for us; and in view of what he has done for us, let us arouse ourselves from stupidity, and be more active in the cause of Christ. We all have a duty to do, and that must be done quickly. Let us arm ourselves with the whole armor of God, "having our loins girt about with truth," with the "shield of faith," the helmet of salvation, and sword of the Spirit, "that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil;" so that our "whole spirit, and soul, and body, be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." Finally, brethren, let our hearts be so united by the Spirit and love of Christ, that we shall feel we are of that happy company, who will range the blissful fields of Paradise restored, through endless ages of unremitting joy. L. V. MASTEN. Who enters the City?
By Luther Paine
"BLESSED are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the City." Rev. xxii, 12. 1. We inquire, who is the person who pronounces such glorious blessings of reward and privilege to such that do his commandments? In the two verses preceding the text we read, "and behold I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." Verse 16. "I Jesus have sent mine angel," &c. We find in this chapter, beyond a shadow of doubt, that the blessing pronounced on commandment-keepers, is from the Lord Jesus Christ, the same Jesus that said to Peter, "It is I, be not afraid." 2. Whose were the (test) commandments in the text? They could not be the commandments of Jesus, because the text is expressive of another person, "his commandments." Then it can be none other than God the Father. Has the unchangeable God the Father given to man a law, and commandments, to observe and keep? The revelation of God's will to man proclaims in the affirmative. Amen. On Mount Sinai's fiery top, terrific and awful, to the thousands of Israel, were the ten commandments written by the great Lawgiver, on tables of stone of his own making. Ex. xxxii, 16. How long were they to be binding on man? Let David, "the man after God's own heart," speak of their perpetuity.—"All his commandments are sure, they stand fast forever and ever."102 O, how can Adventists professing godliness, with scripture testimony staring them in the face, proclaim, that the ten commandments are abolished, or at least, a part of them. From whence do they get their license thus to believe and teach? Not from God's Bible. This is the foundation—the test—to decide all difficulties among men. Depend on the fact, that God will have a church on the earth, that will honor him, and his word. Amen, Hallelujah!—Our blessed Lord honored and kept his Father's commandments. And as he had occasion from time to time to quote some part of the ten commandments, for the benefit of his hearers, but did not quote the fourth, lo! forsooth! it is abolished!! says the rejector of God's commandments. Some quote this text; viz., "A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, him shall ye hear," [Acts iii, 22,] and say that Christ remodeled the ten commandments. How absurd!!! What dishonor the sentiment reflects upon the Almighty Lawgiver; as though he was an imperfect being. But I like the text quoted, "Hear him."—"Think not that I am come to destroy the law," &c. Matt. v, 7. "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath." "The Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath." "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." We praise God that we are permitted in these last days to hear Jesus, the great Prophet, and his apostles unitedly establishing the commandments of the Father, for the benefit of man under the gospel dispensation. But who will enter in through the gates into the city? The text is decidedly in favor of those that do his commandments. What will become of those that cast out but one of them? Such, according to James, offend; consequently are guilty of all. We shall do well to know what is implied in keeping the commandments of God. The outward observance is but a small part towards fitting us for the City. A worldly, moral man, to some extent, may observe the letter of the commandments. But in possession of the "hope that maketh not ashamed," and in fellowship with the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ, and our faith embracing all the truths of God's Word, we can sing, "This world is not my home." LUTHER PAINE.
Ware Vill., Mass., Sept. 16th, 1853. SPIRITUAL MANIFESTATIONS.
The Hon. N. P. Tallmadge has published another letter on "Spiritual Manifestations," the closing paragraph of which is as follows:— Let me scan this subject for one moment, and present one simple view, which, it seems to me, comprises the whole in a nut-shell. It is the belief of all christian denominations at the present day that departed spirits revisit the earth, that they attend us, that they impress us to go or not to go, to do or not to do, for our good. Every one's experience will satisfy him of the truth of this remark. What then follows? If spirits visit us, attend us, and impress us for our good, what is the objection to believing that a mode is now discovered by which they can communicate with us? There can be no possible objection provided the facts justify that belief. If the one is for our good, the other is still more for our good. If the facts justify it, the conclusion is both reasonable and philosophical. Do the facts justify it? I undertake to say they do. I undertake to say, too, that no intelligent mind that investigates with a sincere desire to ascertain the truth, and has the opportunity so to do, can come to any other conclusion.—What, then, is the result of this mighty outcry, as if heaven and earth were coming together? Why, simply, that it has been ascertained that spirits can communicate with us, in addition to impressing us!—"It hath this extent, no more." Leonard Stillman
By Leonard Stillman
Dear Bro. White.—For the first time I write you a few lines to let you know what the Lord is doing for his people in Boylston and Lorain, this season. The cause is rising here. There seems to be more love and union among the saints. There has been seven or eight, who within two or three months past, have embraced the Sabbath of the Lord, and are striving for the kingdom. It is about two years since I commenced keeping the commandments in the love of them. I want to be among the number that shall be free from the mark of the beast, and his image, that when I have done with the toils and trials of this life, I may meet our Judge in peace, and stand with all God's children on mount Zion. I feel unworthy, but I want to be there. But none will stand, only those who have clean hands and a pure heart. For this I am determined to seek. I read many cheering letters in the Review; many from those I never expect to see, until at the appearing of Jesus. I mean to so live that I shall then, with them, enter into the joy of my Lord. Although wicked men and seducers wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived, making a god of this world, I believe that the number are now being sealed that will make up the 144,000. By the grace of God, I am determined to go through to the kingdom. Elisburgh, N. Y., Sept. 19th, 1853. WILLARD HOLDEN
By Willard Holden
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—I truly see and feel that we are on the right track, the sure foundation—the foundation that God has laid for his people in these last and perilous times. And when I see poor feeble man trying to do away the fourth commandment, or get up some new doctrine in order to shun the cross of obeying it, I am led to pity them. It would seem that one dreaded the cross very much to try to show that the first day of the week is the seventh in order to make out that the day so popularly regarded throughout the world is the true seventh day, the day that we are called upon to observe by our great creator. Strange, indeed! that one man has found the whole world mistaken in their reckoning of the days of the week, and no one that has lived for the 1800 years past, or that now lives, has found out the mistake, but Mr. Campbell. I have great reason to praise the Lord for his goodness to me. I hope to be ever faithful to do all his103 commandments. They are not grievous to me. I want to be found faithful in all things, keeping his holy law pure, not offending in one point, that I may be prepared to meet his Dear Son from heaven, having on the robe of righteousness, unspotted from this world's pollution, that I may, with all the blest company of the redeemed have an entrance through the pearly gates into the holy City, and share the rich reward, eternal life! O blessed the rest that long will endure,
The rest that remains for the chosen, secure.
I hope for a part with the blest in that land,
Where Jesus will reign with his blood-bought band. I am your brother, in patient waiting. Ronald, Mich. Sept. 18th, 1853. COMMUNICATIONS.
By Phebe Brown
DEAR BRO. WHITE.—I have been highly gratified in reading the Review, and think it worth the attention of any one. And should I, or any other one, treasure up these truths into good and honest hearts, it might benefit us, as it doth the upright in heart, and prove a savor of life unto life. I have long felt that the truths of the gospel have not been held forth in their unadulterated light, as they should be. I ever wish to be actuated by the Spirit of God, in reference to things that pertain to Heaven and immortal glory. I am often astonished to see those who have professed to forsake all for Christ, and abide by the truths of the Sacred Word of God, have their hearts and affections interwoven with the things of this world, drinking in copious draughts of the poisonous dregs, that will forever debar them from drinking from that fountain of life, which flows from the throne of God and the Lamb. I feel that truth has fallen in the streets and equity cannot enter.—Could we see the heinous nature of sin and its evil consequences, as the Lord sees, we should if we were honest before God escape for our lives, as from a deadly foe. But I fear, that I, with the rest of my fellow creatures, or many of them, are not aware of the danger we are in of being overtaken with our sins upon us when our Saviour shall make his appearance in the clouds of Heaven. Oh! what an august day that will be to the world. Then if we are filthy we shall be filthy still, if we are righteous we shall be righteous still. If we are of the righteous, with what ecstatic joy shall we hail his appearing. But what a solemn day will it be to the unbelieving world, when He shall descend with all his grandeur and power, attended by angels, taking vengeance, on those that know not God, and obey not the gospel, who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of God and the glory of his power. Oh! who would not embrace the truths of the gospel, and be able to stand before the Son of man. As unworthy as I am, I feel the force of the truths which I write. It is a number of years since the Lord called me by his grace to adhere to the things of an eternal nature. And I hope the blood of Christ has been applied to my heart to the cleansing thereof. Notwithstanding my many omissions and commissions, I still feel desirous, to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. I meet with many trials and afflictions in this life; but I hope they will work out for me a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. I have always observed the Sabbath of the Lord, and believe it to be a sacred institution of Heaven, which should be had in remembrance by all the world, till the consummation of all things. From your unworthy sister in Christ,
PHEBE BROWN.
Plainfield, N. Y., Sept. 21st, 1853. A Child’s Prayer Brings Healing
By T. H. Knickerbocker
DEAR BRO. WHITE.—I would like to say a few words of encouragement to the brethren and sisters in the Lord. I praise the Lord for the spirit and power of the third angel's message. It brings glad news, even the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. O, who would not live for God, and have an inheritance in that glorious city. I praise God today for the unity of the spirit and faith in the Lord, and for the glorious work that he has commenced in this place. The little band here are striving to keep all the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. I want to tell you something of the goodness and blessing of God to me. I was taken very sick with the fever and ague, my wife was gone from home to help the sick. I sent for her immediately for I grew worse. My little William (a boy five years old) came running to the bed-room door, and fell down on his knees and prayed for me. I felt a little better, but did not feel fully relieved. He saw it, and fell down again on his knees and prayed. The fever left me, and I arose shouting and praising God. Jesus said "suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven." O, let us become as little children brethren, that we may inherit the kingdom. Yours in love, looking for the glorious appearing of the Lord.
T. H. KNICKERBOCKER.
Hastings, Mich., Sept. 10th 1853. JOSEPH BATES
By Joseph Bates
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—Since the date of my last, the 5th inst., I have been visiting a number of places. In most of all, where we have held Meetings, the people have listened with interest. I returned here, to spend the Sabbath with the church at Milan. For some time they have been passing through trials which prevented their laboring unitedly for the suffering cause of God in this part of the Vineyard of the Lord. At the close of our meeting the Lord wrought for them, and gave them liberty from the power of the tempter, and made them free in Christ. Milan, Ohio, Sept. 20th, 1853. The leading Catholic paper of this City, The Freeman's Journal, now issues an edition on Sunday—a movement which seems to surprise some of our Protestant neighbors. It ought not to surprise any body who is at all familiar with history, or with the Catholic controversies of the day. Scarcely any thing is plainer from history, than that the Catholic church has played an important part in the abolition of the Sabbath and the elevation of the Sunday festival; and in almost every controversy we have read between a Protestant and a Catholic, this claim has been set up, and it has been maintained that the observance of Sunday cannot be justified without resort to the Fathers and the traditions of the Catholic church. If that church has a right to make a Sabbath of Sunday, has it not an equal right to decide what is the proper manner of using the day? And does not consistency require that those who accept the Sunday as a Sabbath on Catholic authority, should also hear to them in regard to the manner of keeping it.—Sab. Rec. Extracts of Letters.
By Editor
BRO. PAUL FOLSOM writes from Somerville, Mass., Sept. 25th, 1853:—"We thank the Lord for his goodness to us, poor, unworthy subjects of grace. We know that we have the truth on our side, which gives me courage to yet hope in his mercy. "We have just had a meeting here, which I believe will prove for our good. The leaven of the truth is already working, and my prayer is that it may work until the whole lump shall be leavened. Although we have some trials, I believe the Lord will bring us safely through the furnace, and not a hair of our head shall perish. The nearer we get to the harbor, the more dangers there will be in the way. The rocks and quicksands are on either side of us, as we pass along down the stream of time; but we have this rare promise, that our Father is at the helm, and he will guide the Advent Ship safe into the Port. Let us keep up good courage, for the land is just before us, and we need not become faint-hearted now, when we are almost there. "We have had the signs in this generation, foretold by our Saviour, and we may now lift up our heads and rejoice, knowing that our redemption draweth nigh. He has told us so to do. "I am determined to go on my way rejoicing, the grace of God assisting me, and praise his name for what he has done for me. I thank the Lord for the Advent doctrine; for it has weaned me from this cold-hearted world, and brought me out where I can prepare to meet the Saviour in the air. I thank our Heavenly Father that we can rejoice in his salvation, and hold on to the promise of the Lord. The pathway brightens as we move along in the third angel's message. "A short time since several of us spent one Sabbath at Bro. Day's, Rock Bottom, Mass. We had a powerful time. The Spirit of the Lord rested down upon us, and in very deed it was a season long to be remembered. Such a manifestation of the power of God I have not witnessed for some time. I trust we gained strength to brave the trials of the way. It is good to call to mind the refreshings from the Lord which we have enjoyed; for while we have so many adverse scenes to pass through, were it not for some bright spots through this desert waste, we should sometimes almost sink in despair." [The following extracts from Krummacher's Elijah the Tishbite, a German Author, were sent us by Sister P. Day, of Rock Bottom, Mass. She writes: Although I have read them many times, yet they always seem good and comforting to me.] "Our prophet is called Elijah, which is interpreted, 'my God of power,' or, 'the Lord is my strength,' a beautiful and a great name; and he bore it in deed, and in verity. He was a man like myself and thyself; nothing in himself, and yet the strength of God was his: he had no power, yet deeds of omnipotence proceeded from his hands; he lay in the dust, a worm, and yet participated in the authority and government of God, a king; and had the power to close and open the clouds; to command the dead that they live, the living that they perish, and to hold judgment upon the enemies of God. Hence he might justly be called Elijah, which implies, you will say, 'God strengthens me?' By no means: 'God himself is my strength.' Here is a difference; for it does not mean the same, my beloved, if you say, 'God guards me with his shield,' or if you may assert, 'God is my shield.'—If he guards me with his shield, nothing shall injure even a hair of my head, and misfortune at which I tremble cannot approach me. But if God be my shield, I thrust my head into a turbulent storm as if the heavens were calm and serene, and rejoice in God even in the midst of tumult, as if I were not in it.—Peter, when he went out of prison, freed of his fetters, and all the bolts flew back before him, could shout for joy on his way. 'The shield of the Lord surrounds me.' Stephen, under the deadly shower of stones of his enemies, exclaimed, with his angelic countenance, 'God is my shield.' It does not signify the same condition, if a person says, 'God comforts me,' and if another may declare, 'God is my comfort.' If the Lord comfort me, I am light and glad, and happy in my heart, and into the sorrow of my soul, flows sensations of joy, that cheering spirit. If God be my comfort, the heart can be riven, and sad, and parched; I do not despair, but am comforted, and of good cheer, and pursue my way in the turmoil, and am calm. I do not possess it in the feelings, but I possess it in the naked faith in the God who has once sworn to me to be my God; I have it in the faith which has and possesses, also, what I neither see nor taste, nor feel." (I think we shall need just such faith soon, to go through the time of trouble. The Lord grant we may have it.) "'Rejoice not that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.' The joy of our superiority goes hand in hand with the danger of self-conceit; the joy in the adoption by God, which grace confers upon us, is purer and more separate from the flesh; it humiliates and humbles us. The joy in the power we possess easily leads us back upon ourselves; the joy in the mercy bestowed upon us keeps us at the feet of Jesus, and disposes the soul to praise and exalt him. The joy in the victory we have gained easily dims the inward eye, and removes our depravity out of sight; the joy in the inexplicable glory in which we are called, is like a luminary, in the brightness of which we cannot overlook our own unworthiness. The joy in the abilities within us is brittle and mutable; for these abilities can be withdrawn from or reduced.—The joy in our citizenship in heaven is everlasting; for we know that the firm foundation of the Lord endures forever, and bears the inscription, 'The Lord knoweth his people.' Even if we do not believe, he remains faithful; he cannot deny himself. O happy they whose names are written in the book of life, and doubly happy they who know that they are so.—Amen." BRO. A. ABBEY writes from Hubbardsville, N. Y., Sept. 25th, 1853:—"The cause of truth looks more precious than ever. While darkness is increasing, and the power of the enemy gaining ground, the Sacred Word becomes more dear. I feel like clinging closer and closer to the Word. I feel an interest in the paper, and sympathy for those who have the labor of it. I am much interested in reading it," BRO. W. A. LOUGHHEAD writes from Elmira, N. Y., Sept. 24th, 1853:—"I have great reason to praise the Lord for his goodness unto me. I praise his holy name that he has shown me what I must do to have eternal life. How plain it is that the commandments are all binding, and that the Sabbath was made for man. I am trying to keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus, and I am determined by the help of the Lord to go on; and my prayer is that I may seek righteousness and meekness, if so be that I may be hid in the day of the Lord's anger."