IN the Museum of Berlin, remarks a writer in a Newark contemporary, in the hall devoted to Northern Antiquities they have the representations of the idols from whom the names of the days of our week are derived. From the idol of the sun comes Sunday. This idol is represented with his face like the sun, holding a burning wheel, with both hands on his breast, signifying his course around the world. The idol of the Moon, from which cometh Monday, is habited in a short coat like a man, but holding a moon in his hands. Tuisco, from which comes Tuesday, was one of the most ancient and peculiar gods of the Germans, and is represented in his garments of skin according to their peculiar manner of clothing. The third day of the week was dedicated to his worship. Woden, from whence Wednesday comes, was a valiant prince among the Saxons. His image was prayed to for victory. Thor, from whence Thursday, is seated on a bed with twelve stars overhead holding a scepter in his right hand. Friga, from whence we have Friday, is represented with a drawn sword in his right hand and a bow in his left. He was the giver of peace and plenty. Seater, from whence is Saturday, has the appearance of perfect wretchedness; he is thin visaged, long haired, with a long beard. He carries a pail of water in his right hand, wherein are fruits and flowers.
—Rural New Yorker.
Do You Want a Friend.
By Ryle
CONSIDER solemnly whether Christ is your friend and you are his. There are thousands, I grieve to say, who are not Christ's friends. Outward members of his Church, attendants on his means of grace—all this they are, no doubt. But they are not Christ's friends. Do they hate the sins which Jesus died to put away? No. Do they love the Saviour who came into the world to save them? No. Do they delight in the word of reconciliation? No. Do they try to speak with the Friend of sinners in prayer? No. Do they seek close fellowship with him? No. Oh, reader, how is it with you? Are you, or are you not, one of Christ's friends?
If you are not one of Christ's friends you are a poor miserable man. I write this down deliberately. I do not say it without thought. I say, that if Christ be not your friend, you are a poor miserable man. You are in the midst of a failing, sorrowful world, and you have no real source of comfort or refuge for a time of need.
You are a dying creature, and you are not ready to die. You have sins, and they are not forgiven. You are going to be judged, and you are not prepared to meet God. You might, but you refuse to use the only Mediator and Advocate. You love the world better than Christ. You refuse the great Friend of sinners, and you have no friend in heaven to plead your cause. Yes; it is sadly true. You are a poor miserable man. It matters nothing what your income is; without Christ's friendship, you are very poor.
If you really want a friend, Christ is willing to become your friend. He is ready to receive you, all unworthy as you may feel, and to write your name on the list of his friends. He is ready to pardon all the past, and to clothe you with righteousness, to give his Spirit to make you his own dear child. All he asks you to do, is to come to him. He bids you come with all your sins, only acknowledging your vileness, and confessing that you are ashamed. Just as you are—waiting for nothing—unworthy of anything in yourself—Jesus bids you come and be his friend. Come, and be wise. Come, and be safe. Come, and be happy. Come, and be Christ's friend.—Ryle.
Be on the Look-out.
By William Chapman White
PASSING a field, a few days since, I saw several gentlemen engaged setting a long, round net, with a wing upon each side. They were preparing to entrap a flock of quails which were near by. Joining with them for a few moments, we surrounded the tree under which they rested. So soon as the net, which was attached to several small stakes, was properly planted, at the given word we closed in toward them on every side but that of the net, whistling in a low and careless manner. The drove hurried along before us on the ground. As they came against the wing on each side, and we still nearing them, they rushed to the center, entered the elongated part, which grew less and less for several feet. We rushed to its mouth, gave it a turn, or twist, and the little victims were in safe-keeping.
How truly, thought I, was it illustrative of the "fowler's snare," the net of sin. Daily it is set, and thousands are drawn imperceptibly within its folds. The arch-enemy is constantly by the way, with all his subtle influences, planting his gins, laying his snares to beguile, and entice us within his deadly embrace. When once allured to the beginning of transgression, how hard to escape, how sad the position! The careless or indifferent whistle caused the innocent birds not to suspect the intrigue. So, the apparently-innocent pleasures of life are often proffered; and we, off our guard, "suspecting not some danger nigh where we possess delight," sip little by little, till the poison is inhaled, to our great grief. The way of sin is no "friend to grace, to help us on to God." Within the folds of the beautiful flower is often hidden the poison insect. With every rose, there is a spine. Would it not be wise, therefore, to look out for the destroyer? For safety let us dwell in the cleft of the Saviour's side, and say:
'Tis there I would always abide,
And never one moment depart;
Concealed in the cleft of thy side,
Eternally held in thy heart."
[W. Ch. Ad.]
Death-bed Testimonies.
By Frederick Denison Maurice
WE must turn elsewhere than to the Books of New Testament for death-bed scenes. One beautiful record of the first deacon of the church, who prayed for his countrymen, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge," is all that we have of martyrology in the Bible. Its warriors fight the good fight. We know that in some battle or other they finish their course. Where, or how, or under what circumstances of humiliation, or triumph, we are not told. If it pleased God that their lamps should shine out brightly at the last, that was well, for he was glorified in their strength. If it pleased him that the light should sink and go out in its socket, that was well too, for he was glorified in their weakness. Not by momentary flashes does God bid us judge of our fellow-creatures; for he who reads the heart, and sees the meaning and purpose of it judges not of them by these. And never be it forgotten, that at the death which has redeemed all other deaths, and made them blessed, there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour, and that a cry came out of the darkness, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"—F. D. Maurice.
The Word of God.
By Adolphe Monod
The mother of a family was married to an infidel, who made a jest at religion in the presence of his own children; yet she succeeded in bringing them up in the fear of the Lord. I one day asked her how she preserved them from the influence of a father whose sentiments were so openly opposed to her own. This was her answer: "Because to the authority of a father, I did not oppose the authority of a mother, but that of God. From their earliest years, my children have always seen the Bible upon my table. This Holy Book has constituted the whole of their religious instruction. I was silent that I might allow it to speak. Did they propose a question, did they commit any fault, did they perform any good action, I opened the Bible, and the Bible answered, reproved or encouraged them. The constant reading of the Scriptures has alone wrought the prodigy which surprises you."—Adolphe Monod.
Life’s Journey to Eternity
WHAT is life? A short journey through time to eternity. Then keep your eye and your heart on the end of your race.
The Ministry: A Noble Profession
The ministry is a noble profession, and rich in interest to him who loves it—to him who does not, it is a life of drudgery.
Dr. South
Dr. South.—Dr. South says, "The tale-bearer and the tale-hearer should be hanged up both together, the former by the tongue, the latter by the ear." In speaking of the tattler, he says, "If you let this fly blow in your ear, a worm will come out of your mouth."
The Gospel of the Kingdom.
"This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, then shall the end come."
The disciples had asked their Master when the temple should be destroyed, and what should be the sign of his coming, and the end of the world. He answered them by telling them, first, the general course of events through all coming time; and cautioned them not to be deceived by these, for they are not the signs of the end. It is not until the fourteenth verse, that he gives a positive sign of the end; and that is given in the text at the commencement of this chapter.
But what is meant by "This gospel of the kingdom?"
Answer. That peculiar form of glad tidings, in which John the Baptist, Christ, the twelve apostles, and seventy disciples went forth and proclaimed the kingdom of God, before Christ came to Jerusalem at first, riding on an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass, as King of Israel. John's enunciation was, "Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matt. iii, 2. Jesus, as soon as John was cast into prison, "came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand; repent ye and believe the gospel." Mark i, 14, 15. So likewise, when Jesus sent out the twelve to preach, he gave them the same message. "As ye go preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matt. x, 7.
Also, when he sent out the seventy disciples, he gave them a similar commission. "And say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you." Luke x, 9.
This message was restricted to Jews alone; his charge to the twelve was, "Go not in the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not; but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel; and as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of God is at hand." Likewise when the Syro-Phoenician woman came to him, he said, "I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Matt. xv, 24.
In accordance with the purpose of offering the kingdom to the Jewish nation for their acceptance at that time, the entire nation throughout Judea, Galilee, and other places, was notified in this proclamation, and the accompanying miracles, that Jesus claimed to be the Christ, and was soon to appear as King. The preaching caused universal interest; and probably not an individual Jew existed capable of understanding the message, who did not hear it, and deliberate on the evidence of Christ's claims.
He came and was rejected. Then he pronounced Jerusalem's doom; and in reference to his second coming as King, and the end of this dispensation he said, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; then shall the end come."
"I regard this as a positive promise that in the closing up of this dispensation, the same distinct enunciation, "THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND," shall go to all nations of the earth to notify them of the coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven to reign forever, that was made to the Jews before he came as King, to Jerusalem."
Business.
By Editor
L. M. Jones:—We cannot furnish a complete file of back numbers of the present volume, but send what we can.
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Unpaid Paper Subscriptions
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Receipts and Pledges for Relief of Office.
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| N. H. Satterlee, (pd.) 3,00
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APPOINTMENT.
Providence permitting, there will be a tent-meeting at Lunenburg, Vt., to commence Sept. 27th, and continue as long as thought best.
C. W. SPERRY.
H. BINGHAM.
Receipts.
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Books for Sale at this Office.
By Editor
THE price set to each publication includes both the price of the book, and the postage, when sent by Mail.
Hymns for those who keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus. This Hymn Book is designed to promote not only public worship, but also social and family devotions. It is a selection of Hymns expressing the faith and hope of the Church as set forth in the Scriptures of truth, free from the popular errors of the age. The Book contains 352 Pages, 430 Hymns, and 76 pieces of Music. Price, 60 cents --- In Morocco, 65 cents.
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The Sanctuary and Twenty-three Hundred Days. by "J. N. A." This work presents a clear exposition of Daniel viii and ix, shows what the Sanctuary is, and the nature of its cleansing. Price 12 1/2 cents.
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The Four Universal Monarchies of the Prophecy of Daniel, and the Kingdom of God, to which is added a condensed view of the 2300 days and the Sanctuary.---Price 8 cents.
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