JUDE exhorts us to "earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints." It is for the "old paths" that we inquire. Since it is through faith that we are saved, and "without faith it is impossible to please God," how important is the question, "What must we believe?"
A belief in man-made theories which are opposed to God's truth, can never please God, however ardent the believer may be; nor does the performance of rites and ceremonies, should they cost us much, recommend us in any degree to God, if he has not required it. It is a belief of the truth, and the works that consequently follow the belief, that please God. As all points of the compass are embraced in the four cardinal points, east, west, north and south, so the truths of revealed religion are all embraced in four great truths, which I shall call cardinal points of faith. To each of these points God has erected what I shall call a monument to keep it from being lost.
1. We must believe that the Author of the Universe is God.
"He that cometh to God must believe that he is." Said the angel with the everlasting gospel, "Fear God . . . . and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of water." By a little thought you will see that many truths cluster about this first great truth. If God be the Author of the universe, then he is the author of our existence; and if he be the author of our being, it is our duty to honor, love, and obey him.
Now behold the monument erected to this truth. "And hallow my Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God." Ezek. 20:20. "I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them." Verse 12.
"It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed." Ex. 31:17.
By keeping the Sabbath, men show that they believe in the true God, the Creator of all things. Had this institution always been observed by all mankind, a knowledge of the living and true God would never have been lost by any. There never would have been erected an idol, but this truth would have been believed by all: The Author of all things is God.
2. We must believe that Jesus Christ the Son of God, died for us.
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:14, 15. We have all been poisoned by sin, and only by laying our sins by faith upon that sacrifice can we be cleansed. "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree."
How many truths cluster about this! If Christ died to redeem us, then we were lost. By believing this we acknowledge ourselves sinners. It follows as a consequent truth that if Christ died for us, then we may be saved.
Now let us see the monument erected at this cardinal point.
"For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread; and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you; this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, "This cup is the new testament in my blood; this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come." 1 Cor. 11:25, 26.
Here, then, we have a fitting ordinance, which, like a monument, keeps this great truth from being hidden: that Jesus Christ died for us.
3. We must believe that Christ was raised from the dead.
"If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Rom. 10:9.
By reading the 15th chapter of the first Corinthian letter, it will be seen how important Paul considered it to be, that we believe that Christ was raised from the dead.
The fact that Christ now lives, and that he will raise to life all his sleeping saints at the last day, and many other important facts of faith, cluster around this great truth that Christ was raised from the dead.
Now let us see the monument at this point.
"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." Rom. 6:3, 4.
"Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead." Col. 2:12. "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above." Col. 3:1.
As Christ was buried, and rose again so we, when dead to sin, are buried in the watery grave, and rise to walk the new life. Thus we give a public assent to the gospel, confessing ourselves to be sinners, and our faith in him who died for us, and showing forth his burial and resurrection.
Some have thought that a day should be kept as a memorial of the resurrection of Christ; but how much more fitting is the appointed ordinance of God to show forth this great fact.
4. We must believe that the teachings of Christ are Divine, and for us to follow.
The example and teaching of Christ are one to us, as he practiced what he taught. "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." John 8:12.
"A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." John 13:34, 35. Now what ordinance have we, in which we show (1) our humility and special love for each other, and (2) that we are disciples (that is learners) of Christ, and believe his example is for us to follow?
We turn to John, 13th chapter and read, "So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord; and ye say well; for so I am. If I, then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you." Here, then, we have in the ordinance of feet washing a monument declaring, not only the excellency of the teaching of Christ in producing humility and cementing love in believers, but also our belief that the teachings of Christ are to be circumspectly followed.
Here we see four monuments, each declaring a great truth which we must believe. During the dark ages, the commandments of God and every ordinance of the Christian church, were changed. In the place of the Sabbath was put the first day of the week. In the place of broken bread were put wafers, the mind being impressed with the thought that they were in reality Jesus. In the place of baptism was put sprinkling; and in the place of feet-washing, among brethren, the pope, as Christ's vicar on earth, washed the feet of priests.
As the reformation has progressed, one new truth after another has been developed till now we see such beauty and harmony in the Christian system, that every honest thinking man must confess its excellence.
Let us thank God for the truth and take courage, and with renewed zeal "contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints."—B. F. Merritt, in Review.
The Greatest Joy of Life.
DR. CHALMERS said : "Unless I make religion my great and engrossing concern, I shall be a stranger to all peace and enjoyment. I have at times caught a glimpse of the comfort which it yields to the spirit, when I merge my will into God's will—when I resolve to have no will of my own separate from God. I feel quite assured that this renunciation of self, and entire devotion to God's service, would give a simplicity and grandeur to my existence—would throw an unclouded sunshine over all my ways—would raise me above the cares and provocations of life—would enhance even my sensible gratifications of a higher order, which constitute the main and essential blessings of Heaven. O my God, may it be thus with me! Call me out of nature's darkness into thine own marvelous light. Give me to aspire after the graces, and hold forth to my acquaintances, and, above all, to my children, the example of righteousness! Conform me to the gospel economy under which I sit, that as Christ died for my sin, I may die to it; that as he arose again, I may rise to a newness of life and feel it is my meat and drink to do thy will."
Come and See.
By Uriah Smith
WHEN the first of the seven seals was broken, that the servants of God might read from the unfolding scroll a record of the things that were soon to come to pass, John says that he heard one of the living beings before the throne, saying with a voice like the noise of thunder, “Come and see.”
In no dispensation does God do his work in a corner. He does not call his created intelligences to an examination of his plans and purposes with a voice so weak that but few, or none can hear it. But he sends forth the proclamation through heaven and earth.
His own voice once shook this solid globe, when he spoke his law in grandeur from Sinai. A strong angel with a loud voice challenges heaven and earth to produce a being that is worthy to open the book and to loose the seals thereof, except the Lamb that was slain. The living beings before God’s throne, say to all with a voice of thunder, Come and see. Angels proclaim with a loud voice the everlasting gospel to every nation, tongue, and kindred, on the face of the earth.
All this indicates that God’s truth is not to be shut up in secrecy. It never has been, it never will be. And the closing work is no exception to this rule. It is a world-wide message of mercy. It is to go with a loud voice. The truth courts publicity. It sends forth no challenges for controversy; but it invites all to come to the light and receive its benefits. It loudly calls upon all to come and see. Come and see in what period of this world’s history our lot is cast. Come and see the perils and dangers that surround us. Come and see the purposes that God has to fulfill in the near future. Come and see the path of safety and salvation, and make haste to walk therein.
Parents come and see. Children come and see. Young and old, come and see. Professor, backslider, sinner, come and see. Thus the truth for this time, now calls upon all in thunder tones.
And this is but the prelude to a higher and more joyous note which shall be heard in a little while, from “a great multitude, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Hallelujah; for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.” Rev. 19:6, 7. U. S.
The Order of Events in the Judgment.
By John Nevins Andrews
NUMBER TWELVE.
It is remarkable that each of the visions of Daniel bring to view either the coronation of Christ or that event which immediately precedes it, the close of his priesthood. Thus in Daniel 2:44, we read:—
“And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.”
But in the seventh chapter the very manner and place of this event are given us. Thus when the prophet describes the act of the Father in taking the place of judgment, he represents the Son as being crowned at that tribunal.
Dan. 7:13, 14: “I saw in the night visions, and behold one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”
How the kingdom thus set up in the days of these kings shall break in pieces all the wicked kingdoms of earth, is very plainly stated in Rev. 19:11-21.
The coronation of our Lord is very distinctly marked in Daniel's fourth vision, as recorded in chapters 10-12. Thus we read:--
Dan. 12:1: “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble such as there never was since there was a nation even to that same time; and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.”
The standing up of Michael is simply the commencement of the reign of Christ, as has been shown in a former article. This is followed by the great time of trouble which will be briefly noticed hereafter. But the third vision of Daniel, which says not one word respecting the coronation of our Lord, does distinctly mark that event which directly precedes it, viz., the closing act of his priesthood. Here is the record:—
Dan. 8:13, 14: “Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.”
Here is an event to transpire in the conclusion of this vision; in other words it occurs in the end of the gospel dispensation. The sanctuary to be cleansed at the conclusion of the new covenant dispensation, must be the sanctuary of the new covenant. A sanctuary implies of necessity a priesthood. The cleansing of the sanctuary is that event which completes the work of the priest who ministers therein. When, therefore, we read of the cleansing of the sanctuary at the end of the twenty-three hundred days, we understand that this is the closing event of the priesthood of the Son of God. It is of necessity a work which brings human probation to a close and marks the transition from the priesthood to the kingly office of the Saviour.
Paul tells us that there are two covenants, the old and the new. Gal. 4:24. He tells us that the sanctuary of the old covenant was the tabernacle which Moses made like that one showed him in the mount. Heb. 9:1-5; 8:5; Ex. 25:8, 9, 40. This tabernacle was a pattern of the heavenly temple. Heb. 9:23, 24; Rev. 11:19. When the temple was erected, some five hundred years after the time of Moses, a larger and grander building, indeed, that also was a pattern of the temple of God in heaven. 1 Chron. 28:11, 12, 19; Wisdom of Solomon 9:8. But the sanctuary of the new covenant is this heavenly temple itself. Here are the words of Paul defining the new covenant sanctuary to be the temple of God where our High Priest is ministering for us.
Heb. 8:1, 2: “Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum; We have such a high priest, who is set on the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens; a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.”
The temple of God in heaven is, therefore, not only the great original which Moses and Solomon copied in erecting the tabernacle, and the temple, each in its period being the sanctuary of the old covenant, but the heavenly temple is certainly the new-covenant sanctuary. David and Jeremiah each mention this sanctuary in heaven.
Ps. 102:19: “For he hath looked down from the hight of his sanctuary; from heaven did the Lord behold the earth.”
Jer. 17:12: “A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary,” Comp. Rev. 16:17.
No one will dispute that “the sanctuary” in the days of Moses was the tabernacle. Nor will they deny that 500 years later this gave place to the temple which was thence-forward, till its destruction, the sanctuary of the old covenant. It will also be freely admitted that with the new covenant came the great antitype of all this, viz., the temple of God in heaven, which is the real sanctuary of the Lord. But it will be denied, by many, that this sanctuary of God in heaven is brought into the vision of the prophet.
The ninth chapter of Daniel is a key to the eighth. A literal rendering of Dan. 9:24, informs us that “Seventy weeks are cut off upon thy people and upon thy holy city.” Then it is certain that not all the vision pertained to old Jerusalem. The period of 490 years belonged to that city, the place of the earthly sanctuary. But the remainder, viz., 1810 years, coming wholly within the gospel dispensation must pertain only to the sanctuary of the New Testament. And it is remarkable that the very verse which tells us how much of the vision pertained to the earthly sanctuary does present to our view the sanctuary of the new covenant in close connection with the introduction of the new covenant. Dan. 9:24, 27. For one of the last events in the period of 70 weeks is the anointing of the most holy. This is not the anointing of the Saviour, for the term is literally, in Hebrew, the holy of holies; a plain reference to the sanctuary itself. This anointing was performed in the earthly sanctuary when the ministration therein began. Lev. 8:10, 11. The anointing of the holy of holies at the end of the 70 weeks, cannot relate to the earthly sanctuary, which was no longer the sanctuary of prophecy, but must relate to the heavenly tabernacle which then became the sanctuary of prophecy. Its anointing was an event preparatory to Christ's ministering therein, just as the earthly sanctuary was anointed in both its holy places before the Levitical ministration commenced in it. We cannot, therefore, doubt that the last 1810 years of Daniel's 2300 relate to the sanctuary of the new covenant.
The objection that this sanctuary cannot be trodden down is met by the fact that the New Testament plainly declares that Christ, the minister of this sanctuary, is trodden under foot of wicked men. Heb. 10:29; 8:1, 2.
The further and final objection that it cannot in the very nature of the case ever be cleansed, is fully answered by the expressive language of Paul, who states that the heavenly sanctuary is to be cleansed for the same reason that the earthly one was. Heb. 9:22, 23. In a former article we have seen that the cleansing of the earthly sanctuary marked the conclusion of the yearly round of service. Lev. 16. The services of the heavenly sanctuary are performed once for all. The cleansing of the sanctuary must therefore have its antitype only once, and that at the close of the priesthood of Christ. The 2300 days mark the time of that event. When this work is entered upon by our Lord, it is the concluding work of his priesthood, and the period for the finishing of human probation.
This work finishes our Lord's priesthood preparatory to his coronation. It takes place in the second apartment of the sanctuary. Lev. 16; Rev. 11:19. As the session of the judgment by the Ancient of days is the very place where the transition from Christ's priesthood to his kingly office takes place, we cannot err in placing the cleansing of the sanctuary in Dan. 8:14, in the closest connection with the blotting out of sins at the Father's tribunal. Dan. 7:9-14; Acts 3:19, 20.
J. N. A.
New York Camp-Meeting.
By Stephen Nelson Haskell
THIS meeting commenced Wednesday, May 29. There was a good representation of our brethren and sisters present, and each train brought accessions to the number until Friday night. During the meeting there were also fair congregations of citizens from the surrounding country, especially evenings. The grounds were nicely decorated with mottoes of various kinds.
The season of prayer at the commencement of the Sabbath in the large pavilion was one long to be remembered. Hearts were melted before the Lord. The meetings on the Sabbath were of unusual interest. An opportunity was given for any who were anxious to make a start to serve God to come forward. As some moved for the first time, the Spirit of God in a remarkable manner seemed to rest upon the encampment, and a large portion of the entire congregation took their places as penitent seekers after God. The broken sobs showed that hearts felt and felt deeply. Truly God walked in our midst. Said a correspondent of the Commercial: "At the close of the afternoon service, deep feeling pervaded the camp. There were no noisy demonstrations, or appeals to the emotions. The appeals that were made seemed to be to the reason and judgment as well as to the heart. The meeting in the pavilion adjourned only to meet a few minutes later in companies in the small tents, whence the voice of prayer, or broken confessions, or songs of triumphant faith were heard on every side." This continued for about one hour and a half.
On Sunday it was estimated that there were about five thousand present. Two trains came189to the ground crowded with passengers, and there was one continuous coming of teams from nine A. M. until two P. M., and many came during the remainder of the afternoon, some from a distance of twenty-five miles. The best of attention was given to four discourses in the day-time. A conviction rested upon the people that these things were so.
A tract and missionary meeting was held Monday, with excellent results. Nearly $900 were pledged in less than one hour to liquidate their tract society debt.
Eleven were baptized, nearly all having taken a decided stand at this meeting. The parting meeting was held Tuesday morning. The general expression was, "I am glad I came, we have had a good meeting." May God bless this State, is our prayer. S. N. HASKELL.
Camp-Meeting at Appleton City, Mo.
By George I. Butler
THE circumstances at the commencement of this meeting were more discouraging than those of any meeting I ever attended, but it finally turned out to be about the best meeting I ever attended in the State of Missouri. Our new tent did not come as we expected, so we were forced to fall back on the old forty-foot tent. There had been such incessant rains and the prospect was so poor that the brethren could get there, that we seriously thought of giving up the camp-meeting, and pitching the tent in the village and lecturing to the few who came out. Finally, we thought there might be forty or fifty out, and we would have a meeting in the grove. It rained every day till Sunday. There were nearly a hundred Sabbath-keepers present Sabbath, and there would have been as many more probably if circumstances had been favorable.
The meetings were excellent. The goodness of the meeting did not consist in its numbers, but in the good spirit of love, union, and encouragement which prevailed among our people. There were no jarring elements among them. The melting Spirit of the Lord came in with power several times, and all our hearts were touched. Quite a number came forward for prayers on Monday. Six were baptized. All were greatly encouraged.
There is a great waking up on the tract and missionary work. We had a sort of school for instruction in making out reports, and other work connected with the society. The four hundred copies of the SIGNS that come to this State are doing much good. I did not hear of any who were sorry they had been induced to take clubs of the SIGNS. Interested readers are found in all directions. Our $1000 tract and missionary fund, which we commenced to raise last winter, to pay off our indebtedness to the Offices and set our society upon its feet, received an additional subscription of nearly $300 at this meeting.
More was done at this meeting to advance the interests of the tract and missionary work than I could have done in three months, by going around to every little church. It does the brethren good to take pains to come together, and spend a few days in seeking God. Many spoke of their gratitude for this privilege.
We all feel the cause is rising in Southern Missouri. We thank God, and take courage. The labors of Brother Farnsworth were greatly blessed of God, and he has a warm place in the hearts of the brethren. Our outside attendance was not large, but toward the last the interest increased.
GEO. I. BUTLER.
Sedalia, Mo., June 4, 1878.
Home Again.
By James White
In company with Brother Gillett, formerly from Monroe, Wis., we left Oakland, May 31, and arrived at Battle Creek, Mich., June 5. Mrs. White will attend the Oregon camp-meeting, and will probably join us at the General Conference the 1st of September.
On returing home to Battle Creek we find that the three Office buildings are crowded with Printing, Binding, and Electrotyping machinery and a hundred active workers. For the three months of March, April, and May it has been necessary to run five of our presses day and night.
The experience of the last three years, which had clearly demonstrated that it was impossible with our then limited facilities to furnish the tract societies with annuals, premiums, and tracts promptly and on time for each winter campaign, forced us to purchase a complete bindery, two cylinder presses, and to establish complete Electrotyping and Stereotyping foundries at an expense of about $10,000. These were bought none too soon as they have been worked to their utmost capacity since the day they were set up. The Michigan publishing house is a strong institution. The increase of capital has been rapid; but when we take into account the fact that it has expended over $10,000 during the last year for machines necessary to publish tracts and premiums which are furnished at a trifle above cost, and the fact that our tract societies owe the Office for over thirteen thousand dollars' worth of books, and that this, with what the College still owes, has forced us to hire and pay interest on a large amount, leads us to take this earliest opportunity to correct the impression that may have arisen from our statement relative to the strength of the Review Office, that it no longer needs the especial support of our brethren.
We regret to find the tract societies so heavily in debt. Each tract society should immediately raise funds to pay for all the books it has on hand, and not leave the Offices to carry the tract societies. We beat the world in furnishing our publications cheaply. Tracts especially are furnished at marvelously low prices to encourage the tract work, and we appeal to the officers of all the tract societies to reciprocate this liberality by the soon payment of about $13,000 which they owe these Offices. This will stop the interest which they are to-day paying.
J. W.
The Gallatin, Missouri, Camp-Meeting.
By Geo. I. Butler
This meeting has proved a real success. Many of the brethren came upon the grounds in season, and quite a number of the tents were erected Wednesday, though on account of delay in getting the new tent up, meetings did not commence till Thursday afternoon. Our ground was one of the nicest I ever saw. A high grassy knoll, in a beautiful grove a few rods from the main road and within a short distance of Gallatin, with a little stream in front, plenty of woods all around for places of retirement, and a fine greensward cropped close all about us, constituted its main features. We had about seventeen tents up, in all. These looked clean and nice.
Our new 50x70 feet tent, made by Brother Armstrong, of Chicago, was pitched in front of our little semicircle of family tents. He did us a splendid job. I never saw a better one. Our other fifty-foot tent was also pitched, and was well filled by those who had no family tents. There was a neat appearance to the whole ground, the most attractive I have ever seen in Missouri.
Upwards of two hundred Sabbath-keepers, I judge, were present on the Sabbath. The preaching was pointed and the social meetings encouraging. Sunday the crowd was not large, only about enough to comfortably fill our tent. But the weather was threatening, and the presence of small pox in the town kept many away, it was thought. The interest to hear among those without increased till the close. Our meetings Monday were deeply interesting. A number started for the kingdom in earnest. Among these were two strong men almost on the verge of infidelity, who made a good confession and sought the Lord with tears. Our hearts were much rejoiced. There were many things connected with this meeting very encouraging to me. Some precious testimonies were given, which melted our hearts in tenderness and love. The general spirit of the meeting was hardly equal to that at Appleton City, yet there was much to encourage us. The number of those who know the voice of the True Shepherd is greatly increasing in Missouri, and a determination to do something for God and humanity is getting hold of many.
We made earnest appeals to the friends of the cause on the importance of the tract and missionary work. Our fund of $1000, started last winter when Elder Haskel was with us, has subscriptions to the amount of over $700 already, between two and three hundred having been added at this meeting. We expect to raise it, and this will pay all our debts and give us a good supply of publications with which to work. We hope to see the day when Missouri, instead of being behind all her sister Conferences and an object of charity, will be able to help herself and others. With four hundred copies of the Signs distributed weekly in the Conference, and much other work of the tract society, and a feeling of deep interest kindling up among the membership, we hope for much good. Already we hear most encouraging reports. Some are embracing the Sabbath. There are many interested readers. One sister who travels much from town to town says she can find interested readers for all the copies taken in the State. We can circulate many more copies than we can pay for. Quite a number are taking from eight to twelve copies apiece; and many of these are read by two families near by, and then sent a distance to others. This takes work. But we find the more we work for the Lord the better we love to do so. He is a good pay-master, while the devil and the world are very poor pay. The more we work for them the worse we feel.
Seven were baptized at our camp-meeting. The members went home much encouraged.
I am fully persuaded that our people have not yet seen the importance of these general meetings. We have supposed it was necessary to have our annual meeting in which to transact our Conference business, and look after the general wants of the cause. Of course this is necessary. But my experience has proved to me the past year that much can be done by having general meetings in different sections of the Conference. We have so much for our preachers to do that our brethren can get but little preaching comparatively. Our people cannot all get out to the annual meeting, as the distance is so great for many of them. If our preachers go around to every church, it takes all their time. Where there is some central point where several hundred can come together, a camp-meeting will accomplish a great amount of good. And it does the people good to make the effort. They are called away from home cares. More can be accomplished in one such four days' meeting in arousing the people, firing their zeal, and instructing them, than in three months' labor in each little church. At least we have found it so here. Our two meetings last fall and two this spring have been so managed as to cost the Conference funds nothing, and they have wonderfully helped forward the work. Instead of having a smaller attendance at our State camp-meeting this fall, we expect many more will be present, because our people have found it good for them to attend, and many say they must be there. Ancient Israel used to assemble three times a year. Do we not need such help?
GEO. I. BUTLER.
Hamilton, Mo., June 13.
Wisconsin Camp-Meeting.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
We arrived on the ground Tuesday, May 28, and found things well under way. The location is very fine, being on the shore of a beautiful lake. The city of Madison, numbering about twelve thousand inhabitants, the capital of the State, is said to be one of the most lovely cities of the West. It is about a mile and a half across the lake, and two miles by the road, to the city. A fine steamboat plied between the two places, and brought the most of those who attended from the city.
The bad weather greatly hindered our work, and kept us behind all through. Not much progress was made till Sabbath evening, when there was a good spirit in the meeting. Sabbath morning we had an excellent social meeting. After the sermon about sixty came forward for prayers, and there was quite deep feeling. In the afternoon twenty-six were baptized, mostly young people. Monday about twenty more came forward to seek the Lord. This was decidedly the best meeting we had. From two to half a dozen were on their feet at a time, trying to get a chance to speak. All said they had been greatly blessed during the meetings.
Considering the weather, we had a large attendance from the outside during all the meetings. Indeed, I never attended a camp-meeting which was really so popular with all the people as this one. The two dailies published lengthy reports each day, speaking of us in the highest terms. Besides this, at their own expense they telegraphed good reports each day to seven papers in Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul. The ministers of the city announced our meetings, urged their people to attend, prayed for us, and invited us to speak in the largest churches in the city.
Our brother, Dr. Stillman, who lives here, did much in many ways to help the meeting, particularly in getting a good class of citizens to attend. Prof. Whitford, Seventh-day Baptist, the last delegate to our General Conference, is now State superintendent of public instruction in Wisconsin, and hence is at the capital. He assisted us not a little. With him and his family, the governor, the governor's private secretary, and the State treasurer, attended our meeting on Sunday; also the mayor, one of the judges of the supreme court, and other dignitaries were present. We set before them our reasons for keeping the Sabbath. They listened attentively, and after the meeting confessed to us that the argument seemed very conclusive. Thousands of small tracts were distributed among the people. There were about three thousand present Sunday. We also had a large attendance on Monday. The very best impression has been made. The way is now open for a course of lectures here in the city hall, and such lectures are earnestly solicited by the people.
Elder A. A. Phelps, first-day Adventist, editor of the Bible Banner, was with us one night, and spoke in the tent. Also two Baptist ministers attended several meetings, and were very friendly. Several persons who attended have embraced the truth, and have gone home to keep the Sabbath.
Eight brethren received license for the first time, making twenty-one who now have credentials and licenses in the Conference. Seven tents will be run this season, two of them by the Scandinavians. There were about seventy-five of these brethren on the camp-ground, and meetings were held in that language every day. We have about three hundred Scandinavians in the State. A special effort will now be made in that mission.
For the last three years not very large results of labor have been seen in this Conference. Only three new churches were admitted at this meeting, whereas there should have been a dozen. Wisconsin is an excellent field, and there is no good reason why the laborers should not have success if they walk with God and work hard. All feel determined to accomplish more this season.
D. M. CANRIGHT.
"The Scripture Cannot Be Broken."
By Roswell F. Cottrell
THE Scripture cannot be broken, because it is the word of God. Holy men gave the Scriptures as the truths were given them by the Holy Spirit. Hence the declaration of Jesus, "The Scripture cannot be broken."
The Saviour referred to this fact when he said, "Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?" The Scriptures must be fulfilled, though the Son of God should suffer; for "thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day." Said Jesus, "All things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning me."
The fulfillment of prophecies from of old down to the present day, bear testimony to the truth that the Scriptures cannot be broken. Not one word has failed. The particular delineations of the great kingdoms of this world, as given in prophecy in Dan. 2, 7, and 8, have not failed of a fulfillment in every specification except what relates to the closing events of the world's history. And we argue that as these prophecies have been fulfilled so far, the closing event promised will surely come.
The four great beasts of Dan. 7, have had their description fulfilled in the empires of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Grecia and Rome. The division of Rome into the ten kingdoms, represented by the ten horns of the fourth beast, has taken place; the papacy rising to power among the ten kingdoms, has fulfilled the given description of the blasphemous horn that was to speak great words against the Most High, wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change times and laws; and the full time allotted to the operations of this power has expired; and nothing remains to be fulfilled concerning this power, but its destruction by the decision of the judgment. In all this the Scriptures have not been broken.
The prophecy of Rev. 13, connects itself with that of Dan. 7. The beast of Rev. 13:1-10, is the same as the little horn of Dan. 7. And it is with reference to this blasphemous power that the warning message of Rev. 14:9-12 is to be given.
Now what I wish to say is briefly this: There is just such a message as here described going to the nations of the world. If this work is a false alarm, then, for the first time, the Scriptures are broken. The fulfillment of prophecies and the signs of the times show that the time has come when this message should be expected. Consequently if it does not appear, the Scriptures are broken; and if a false warning is being given in the place of the true, it makes it all the worse. Who can believe that God's providence will suffer his revealed plan to be so deranged in the fulfillment?
The truth is, the time has come, and the message itself is being proclaimed to the world. The Scriptures are not broken and they cannot be; therefore the present proclamation of the message of the "third angel" is the work of God in fulfillment of his promise given 1800 years ago in prophecy. Men may disbelieve, but God is fulfilling his word. Professed believers may say that our position is false; but this is not enough. If our position on prophecy is false, it is their duty, as believers in the Scriptures, to give the world the true position on these prophecies. But they cannot even try to give the true explanation. This shows that they are in the dark. Nevertheless God is fulfilling his word; it cannot be broken.