Earlier text: THE SAVIOUR AND THE LAWKINDNESS
By C. G. Campbell
Kindness is a quality of human nature which renders lovely the individual in whom it is a predominant feature of character. It is one of the chief principles of the character and religion of Jesus Christ, who, while he sojourned among men, was constantly performing acts of kindness as he had opportunity. It is this feature which makes the character and person of the Saviour so lovable and attractive to the human mind, when first it comprehends the divine nature and religion of the Saviour. Would we win the heart and conquer the opposition of the opposer of the religion of Jesus, we must begin by kind words and kind acts. There is no nature existing in the breasts of humanity so rough but can be approached and touched in this way. How often have words spoken in cheerfulness and a kindly spirit been the means of rescuing from a life of crime and an ignominious death some fellow creature rendered desperate by a train of adverse circumstances in life. “Be kindly affectioned one toward another,” is the injunction of the apostle to his brethren, proving the principle of kindness to be a requisite of Christian character. The true and humble follower of Jesus will manifest this principle, not only to the good and the gentle, but also to the froward and perverse. It is upon the latter class that he needs to bring to bear all the active and persuasive force of this heavenly principle. Words spoken in kindness often subdue the angry passions roused within the human breast, when harsh words would but serve as fuel to the flame. “A soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger.” Mark the effects of kindness upon the little child. Its appearance has attracted your notice, and you wish to attract its attention to yourself. It is at first very timid and retiring. You smile as you speak in low gentle tones to the little one; and presently, little by little, unconsciously its reserve is thrown off, and its timidity is lost, and ere long it approaches you in the full confidence of a new-found friend. Thus by kindness you have made an impression on the heart of that child, which perhaps may never be obliterated, and by which you may have enchained yourself in its memory, where in after life, this incident may linger as one of the bright and sunny spots of childhood’s days. Again, witness the effects of kind acts and words upon the brute creation, as may frequently be witnessed in the treatment of our domestic animals. Take for instance the unbroken colt. You approach him in a careful manner, speaking in gentle tones, endeavoring to attract its attention; but at first it shuns you in fear. You still persevere in your efforts until at last you have gained its confidence, and it suffers itself to be approached and led away, recognizing you as a friend instead of an enemy. On the other hand, mark the effects of the treatment of a horse at the hands of the person of hasty temper. Very often from the first, the experience of the horse is one of ill treatment. He is often beaten and whipped, to make him do that which he has never been accustomed to do, and of which he knows nothing. As the effect of such a course of treatment, the horse will be sullen and stubborn, or else so fearful that he can scarcely be approached in safety. To draw further illustrations is needless; for we are all witnesses to the fact that the effects of kindness, whether exercised toward our fellow creatures or toward the brute creation, are powerful. But we would earnestly recommend to all who profess to be the followers of Christ to cultivate this principle so highly essential to the Christian character. And not to the professor of religion alone, would we recommend the cultivation of this humane and Christian grace, but unto all who may chance to peruse the thoughts here set forth, though perhaps but poorly presented. If happily they shall be the means of arresting the attention of some poor fallible fellow creature and directing his mind in a channel of exercise wherein he may develop the strong and healthy powers of a manly and Christian character, one object of the writer will be accomplished. THE CHILDREN AT BED-TIME.
EVERY parent who has been in the habit of reading or talking with the little ones after they are safely tucked in bed, will bear witness to the value of this mode of influence. With the laying off of the clothes, the angers, worries, and discontents of the day subside. With the brief season of prayer they fly still further into the background. And when the little form rests in its bed, they seem to vanish out of sight. The body is at rest. The heart is plastic to the touch of the loving father or mother. Now is the time to exert a molding power. At this hour the little ones listen with hushed attention to what is read to them. Hymns, the Scriptures, Bible stories, are heard with close attention, until the reader’s voice is stilled, or the hearers sink into a gentle sleep. Or conversation may take the place of reading. The will that was in a state of resistance an hour ago is now relaxed. The anger that blinded moral discernment has passed away. With open heart, the child utters its confessions, and gladly receives the forgiving kiss. Plans for the morrow can be discussed, and duty can be made to put on an attractive form. Irritations can be looked at quietly, and admonitions to watchfulness may be dropped with soothing efficacy into the listening ear. And then how delightful the embrace with which the young arms clasp your neck, the intense “dear father,” “dear mother,” with which the “good-night” is said. Parents, if you have not thus parted from your birdlings at the evening hour, you have something yet to learn of hopeful instruction—to experience of love’s delights.—The Working Church. “WINTER IS PAST.”
By Bryant
Winter is past—the little bee resumes
Her share of sun and shade, and o’er the lea
Hums her first hymnings to the flowers’ perfumes,
And wakes a sense of gratefulness in me:
The little daisy keeps its wonted place;
Ere March by April gets disarmed of snow,
A look of joy opes on its smiling face,
Turned to that Power that suffers it to blow.
Ah, pleasant time! yet, pleasing as you be,
One still more pleasing, Hope reserves for me,
Where suns unsetting one long summer shine,
Flowers endless bloom, where winter ne’er destroys.
Oh! may the good man’s righteous end be mine,
That I may witness these unfading joys. —Bryant. It is a well-known law of the human constitution, that while practical habits grow stronger by repeated acts, passive impressions, by the same process, are weakened. Thus the sight of suffering is at first exceedingly painful, and this sympathetic pain prompts us to exert ourselves in order to relieve the sufferer. Now we find, in proportion as the habits of acting in obedience to our impressions become fixed, the impressions themselves become fainter and fainter. Hence physicians and nurses will do a great deal more for the sick than surrounding friends, although they may not feel for them half so much. Now, to allow these impressions to be repeated, and thus gradually weakened, without acquiring the practical habits which they were meant to produce, is fatal to the character. It is, as another has well expressed it, “to burn up the kindling without starting the fire.” This explains the injurious effects of theatre-going and novel-reading, where passive impressions are repeatedly awakened by imaginary scenes of distress, but no opportunity is afforded to act as these impressions would dictate. In this we have a satisfactory explanation of the phenomenon so puzzling to philanthropists, viz., that delicate and refined men and women will fare sumptuously every day, eating whatever is good, and recline nightly upon couches of down, while entirely undisturbed by the knowledge of the fact that many pale forms, weary and hungry, are fainting almost at their very doors. They have lost the susceptibility of receiving impressions from the sight of suffering, without having acquired the habit of practical benevolence. The same law prevails with reference to religious impressions. The oftener these are repeated, the oftener the sinner feels moved to act in view either of the love or justice of God, and allows these impressions to pass away without acting in accordance with them, the less and less is the probability that he will ever do so. On each repetition the impression becomes fainter, and the indisposition to act stronger. The glorious gospel of Jesus Christ thus becomes to thousands, in whose hearing it is proclaimed, a savor of death unto death. It is possible to wear out these impressions, so that there shall be nothing left for God's Spirit to act upon, and when this is once effected, of course the case of the impenitent soul becomes hopeless. Sinner, rouse from this sleep. You have often felt these impressions, and as often refused to act in obedience to them. You know from experience that they are daily growing weaker—take heed lest they disappear and leave you confirmed in your sins.—Pres. Journal. The people of Texas are popularly supposed to be a rough, irreligious people. But the Legislature of that State, at its last session, passed a law which would be denounced as “blue” had it been enacted in one of the New England States. It provides for punishing profanity by a fine of one hundred dollars, if the obnoxious language is used within a certain distance of a dwelling-house. The idea of the law is, doubtless, to protect the young from being demoralized by evil communications.—Religious Intelligencer. An Honest Blacksmith on Reputation and Libel
An honest blacksmith, when urged to start a libel suit, answered, “I can hammer out a better reputation on my anvil than all the lawyers in Christendom can give me.” The blacksmith was right, and more is the pity that a good many more Christians don't think with him. MISSION TO DENMARK.
By James White
At an early period in the cause, Eld. John G. Matteson, a Danish Baptist minister in the State of Wisconsin, embraced the doctrines peculiar to the Seventh-day Adventists. He entered the field as a preacher and writer, and has for several years edited our Danish monthly. He has translated many of our tracts, and has prepared some larger works, which have been scattered in Europe as well as in America. And our faithful Danish people have sent a large amount of reading matter to their friends in the old world. We have seen for several years that the way was prepared for a Mission to Denmark and Norway, and for the past year have felt anxious that Eld. Matteson should return to his native land, and there preach and publish the great truths connected with the last message. And it is with great pleasure that we give the following excellent letter from his pen concerning his Mission to Denmark. Under date of March 23d, 1877, Eld. Matteson addresses us in the following words expressive of faith and confiding love:— “ELD. JAMES WHITE: Dear and much esteemed Brother, I think the time has come when I must get ready to go to Denmark, to labor in the interest of the last message. You have already plainly expressed your mind on this subject, yet I desire very much to hear from you before I go, and to get your advice. “It is a great sacrifice on my part to go, and there is no undertaking that I have been so slow to decide on as this. But everything seems to point in that direction now, and I am afraid the Lord will not bless my labor if I refuse to go. I have thought for some time that Bro. O. A. Olsen might be fitted for this work. I believe that he is in many respects better qualified for it than myself, and I have urged him to go, but he does positively refuse to do so. He promises, however, to do what he can among our countrymen in America when I am gone, and to take my place in that respect as far as possible. He says he will exchange the school for the field next week. “Bro. Haskell has advised me to go, and thinks the time has come for this move to be made. The leading brethren among our countrymen are very anxious to have me go this spring. There are two hundred and sixty ADVENT TIDENDES that go to Denmark monthly, and about sixty to Norway. We frequently receive favorable letters from Denmark, and some are keeping the Sabbath there. I fear the cause will suffer if I do not go now, and trust that God will direct and bless the work. “But before I go, I want to take a position in full harmony and sympathy with the General Conf. Committee. I feel the necessity of this, and feel that it is a privilege for me to do so. I therefore pledge myself to lead out in nothing independently, but to seek your counsel in every important matter, and in short, to act, not as a private individual, but as a representative of the S. D. Adventists of America, laboring in the fear of God, and in the love of my brethren. “Our Danish-Norwegian people have already donated and sent to the Office in B. C. about $200 for this mission, although we have made no call for money. I think the best time to go would be about May. May the Lord bless you much in your labor of love.” The foregoing statements from Eld. Matteson will touch the feelings of all his brethren, whether Scandinavian or American. And they will give him their hearty sympathy, and follow him to his new field of labor by their prayers and with their means. His statements respecting the relation he wishes to sustain to his American brethren are frank, full, and satisfactory. In behalf of the General Conference we as freely state that Eld. Matteson will be sustained in his important contemplated mission by our counsel and the prayers and means of those who have the missionary spirit. This movement of sending our ablest live ministers to Europe will give all our people greater interest in our world-wide message. J. W. The good reports that are continually coming in from every direction show that the Spirit of God is at work upon the minds of the people. Compare the readiness—the eagerness, with which people listen to the truth now and that which was manifested ten years ago. People want to hear, want to read. This is not an evidence that the world is to be converted, but it is an evidence that God will gather out of the world a people for his name. There are still enough to oppose, and there always will be; but the very condition of things among the nations and society is such that the candid and honest are awakening to the study of the signs of the times. Now is the favored time to move forward all along the line. Bro. A. B. Rust, writing from Texas, says, “As I travel over the country I find a good many openings for the preaching of the truth. We know that the Lord’s hand is in the work, and we believe that a strong Conference will be raised up here. We are receiving calls from every direction to visit and talk the truth. Our hands are more than full, and God is wonderfully blessing us in this kind of labor. “A man living forty-five miles from here says he will find a place to hold meetings, and board a minister, and give ten dollars, if only some one will come. My brother received a letter from a Methodist minister some seventy-five miles from here, stating that he was interested in what he had heard of our people. He said he would read any of our works that might be sent to him; that he is anxious to have some of our people come and see him. So it is all around, far and near. Everywhere we go, we talk the truth, read the truth, and pray the truth.” C. W. S. THE HEALTH REFORMER.
By S. N. Haskell
Our brethren have commenced to wake up in some Conferences to the importance of a more extended circulation of the SIGNS. As far as this is the case, it is as it should be, although as a people we have scarcely begun to do what must be done in this direction. We have repeatedly said that the Tract Societies were fully able to secure 25,000 interested readers for the SIGNS before the close of 1878, providing the plan of clubbing the SIGNS is thoroughly taken hold of. We are still as confident in this as ever. The experience of those churches that have taken hold of it confirms us in this belief. We have not recommended the REFORMER to be taken in clubs as extensively as we have the SIGNS. Not because it was not worthy of the most liberal patronage, and should be as extensively circulated as the SIGNS. But from past and present experience we are fully convinced that this number can be obtained by canvassing with and without the premiums, thus securing paying subscribers. There are hundreds of men and women among us that can earn from two to four dollars a day with the premiums and per cent offered by canvassing. We do not make this statement without fully understanding what we say and the effort it requires to obtain the subscribers. There are a few in the field who are doing this. And some who now are the most successful did not average one subscriber per day when they commenced. But they sought God’s blessing upon their effort, and persevered until they mastered their business; and now they expect a subscriber at every third or fourth house they enter. There are those of our people that have in the past obtained subscribers for books and magazines, and can sell anything from a six-penny toy to a thousand dollar piano, and that, too, where they neither need nor want it. We want these men and women to consecrate the same talent, energy, and devotion to obtain subscribers for the best health journal in the world. It seems to some a virtue to lose all their zeal and energy in the cause of God, when if they had a patent right to sell, they would make a success three times out of five. This is a sad mistake. If there is one thing more than another where earnestness, energy, and close planning are justifiable, it is in obtaining subscribers for those periodicals which contain the solemn truth adapted to the time in which we live. It is a shame that we have not twenty where we have one devoting their time to canvassing for the HEALTH REFORMER. Young men out of employment, young ladies who have nothing to do, have you tried this? Have you made it a business? Have you gone about it relying on God to help you? Would you get discouraged as easily in anything of a personal gratification? We hope there are those who may read these lines, who will at once commence canvassing for the REFORMER, determined to make it a success. It should not be entirely forgotten by those clubbing for the SIGNS. Our ministers should not neglect this work, both in new fields and among our brethren. The HEALTH REFORMER is connected with present truth. All our brethren should feel interested in building up the Health Institute, and there is no more successful way of doing this than by increasing the circulation of the HEALTH REFORMER. The experience of Eld. Joseph Bates in connection with the health and temperance question, which was related in the first three numbers of the present volume of the REFORMER, and now the experience of Eld. J. N. Andrews, who is also a pioneer in this work, cannot fail to interest every lover of present truth. The articles of Sr. White in each number contain instruction which every family needs. In short, the entire make-up of the journal is adapted to the household. How many shall we hear from, that will canvass during the summer months? Much can be done through the ensuing season in cities and villages. Who will respond? A PLAIN TALK TO THE MURMURERS.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
Some Facts for Those Who Are not in Harmony with the Body. Soon after this, another important move became necessary in our work. The publishing business was steadily increasing. We already had a press, type, office, and several thousand dollars’ worth of property; but this was all held in Brother White’s own name. We had no legal organization by which the brethren could hold that which they had contributed towards the building up of the publishing business. Brother White with his usual foresight, looking ahead, saw just what has already come to pass, viz., that a large business would grow out of this, that a large amount of capital must be invested in our printing house, in order to prosecute this work with energy and rapidity. He saw, and it is strange now that everybody did not see, that it would not do to have this property all held by Eld. White or any other individual. The cry of speculation would soon dry up all further donations, cripple the office, and utterly defeat our work. There must be a legal association formed in which all our people could have a share, and from which no individual should receive a dollar’s income. Brother White again was the man to propose that, and to urge it strongly; but everywhere many of the brethren, and even ministers, opposed. It was argued that to form such a legal association would be Babylon,—leaning upon the arm of the law. This was the reason why it was opposed. I shall never forget that. The first time I visited Battle Creek, the first General Conference I ever attended, was when this question was up. I saw Eld. White stand in the desk and argue and plead, and labor with the brethren for hours to get them to see the importance of this move. He felt so deeply that he wept like a child. Finally, most of the brethren yielded, and the thing was accomplished; but some were so bitterly opposed that they drew off entirely from that time. Here, again, they cried, “Popery, one-man power, tyranny, iron heel,” &c., though anybody with a little common sense could see that the position of Brother White was just the opposite of that. Here our murmuring friends received a fresh class of recruits as they have had at every advance move that has ever been made in the cause. But now that this struggle has passed upon that point, who does not see that this move was imperatively necessary? The present work would never have been accomplished without it. How could we conduct our present publishing business without it, to say nothing of what it must become before the work closes? Another question about this time came up for settlement. How should means be raised to support the work? Brother White again led out in this and proposed our present plan of S. B. Sister White was shown from the Lord that this was right. Probably no step has ever been taken in the advancement of the cause, which has proved a greater success than this. No one denies this now. All see it, acknowledge it, and almost everybody admires the plan. But it was far different when first proposed. Here, again, these faultfinders had a splendid chance to cry, “Speculation, centralization of power, iron heel,” &c. However, it is but justice to many of our good, honest, faithful brethren to say that when these different advance steps were proposed and started by Brother White, they were conscientiously opposed to them, because they could not see how they could be right. They used all their arguments against them as far as they could as Christian brethren. They were sorry to see these points carried. They feared that great harm would come of it. Yet their faith in the message and the cause of God was such that when the point was carried they ceased their opposition, fell into line, and worked in harmony with the body. This was sensible and Christ-like. In a very short time their fears upon these different questions all vanished. Their trials were entirely removed, and they soon came to see that these were the very steps which ought to have been taken. After trying this over and over a good many times, most of us have learned to take things patiently. If things occur, and steps are taken, which we cannot just see through at the time, we simply wait, believing that the Lord is leading this people, and that, in time, things which at first may not be plain to us all will be cleared up; but some are in so great a hurry, and have so little faith in the work of God, that if anything comes up that they cannot see through immediately, they go in for opposition and rebellion. Thus we might continue the history of our people and show how Eld. White has had a leading influence in every advance move that has been made by this people. This establishment of our State Conferences and our General Conference was through his influence. What could we do without these organizations now? Who questions their wisdom now? Look at our camp-meetings. What a blessing they are to our people, and they are growing more important every year. What a mighty influence they are becoming for the dissemination of this truth. Who first proposed the camp-meetings among us? Who started and held the first one? Everybody knows. Have we a health journal and a Health Institute? Who laid the plans for this institution? Who urged their accomplishment? Have we a publishing office and a paper on the Pacific coast? Who started that? It is Eld. White, as you very well know. I believe I can truthfully say that there is not an institution among us, not an organization, no advance step has been taken in this cause, but that which has been accomplished through the counsel and earnest labors of Eld. White. Now that these institutions, these organizations, have been established, and are in working order, we all see the great importance and utility of them, and we thank God for them. We would not know how to carry on the work without them. In the work of this message, to all human appearance, if it had not been for the counsels, the enlarged plans, the earnest labors of Eld. White, and the continual warnings of the testimonies through Sister White,—if it had not been for these, the third angel’s message would not have accomplished to this day a hundredth part of what it has. We have all been inclined to have too narrow views, too small plans, and to neglect the very means necessary to the prosecution of this work. To us who have faith in this work, these things are the very strongest evidence that God has indeed raised up Bro. White for the very place he fills. Under the blessing of God, the cause, from such a small beginning as we have related, has steadily, and in the last few years, rapidly, increased till now we have two large printing establishments in America, nine steam printing presses, eight different papers, two of which are published in the Danish and Swedish languages, and books published in the English, German, French, Swedish, Danish, and Holland languages. Our publications upon the present truth have gone everywhere, and are having a mighty influence in opening the eyes of men to this truth. We have a capital of about $125,000 clear of debt, invested in the publishing business. We have an excellent College on a good basis, also a Health Institute with a large influence. We have sixteen State Conferences, nearly five hundred churches, about two hundred ministers, and some fifteen or twenty thousand believers, and missionaries rapidly extending the work in new fields in every direction. Thus far I have purposely omitted to say much about Sr. White and her visions and their influence upon the cause. I will now briefly refer to them, as this is a great stone of stumbling with some. Right here let me say that we do not throw away the Bible, and take Mrs. White’s visions instead. No; if there is a class of people under heaven who believe the Bible strongly, who love it devotedly, who study it and go to it for everything, it is Seventh-day Adventists. Here is our store-house of doctrine and truth. We125 preach this everywhere and always. We have no other authority. We go to this to test and prove the genuineness of Sr. White’s labors and visions. If they did not harmonize with this in every particular, we would reject them. It is wicked for men to cry, “The Bible, the Bible, the Bible,” and profess to follow that implicitly when they reject one of the plainest doctrines of the Bible,—the doctrine of spiritual gifts. Of course I have not time here to take up an argument on spiritual gifts, or enter into a lengthy statement of her labors, their nature, &c. We believe, however, that no doctrine of the Bible is plainer than that of the perpetuity of spiritual gifts, and particularly that these gifts are to be restored in the last days. Joel 2:28-32; Rev. 12:17; 19:10; 1 Thess. 5:1-21; &c. From the very start of this message, Sr. White has been intimately connected with it. Ever since 1845, she has had her visions frequently, and they have had an important bearing upon the work. Everywhere that Eld. White has gone preaching, advising, planning, and directing in the work, she has gone, and stood side by side with him. She has always attended our large gatherings, our Conferences, and our camp-meetings, preaching, exhorting, and bearing her testimony, and her influence has been very great indeed. Not a move of any importance has ever been made in any department of the work but she has spoken in the testimonies supporting it, either before or after it was started, and as her testimonies have been generally believed and received by this people, they have necessarily had a great influence upon the action of our people. I am thoroughly satisfied that without the testimonies it would have been utterly impossible to sustain many movements of great importance which have now proved a complete success in this work. When the testimonies have spoken upon the subject, it has at once put an end to strife and division of sentiments and complaints among our people, and they have taken hold unitedly to prosecute the work. To the very same source we are largely indebted for the union in faith and doctrine which prevails among us, and for our escape from the confusion, discord, wrangling, and bickering, which everywhere characterize the other bodies of Adventists. Shall we not thank God for such great benefits as these? Let others think as they please, we are thankful for this inestimable blessing, and we are not ashamed to say so. The point which I wish to make is to call the attention of our brethren to the important position and great influence which Sr. White and her testimonies have ever held in this work. There are no half dozen men in our ranks who have really influenced the faith, the practice, and the different important moves in this work so much as Sr. White and her testimonies. As long as this is an undeniable fact, let us look at the inevitable conclusion which one must draw from it. Here is a special work to be done,—a special message to be given. The time has come for the Lord to move out a people to do the work. We see this very work commenced, and carried forward successfully. We look at the means which have been used to accomplish this work, and we find that from the very beginning, chief and very prominent among them are the labors of Bro. and Sr. White. She has traveled everywhere, and given her influence to the work with all her might as an able speaker. Many have been converted to this truth under her personal efforts. Her voice has been heard in our Conferences, and in the counsels of our people. Through her urgent appeals and strong entreaties, advance moves have been made, institutions for the prosecution of the work have been founded, and in every conceivable way her important labors for thirty years have been intimately connected with this work, and have done very much for its success. Now, while all this proves nothing to men who do not believe the Seventh-day Adventist doctrine, or the third angel’s message, yet to those who do believe these doctrines, it seems to me that one conclusion is inevitable, viz., that Bro. and Sr. White must be servants of God, and that her testimonies must be from the Lord. Look at it a moment. Here are certain great truths,—a definitely foretold message, in the success of which we are all deeply interested. We believe that it is not only truth, but the present truth. These truths have brought us from darkness to light, from the fables of men to the commandments of God. They have made the Bible to us a new book. In the belief and practice of them we have been greatly blessed by the Lord. They are the joy and rejoicing of our souls. We believe they are destined to test the world and prepare it for the harvest of the great day. We rejoice in the prosperity of this work, in the spread of this truth. Now consider: What means have been used by the Lord to bring out, to maintain, and publish this work to the world? What agents did God use to bring these blessed truths to our attention? First, foremost, and prominent among them all, as we have shown, are the untiring, life-long labors of Bro. and Sr. White. We appeal to the common sense of every believer: How can you consistently believe the work to be of God and the workmen of the devil? It is utterly inconsistent. Every man in his own soul does and must admit this. He may try to dodge and fight it, and fix it up some other way, but it is of no use. We must either accept Bro. and Sr. White as God’s accredited servants, or we must reject the third angel’s message; and the facts show that this is just about what every one does. Those who commence by finding fault with Bro. White, and by rejecting the testimonies, sooner or later end by giving up the third angel’s message, and finally separating themselves from this people. This result is inevitable, and hence we warn our brethren before they start upon that path just where it will lead to. There has been no exception in the past, there will be none in the future. SPRING
By John G. Matteson
“While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night, shall not cease.” Everything is changeable in the earth. The winter is followed by seedtime. Then comes the summer and the harvest. This year's winter must also pass away with its cold and snow, with its hard times for thousands of poor people who have been without employment, some of whom have succumbed in the struggle, while others have sustained a wretched existence. It must pass away with its wars and misfortunes and sins and crimes which all will be brought to light in the great Judgment day. The Lord causes again a new spring to dawn on this dark earth. It reminds us of that eternal spring which soon shall dawn on the seed of Abraham. The cold and dark winter comes to an end, but the gentle rays of Paradise will shine with heavenly light on the hills and vales of the new earth, when the spring of eternity dawns before the longing hearts of the friends of Jesus. There will be a rich harvest when those who have sown in tears shall reap in joy. The great day for settling all accounts is near. It will bring a solution of the curious riddle of life. Then all will receive according to their deeds—punishment for sin and reward for virtue. “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Then the haven of rest will be sweet. It brings comfort in our sorrow and helps to bear life's burdens when we have faith in those precious promises which are given to us through Jesus Christ—have faith to believe, that by these we can be made partakers of the divine nature, and at last obtain an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour. Gentle rays from the spring of salvation light up our pathway through the dark winter of this world, and keep our hearts warm, when they otherwise would congeal under the storm and snow and ice of winter. With the glorious, heavenly harvest before us we take new courage to labor through spring. The laborers are few. The field is large, and the ground often unfruitful. The sun does not always shine gently. It is inconvenient to work the soil. The rain is unpleasant, and the storm severe. Rapid currents threaten to wash away the seed. But in spite of all this the incorruptible seed must be sown in peace with patience and endurance; for this the Lord of the harvest has ordained. When we behold a world lying in wickedness, and consider the signs of the times, which show that the end is drawing near with great speed, and the precious truth which God has caused to shine through the last message of mercy, then we pray from our inmost hearts, O Lord, send forth laborers in thy harvest. Help all who have honestly embraced the truth to “catch men.” Luke 5:10. Give us not only a few preachers to labor in this mission, but make us all workers—men, women, and children. Those who are advanced in life can honor God by a holy life, and help the mission with their means. The young are strong. The Lord has given them precious talents with which they can help forward the cause, when they are sanctified by the truth. Those children who know the Father, and love Jesus, can show a Christian example before other children, and cause the light of the gospel to shine in young hearts. All can work for the glory of God and the salvation of precious souls, until the time of grace is ended, and the Lord of the harvest comes with his heavenly host. Let this be the sole object of our lives, then God will pardon all our sins for Jesus’ sake, and say to us, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” EXAMPLE OF COURAGE IN IOWA.
By S. N. Haskell
A CARD has been received at the REVIEW Office from a brother in Iowa, who orders two copies of the “Way of Life” sent to a subscriber for the SIGNS, and states that he first sent to the SIGNS Office, and that they referred him to the REVIEW Office, where he was referred to the president of his Conference, who in turn referred him to the REVIEW Office. Then he appeals in an earnest manner to send the “Way of Life” at whatever cost. Not a word of complaint, nor does his language show the slightest discouragement. Now the marvel to me is how his courage could hold out so good. “The Way of Life” was sent. But there is no need of all this trouble. There are brethren everywhere, who will obtain more or less subscribers during the year for the SIGNS and the REFORMER with the “Way of Life.” Every president of the various Tract Societies should order a sufficient number of “Way of Life” to furnish each director for all such purposes. If arrangements are made for the directors to order for themselves, the order should not be less than fifty copies. If they are preserved unsoiled, they can be returned to this Office at the expense of the person ordering. There is not a district in the country but that can get rid of more or less premiums if there is any interest at all to canvass for the SIGNS and REFORMER. To save the delay in ordering the SIGNS, let each church order eight or more copies of the SIGNS sent to one address. Then when a subscriber is found by a member of that church, one copy can be transferred, or another sent direct from the SIGNS Office. And until it arrives the subscriber can receive weekly one mailed to him by him who obtained his name. The liberal offer made by the Association to Tract Societies is such that those wishing no per cent themselves can offer the SIGNS and REFORMER with the “Way of Life” for the regular subscription price. This price paid into the Tract Society will pay for the premium and the periodicals. Men that have courage sufficient to hold on as did the brother mentioned above, we are sure will make good canvassers; and they should be encouraged. And unless their own Tract Society can furnish them with premiums, we invite them in behalf of the officers of the Mich. T. and M. Society to “Come over and help us.” S. N. HASKELL.