MANY are ready to meet with an outburst of contempt the idea of a work of cleansing to be performed in the heavenly Sanctuary. What! say they, is there anything in heaven that needs cleansing, anything that is impure? And without further investigation they are ready to spurn the whole theory, on account of this, to them, unpardonable feature. But let us look at the idea, and meet it fairly. Was there not a work of cleansing to be performed in the earthly Sanctuary? There was. Where was the necessity for this? Into the most holy place, for instance, no man entered, except the high priest, and he but once a year. Was there anything there physically impure? You are obliged to confess there was not. And yet it had to be cleansed, the most holy, as well as the holy place. Why was this? Because the sins of the people had been transferred to it, and from them it must be freed. The work of cleansing was not the removal of physical uncleanness, but simply a ceremony by which the sins of the people were removed and borne away forever. So in the antitype. There is nothing literally impure or unclean in the heavenly Sanctuary; but the sins of those who have sought pardon through the merits of Jesus, have been transferred there, and all the cleansing it is to undergo, is the removal of these. Simply this, and nothing more. No mind need fail to understand, and none need revolt at such an idea. There is here not even a "gnat" of absurdity at which they can strain, much less a "camel," which they make such hideous contortions in attempting to swallow.
If anything more is needed to make this view agreeable to the intellectual palates of our opponents, we have it in the writings of Paul. He states in plain and unequivocal terms, that the heavenly Sanctuary must be cleansed. Listen to his language. Heb. ix, 21-24. "Moreover he [Moses] sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. [Referring to the ancient Sanctuary and its service.] And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood there is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these. [the blood of goats and calves, verse 19.] but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these."
Nothing can be, we say it emphatically, nothing can be, plainer than this. The "tabernacle and vessels of the ministry," "patterns of things in the heavens," were cleansed with the blood of calves and goats. We have already noted its performance, through the ministry of the priesthood. It was necessary, says the Apostle, that it should be cleansed with these. Why? Because without the shedding of blood there is no remission. Remission, and not physical uncleanness, is the burden of the Apostle's argument. The Sanctuary must be cleansed; the imputed guilt must be removed. He then goes on to argue that for the same reason, the heavenly things themselves, of which the earthly were a figure, must be cleansed or purified, but with better sacrifices than those of the type. What is this better sacrifice? The Sacrifice of our Lord himself. Heb. ix, 13, 14, 26. Why was a better sacrifice needed? Because the blood of bulls and goats could not take away sin; [chap. x, 4;] but yet the law was satisfied with that service for the time being, in anticipation of the great and effectual sacrifice which was thus prefigured. The blood of this better sacrifice does take away sin. It is this blood that is ministered in the heavenly Sanctuary in behalf of man, and by this at last that the heavenly holy places themselves are to be purified and cleansed.
And now why do not those who make such an ado about the idea of cleansing the heavenly Sanctuary—why do they not flare up over this language of Paul's? Why do they not scout the book of Hebrews because Paul talks therein of heavenly things to be purified! Just as though there was anything in heaven impure! Heavenly things to be cleansed! Nonsense! But let it be understood that as often as they endeavor to throw contempt and ridicule upon the idea of the cleansing of the heavenly Sanctuary, they do thus treat the language of the Apostle. And be it understood moreover, that in such cases the controversy is not between them and us, but between them and the apostle Paul. We take his language as it reads, and we believe it; for it is the word of God.
There is another idea which may lie with weight in some minds against the existence of a Sanctuary in heaven; and that is the fact, that Daniel speaks of its being trodden under foot. How, it has been asked, can a Sanctuary in heaven be trodden under foot? And it has been urged as one of the greatest recommendations of the view that the earth or land of Canaan is the Sanctuary, that they are both eminently susceptible of being in that condition. We inquire, then, How much does the prophecy comprehend in the term, "to tread under foot?" Does it mean the literal treading under our feet, as we would tread a piece of land by walking on it? If so, the land of Canaan was, in a greater degree, trodden under foot in the days of its prosperity, than it has been since; for there were then more feet to tread upon it. So we see that the expression cannot be taken in its most literal acceptance. But the same text [Dan. viii, 13] speaks of treading the host [the worshipers connected with the Sanctuary] under foot also. Does this mean that people would literally get them under their feet and stamp upon them? By no means. What then does the expression mean? We shall define it, to oppress or perform any act prejudicial to the interests of another; and this definition the following quotations will sustain: 1. The same prophecy [Dan. viii] represents the little horn as casting the truth to the ground, and casting down the stars, and stamping upon them. We all know what this means; or if not, verse 24 of the same chapter furnishes an explanation; namely, "he shall destroy wonderfully the mighty and the holy people." 2. Paul shows us that wicked men, apostates, even tread "under foot" [this is his expression] the Son of God, who is minister of the heavenly Sanctuary. Heb. x, 29. They do it by setting him at nought, counting the blood of the covenant wherewith they were sanctified, an unholy thing, and doing despite unto the Spirit of grace. Why may not the heavenly Sanctuary itself, in an equal sense, and in an equal degree, be trodden under foot also? There is nothing illogical or unscriptural in affirming it.
The agencies through which Satan has all along stood up against the worship of God are the daily, and transgression of desolation, which we have before shown to be Paganism and Papacy. He has done this by erecting rival sanctuaries to the Sanctuary of Jehovah, and endeavoring to turn mankind away from the worship of the true God to the unsanctified rites of heathenism. For instance, in the days of Samuel and the judges, one of Satan's rival sanctuaries was the temple of Dagon where the Philistines worshiped. Jud. xvi, 23, 24. After Solomon had erected the glorious temple upon mount Moriah, Jeroboam erected a rival sanctuary at Bethel, and drew away ten of the twelve tribes to the worship of golden calves. 1 Kings xii, 26-33. In the days of Nebuchadnezzar, the rival sanctuary of Satan was found in the temple of old Belus at Babylon; and great was his triumph when he was able to deposit the sacred vessels of Jehovah's tabernacle in the palace of his heathen deity. 2 Chron. xxxvi, 7. And still later, a sanctuary of the Devil turns up at Rome, under the name of the Pantheon, or "assylum of all the gods." Dan. viii, 11.
And when the gospel dispensation was ushered in, when the shadow reached the substance, and the type gave place to the antitype, and the Sanctuary in heaven took the place of the tabernacle on earth, how did Satan change his mode of opposition? He baptized his heathen deities, and called them Christian. The Pantheon, or "assylum of all the gods," easily became the "sanctuary of all the saints;" and the statue of Jupiter, by an easy metamorphosis became that of Paul or Peter. But more than this: he here set up a blasphemous being, a monster Man of Sin, who should exalt himself above all that is called God, and turn away mankind from the mediation of Christ in the heavenly Sanctuary, by pretending to dispense those favors which are the prerogative of Deity alone. Thus the Papacy has trodden under foot the host, "the holy city," the Sanctuary above and its minister, by wearing out the saints of the Most High, and lifting up its voice in blasphemy against God, his tabernacle and them that dwell in heaven.
We need not follow this objection further. It has already in the pursuit grown invisible to the naked eye. We therefore turn again to our subject, the cleansing of the Sanctuary. The nature of this cleansing we now understand, and that it is accomplished by blood and not by fire. We understand also the ceremony by which it was performed, through a change in the ministration from the holy to the most holy place. We conclude, then, that at the end of the 2300 days, when it was said the Sanctuary should be cleansed, the ministration in heaven was changed from the holy to the most holy place; in other words, that in 1844, yea, on the tenth day of the seventh month in the autumn of that year, our great High Priest, commenced the last act of his priestly ministration in the most holy place of the tabernacle above. Are there any to whom it seems presumption to pretend to understand what is being accomplished in heaven? Of such then we would inquire, Have not the 2300 days ended? and was it not said that at their termination, the Sanctuary should be cleansed? and are we not to reason concerning the Sanctuary, from those objects and from that work, which the voice of inspiration declares to us, are the shadow which it cast on earth? Of what use is a type if we may not, from it, derive some knowledge respecting its antitype?
(To be Continued.)
Conference at Round Grove, Ills.
By Joseph Harvey Waggoner
BRO. SMITH: Our meetings here closed last evening. They were well attended from the beginning to the close, both by brethren and sisters from abroad, and by the citizens of the place. To me it was a meeting of unusual interest. Here for the first time I have had an opportunity of forming an acquaintance with Bro. Andrews; and all partook of my feelings on the occasion. As we heard him vindicate the truths of the Third Angel's Message in a clear and convincing manner, and announce his wish and determination to devote his time henceforth to this work, we truly felt to thank God and take courage. Bro. Sanborn, of Green Co., Wis., also met with us. Bro. S. attended the conference called by the disaffected and jealous spirits in 1855, who withdrew their interest from the REVIEW, and from that time till this winter has in a measure stood aloof from us, but is now satisfied that, to use his own words, "the REVIEW is the paper for the remnant," and is ready to labor in this cause. The Lord is giving him liberty in the truth, and favor with the people, we trust, for the truth's sake.
Several who had heard but little have been confirmed in the faith, and others are deeply interested. Altogether we think the influence of this meeting has been good, both on the church and the world around. The brethren manifested a willingness to take hold of, and help forward the work.
Though I have been absent from the West over two years, my interest in the cause here is unabated. Since the distracting influence of the Age-to-come has prevailed, it has truly been a "dark and cloudy day" for the waiting ones. The little flock has been scattered and torn, and has wandered about almost entirely destitute of food; but as the devourers have manifested their real natures, we trust the precious may now be separated from the vile, and the voice of the good Shepherd be heard and heeded. I am sor133ry that I cannot visit all the brethren and sisters with whom I used to meet, and to whom I feel attached by the fondest ties and dearest associations. But I hope to see most of them at our general meetings.
We firmly believe that the Lord is willing to work, and is now working for the West. He is raising up laborers who, we trust, will be willing to be humble and small in their own sight and the sight of the world. The brethren in the West have learned a lesson that we hope they will profit by, and never again trust in man, or lean on the wisdom of this world; but trust alone in the living God, who worketh according to the counsel of his own will, and who chooses the foolish and weak in the sight of the world to confound the wise. It belongs to us to submit to him, and acquiesce in his work, in his own manner and by his own means. That we may all stand in our places and study to show ourselves approved unto God, is my earnest prayer.
J. H. WAGGONER.
Round Grove, Ills., Feb. 17th, 1858.
Meetings in Mich.
By M. E. Cornell
BRO. SMITH: The truth still triumphs in Allegan. Last Tuesday evening the Baptist minister, Eld. B., sounded the Prof. Stuart key of "Spiritual interpretation," and sung the song of "Peace and safety." It may not be uninteresting to note a few points of the sermon:
1. When there have been wars, earthquakes and commotions, then Adventists' views have been preached with dreadful results.
2. Mr. Stuart and others do not believe that the papal power is the "Man of Sin" of 2 Thess. ii.
3. The "spirit of his mouth" which is to consume the Man of Sin is the preaching of the gospel.
4. The commencement of the prophetic periods cannot be ascertained.
5. The kingdom of Dan. ii, that is to smite the image is the church. The united voice of evangelical christendom will overthrow the Man of Sin, but scores of years may yet intervene before that will take place, after which the Jews will be converted.
6. There will be a general diffusion, acceptance, and triumph of the gospel over all the earth, before Christ comes. Proof. Isa. xi, 9; xxv, 8; Ps. ii, 8; Isa. ii, 2, 3.
7. After the world has been converted one thousand years [Rev. xx] there will be a little season of apostasy.
8. We may sleep centuries before his coming; it matters not whether it is near or one thousand years beyond.
As soon as the meeting was dismissed we gave notice that the discourse would be reviewed the next evening at the court house. This the Eld. considered an insult, as he said to one of his brethren the next day, "he would as soon have been struck on his head with a club." Our review occupied full two hours, and all, we believe, has turned out for the furtherance of the cause of truth. After hearing both sides several remarked that they viewed the time nearer than ever before.
"For when they shall say, Peace and safety then sudden destruction cometh," &c. 1 Thess. v, 3.
M. E. CORNELL.
Bowne, Mich., Feb. 22d, 1858.
A Tour in the West.
By J. Hart
Bro. Smith: Bro. Lindsey and myself have made a short tour to Wis, through Crane's Grove. After Bro. Sperry and myself left them at Crane's Grove, they were visited by three preachers who teach the abolition of the Sabbath, which distracted them much; but most of them are now rejoicing in the glorious light of the present truth. It is somewhat singular to see what an effort many make to have the Sabbath abolished, when they themselves acknowledge the necessity of a Sabbath; and if a Sabbath, why so much war against the Sabbath? The evidence seems to be conclusive that it is the truth of God that the dragon is to make war against in the last generation.
From Crane's Grove we went to Twins' Grove, Wis. Had several meetings in that vicinity. This place had been visited by J. M. Stephenson, and if as good results shall follow his visits in every place, we hope he will continue his travels. In this place there are five Sabbath-keepers. We spent the Sabbath with Bro. Sanborn and family. They are strong on the present truth, have passed through many trials since they have embraced the Sabbath on account of the crooked course of those that had a disposition to draw away from the present message. Bro. Sanborn has been trying to hold up the message to others, and we think is highly worthy of the confidence of the church as a laborer in the cause of God. We feel that the time has come that the cause may be helped in Wisconsin. Pray for us. J. Hart.
NOTE. I would say to the brethren and sisters in Wis., that I in company with others, intend to spend most of the time from this to the time of starting with the tents, in Wis. We shall try to go into those places where we can be the most beneficial in the advancement of the cause of God. Shall probably hold four conferences in the State. We earnestly solicit the prayers of the church in this enterprise, to be guided into the right places. J. Hart.
Conferences at Roosevelt and Brookfield, N. Y.
By Frederick Wheeler; Hiram Edson
THESE meetings were held according to appointment. At Roosevelt there was a goodly number of brethren present from Jefferson Co., Oswego and other places. How much good will result to the church, and the cause of present truth, from this meeting, the future will more clearly reveal. God manifested his willingness to work for his people and bless them by letting his sweet Spirit rest down upon us the first evening of the meeting; yet there was not that union of feeling and freedom during the meeting that we could have wished. There was apparently a disposition on the part of some to bring others to their peculiar views of the present work of the church; which had an effect to check the free course of the Spirit and prevent that freedom that might have been enjoyed. But notwithstanding these discouragements, most of the brethren present, and especially those from abroad, shared in a measure the rich blessing of heaven, and were encouraged and confirmed in the blessed hope. A number came in both on Sabbath and First-day, to hear the reasons of our faith and hope. The truth presented produced a good effect. One man and his wife resolved to keep the Sabbath of the Lord. Others were interested.
There has been evidently a rising, and a gradual improvement in the state of the church for some months past in Central New York; but there is need that the counsel of the faithful and true Witness should be more fully heeded. And some have especially need to bear in mind the testimony that God has given that "the work is between God and their own souls."
At North Brookfield the meeting was not as large. Brethren were present from Manlius, Winfield and other places. At this meeting the sweet Spirit of Christ rested upon his people from its commencement to the close.
Some met with us here who had but recently become interested in the present truth. They were greatly blessed and confirmed in their faith, and while they confessed the truth more fully, and expressed their determination to walk in the light of the same, all shared the rich blessing of the Lord that rested upon us. On First-day we held our meetings in the Christian chapel. The weather was stormy, and the congregation not large; but there was freedom in presenting the truth, while the silent tear witnessed the deep conviction that was felt by some. May they embrace and practice the whole truth, is our earnest desire.
The last evening of our meeting was a season of peculiar interest to all present. All seemed to drink anew from the fountain of salvation, and we parted with stronger faith and brighter hopes of soon meeting with all the saints in the kingdom of God. We believe the conference will prove a lasting blessing to the church, and feel encouraged to strive to labor with more ardent zeal for the salvation of our fellow-men.
F. WHEELER.
H. EDSON.
New York Tent.
By F. Wheeler; H. Edson
The subject of the Tent operations was taken up at the Roosevelt conference, and the following resolutions were passed:
1. That in the judgment of this conference the New York tent should be sent out into the field the coming season, if suitable laborers can be obtained to travel with the same. And that we wish to unite with churches in other parts of the State, and Penn., to aid by our prayers and our means to sustain the tent cause.
2. That Brn. H. Edson, D. Arnold and A. Robinson compose a committee to procure laborers to go with the tent, and to correspond with brethren in other places in relation to tent operations.
3. That Bro. R. F. Cottrell, of Mill Grove, Erie Co., N. Y., act as treasurer, to whom money should be sent for the tent cause.
4. That the deacons of the several churches take measures to raise means in their respective localities to be forwarded to the treasurer for the above purpose.
5. That Brn. Wheeler and Edson prepare a report of these resolutions to be published in the Review.
The above resolutions were read at the Brookfield conference and adopted by a unanimous vote.
In behalf of the Conferences.
F. WHEELER.
H. EDSON.
The Moral Law as the Rule of Duty
THOMAS SCOTT, the Commentator, says: "The moral law he (Jesus) came to fulfill, by perfectly obeying it, as the surety of his people, by his life, sufferings, death and doctrines; to establish it in its fullest honor and authority, and to make the most effectual provision for men's loving and obeying it. So that, as long as the world endured, not the least word, or letter, or comma, (so to speak,) of the whole law should by any means lose its authority, or fail of answering the end for which it was given: and the moral law, would, to the end of time, continue the standard of sin and holiness to all men, and the believers' RULE OF DUTY."—Notes on Matt. v, 17, 18
How to Encourage the Messengers.
By J. Clarke
PRAY for them. Defend them from the tongue of calumny and envy. Be interested in their efforts. Inquire often after their welfare. Rejoice in their success. Sympathize in their sorrows. Look to their usefulness. Help them to plan. Go to them for assistance in understanding scripture. Value their prayers and advice. Find places and opportunities for the exercise of their gifts. Instead of picking flaws in their lectures, pray for grace to strengthen them, for the Spirit to enlighten their minds, to dictate and to set home the word by them spoken. Inquire into the wants of their families, and if they reside in your vicinity, visit them often, and with a cheerful heart, and pleasant words, cheer their hearts.
Look to the spiritual condition of the young of his household, not to calumniate, but to advise, to warn, to instruct, to teach. Be to his children a protector, a guardian, a chosen friend, and overlook as a father their weaknesses, and youthful and willful errors, until you can bring them to the right. Make the labors and self-denials of his companion as light as possible. Bear in mind that her companion is separated from her, and think how lonely and sad is her lot, exiled as it were from her dearest friend, often for months together. See to the condition of the flour and meal-chest, the wardrobe, the garden, the rent, the fences, the windows or doors that perhaps need repairing, or put some hay in the barn, and when you dress a fat ox or sheep, send a good piece to his house, and a few dollars to bear his expenses in new places, if possible. Then keep doing, don't tire. Persevere.
J. CLARKE.
Finding the True Sabbath
By S. C. Welcome
From Bro. Welcome.
Bro. Smith: While reading the various communications in the Review from those who love the appearing of the blessed Saviour, my heart has been made to rejoice that there are a few who delight in the law of God; a little flock scattered over the face of the whole earth, waiting for the great Shepherd to come and gather them into his fold.
The Lord has done much for me in setting my feet upon a rock, and establishing my goings. Truly he has led me in a way that I knew not, and caused me to delight in the law of the Lord. I was brought up to keep the first day of the week for the Sabbath. From a child I was taught that God had commanded us to remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy, but that when Christ came, he changed it to the first day of the week; that he arose from the dead on that day, and that he sanctioned the keeping of that day by meeting with his disciples at various times. Well, this satisfied me unt'l I experienced religion, which was when I was about fourteen years of age. I then read the Bible a great deal, but never came to the place where God repealed the law that he wrote on the tables of stone, neither did I find where Christ changed the Sabbath day; and then I was sorely puzzled. I used to go to my good mother [who I thought did and said everything just right,] to get her to explain these things, and she would teach me as she had been taught that we must keep the first day of the week in commemoration of the resurrection of Christ. This partially satisfied me, but not wholly. In 1842 I embraced the Second Advent doctrine, but I heard nothing said on the Sabbath question until 1848, when I became acquainted with a few Adventists in the eastern part of Maine, who kept the Sabbath; but they were so fanatical in other things that they had no influence, and finally were overthrown. I thought on these things and it strengthened me in Sunday-keeping; and thus I rested without the law until 1853, when one of my brothers, a preacher, living some eight miles from me, got some light on the subject and commenced keeping the Sabbath. This had some effect on my mind, as I knew he had so much decision of character that he would not take such a step without a good reason for it. I then commenced searching for truth, and was so well convinced that it was duty that I commenced keeping it, although I was very cold in religious matters at that time; but I kept searching for truth in history, ancient and modern, in the Bible, and finally everything I could find from which I thought I could get light. But in talking with some Sabbath-keepers, I thought they were bigoted, accusing those that were seeking for light as willfully rejecting light, and those that did not keep the Sabbath, they said, were as guilty as those who would steal. This I considered wrong; for we have all been taught that it was wrong to steal, and are therefore without excuse; but having been taught that the first day is the Christian Sabbath, and that God has always blessed his people that have worshiped him on that day, we need light on the subject, and then we are verily guilty if we do not yield to that light. For about three years I was undecided what course to take. I had begun to keep the Sabbath, but I had to make a great sacrifice on account of having no one to keep it with me within eight miles, except my wife; but I was willing to make the sacrifice if God required it. In the Fall of 1856, a revival commenced in this region, and I among many others consecrated myself anew to God. Then came the trying point. Our meetings were held on Sunday. I had received so many blessings on that day, that it seemed to me that God had accepted it as a Sabbath; therefore I yielded so far as to keep both days for awhile, and my mind was so occupied in striving to live by faith, and in seeing souls converted to God, that I almost lost sight of the Sabbath question, and from that time up to last Fall I did not get any further light on the subject. One great trouble with me, was, that I could not understand the law, and I could find no one that could explain the law spoken of by Paul in Romans and Galatians, nor the difference between the old and new covenants, until I got hold of Bro. Waggoner's work on the Law of God. This removed every obstacle out of the way; the cloud was removed that had hidden the fourth commandment from my view, and the tables of stone stood before my eyes with the Ten Commandments engraven thereon by the finger of God, never to be erased, to be kept not only by the Jew, but by the stranger and the sons of the stranger, as in Isaiah lvi, 3-6, and all the nations of the earth. Now having received this light, what was I to do? Many had been looking to see what course I would take while standing on the fence, halting between two opinions. I had promised God that I would yield to all the light I received, and yet it was hard to take a stand in opposition to the most of my brethren; but while in this state of feeling I talked with brother Thurston, formerly of Kingston. I told him my feelings, and he impressed upon me the importance of yielding to the light I had received. He then said to me, "If you believe it to be duty, will you not do it?" I did not promise him, but the next day in a social meeting I arose to speak, not expecting to say anything on that subject, but when I opened my mouth I had to confess before God and man, that I had received the light, and had decided, let the sacrifice be what it would, to keep the commands of God.135This set my mind at rest; and although I had enjoyed my mind well before this, I now had verified unto me the promise, "great peace have they that love thy law, and nothing shall offend them." I can exclaim from my heart, O how I love thy law! it is my meditation all the day. There are many that object to keeping the Sabbath on the ground that the law is binding only on the Jews. I would advise all such to read Waggoner on the law of God, and compare it with the word of God, and if they are honest seekers after truth, they will find it. Light is shining all through this part of the country, but few are willing to yield, and poverty prevents many from giving the light that is needed, by distributing books which they would gladly do. I can truly sympathize with those in different places, scattered far from each other, having no Sabbath-keeping neighbors; but may we live consistent christians, and let our light shine, pray for and encourage each other, and we shall soon be gathered home.
Your brother in Christ.
S. C. Welcome.
Almond, Wis., Feb. 17th, 1858
LETTERS.
By E. S. Sheffield
"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another."
From Bro. Sheffield.
BRO. SMITH: After hearing of the last position taken by J. M. Stephenson, I have after due consideration of the subject, concluded to give a few extracts from a letter he wrote to me a short time previous to his giving up the Sabbath. My object in doing this, is, that his inconsistencies may be more clearly manifest to the readers of the Review; especially those now investigating the Sabbath question. The following extracts are from a letter written by J. M. Stephenson, dated May 23d, 1857.
"I am glad to learn that the brethren and sisters in that part of the State stand firm on the truth, in relation to the law and gospel. I have never appreciated the utility of the holy Sabbath rest until this Spring. I would certainly wear out my constitution, and that of the beasts I work, were it not for the weekly rest of the Sabbath."
"The position that the Gentiles have no Sabbath, is the most anti-Bible and unreasonable theory to my mind, advocated by any body of professed Christians. It is not only a no-Sabbath theory, but a no-law theory. It is therefore the most dangerous system of morality ever promulgated by any class of men in the world's history."
"With me, the law, gospel, and Bible, stand or fall together. We may be mistaken in reference to the application of symbolic prophecy, and innocent before God; but how can we be mistaken in relation to the plain and harmonious teachings of the Bible touching that law by which the world shall be judged, and that gospel which offers the only remedy for the transgression of that law? I am firm as a rock on these great and glorious truths."
By comparing the foregoing with what the writer has written in the Expositor against Sabbath-keeping and Sabbath-keepers, I should conclude it was not very consistent in him to charge Sabbath-keepers with "vaunted show of consistency," and at the same time charge them with inconsistency, because they do not try to make the last admonition of Moses to Israel concerning the ten commandments, a part of the voice of God. Then speaking of these words of Moses, he calls them a part of these "living oracles," i. e. the ten commandments. Now if these as he says, are "living oracles," is he not condemned out of his own mouth, when he is trying to make his fellow creatures believe that one of them has died, and that too before it ever became diseased? Surely, then, if it is dead, it became so by the hand of murderers. I should conclude by the course of J. M. Stephenson that he did think himself as he says, "as firm as a rock on these glorious truths," and that he was trying his utmost to trample, at least a part of them into the dust. But I have no fears of his or others' ultimate triumph over the commandments of God.
"For all his commandments are sure,
For ever and ever they stand;
The day of his rest will endure,
As long as the works of his hands."
Again, in writing on another subject in the same letter, he says: "The history of the Two-horned beast, image, mark and worshipers is in the past when Christ comes. Six of the plagues, at least, are poured out before Christ comes. The first plague is poured upon the worshipers of the beast and his image, and those who have his mark. Those who resist them have part in the first resurrection. It seems to me that the history of the Two-horned beast and image must cover a much longer space in the world's history than there is time now before Christ's second advent. But all these things may have existed centuries before Christ's coming, and the message warning men against their worship, be after he comes."
If as he says, the beast and image-worship are all in the past when Christ comes, I cannot conceive how any person with this view, and with the use of reason, can see any use of a message warning people against this worship after it is all in the past. The first plague being poured out as he says on those that do receive the mark of the beast, it looks to me that this would prove to any sane mind that the warning has then been given, these have rejected it, and the result is they drink of the wine of the wrath of God; while those who heed the message, drink of the wrath of the beast. I think it is not strange in the least, that a person holding views as totally destructive of each other as the foregoing, should give up the Sabbath. He once held that there were some seventeen different specifications, either one of them being sufficient to prove the Two-horned beast to be a symbol of the United States. But with the whole of these in his possession, they now cease to be any proof in the case to him. But I must close my remarks concerning one that I consider as fallen into the snare of the enemy. I am sorry for both him and the course he has pursued; but I still feel that we have not followed cunningly devised fables when we believed the Third Angel's Message.
Your brother in hope of life.
E. S. SHEFFIELD.
Fort Atkinson, Feb. 10th, 1858.
UNIVERSAL REIGN OF CHRIST.
By R. White
Why should the sons of strife upraise
Their arms gainst the mighty God,
And kings and princes all engage
To slight the offers of his love.
To bring about their dark design,
They lay their counsels deep and strong;
But God in his appointed time,
Will conquer all his foes ere long.
His well beloved Son will sit
On Zion's holy hill to reign;
Those who to him will not submit,
Shall by his sword of wrath be slain.
To him the promise stands secure,
That over all the earth he'll sway
The glorious scepter of his power,
And him the nations will obey.
From east to west, from north to south,
Shall his dominion then extend;
And praise from every heart and mouth,
Unto his holy name ascend. R. WHITE.
Whiteside, Co., Ills.
Revival and Sabbath Truth in Connecticut
By Asa Kimball
From Bro. Kimball.
BRO. SMITH: I write to let you know how we are getting along here in Conn. We are in the midst of a great revival as it is called by the churches, especially Windham Co., and more particularly in the town where I reside. I must confess I never knew such a movement in this line before, neither do the oldest inhabitants recollect such an outpouring of the Spirit. The hardest sinners of every grade of society are crying out, "What shall I do to be saved." The Congregational minister of our town came to me to unite in this great work of leading sinners to the Saviour, for said he, "The fields are all white for the harvest, and the laborers are few." I thought so myself and readily complied with his request, and the result is, that some of the young converts have commenced keeping the seventh day Sabbath, and are getting hold of the glorious truths of the coming of the Lord and the last message. We hold our Sabbath meetings regularly, and it is a matter of rejoicing to us to hear the young converts pray and exhort. The Lord blesses wonderfully. One of the Congregational members, a man who has been united with the church more than forty years, ventured into one of our Sabbath meetings, perhaps as a spie, for he came across the pastures; but the old man got melted all down. He prayed, he exhorted and sung, and wept like an infant, and when he left the house, he bid us God speed in this glorious work.
We are destitute of a person qualified to administer the ordinance of baptism, and the other ordinances. Our preaching brethren seem to be detained in the northern part of the New England States. We feel a little as the Psalmist did at one time, Ps. lxxi, 12. "O my God, haste thou to my help." I believe the hearts of the people are being prepared for the refreshing, or the last solemn message; for the prophecy must be fulfilled, Joel ii, 28, "I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh." Then all will have an opportunity to get converted, that their sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Acts iii, 20. "And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you, whom the heavens must receive until the times of restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began."
Yours in the faith.
ASA KIMBALL.
Hampton, Ct., Feb. 7th, 1858.