Our meetings in Centerville, Tuscola Co., closed Oct. 22, with a good result. Mr. Sherman, a Universalist, and a leading man of the place, very kindly opened his meeting-house for our lectures. We had a very good attendance for so small a place, although many of the professors of religion were very bitter against the truth. They have always been the ones who have opposed the most. We continued our meetings about six weeks, giving fifty-two discourses. About thirty have been soundly converted to the truth, nearly all of which are starting to serve God for the first time. They have established prayer-meetings, a Bible-class and Sabbath-School, in which all take an active part and a lively interest. This is a good work with which we are well satisfied, as we expected to accomplish but little in this place.
We sold about $50,00 worth of books, and obtained ten subscribers for the Review, and seven for the Instructor. Our friends still have the use of the meeting-house for their meetings.
The result of our summer's work has been as follows: We have been gone from home five months; have held three courses of lectures; gave two hundred and seven discourses; sold of Office publications, $225,40, of Charts, $25,00, and of Bibles, $100,00. Total, $350,40. We obtained fifty-three subscribers for the Review one year, and thirty-nine for the Instructor.
Our expenses were $203,00. Upward of one hundred and thirty have embraced the truth, and are now keeping the Sabbath. Sixty of the above number have followed their Lord in baptism. We leave three churches in Tuscola Co., each having an organized Bible-class and Sabbath-School, and holding regular meetings.
Our association together in our labors with the Michigan Tent this season, has been of the most happy character. Perfect harmony of feeling has existed between us, and we have had manifest signs that God has approved of our labors. While Bro. Strong was with us, we were much pleased with his conduct, and was glad to see him manifest a zeal and energy for the advancement of the truth, which, if persisted in, will make him an efficient laborer in the cause of present truth.
We look over the labors of the past season with a good degree of satisfaction. A good work has been accomplished. The Lord has given us the aid of his Holy Spirit, by which we have been enabled to present the truth in its clearness, strength, and beauty.
We are now at home, and after enjoying a few weeks rest, we design to return again to this field of labor, to complete the work already commenced, and also to labor as the way may open during the winter.
I. D. VAN HORN.
D. M. CANRIGHT.
Battle Creek, Oct. 29, 1865.
Fourth Annual Report of the N. Y. State Conference.
THIS Conference, composed of the S. D. Adventist churches of N. Y. and Northern Penn., convened at Nile, Allegany Co., N. Y., Oct. 13, 1865, pursuant to the call of the Executive Committee.
At 9 o'clock A. M., the president, A. Lanphear, called the meeting to order. Prayer by Bro. Cottrell.
The credentials of the delegates of the several churches being called for, it was found that the following churches, (with the exception of Alba, Penn., and Brookfield, N. Y.) were duly represented: Adams' Center, Alba, Allegany Co., Bangor, Brookfield, Buck's Bridge, Catlin, Champlain, Clarkson, Farmington, Kirkville, Lancaster, Lockport, Mannsville, McKean Co., Middle Grove, Norfolk, Olcott, Oswego, Rochester, Roosevelt, Ulysses, Verona, West Monroe, and Wheeler.
Two of these churches, Lockport and Verona, asked for admission to the Conference, and were received.
The Secretary's report for the past year was called for, read, and accepted.
The letters from the several churches were then read. These were generally brief, many of them merely reporting the number of members and the amount of their s. b. fund. Some, however, contained cheering intelligence of the work of the Lord in their midst, and in general they evinced a steadfastness and persevering zeal in the cause of truth.
By vote of the Conference, a committee was appointed to nominate officers for the ensuing year, viz: R. F. Cottrell, N. Fuller, S. B. Whitney, J. B. Lamson, and L. R. Chapel.
Adjourned to 2 o'clock P. M.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The nominating committee reported, for President, A. Lanphear, Secretary, R. F. Cottrell, Treasurer, W. S. Salisbury, Executive Committee, A. Lanphear, J. N. Andrews, and C. O. Taylor. The report was accepted, and the nominees unanimously elected.
The reports of ministers were then called for, whereupon written reports of labors, receipts and expenditures from Elders J. N. Andrews, N. Fuller, C. O. Taylor, S. B. Whitney, R. F. Cottrell, and A. Lanphear, were read, and, upon separate motions, accepted.
After a vote that a certain sum of money mailed by the church at Lancaster, and lost, should be lost to the Conference, a committee of six were appointed to act with the Executive Committee in settling ministers' accounts, viz: J. M. Aldrich, J. Lindsey, W. S. Salisbury, J. Witter, O. P. Rice, and J. B. Lamson.
By a vote of the Conference the evangelical ministers of the past year were approved as such for the year173to come. It was also voted that Bro. A. Lanphear continue his labors as preacher, as in the past year. A request that Eld. J. L. Baker be accredited as a minister of this Conference was referred to the Executive Committee.
The Treasurer's report was called for, which was as follows:
Total receipts, $2269.35. Paid out $1102.48. Balance on hand, $1166.87. This balance was disbursed by the committee on ministers' accounts, acting in connection with the member of the Executive Committee present, except $200, which was given, by a vote of the Conference to the General Conference Fund.
A motion was made for the re-adoption of the following Resolution passed at the last year's session of this Conference:
"Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Conference that the entire sums of Systematic Benevolence should be put into the State Conference Treasury."
While this motion was pending, the Conference adjourned to first-day, Oct. 15, at 8 o'clock.
Oct. 15. Met according to adjournment. The above motion was taken up, and unanimously adopted.
As some confusion existed from the fact that some of the churches had their Systematic Benevolence arranged from the first of January instead of the first of October, the beginning of the Conference year, on motion it was
Re-resolved, "That all the churches of this Conference should arrange their Systematic Benevolence at the commencement of each Conference year, according to the plans set forth on the first page of our Systematic Benevolence blank books."
The church at Catlin had presented a request by her delegate to be allowed to reserve a part or the whole of her s. b. fund the coming year, for the purpose of building a meeting-house. A motion was now made to this effect and lost.
Bro. Aldrich urged the necessity of using this s. b. fund strictly for the purpose for which it was raised, viz: the preaching of the truth; until such time as there should be a surplus in the Treasury which might be given by Conference to aid poor churches in building places of worship. He also urged the necessity of the churches' unanimously adhering to the expressed opinion of the Conference. That it was unsafe to establish precedents in these matters that would prove ruinous to the object of the association of the churches in Conference, by leading to inequality and confusion. For these reasons it had been voted, on accepting the reports of the several churches, that the report of the church at West Monroe should be accepted with a protest, in consequence of her having reserved a part of her s. b. fund, contrary to the expressed opinion of the Conference.
The following resolutions were unanimously adopted during the session of the Conference:
Resolved, That whenever the several churches shall have arranged their s. b. pledges for the ensuing year, it shall be the duty of the respective Church Clerks to report immediately to the Conference Treasurer the amount pledged for the year; and also that it shall be the duty of the Treasurer to see that the same be duly reported to him.
Resolved, That we have not only been greatly disappointed in not meeting with Bro. and sister White, and Bro. Loughborough, at this session of Conference, but our disappointment has deepened into heart-felt sorrow and grief on account of the existing cause of their absence.
Resolved, That in view of the critical condition of our dear Bro. White,—of God our chosen leader—and also the serious illness of brethren Loughborough and Bourdeau—two of God's efficient ministers—we, as a people, have occasion to weep and mourn; and also great reason to humble ourselves before God our Saviour, and to continue in fasting and earnest prayer, that He who is the source of all our strength and all our hopes, and the great Physician of his people, may, in great mercy to his cause, his people, and his afflicted ones, interpose his mighty arm in their behalf.
Resolved, That while we deeply regret to lose the labor and influence of Bro. J. M. Aldrich in our Conference, we feel cheerfully to submit to the order of Providence by which he is taken from us; and that with heartfelt gratitude for his faithful labors in the past, we follow him with our prayers, that in the new relation he is called to sustain to the cause, he may be eminently successful, and an instrument of much good.
Resolved, That we highly appreciate the labors of Bro. Cottrell in writing for the Review, and that we request him to continue to furnish its readers with articles from his pen, as he has done during the year past.
Resolved, That we feel a deep interest in the case of the freedmen, and an earnest desire that the message of the third angel may be sent to those in the South from whom it has been hitherto excluded by the horrid tyranny of the institution of slavery.
Resolved, That we tender our sincere thanks to the members of the S. D. Baptist church of this place for the use of their meeting-house on this occasion, and for the kind and liberal entertainment they have given us.
Resolved, That the report of this Conference be published in the Review.
Adjourned sine die.
A. LANPHEAR, President.
R. F. COTTRELL, Secretary.
Eld. White and Wife, and Eld. Loughborough.
By H. S. Lay, M. D.
The arduous and unremitting labors of Bro. White for several years in the past, and especially for the past summer, imposing heavy taxations upon his mind and nervous system, finally culminated in a shock of paralysis, leaving his nervous system, as a matter of course, in a shattered condition, and his brain somewhat disturbed. And though he has made marked progress towards recovery since coming to this place, yet he is far from being well; and in order for him to fully recover, it seems indispensably necessary that he should devote at least several months to that special object; and in order to do this successfully, he needs rest, simple diet, judicious bathing, a certain amount of exercise in the open air, with the most pleasant social surroundings; consequently his family should be here with him. He should also have a team at his command, that he may ride every day when the weather will permit.
Sister White is also in feeble health. Her excessive labors in the cause for years in the past, and her unceasing watchfulness and care for Bro. White during his present illness, have worn very heavily upon her. She also needs several months' treatment, and the assistance and attention of sister A. P. Van Horn, who has filled so important a place in their family.
Bro. Loughborough also came here very much worn down by excessive labor, and from being deprived of his much-needed rest. Had he thus continued his labors a few months longer, he would have been past recovery. He has been under treatment here some four weeks, and is doing well,—will probably need to remain some months.
I have thus given a description of these cases, for the benefit of their numerous friends, that they may know their condition.
H. S. Lay, M. D.
Dansville, N. Y., Oct. 23, 1865.
Labors in Maine.
By John Nevins Andrews
AFTER our meeting in Portland, the first week in July, Bro. Cornell and myself separated; he going to Augusta, and I to Topsham. At T. I spent one week, devoting the most of my time to writing, but meeting on the Sabbath with those who observed it, and on first-day visiting a number of families. The following Sabbath, July 22, Bro. Cornell, who had held a profitable meeting in Augusta, met me at Cornville, where we held a two-days' meeting. Quite a good number of Sabbath-keepers were present. Here I was happy to form an acquaintance with Brn. Stratton and Goodrich, and also to meet with some Sabbath-keepers that I had not seen for fourteen years. The following Sabbath I met with the brethren in Hartland, near the residence of Bro. Goodrich. On first-day, held meetings with Bro. Goodrich in the east part of Palmyra. At the same time Bro. Cornell held meetings in Rome. Tuesday, August 1, Bro. Goodrich took me to Kendall's Mills where we met Brn. Cornell, Howard, Wight, and others, for the purpose of a Bible-class. Devoted two entire days and two evenings to this work. The subjects considered were, the Sabbath, the 70 weeks and 2300 days, the commandment for the restoration of Jerusalem, and the subject of organization. I think this was a profitable interview.
At the close of this meeting, the subject of future labors caused anxious inquiry on the part of Bro. C. and myself. No special opening for labor had there been before us thus far, and we now earnestly desired to find some place where we could reach the mass of the people. From what we could learn, Norridgewock seemed to be a suitable field of labor, and we decided to send to Topsham for the tent, and to Manchester, N. H., for Bro. Gage to act as tent-master. The following Sabbath and first-day, Aug. 5 and 6, I spent with the brethren at Cornville, and Bro. Cornell with Bro. Stratton at Athens. Tuesday, Aug. 8, we visited Norridgewock to secure a place for our tent and lumber to seat it. That day we were unable to find the owner of the land or the owner of the lumber. We returned to Skowhegan to spend the night with Bro. Cyphers, and at his earnest request determined to make an effort at that place, if the way should open. We found a beautiful place, with nearly seats enough upon it that had been taken out of the town hall. We obtained the consent of the owner, and also of the man who had the ground in his possession, and as the way was thus readily opened before us, decided to pitch our tent there. But in the morning when we had drawn our tent upon the ground and had begun to put up our notices, the man who had the ground in possession, came out, and in an angry manner forbade us to pitch the tent.
Upon this we decided to return to Norridgewock. This time we found the owner of the land, and secured the use of it; and we obtained lumber by buying it. It now required our utmost effort to get our tent pitched and seated before the Sabbath; but by the aid of two brethren from Madison, we were able to accomplish this. We had a respectable congregation the first evening, and as our meeting progressed we had great cause to thank God that we had come to Norridgewock. Our tent remained standing nearly six weeks, and during all this time we did not have one meeting broken up by rain, nor did we have to lower our tent once on account of wind. We had meetings every evening except three, one of which was to accommodate another meeting, and the other two to give the people rest. The attendance upon this meeting was large; the people coming much of the time from seven or eight towns, and on Sundays from a still larger area. We had generally a good degree of freedom in presenting the important truths of the Bible relating to this time, and had encouraging tokens that the people were not only interested, but benefited.
A vote was taken in the latter part of the meeting to know how many were convinced that the seventh day ought to be observed. Some 300 arose to their feet. Then a vote was taken to know how many were decided to observe the Sabbath, and about sixty arose. Quite a number who had previously decided to keep the Sabbath were not present when this vote was taken. One hundred and fifteen persons subscribed for the Review, and eight for the Instructor.
When it became necessary to take down the tent and to close this meeting, we began to realize that some provision must be made for the future, or much of this labor must be lost. As no meeting-house or hall could be procured for Sabbath meetings, and in short as there was no way for us to gather a congregation in that place in the future, we took steps at once to learn whether it was practicable to attempt the building of a house of worship. A week was spent in visiting our friends, scattered through several towns, and also in holding several business meetings. By this effort we obtained pledges to the amount of about $1600. On the strength of this a contract was made for the erection of a neat, plain house of worship, 55 by 38. Mr. S. Y. Pierce, the gentleman who undertakes this, had sold his farm in order to move West, but though not a professor of religion, he felt so deep an interest in the truths preached in the tent, and in the building of a house for future labors, that he took the burden upon himself. Under his energetic efforts the building is being rapidly urged forward. Many have paid their pledges promptly; and I trust that those who have not yet paid, will immediately attend to this, as the money is now needed, and we cannot consent that the builder should be embarrassed. With present prices for material and labor, there is no chance for the contractor to make this a source of profit, nor did he expect to do this; let us see that he is sustained by the prompt payment of the pledges.
Since the close of the tent-meeting Bro. Gage has labored with some success in Starks. Bro. Cornell has attended the discussion at Alton Bay, between Elders Preble and Wendell on the resurrection of the wicked, and has labored with success in Rome. During the same time I have been detained by various duties at Norridgewock, of which the principal have been holding Sabbath meetings in a school-house, visiting from house to house, and aiding in various things relating to our house of worship.
The week after our tent was taken down, a proposition for a discussion on the immortality subject was handed us from Elder Deering, a Freewill Baptist minister of Richmond, Me. As our opponents in N. were ready to endorse him as their champion, Bro. Cornell accepted the proposition of Elder D., and designated Tuesday, Oct. 10, as the time for the discussion to commence. When Eld. D. arrived it was agreed to discuss the following resolutions:
Resolved, That the Scriptures teach that all who die are in an unconscious state from the time of their death till the resurrection.
Resolved, That the Scriptures teach that the wicked shall be punished with eternal conscious suffering.
The first of these was to be affirmed by Elder Cornell, the last by Elder Deering. As the weather was very favorable, and it was evident that no house in N. could hold the people, we decided to pitch the tent. One day was devoted to each question. Three sessions of two hours each were to be held daily; thus occupying forenoon, afternoon, and evening. Elder Blacker, a Universalist minister of N. acted as chairman. The discussion was decidedly an interesting affair. It would be impossible in this article to give any general statement of the argument adduced. To us it appeared like a signal triumph of the truth; how it appeared to our opponents we will not say.
The discussion was opened by Bro. Cornell with testimony174showing that the dead sleep, that they are not rewarded till the judgment and resurrection, that they know not anything, that they praise not the Lord, that their thoughts have perished, and that they can only be with Christ by his coming after them and taking them to himself. A large amount of testimony was adduced on these points, of which only a part was even alluded to. Thus Elder D. did not even attempt to reply to these :
"The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence." Ps. cxv, 17.
"His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish." Ps. cxlvi, 4.
Elder D. spent his time in the forenoon in simply parrying Bro. C.'s blows, but laid no foundation for his own theory. Indeed, when pressed by Bro. C. to prove the immortality of the soul by the Scriptures, that there might be something to rest the conscious state of the dead upon, he declined the attempt, and would not even affirm that he believed it himself. In the latter part of the afternoon session he began to adduce the common arguments in favor of consciousness in death. Thus he cited the departure of Rachel's soul; and also that of the widow's son; the spirit returning to God; Christ's words to the Sadducees; the thief on the cross; the rich man and Lazarus, etc., etc. These were answered as fully as the limited remaining time admitted, and several of them shown not only not to help him, but even to bear directly against him. Particularly was this the case with reference to the words of Christ to the Sadducees, which were shown to be used by Christ to prove not the conscious state of the dead, but the resurrection of the dead. When it was shown in answer to his use of Christ's words to the thief, that Christ had not yet been with his Father three days after his death, John xx, 17. Elder D. did not attempt to show how these words could be reconciled with Christ's going to Paradise, at his death, but said it was "Christ's business to reconcile it," not his.
On the second day, Elder D. opened the discussion with a quotation of those texts that speak of everlasting fire, everlasting punishment, etc., etc., taking strong ground on the literal signification of the terms used, and how these would be understood by the people addressed. Elder C. acknowledged that the punishment in its duration would be endless, but that in its nature it would be destruction. In other words, that it would be everlasting destruction. The everlasting fire was illustrated by the eternal fire that consumed Sodom. It was also illustrated by the "eternal judgment" and the "eternal redemption" spoken of by Paul, which are not a judgment and a redemption that shall be going on forever, but which shall be eternal in their consequences. Elder C. showed that the wicked should be destroyed, should die the second death, should be consumed, should perish, be devoured, come to an end, be burned up, consumed soul and body, be as nothing, and as though they had not been. This was sustained by a multitude of texts. He showed also that the wicked when cast into the fire are compared to perishable substances, as chaff, tares, stubble, thorns, the fat of lambs, etc., and that they are never compared to things imperishable.
At the opening of the afternoon session Elder D. astonished us with the statement that there was no literal fire connected with the punishment of the wicked. He said that he repudiated the idea, not in his own name only, but also in behalf of the denominations represented by the ministers present, viz., the Methodist, Congregationalist, Calvinist, Baptist, and Free-will Baptist churches. He said that these denominations not only do not believe that the wicked shall be punished in fire, but that they never did believe such doctrine. He said that the punishment of the lost would be a guilty conscience. Bro. C. showed that the consciences of the greatest sinners are seared as with a hot iron, so that the greater the wickedness the less the mental suffering; that the wicked delight in lies, have pleasure in unrighteousness, enjoy sin, rejoice to evil, and finally are said to be past feeling. Bro. C. quoted Spurgeon as a noted Baptist minister holding to literal fire as the punishment of the wicked, when Elder D. with the sanction of the Baptist minister present, repudiated Spurgeon as a Baptist clergyman, and said he was noted for whisky-drinking and advocated it in the pulpit. Bro. C. named several eminent commentators who represent the punishment of the wicked as accomplished with literal fire. He also showed that evil should not be immortal, but that Satan's rebellion against the Almighty shall be put down, and that God's anger toward the wicked shall cease in their destruction. He also showed that the earth, in its burning state, is to be the lake of fire where the wicked are to have their punishment, and as this fire is finally to be succeeded by the new heavens and new earth, as the time shall come, after the burning day, when the wicked shall be ashes under the feet of the saints, and when every creature alive in the universe shall join in praising God, and God shall be all in all.
I ought not to omit the following argument on a guilty conscience, as the fire that shall devour the wicked. Bro. C. substituted it for fire in the following passages:
"Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting guilty conscience, prepared for the devil and his angels." Matt. xxv, 41.
"Shall be tormented with guilty conscience and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels." Rev. xiv, 10.
"And guilty conscience came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them." Rev. xx, 9.
We think the discussion has opened the eyes of many to the plain teaching of the Bible on this great subject. May it lead them to seek for immortality at the resurrection of the just, and thus escape the second death in the lake of fire.
The past Sabbath was spent at this place with Bro. C. We had an interesting season with Brn. Howard, Hanscom, Wight, and others. Here are quite a number interested in the subject of the present truth.
After a few weeks I hope to be at liberty to visit our brethren in many places. It seems to me very evident that the Lord is at work in this region, and I desire that we all may act well our part in his service.
J. N. ANDREWS.
Rome, Me., Oct. 16, 1865.
Old Age.
By J. Clarke
"The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the ways of righteousness." Prov. xvi, 31. Some talk of the pleasure and quiet satisfaction of those who tread the down-hill of life, as if it were a privilege to realize the decay of one's earthly tabernacle, to witness the change from year to year, and feel it in your system. Your fine auburn hair becomes gray, or drops quietly and silently from your head, your superb set of teeth decay, and fall, until they stand apart so far as to be hardly neighbors; and these just ready to fall; rheumatisms and hard work have crippled you, so that you must be waited on by your grandchild, perhaps, who if duteous is a great comfort. But do you suppose that grandfather would not like to wait upon himself? Is it a comfort to grow old, to feel your body become almost bloodless and cold, your voice sharp and unmusical, your frame crooked and bent, your face wrinkled and brown? I often think of Mrs. ——, who wept passionately when she first found a gray hair among her dark tresses; this was nature, true, unsophisticated, no deceit about it.
But does not the Scripture honor age? Certainly, if it be found in the ways of righteousness; but is it of itself a glorious thing to become old and decrepit? For what is the tree of life planted in the paradise of God? Will not that make the old man young again? Will he regret that? If there was some fountain away in Idaho, which would restore the freshness and vigor of youth to the old, what a general emigration would there be to that locality, where toothless gums would be re-filled with shining pearls, and the bald head be covered with a beautiful covering of hair, and where wrinkles would disappear.
No! a person may pleasantly submit to the decrepitude of age; he cannot rejoice in such decrepitude, for its own sake. He may kiss the rod, but it is for the love he bears to the hand that holds it; not that the infliction of stripes is a pleasant pastime.
All credit and much honor is due to the aged, for the patience and good sense they manifest in taking calmly the gnawings of the tooth of time; for it is heroic to smile rather than groan when racked with pain.
J. CLARKE.
GOOD RESOLUTIONS
By C. M. Willis
Stray Thoughts. No. 1.
GOOD RESOLUTIONS.
"Why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Ghost?" Acts v, 3.
THERE has many an honest hearted professor read this history of Annanias and Sapphira, and while shuddering with horror at the justly severe punishment of the guilty pair, has greatly wondered at the crime. How any one professing to love God, and knowing that their most secret thoughts were as open to his perusal as the pages of an open book, could still plan to defraud him, surpasses their comprehension. Doubtless, when this guilty pair disposed of their possessions, it was their intention to bestow the whole in the treasury of the Lord. But we see that their hearts were not filled with the love of God. Avarice held a conspicuous position there; and no doubt the moving motive of the whole transaction was a desire for praise; and a wish to appear as zealous and devoted as the other apostles. But avarice clamored loudly against giving ALL, so they made a kind of compromise,—split the difference, if you please, gave approbativeness a part, and so met a speedy and terrible retribution.
Two very important lessons to the Christian, may be learned from this transaction. One is, that it is impossible to be on good terms with God and the world, both at the same time. Earth and earthly desires, if fostered in the heart, will take the lion's share, and God is robbed of his just due. Guard against it as we will, the thoughts will be imperceptibly drawn out after the world, until we hardly know whether we have a hope in Christ or no.
Another no less important lesson to be deduced is, the danger of broken promises. Many, very many are the promises made to God by his followers, heard and recorded by angels above. Many a reformation is firmly resolved on, to amend our ways, break off from some besetting sin, to eradicate pride, envy, malice, hatred, evil-speaking, vain conversation, impatience, love of selfish gratification, and all other indulged sins, to which all are more or less inclined. Many a vow has been uttered, secretly perhaps, yet none the less binding, to renew our covenant with God, and strive for a closer fellowship with him. God's Spirit was working on our hearts, to influence us to their performance. Angels were eagerly watching for their fulfillment. But, alas! who cannot look back on resolutions unfulfilled, on promises unperformed, on vows heedlessly broken! And yet how few consider that every resolve is a promise, and every failure to perform is a lie to the Holy Ghost! "But because judgment for an evil deed is not speedily executed, therefore the hearts of the children of men are fully set to do evil." And because all who vow and forget to pay, do not meet the fate of Annanias and Sapphira, professors will go on making promises and breaking them, until we have reason to fear, that with some of them at least, the road to ruin will be paved with good resolutions.
There are many circumstances which call forth vows and promises. When the hand of affliction, in its various dealings, is upon us; when we hear a searching exhortation, or read a touching article, or see the consistent lives of others, be assured it is the Spirit of God that is forcing these things home to our hearts, and every effort toward a purer life is a promise; every desire for holiness comes from God, and to disregard these impressions, and live in the neglect of these duties, and these vows, is a direct lie to the Holy Ghost, which will sooner or later bring the punishment of Annanias and Sapphira on the offender, the punishment of death. Many injunctions are scattered throughout the Sacred Word to pay our vows to the Most High, and to perform our promises to the Lord. If there were no punishment due the offense, there surely would be no warnings against it. Then seeing there is danger in broken vows, let us be careful that we pay them, and thus escape the threatened danger.
C. M. WILLIS.
Charlotte, Mich.
SOLOMON MYERS
By Solomon Myers
From Bro. Myers.
DEAR BRO. WHITE: I find myself at last in this new territory, where I expect to stay for a year, at least. I do not know of a Sabbath-keeper in the territory; if there should be one or more in a reasonable distance, it would be a pleasure to know their whereabouts. I do not know that the present truth has ever been preached within one hundred miles of me. Should some of our messengers feel the missionary spirit, and wish to pioneer a little, here is a good field for labor. Small towns are springing up; the people are intelligent and thoughtful, and we hope the message will soon be preached here. I could furnish a home for a preacher, and some pecuniary aid, but am not able to sustain a mission alone.
SOLOMON MYERS
Decatur, Burt Co., Nebraska, Oct. 1, 1865.
To-morrow.
PLUTARCH, in his Lives of the Ancients, relates of one Archias, that, while he was rioting in the midst of his cups, a letter was delivered him, warning him of some one who lay in wait for his life. The bearer of the letter desired him to read it immediately, because it was on serious business and of the highest importance to him. "Oh," replied he, "I will think of serious things to-morrow;" but that night he was slain.
Think of serious things to-morrow! Thus are sinners deferring repentance from day to day. To the words of God's own appointed messengers, warning them of the enemy lying in wait for their souls, to the entreaties of Christian friends, to the voice of conscience, and to the Word and Spirit of God, they turn away, and say, if not in words, yet by their conduct, "We will think of these things another day."
Many, yea, most, who have received a religious education, are resolved that they will seek God at some future time, but are not ready to think of serious things to-day.
Had Archias immediately heeded the whispered warning, and opened his letter, he might have then taken measures to save his life; but, yielding to the pleasures of the day, he was lost. And, even had his life been spared till the morrow, his enemies might by that time have made his escape impossible.
And thus it may be, that, if the life of the sinner whom God calls to-day to be saved, is still spared till the morrow, the warning may by that time pass unheeded, or else the enemy of souls weave more securely around him the meshes of sin, entangling the unwary feet; and thus serious things are left till all are lost forever.
Oh! it is a fearful thing to strive with the Spirit of God. 'To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts;' leave not serious things till to-morrow.
Trust.
By C. M. Willis
THROUGH the woods a man and son,
Wound their way through night shades lonely,
Nothing on their pathway shone,
Save one glimmering lantern only;
"Father, let us, pray, turn back,"
Said the little son affrighted,
"All around is midnight black,
Just one step ahead is lighted.
"Cheerful sunshine all is gone,
Phantoms grim the woods are lining."
"Well, my son, we'll move along,
Just as far as light is shining."
Step by step they journeyed on,
Still the light with darkness blended,
They at length arrived at home,
And their dreary walk was ended.
Traveler, see you naught in this,
Nothing to dispel your sorrow;
When you cloud your present bliss
With the trials of to-morrow?
If you cannot see the end
Shall you backward start affrighted?
Rather trust your faithful friend,
He will guide your feet benighted.
Look not fearful at the dark,
Feeding all your gloomy fancies,
Though 'tis but a glimmering spark,
As you move, the light advances.
If you wander in the night,
Be each little flicker heeded,
Trust your Father for the light,
He will give it as 'tis needed.
For in that celestial home,
Glows the light o'er fields elysian,
But we see through sin's dark gloom,
Sins that dim the glorious vision;
But when faith is lost in sight,
When o'er death and hell victorious,
Banished care, and pain, and night,
Then we'll bask in light most glorious.
C. M. WILLIS.
Charlotte, Mich.
Letters.
"Then they that feared the Lord, spake often one to another."
This department of the paper is designed for the brethren and sisters to freely and fully communicate with each other respecting their hopes and determinations, conflicts and victories, attainments and desires, in the heavenly journey. Seek first a living experience and then record it, carefully and prayerfully, for the comfort and encouragement of the other members of the household of faith.
H. F. BAKER
By H. F. Baker
From Bro. Baker.
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS : It is some time since I have taken my pen to address you through the Review, although I have myself derived much cheer and comfort from your words of experience and encouragement; but I feel that now I have a new bond of sympathy with many of you, in the loss of my own dear companion, and will make free to speak out.
She was taken from us, after a short illness of four days. She died with her mind clear and unclouded unto the end; and oh! what strength and comfort we found in our holy religion in that trying hour. She found that
“Jesus can make a dying bed,
Feel soft as downy pillows are.”
The burden of her prayer was, “Come, Lord Jesus; come quickly,” which I too can repeat with an interest and love for his appearing, it seems I never felt before. What cheer in the “Blessed hope!” How it consoles and binds up the broken hearted! Praise the Lord, for his goodness in revealing to us the way of life. Says the Holy One, “I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live again.”
With a greater interest in “His appearing and kingdom,” I am striving to make my way on, and endure unto the end. Brethren and sisters, pray for me, and my three motherless children, that the “God of all comfort and consolation” will guide us to his praise; and finally gather us, an unbroken circle, into his everlasting kingdom.
H. F. BAKER
Fremont, O.
An Adventist’s Longing for Fellowship
By Clara Bryant
Clara Bryant writes from Milwaukee:
I am cut off from all communication with the Advent body when my paper stops. My paper is all the preaching I have upon the Sabbath of the Lord, and all I can hear from any one of the Advent people. Next to the Bible I prize the Advent books. I am striving to live blameless before the Lord. I want to live so that I can receive largely of all the blessing he bestows upon his people. My prayer is, Lord, bless all the messengers, and make them effectual in proclaiming the loud cry through the land, that the day of His coming may haste greatly. I long to be at home.
Keeping the Commandments in Isolation
C. S. Briggs, of Eden, Mich., says: I do feel to praise God for his goodness in sending the message here. I and my family are alone, striving to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus; yet we are not alone; we go about seven miles to meet with the children of God.
Obituary Notices.
By Joshua Philo
DIED, in Ingham, September 26th, 1865, Emma L., youngest child of Bro. Joseph and sister Arville Philo, aged 2 years and 9 months. May the Lord sanctify this affliction to the good of the bereaved friends, that they may meet their loved one in the morning of the resurrection, when she shall arise from the tomb clothed with immortality.
Farewell, Emma, lovely flower,
In thy short life sweet comfort gave;
When by death's resistless power,
We've laid thee, dear one, in the grave.
JOSHUA PHILO.