Earlier text: The SermonChorazin—Bethsaida—Capernaum.
As the reader peruses the following graphic article, let him remember the fearful denunciations of the Saviour against these cities, as recorded in Matt. xi, 21–23. And whenever he reads those denunciations, let him remember this article. They need no other comment. Before the morning sun overtopped the hills of Bashan, I was in the saddle. A ride of three miles westward along the shore brought me to the ruins of a large town. It was encompassed by such a dense jungle of thorns, thistles, and rank weeds, that I had to employ some shepherds to open a passage for me. Clambering to the top of a shattered wall, I was able to overlook the whole site. What a scene of desolation was that! Not a house, not a wall, not a solitary pillar remains standing. Broken columns, hewn stones, sculptured slabs of marble, and great shapeless heaps of rubbish half concealed by thorns and briars, alone serve to mark the site of a great and rich city. The Arabian does not pitch his tent there, the shepherd does not feed his flock there, not a sound fell upon my ear as I stood amid those ruins, save the gentle murmur of each wave as it broke on the pebbly beach, and the mournful sighing of the summer breeze through sun-scorched branches; yet it is the place where CHORAZIN once stood. Chorazin heard, but rejected the words of mercy from the lips of its Lord, and he pronounced its doom, “Woe unto thee Chorazin!” Matt. xi, 21. After riding some three miles further along the lake, I reached a little, retired bay, with a pebbly strand, just such a place as fishermen would delight to draw up their boats and spread out their nets upon. Here were numerous fountains, several old tanks and aqueducts, great heaps of rubbish, and fields of ruin. Two Arab tents were pitched a little way up on the hill-side, but I saw no other trace there of human habitation or human life; and yet that is the site of BETHSAIDA, the city of Andrew and Peter, James and John. Upon this strand Jesus called his first disciples. Like Chorazin, this city heard and rejected his words, and, like Chorazin, it has been left desolate. “Woe unto thee Bethsaida!” A few minutes more and I reached the brow of a bluff promontory which dips into the bosom of the Lake. Before me now opened the fertile plain of Gennesaret. At my feet, beneath the western brow of the cliff, a little fountain burst from a rocky basin. A fig tree spreads its branches over it, and gives it a name, Ain-et-Tin, “the fountain of the fig.” Beside it are some massive foundations, scarcely distinguishable amid the rank weeds; and away beyond it, almost covered with thickets of thorns, briars, and gigantic thistles, I saw large heaps of ruins and rubbish. These are now all that mark the site of CAPERNAUM. Christ’s words are fulfilled: “And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto Heaven, shall be brought down to hell.” Matt. xi, 23. On that day I climbed a peak which commands the lake and the Jordan valley up to the waters of Merom. The principal scene of Christ’s public labors lay around me, a region some thirty miles long by ten wide. When he had his home at Capernaum, the whole country was teeming with life and bustle and industry. No less than ten cities, with numerous villages, studded the shores of the lake and the plains and the hill-sides around. The water was all speckled with the dark boats and white sails of Galilee’s fishermen. Eager multitudes followed the footsteps of Jesus through the city streets, over the flower-strewn fields, along the pebbly beach. What a woful change has passed over the land since that time! The angel of destruction has been there. From that commanding height, through the clear, Syrian atmosphere, I was able to distinguish, by the aid of my glass, every spot in that wide region celebrated in sacred history or hallowed by sacred association. My eye swept the lake from north to south, from east to west; not a single sail, not a solitary boat was there. My eye swept the great Jordan valley, the little plains, the glens, the mountain-sides from base to summit—not a city, not a village, not a house, not a sign of settled habitation was there, except the few huts of Magdala and the shattered houses of Tiberias. A mournful, solitary silence reigned triumphant. Desolation keeps unbroken Sabbath in Galilee now. Nature has lavished on the country some of her choicest gifts, a rich soil, a genial climate; but the curse of Heaven has come upon it because of the sin of man. I saw how wondrously time had changed a prophetic sentence into a graphic reality. “I will make your cities waste saith the Lord; I will bring the land into desolation. I will scatter you among the heathen.” “Upon the land shall come up thorns and briers, yea, upon all houses of joy, in the joyous city.” “So that the generations to come of your children that shall rise up after you, and the stranger that shall come from a far land, shall say when they see the plagues of that land, Wherefore hath the Lord done thus unto this land? What meaneth the heat of this great anger?” Jer. xxvi; Isa. xxxii; Deut. xxix.—Porter’s “Cities.” For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. I REFER to the view given by Jerome in order to introduce a remark of Dean Alford, made in his critical commentary, on Mark ix, 49. He makes one of the best statements of what I have long regarded as true, that fire is a symbol, not of torment, as some say, but of purity. He says: “Fire is the symbol of the divine purity and presence; our God is a consuming fire, not only to his foes, but to his people; but in them, the fire shall only burn up what is impure and requires purifying out. (1 Cor. iii, 13; 1 Pet. i, 7; iv, 12–17.) This very fire shall be to them as a preserving salt. The SALT of the covenant of God (Lev. ii, 13) was to be mixed with every sacrifice; and it is with fire that all men are to be salted. This fire is the divine purity and judgment in the covenant, whose promise is, ‘I will dwell among them.’ And in and among this purifying fire shall the people of God walk and rejoice everlastingly. (Rev. xxi, 23.) This is the right understanding of Isaiah xxxiii, 14, 15.—‘Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire,’ &c. ‘He that walketh in righteousness,’ &c. And thus the connection with the preceding verses [Mark ix, 43–48] is,—‘it is better for thee to be cut off,’ &c.—‘for it is part of the salting of fire, the living sacrifice (Rom. xii, 1,) that every offence and scandal must burn out of thee before thou canst enter into life.’” The Dean is very orthodox. But he here not only gives up one proof text of the so-called orthodox view, but furnishes one of the best arguments for an end of evil and a clean universe at last.—Hudson. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. “WE who believed are entering into the rest;” i. e., “We are now engaged in entering; we are going on into it;” just as Israel, when they were journeying through the wilderness toward Canaan.—Newton. Gen. ii, 2, 3. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it, because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. SABBATH, rest. God, having created the world in six days, ‘rested’ on the seventh, Gen. ii, 2, 3; that is, he ceased from producing new beings in this creation; and because he had rested on it, he ‘blessed’ or sanctified it, and appointed it in a peculiar manner for his worship. We here have an account of the original institution of the day of rest. Like the institution of marriage, it was given to man for the whole race. Those who worshiped God seem to have kept the Sabbath from the first, and there are tokens of this in the brief sketch the Bible contains of the ages before the giving of the law at Mount Sinai. Noah sent forth the raven from the ark, and the dove thrice, at intervals of seven days. Gen. viii. The account of the sending of manna in the desert proves that the Sabbath was already known and observed. Ex. xvi, 22-30. The week was an established division of time in Mesopotamia and Arabia, Gen. xxix, 27; and traces of it have been found in many nations of antiquity, so remote from each other, and of such diverse origin, as to forbid the idea of their having received it from Sinai and the Hebrews. The re-enactment of the Sabbath on Mount Sinai, among the commandments of the moral law, was also designed not for the Jews alone, but for all who should receive the word of God, and ultimately for all mankind. Christ and his apostles never speak of the decalogue but as of permanent and universal obligation. ‘The Sabbath was made for man.’ The fourth commandment is as binding as the third and the fifth. Certain additions to it, with specifications and penalties, were a part of the Mosaic civil law, and are not now in force.—Am. Tract Society’s Bible Dictionary. Our Own Hearts and Motives
LOOKING to others for our standard of enjoyment is the sure way to be miserable. Our business is with our own hearts and our own motives. Report from Bro. A. C. Bourdeau.
By A. C. Bourdeau
It is with a good degree of satisfaction, and gratitude to our heavenly Father, that I look back to the result of the labors that my brother and I performed, under the blessing of God, in Iowa during the past summer. The success that attended our labors, and the victories that were gained in every place in favor of the truth, evinced to us that God heard the prayers which his people presented to the throne of grace in the behalf of the cause in the West. But after that we had become deeply interested in the prosperity of the cause in Iowa, and had labored together with perfect union in that State nearly six months, it was truly with solemnity that we parted at Kidder, Mo., my brother and his companion to continue their labors in Iowa far from home and their relatives, and I to return to Vermont. The tears which were shed on that occasion well indicated the emotions of our hearts toward each other, and the strong attachment and unbounded love that existed between us. If we should never meet in this world, may we meet to live together in the kingdom of God, is my prayer. Nov. 6th, I started from Missouri, and reached Battle Creek, Mich., the 8th. After I had eaten a good hygienic dinner at Bro. U. Smith’s, Eld. Loughborough accompanied me to the Western Health Reform Institute, where I met a cordial reception from the Physicians, and several of my acquaintances who had come from Vermont, and Iowa, to this Institute for the purpose of recovering their health. It was truly cheering to me to see persons there with countenances radiant, and hearts buoyant with hope, fast recovering their health, who previous to their coming there, had for months been looking into the grave, and about whom certain physicians had said that it was a miracle that they were living. During my short stay at the Health Institute I had pleasant interviews with the Managing Physician and assistants; heard Dr. H. S. Lay give two interesting lectures to the invalids on diphtheria—how it is brought on, how it can be prevented, and how it should be treated when taken; was present at one of their seasons of amusements, which had been appointed and was designed especially for the purpose of benefiting healthwise the patients of the Institute; etc., and from what I saw I am fully confident that the Physicians and attendants are putting forth every possible effort for the restoration, comfort, and pleasure of the patients; and they seem to be eminently successful. I would say to those of my readers who are indisposed or sick, physically or mentally, that at the Western Health Reform Institute is the place for you to go and get cured under the blessing of God. And be assured that if you should conclude to go there, you will never feel to regret the time and means that you will spend under that hospitable roof. Sabbath morning, by the request of Dr. Lay, I gave a short talk to the invalids on the affections; then went to the house of worship, and enjoyed a profitable meeting with the church. Elder J. Bates was present and spoke to edification on the subject of Hope. The social meeting was also cheering and encouraging. I was glad to see the progress that was made in building the new Seventh-day Adventist meeting house. It was nearly completed outside, and the work was advancing fast, inside. It is pleasantly located on an excellent site, only a few steps from the Review and Herald office. On Monday, Nov. 12, in company with Bro. A. A. Cross, I started from Battle Creek, and reached home the 15th. I was truly thankful to find myself again in the embrace of my family at our comfortable home, after an absence from them of twenty-eight weeks. During my absence from home I traveled four thousand nine hundred and eighty-two miles, held and attended with my brother and other preachers one hundred and eighty-four meetings, besides collecting means for Review, Instructor, and Health Reformer, selling about $80 worth of our Publications, and writing and visiting quite extensively. While trying to rest, since I came home, I have held twenty-one meetings with the church in this place, re-organized our Bible Class and Sabbath School, and at a meeting held evening after the Sabbath, Dec. 8, we raised our figures on Systematic Benevolence about $72, and nineteen united with the church, eight of whom are youth, and children of Sabbath-keepers, who started in the service of God in this place last winter. The Lord willing, this winter I will hold meetings with the churches and scattered brethren in Vermont and Canada East, as many and as far as duty will permit. A. C. BOURDEAU.
West Edmnsough, Vt., Dec. 20, 1866. THE LATEST EDITION OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
THE LATEST EDITION OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.
1. Thou shalt have one God only; who
Would be at the expense of having two? 2. No graven images may be
Worshipped—save in the currency. 3. Swear not at all; since for thy curse,
Thine enemy is none the worse. 4. At church on Sunday to attend,
Will help to keep the world thy friend. 5. Honor thy parents; that is, all
From whom advancement may befall. 6. Thou shalt not kill; but need not strive
Officiously to keep alive. 7. Adultery is never fit
Or safe (for women) to commit. 8. Thou shalt not steal,—an empty feat,
When, 'tis as lucrative to cheat. 9. Bear not false witness,—let the lie
Have time on its own wings to fly. 10. Thou shalt not covet: but tradition
Approves all forms of competition. [BRO. SMITH: I copy the following beautiful lines for the Review, thinking they may comfort those who are passing through “deep waters.”
M. F. MAXSON.] Father! before thy footstool kneeling,
Once more my heart goes up to thee
For aid, for strength to thee appealing;
Thou who alone canst succor me. Hear me, for heart and flesh are failing,
My spirit yielding in the strife;
And anguish wild, so unavailing,
Sweeps in a flood across my life. Help me to stem the tide of sorrow;
Help me to bear thy chastening rod;
Give me endurance; let me borrow
Strength from thy promise, oh my God! Not mine the grief which words may lighten;
Not mine the tears of common woe;
The pang with which my heart-strings tighten,
Only the all-seeing One may know. And I am weak; my feeble spirit
Shrinks from life's task in wild dismay;
Yet not that thou that task would spare it,
My Father, do I dare to pray. Into my soul thy might infusing,
Strengthening my spirit by thine own,
Help me—all other aid refusing—
To cling to thee, and thee alone. And oh! in my exceeding weakness,
Make thy strength perfect—thou art strong—
Aid me to do thy will with meekness,
Thou to whom all my powers belong. Saviour! our human form once wearing,
Help, by the memory of that day,
When, painfully thy dark cross bearing,
E'en for a time thy strength gave way. Beneath a lighter burden sinking,
Jesus, I cast myself on thee;
Forgive, forgive this useless shrinking
From trials that I know must be. Oh! let me feel that thou art near me,
Close to thy side I shall not fear;
Hear me, O Strength of Israel! hear me;
Sustain and aid! in mercy hear. Virtue and True Eminence
By Monitor
As there is no station in life, however exalted, which can secure a man the approbation of the wise and the good, when he descends to mean and dishonorable deeds, so no condition in human life, however humble, will prove as a barrier to true eminence, when virtuous and honorable principles are the mainspring of all our actions.—Monitor. FAITH.—It is a miracle to believe; but for a sinner to believe, is two miracles. Report from Bro. Taylor.
By C. O. Taylor
Nov. 10 and 11, I attended the Quarterly Meeting with the Champlain church. The meeting was in Perry's Mills, at the house of Bro. Whipple. All the large gatherings of this church are there. I had been with this dear people two or three Sabbaths in the month of October; was called there by sickness. Bro. and sister Whipple have been very near death the past season. The Lord has heard prayer; Bro. W. is well, and sister W. is fast recovering. They are trying to draw near to God. Sister Baker has suffered much by sickness. She, being afflicted, is drawing near to the Lord. The cause began to rise while we were with them. The lukewarm are aroused. The work moves steadily forward. Two were received into church fellowship. Called one day at Rouse's Point to visit my brother D. T. Taylor and family. May they yet have all the law of God written on their hearts, according to the new covenant. My mother is living with him; is in her eighty-third year. She has kept the Sabbath ten years; commenced when the counsel was first given to the Laodicean church. The counsel was attended with such a sweet, melting, confessing, spirit that it broke her heart. Left there on the evening of Nov. 21, by steamboat, for Whitehall. Waited two or three hours at W. for a team to take us to sister Foster's (previous arrangements having been made). She lives four miles out of the village. I had held a correspondence with her for two years, and now visit her and family for the first time. I found her firm and decided on the Sabbath-truth and many points of the third angel's message, all by reading the Review and books. The children, five in number, were favorable, too, and sympathized with the mother. The husband was more than half convinced that we as a people, had something that the other churches had not. We were much interested in all the family. I expect that at no distant day they will all be united in keeping the holy law of God, and in living out the teachings of Jesus, that they may be a light to others in that place. Went to Middle Grove and attended the Quarterly Meeting. Found some of the church doing well in spiritual things; others in trial. Two united in church fellowship. I hope they will all abide by the truth. I went some ten miles out into a new field and gave eight discourses. The interest to hear was good. The meetings increased in numbers. The last night, the house, a common district school-house, was uncomfortably full. I sold a few books, gave away some tracts, also two or three back Nos. of the Review. I trust a good work was begun. I reached home Dec. 11. Shall speak to the Adam's Center church next Sabbath, a privilege I have not enjoyed for more than six months, having been absent from them. My health is good. I thank my God daily for the Health Reform. Adam's Center, Dec., 1866. ENTIRE CONSECRATION.—“Ministered unto Him of their substance.”—Luke viii, 3. Christians then believed, when they professed to follow Christ, that it was proper to give all up to him—their property as well as their hearts. And the same thing is still required—that is, to commit all we have to His disposal, to be willing to part with it for His glory; and to leave it when he calls us away from it. LAW OF GOD vs. ADVENT HERALD.
One after another, the opponents of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, are falling into the ranks of no-lawism. The tendency of their opposition is uniformly in this direction, and if continued, will inevitably land them there. The only ground, consistent with itself, upon which a person can oppose the seventh-day Sabbath, is to take the position that the ten commandments have all been abrogated. But after he has taken this position, he is, unfortunately for his theory, more at variance with the Bible than before. The Advent Herald, heretofore reticent and non-committal on this question, has at last shown its colors. In its issue of Dec. 25, we find a lengthy editorial with this heading: “Are the Ten Commandments, or any part of them, binding on Christians?” And in answer to this question the article starts off with this bold, it sounds to us blasphemous, declaration, “We answer, No.” The Herald then endeavors to sustain this assertion by the usual method, that is, by inexcusable confounding together the moral and the ceremonial law, and then quoting those New-Testament scriptures which speak of the abrogation of the latter, as if they were applicable to the former. The scriptures which plainly show this distinction between the moral and ceremonial laws, our opponents have never, to our knowledge, endeavored to harmonize, on their hypothesis that there is but one law. Nor can they do it. Unless there are two laws, the Bible is a hopelessly-contradictory book. See Tract, Sabbath Institution and Two Laws, published at this Office. Having thus swept away God’s previous rule of morality as faulty and imperfect, a new one must of course be introduced, as it would not do to leave mankind without any rule by which to regulate their conduct in this life, and by which to be judged at last. Hence the Herald brings forward “the stereotyped “Law of Christ.” But like all its predecessors in this work, it has omitted to tell of what that law consists, or when, where, and under what circumstances, it was enacted and became binding upon the world. If there is such a law as this which has superseded the moral law of God of the previous dispensation, we have a right to know these particulars concerning it; we are under no obligations to it, until we do know them; and we shall not cease to call for them. One other point it might be expected that the Herald would particularly mention; and that is, the Sabbath. True Christianity and genuine piety think too much of this indispensable auxiliary to spiritual growth and prosperity to dispense with so beneficent an institution; but if the fourth commandment, the only law in all the Bible which provides for a Sabbath, has been abolished, how is the want to be supplied? This the Herald attempts as follows, which to all who want something more than the mere assertions of men, will be, to say the least, very unsatisfactory: “But is there no Sabbath now? No, not like that of Moses, that if you pick up a stick, or kindle a fire on that day you shall be stoned to death. But there is the first day of the week, the day of our Lord’s resurrection, which from that time has always been a day of rest and worship to his disciples. He has honored, owned and blest its observance, and put a mark of his displeasure on those who disregard and profane it.”
On this point we want proof, that the first day of the week has been, ever since the resurrection, “a day of rest and worship to his disciples.” We deny that the first particle of proof can be produced to substantiate this point. Second, we want proof that Christ has ever honored, owned and blest the observance of that day. Third we want a single instance, in a Bible point of view, of course, where he has “put a mark of his displeasure on those who disregard and profane it.” The remark about picking up sticks and kindling a fire, not only is too puerile to be noticed, but betrays an utter unacquaintance with the Sabbath controversy thus far. The historical part of the argument consists of one statement concerning Constantine, and even that is false, as the reader will find ample proof by looking at the “History of the Sabbath.” We are living in an age of investigation and inquiry. Mere assertions are no longer taken at par. Of this, our opponents, who are splendid performers in this line, do not seem to be aware. But we want proof of their statements on the Sabbath question. Can we have it? We would not distress them too much by calling for a great quantity, at first. But can we not have just a little; enough, at least, to give to the comparison of our views a semblance of respectable controversy? WHAT SHALL BE DONE?
By Dr. H. S. Lay
PATIENTS are coming to the Health Institute so rapidly, that we are already being crowded for room. We do not dare to advertise the Institution to any great extent, for fear we shall not have place for those that may wish to come. In addition to the three buildings which are wholly devoted to the wants of the Institution, every room of which is occupied, we are fitting up a cottage for lodging rooms, which, according to present prospects, will be filled with patients in a few weeks. And the question arises, What shall be done? We hear from individuals from all parts of the country that are desirous of coming and enjoying the benefits of our Health Institute. And unless we soon have another large building erected for the accommodation of patients, very many of our people who need the benefits of this Institution, will be denied the privilege; but let our buildings be of sufficient capacity, and we can take care of at least one hundred more patients than we now have, just as well as not. Probably there are but few who realize the magnitude of this enterprise. I think nothing has ever arisen among our people that equals it. It can be made the means of benefiting thousands, not only of our own people, but of all that may be influenced by it; and in many cases preparing the mind for the future reception of those truths which we as a people so sacredly cherish. And to those who have by their means assisted thus far in the establishing of this Institution, I would say, You have engaged in a noble cause, and undoubtedly besides soon receiving a fair percentage for the use of your money, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you have been instrumental in relieving the sufferings and ameliorating the condition of your fellow beings. Now when the readers of the Review fully awake to this subject, I trust there will be no want of means, but there seems to be an imperative demand that some action be taken immediately. There is need of another building being commenced as soon as early in the spring, the erection and furnishing of which will in all probability cost some Twenty-five Thousand Dollars. Shall this money be raised immediately and this building erected as soon as possible? or, shall we continue to do business on as limited a scale, as at present, and in a few months from now not be able to receive at the Health Institute but a very small portion of those that may wish to come? I ask again, What shall be done? Western Health Reform Institute, Jan. 6, 1867. ORIGIN OF THE FALLING STARS.
The London Times, as we learn from a recent Detroit paper, offers the following conjecture as to the origin of the meteoric showers witnessed in 1833 in America, and this year in England. The possibility that the earth may sometime encounter a fiery storm of burning stones, is calculated to give us a vivid idea of the terrible weapons the Lord has in his armory to carry out his purposes. Here may be the treasures of hail, reserved against the great day of battle and war, Job xxxviii, 22, 23, and the fearful stones of a talent's weight which will be hurled upon the wicked under the seventh plague, Rev. xvi, 21; for the words rendered hail in these texts are not confined strictly to frozen rain, but are applicable to any falling body. The London Times says: “Once in a human generation, and thrice in a century—for in this matter man and the material universe seem strangely in accord—this earth has to encounter an immense cloud of stones revolving round the sun, in an orbit of the same size as its own, but in a contrary direction. This cloud of stones is believed to constitute a sort of ring, diffused over the whole orbit, like a great highway of rolling or flying stones, though not in uniform density. However, there is no escaping them, whatever they are, for the breadth of this highway or stream is compared to the moon's orbit, and it takes two or three successive years, or, we should say, successive Novembers, for the earth to enter and clear it. These stones enter our atmosphere with a velocity of forty miles a second, and destroy themselves, as it were, by their own violence; for, when once arrested by our grosser air, they are instantly melted and dissipated in the air. That process, however, is only possible with very small stones, estimated by grains, for an aerolite of only a few pounds could only have its surface affected by such a momentary operation. Is it quite impossible that some day the earth may have to encounter more bulky metal, more comparable to our mundane artillery? Showers of stones there have been; and there evidently is no limit to their size either in history or in science, for the laws which govern the movement of every body in our solar system, apply equally to all sizes and all substances, from this earth to a grain of dust, from a mass of metal to a vapor. Here is a shower of missiles, of unknown weight and inconceivable velocity, always in motion from some unknown battery, and every human generation has to run the gauntlet. Will this atmosphere of ours always prove an absolute protection, and turn off these bolts, as merit is said to do the shafts of envy and detraction? That is a question at least to be thought of.” KEEP AWAKE,
By R. F. COTTERELL
To the traveler struggling with the snow and cold, wearied with toil and feeling an almost irresistible drowsiness coming over him, it is necessary to make the greatest efforts to keep awake. If he sink down and fall asleep he will never awake; but the benumbing cold will still creep on, chilling the blood, till the heart shall cease to beat and life become extinct. So it is with us, brethren and sisters in the Lord. If we do not strive against the chilling, freezing influence of this evil world, we shall be overcome and sink down to spiritual sleep, never more to awake. We are looking for the outpouring of the Spirit, and for the closing work of the last message. It will surely come—the word of God will not fail. But let us not rest from our exertions and fall asleep. Now is the time to strive against drowsiness; now is the time to labor. Now is the time to prepare ourselves to share the blessing of God, that we may be so highly honored and promoted of Heaven as to share in the closing work of probation, and then be translated to Mount Zion, to take a part in the song of triumph. Now is the most favorable time we shall have; now is the only time. The chilling blasts of this arctic region will not abate—the times will be more and more perilous—all is depending on keeping awake now; postponing our rest till the time of our promised rest shall come. There must be an overcoming now; a daily victory over sin; else what ground have we to hope that we shall finally overcome? If we are making no progress in the journey, how can we hope ever to see the end? The drifting snow is deep, the winds are chilling, the night is dark, the way is rough, and the labor demands all our strength. But take courage; there is a light ahead! Struggle on. Keep awake one hour. In a little while the toils of the way will be forgotten in the sweet rest that awaits us at the end of the journey. The stormy blasts and the piercing cold will be superseded by the gentle, balmy breezes and the genial clime of Paradise. “No chilling winds nor poisonous breath,
Can reach that healthful shore;
Sickness and sorrow, pain and death,
Are felt and feared no more.” “Awake, O awake! now to life and to duty,
Faint not by the way till our labor is done;
For quickly the King will descend in his beauty,
The warfare be ended, the victory won.” REPORT FROM IOWA.
By D. T. BOURDEAU
Owing to a bad cold that we had taken before reaching our winter clothing and buffalo robe sent to us from Vermont (but from which we have now recovered); and owing to weariness caused by past arduous labors, and to a sudden change in the weather from warm to cold, connected with rough and almost impassable roads, we deemed it proper to rest, and not fill our appointment for Marion, Sabbath, Dec. 15. We spent this Sabbath with the church at Pilot Grove, who have enjoyed the benefits of all the large gatherings in the State for years, and are trying to come up on every point in the message, and labored especially for the young, about twenty of whom spoke in the social meeting, expressing a desire to be Christians, to obey their parents, and go with them to the kingdom. We were happy to learn that about ten of these children had started out in the good way during our absence, under the care and instruction of their parents and teachers, and under the faithful labors of their elder, Bro. H. Nicola. It is a mistaken idea, that the work of converting children rests only on the preacher. Others have a work to do that the preacher cannot do, and we rejoice to see them engage in this important work. We bid them God speed, and would rejoice with them in seeing the fruits of their labors. We were deeply interested in seeing two little boys of about four or five years old, manifest a lively interest in, and an appreciation of, our remarks to the young. At the close of our meeting one of these little boys was seen weeping; and upon inquiring, it was ascertained that he had tried to speak two or three times, but had failed. We tried to comfort the little fellow, by saying that he would have a chance to speak at the next meeting. There is danger of neglecting the work for the young, under the erroneous impression that they are not old enough to understand. They should be labored for even before they have reached the years of understanding. Do people wait until their cattle and horses can comprehend like human beings before breaking and teaching them? No; they work upon their instincts, and mould their habits. Yet many do not do as much as this for their children. Poor, deceived parents, God open their eyes, that they may see the sinfulness of this awful neglect. Impressions received, and habits formed in infancy, are lasting; and how important it is to then bend the mind and habits in the right direction. Napoleon Bonaparte might have been a modern Paul, as well as a blood-thirsting and ambitious warrior, if he had received a proper, early training. But his mind was led in a military direction in his early life, even when he was among his young schoolmates; and the records of eternity will tell the amount of blood that he is responsible for. God loves children because they have not sinned so much as older persons, and have not so many bad habits to overcome. They are not so hardened by sin, and are more susceptible to religious impressions. They can learn the ways of sin as well as the ways of righteousness, and unless especial pains are taken to instruct and lead them in the right way, Satan has baits prepared for their active minds, and snares with which to take them. God help his people to awake to this important duty, in harmony with the following injunction in Joel, applying, as we understand, to the present time: “Assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts.” Joel ii, 16. “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are far off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” Acts ii, 39. Laporte City, Iowa, Dec. 25, 1866. REPORT FROM OHIO.
By I. D. VAN HORN.
Since my last report, I have filled my appointments at Wakeman and Strongsville. At Wakeman we enjoyed a free and happy season. On the evening of the 14th a few of us assembled at Bro. Abbott's where we enjoyed some of the blessing of the Lord. We took this as an evidence that the Lord would be with us through the meeting. Sabbath morning we assembled at the place of worship, and the Lord gave freedom in speaking his word, both forenoon and afternoon. We more than realized our expectations of the previous evening. We dwelt mostly on purity and holiness as brought to us in the Health Reform, and in the evening after the Sabbath, when the brethren and sisters had the privilege of expressing their minds in social meeting, they declared they had seen new light and were determined to follow it. On Sunday we were much blessed again in presenting the present truth to them, and in the evening the Lord gave us his rich blessing, so that we enjoyed the best of the wine at the last of the feast. Two of Bro. Horner's children made a start at this meeting to go through with the remnant people to the kingdom. We all felt to praise the Lord for his manifest goodness toward us. This little company are united in their effort to serve the Lord, and he is blessing them with peace and prosperity. At Strongsville, the Lord again favored us with his blessing. His Spirit was with us in our Sabbath-meeting, and we all felt cheered and strengthened to persevere in our journey through the perils of the last days. Here, too, the Health Reform received a hearty approval by the brethren and sisters. On Sunday the weather turned very unfavorable, and though it rained most of the time, yet we went about a mile to the56 school-house where a few were assembled, and we spoke to them with freedom on the subject of Eternal Life. In the evening we met again at the same place, and had a good meeting. The church in this place live much scattered, but they are trying with a good degree of zeal to sustain meetings to encourage one another on in the way of truth. Young Bro. Edgerton's wife publicly proclaimed her determinations, for the first time, to go with her husband in the service of the Lord by keeping his commandments and the faith of Jesus. Truly the Lord is good to his people, and is willing to help all who put their trust in him. On Monday last, I came to this place, and am now at the good home of Bro. Sweet. This tried friend of the cause, who has passed through the storms and trials of the Advent movement since 1842, is now passing through another deep trial. I found his wife very sick. She had a high fever, and a severe attack of Erysipelas in her face. Last evening we presented her case before the Lord, and he gave us a great blessing. Her fever was rebuked and the pain left her. The Erysipelas still remains, and is spreading. We trust the Lord will complete the work already begun that she may be fully restored. It is good to lean upon him in such times of trial. May the Lord give comfort and consolation in every time of need to this dear family. Cleveland, O., Dec. 26, 1866.