Earlier text: THE NIGHT COMETHTo such children of Sabbath-keepers as make the change of their parents from Sunday to the Sabbath, a pretext for turning Sunday into a day of carousal, although they do not themselves keep the Sabbath. DEAR CHILDREN: It is no good report that we hear of you. We learn that you are taking a course, which must be a source of regret to every candid person. We hear that you not only do not keep the Sabbath, but that you turn Sunday into a day of secular employment or amusement, because your parents after having kept the Sabbath, do not also keep that day; and then you turn around and say to them, that if there is anything wrong in such a course, they are responsible, and will have it to answer for. Now what do you mean by such a course as this? Let us tell you that they are not responsible for any such thing; nor will they have anything to answer for so inconsistent a course on your part. Between your case and theirs, there is no parallel whatever. Why do your parents work on Sunday? It is because they keep the Sabbath; and there are six days devoted to labor. But why do you make Sunday a day of amusement? Is it because you keep the Sabbath? No; for you do not keep it. But you say it is because your parents make it a secular day. Yes; but do you not consider that they have a reason for it while you have none? But perhaps you try to excuse yourselves on the ground that you are following your parents' example. Well, think on this point a moment. To make this excuse effectual you must show that you take the example of your parents for a pattern in everything. There is certainly no consistency in pleading their example for one thing while at the same time you are disregarding it in other things. Then we ask you, Why do you not follow their example and keep the Sabbath? If you make Sunday a secular day because they make it so, why do you not regard the Sabbath as a sacred day, because they regard it so? Your course too plainly shows that you only wish to avail yourselves of your parents' example so far as you can use it to gratify the desires of the carnal heart to do away with all Sabbath. This is not right. Such a course is unfair and dishonest. If persisted in we shall have to look upon you as destitute of all moral principle. Again: Your parents keep the Sabbath; and it is their desire that you do the same. And do you never read that injunction of the apostle's, "Children obey your parents in the Lord?" We would both exhort and warn you to take such a course as not to be destroyed when the fifth commandment shall whet its glittering sword to execute vengeance upon all those against whom is written, "without natural affection," "disobedient to parents." But perhaps your condition is something like this: your mother may be a Sabbath-keeper, but your father not; and you say, Father does not require us to keep the Sabbath, therefore we do not. Very well then, we ask, under such circumstances why do you not keep Sunday? Does not your father require you to keep that day? Does he tell you by precept or example that you need not keep any day? Then be it understood that the responsibility rests upon him rather than any one else. At any rate you cannot then look to your mother, as you go on in the reckless disregard of every day, and tell her that she will have it to answer for. She by her practice proclaims the importance of remembering the Sabbath day to keep it holy; you by your course say that there is no Sabbath, or at least that you will not keep any. Say not that her example will have yours to answer for. For our own part, we say frankly, that would rather see a person keep Sunday, than not keep any day. Man's physical constitution requires a day of rest. Body and mind need one day in seven for relaxation. This object is gained by Sunday as well as by any other day. At the same time we would not intimate that by so doing you would be rendering any obedience to God; or that, in the present light that shines upon this question, you would thereby be acquiring in any degree a moral character necessary to fit you to take a stand at last among the number of the saved. We have thus endeavored to lay this matter before you in its true light and show you the inconsistencies of your course. We hope to hear of a speedy and permanent reform. We would exhort you to keep the Sabbath; but if you will not do this when your parents are not agreed in the matter, we would advise you as a matter of expediency to keep Sunday. Further than this we have nothing now to add, more than to remind you of the coming day when you must give account of your doings to Him whose all-flaming eye penetrates the deepest recesses and reads the slightest motives of all hearts. EASTERN TOUR.
By James White
Our visit to New England was decidedly the best we ever enjoyed, and our meetings, especially in Vermont, were excellent. The brethren in New England have a growing interest in the cause. Their care for us in doing all they could for our comfort while with them, and in helping us on our journey, was more than we could ask or expect. It is true that we met some things which need reforming, and, perhaps, rebuking; but it is a matter of great rejoicing that the church as a body are becoming so firmly united in the truth and in the Spirit of the truth, that the truth plainly spoken in love, instead of scattering, brings and binds the church together. The following resolutions were unanimously passed at the conferences at Roxbury and Berkshire: 1. Resolved, That we approve of the plan of Yearly Conferences, and appoint Brn. H. N. Austin, J. Barrows, H. Bingham and S. Pierce a Committee to arrange for Yearly Meetings. 2. Resolved, That we approve of the doings of the Battle Creek Conference on the subject of Systematic Benevolence. On our way to Mannsville, N. Y. conference, we stopped and held one meeting with the Buck's Bridge church. It was a sweet, good meeting. The church deeply feel the loss of dear brethren who have left them and have moved West; but they are not discouraged. They are growing in grace and Christian union. They are acting fully on the plan of Systematic Benevolence, and value the institution highly. At Mannsville our meetings possessed great interest. About one year before, in company with Bro. Loughborough we held a few meetings in this place, and found things in a sad condition. The friends of the13 truth were in a scattered state, starving for spiritual food. Medicine had been administered, and that of the harshest kind, until they were very weak. Well, we remembered the words of Jesus, Feed my sheep, feed my lambs, and did the best we could. They seemed to revive. Their numbers who meet to worship have about doubled the past year, and they have built them a nice place of worship. Sabbath the house was crowded, and several brethren left the house to give their neighbors room. Suffering with a hard cold, we spoke five times to this people in two days. The surrounding circumstances were so favorable, all ears being open to hear, that we could hardly fail of a good degree of freedom. While Mrs. W. was speaking on first-day, the house rang from full shouts of praise from several in the congregation. This refreshing season seemed a foretaste of heaven, sweet heaven. The interest in the community is good, and we shall be greatly disappointed if they do not have an addition of numbers. In this church is wealth and intelligence, at least, a good share of common sense. They have been disgusted by errors and wrongs. God help them to leave these things, and be careful of another extreme worse than the first. If they would prosper they must live humble and holy. If they would see others coming to the truth, they must not only be kind and courteous, but show by their works that they believe the third angel's message. We ardently desire that this church may soon have the faithful labors of Bro. J. N. Andrews. We think the Conference at Brookfield was profitable for those who were present. Many brethren within a day's drive, and some half the distance, had not interest sufficient to move them out to this meeting. The lack of interest manifest led to sad reflections. We have no rod for the scattered saints in that portion of the State. Jesus never said, drive my sheep! No, feed them. They hear the shepherd's voice, and follow. If the under shepherd has the spirit of the chief Shepherd, and calls, they will hear and follow. We were cheered by the following from Bro. Edson. Nov. 22d. "The new church at West Monroe (N. Y.) now number seventeen, and a prospect of more deciding for the truth." When wrongs which have existed in that State are fully seen, and are put away, the Lord will visit the brethren there as in other States, and a great harvest of souls will be gathered. At the conference at Lapeer Mich. we were happy to join Bro. J. N. Loughborough. There was quite a gathering from Orion, Shelby, Thetford and North Branch. The weather was fine, and the attendance was good. Their house of worship had never been so crowded before. The word had free course. The church was much strengthened. On second-day the church met at deacon Higley's. Bro. H. in a humble and affectionate manner addressed the church, resigning the office of deacon. Many were in tears. The church then passed a unanimous vote entreating Bro. H. to retain the office properly given him. The meeting closed with a sweet influence. God bless the dear church at Lapeer. We shall not forget their kindness and the liberality of that conference. J. W. SENSITIVENESS.
By J. CLARKE.
1 Cor. xiv, 8. "For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?" There is no more excellent quality of mind than sensitiveness, when properly directed and controlled; for it is the very handmaid of discernment, and without it man would be indeed a torpid, senseless creature. But when it gets control of the mind in any respect, when it wins the sway over the judgment, when the reason and will become subject to this quality, then the mind becomes like a house of confusion, where noisy servants control the passionate fickle master. Sensitiveness, like the fancy or imagination, must be controlled, perfectly under subjection, or trouble ensues, trouble for the victim, and trouble for his associates. A. is naturally stubborn, and set, and willful, and friends have so often told him of it, that he has become very sensitive on this point. You may tell him of any other fault but this—on this point he is sensitive: you might as well lance a cancer, as to hint to A. that he is stubborn. He will fly into a passion in a moment. You must paddle around and around, and when you go to him alone, as Jesus told you, with his fault, you must speak of something else. It is so obnoxious, you must call it firmness, or some other word, which very likely would not convey your meaning. C. is a tattler, but he has so often been reminded of it by his relatives, that he has got to think them very unjust and slanderous. It is not so; he denies it; he is provoked to say it is slander—so he believes, and if you go to him, as Jesus told you, with his fault, you must not speak of the very fault itself; it would probe too deep. You must not do so; you must go round and round, and must call it "sociability," or "too great license," or "freedom," or some other term, soft and pleasant, which very likely would not convey your meaning. Z. is fickle, and his friends from childhood up have reminded him betimes of it; but Z. takes no heed, does not believe it, gets into a passion if you apply that term to him, calls it vile slander. In short, Z. is so sensitive on this point that he would sooner lie down in hell than heed the reproof, and humble himself and reform. Y. is dishonest in his dealings, has always been in some difficulty with monetary and commercial affairs, is pestered with mortgages, notes, sheriffs, constables, &c. His friends have long striven to show him his faults, but he can't bear that word "dishonest;" it cuts too deep. You must take a course of circumlocution around the sore; but when you unsheath the lance—take care; Y. is in a passion; he is sensitive on that point especially. L. is passionate; so much so that he may be termed "ugly in his temper;" but so often have friend and foe reminded him of it, that he hates the very word. You must not go to him and tell him the very fault itself, but you must use some other word, as hasty, or harsh, which very probably would not fully convey your meaning. G. is proud, and all the world see it (the world have sharp eyes for discovering faults in Christians); his friends see it, and mourn over it; pride makes him overbearing, and forward, and censorious; but G. thinks himself one of the meekest. You cannot provoke him more, or rather, try him more (for G. looks with contempt upon an angry person), than to tell him he is proud. He will not resent it, to be sure; for he is not resentful; but if you go to him, as Jesus has told you, and tell him his fault between thee and him alone, he will perhaps be deeply grieved that you should take up with the world in persecuting him. He is sensitive on this point. H. is selfish; but O how he abominates a selfish person! Tell him he is selfish: you might as well enter upon difficulty at once; it is not so; indeed it is not! you have got on the "world's spectacles;" you do not see aright. H. protests; he is not selfish; has he not for many years supported his grand-child without asking any assistance from any one? and frequently are his doors open to strangers. True, he has a number of farms, but he may want them before he dies. It will not do to waste his estate by lessening his acres. He has money at interest, to be sure, but has he not come right down from 20 to 10 per cent., since coming into this message? H. glories in the message, for it has been such a comfort to him, and he gives five dollars at a time, sometimes; and although you protest that he is worth his tens of thousands, yet he argues that he has given pretty liberally, although his brother in the faith, with no house of his own, and a large family to support, has more than doubled his subscription. You must not tell H. that he is selfish; he is sensitive on this point. You must say he is close, or some other soft word. In short, you must not do as Jesus has told you, but you must do as the Devil tells you: you must speak smooth things to this people, sow pillows for their dear heads to repose calmly upon, until it is too late to do anything, and then you must take up the wail, Too late! too late! too late!! Deeply would the enemy instill this into your heart. Keep back; don't speak out; it will make enemies; it will do no good; let your brother go on; by and by tell him; but you need only hint, lest you should offend him. May God direct us in the true way, and to avoid extremes. But I ask in sincerity and candor, if when a brother sees a fault in a brother, and goes to him with it, can he avoid the true issue? Shall he cheat justice of her terms? Shall judgment droop before injustice? Shall lying lips defraud truth of her birthright? I say in the name of truth, Let us be bold, and never let us rob crime of its hideousness, nor attempt to clothe virtue and truth with the habiliments of vice. Let us be wise as serpents, but harmless as doves, remembering that he that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, are alike an abomination to the Lord. May God protect the right, and quench the wrong.
J. CLARKE. “REDEEMING THE TIME, BECAUSE THE DAYS ARE EVIL.”
By C. A. Osgood
An Italian philosopher said that time was his estate. This is an estate, however, which if left unimproved, will yield no profit to its possessor; but if well improved, will bring in a rich and everlasting income. Time is the period of man's probation. The only period he will ever have to prepare for the retributions of the final judgment. Time is the season to improve and perfect our own characters; to endure trials; to declare abroad the glory of God; to labor for the benefit and salvation of the poor, the afflicted, the ignorant and the lost. In short, to do good to all men as we have opportunity, and get ready to enjoy the rest that remains for the people of God. How great then the interests connected with man's brief, earthly existence. How appropriate the command to redeem the time. Not that time past can be literally recalled, but the present and future should be as highly prized as some article of property that we would pay a high price for, in order to get it into our possession the second time. The idea is, we should highly prize and improve all our time to the best advantage. And especially when the days are evil; disastrous. Men do thus in worldly matters. In a gale, seamen make extra efforts to preserve their own lives, and those sailing with them, together with the property entrusted to their care. An army threatened with destruction from an opposing force will make extra efforts to save themselves. So the Christian soldier should stand in the evil day, having on the whole armor of God, fighting manfully all his spiritual enemies. These are evil days in which we live. Evil, because a desire for wealth prevails, and the facilities for obtaining it are great. This intense desire for, and pursuit after, riches, is not confined to the acknowledged worldling, but prevails also among the professed disciples of him who for our sakes became poor. This desire for wealth is dangerous to the soul. Said Jesus, They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil; which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 2d. They are evil days, because men are lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. Multitudes will go to a circus or place of entertainment, where few will go to hear a pure gospel, and fewer still embrace it. Men had much rather keep their own traditions, than to obey God's commands. Professedly pious men prefer the gratification of their appetites, and making a show in the world, to the Godlike work of benevolence required by the gospel. 3d. It is a disastrous time, because modern Spiritualism prevails. This device of Satan is deceiving multitudes, who seek to the dead for instruction, rather than to God; and thus are persuaded to believe contrary to Scripture, that there is a state of probation and improvement beyond this life, that will end in the salvation of all men. Thus are men flattered to live on through life in sin, in this evil day. 4th. When children rule their parents, it is an evil day. Yes, when parents permit their children to grow up with unsubdued wills, and passions unrestrained, when children do not love or obey their parents, the probability is, they will be a curse to society, and never forsake their sins. 5th. The general declension in religion marks these days as evil. Every careful observer is aware that14 piety is on the decline in our land. The standard is being greatly lowered. People are received and retained as church members, who give but little, if any, evidence of piety. Indeed, the mass of professors seem to be under the control of worldly motives. Many of their so-called benevolent acts, are prompted, so far as we can see, by a desire to be seen of men. And the multitude, instead of comparing their lives and actions by the law of God, and the faultless life of Christ, are comparing themselves among themselves. Is there not danger that many will thereby be deceived, and sink to ruin, while fondly hoping to rest in heaven? Truly these are evil days; and it becomes us to be aware of the perils surrounding us. Precious time is wasted in a variety of ways. Many females waste a large portion of their lives in ministering to depraved appetites, and by useless needle-work. Time is lost by sickness, brought on by imprudence and various forms of intemperance; by frequenting scenes of worldly amusement and pleasure; by indulging in vain and unchaste conversation; in reading novels, and the light, trashy literature of these days, and by devoting too much time to sleep. Indeed, all time is lost which is not employed in glorifying God. Lost, did I say? Yes, worse than lost. For while men are misimproving time, they are "treasuring up unto themselves wrath against the day of wrath, and the revelation of the righteous judgment of God." That the rational beings God has made should employ all their time faithfully in his service, is no more than justice demands. But when we remember the wonders of redeeming love, we ought to feel our obligations greatly enhanced, and with diligence apply ourselves to the work of the Lord. Yes, these are weighty motives to induce to diligence in this work. "The love of Christ should constrain us;" "the eternal weight of glory" should entice us; the wants of a perishing world should urge us forward; and the doom of the slothful servant, who for hiding his Lord's money was sentenced to outer darkness where would be weeping and gnashing of teeth, his doom should deter us from idleness. The fact that these are evil days should influence us to watch, and fight, and pray, lest we be overcome by our enemies. Satan, who is our great enemy, is a wily foe. We should not be ignorant of his devices. The world and the flesh are enemies. And now when Satan is making extra efforts to deceive and to destroy; when the world presents more alluring charms than formerly; when men generally are slaves to the lusts of the flesh; when iniquity abounding, causes the love of many to wax cold; when the distinction between the saint and sinner is scarcely discerned; O how important that we be aware of these dangers; that we awake to righteousness and sin not; that we fight the good fight of faith, continuing to fight till all these foes are vanquished. As months and years increase, so should our zeal and love to God increase. Reader, have you lived long on the earth? Improve faithfully your remaining days. Are you in middle life? Give to God and humanity the strength of your days. Are you in the morning of life? Give to God the ardor of youth. Spend and be spent in his service. "Sow to the Spirit and reap in the harvest time," life everlasting. A WISE man is a great monarch; he hath an empire within himself; reason commands in chief, and possesses the throne and scepter. All his possessions, like obedient subjects, do obey; though the territories seem but small and narrow, yet the command and royalty are great, and reach further than he who wears the moon for a crest, or the other who wears the sun for a helmet. He who commands himself, commands the world too; and the more authority you have over others, the more command you must have over yourself. Conquer your passions; it will be more glorious for you to triumph over your own heart than it would be to take a city. Defile not your mouth with swearing; neither use yourself to naming the Holy One. Obviate the first motion of passion; if you cannot resist the first, you will far less resist the second, and it still grows worse and worse, for the same difficulty which in the beginning might have been surmounted, is great in the end. Quietness and peace flourish where reason and justice govern; and true joy reigneth where modesty directeth. Restrain yourself from being too fiery and flaming in matter of argument. Truth often suffers more from the heat of its defenders than from the arguments of its opposers. And nothing does reason more right than the coolness of those that offer it. The love of God and the world are two different things; if the love of this world dwell in you, the love of God forsakes you; renounce that and receive this; it is fit the more noble have the best place and acceptance. Vex not yourself when evil spoken of. Contumelies when not regarded, vanish; but repined at, argue either a puny soul, or a guilty conscience. The best answer to a slander, is to answer nothing; and so to carry it, as though the adversary were rather to be despised than minded. The stories of our neighbors' errors tend but little to the reformation of our own. To be covetous of applause is a weakness, and self-conceit is the ordinary attendant of ignorance. No man is contented with his situation though it be the best, nor dissatisfied with his wit though it be the worst. It is the part of fools to be too sagacious in seeing the faults of other men, and to be too ignorant of their own. They that reprove others are sometimes guilty of pride; but they that amend their own lives, will more easily persuade their fellows. The Holy Spirit is an antidote against seven poisons; it is wisdom against folly, quickness of apprehension against dullness, faithfulness of memory against forgetfulness, fortitude against fear, knowledge against ignorance, piety against profaneness, and humility against pride. Vice creeps upon men under the name of virtue; for covetousness would be called frugality, and prodigality taketh to itself the name of bounty; pride calleth itself neatness, revenge seems like greatness of spirit, and cruelty exercised bitterness under the name of courage. We soil the splendor of our most beautiful actions by our vainglorious magnifying them. Those whose virtue restrains from deceiving others are often disposed by their vanity to deceive themselves. Knowledge and learning, riches and honor, even in their most resplendent gallantry, are all but insignificant pageantry, without piety and virtue. It is an argument of a truly brave disposition in a learned man, not to assume the name and character of one. True philosophy, says Plato, consists more in fidelity, constancy, justice, sincerity, and in the love of our duty, than in great capacity. Rectitude of will is a greater ornament and perfection, than brightness of understanding; and to be divinely good, more valuable than any other wisdom and knowledge. A good man will see his duty with only a moderate share of casuistical skill; but into a perverse heart this sort of wisdom enters not. Were men as much in fear of sin as they are of danger, there could be few occasions of consulting our casuists. The highest of all philosophy, both natural and moral is to know thyself; and the end of this knowledge is to know God. Prefer the private approbation of the wise and good, to the acclamation of the multitude. He that is not content in any state, will be content in no state; for the fault is not in the thing but in the mind. The foundation of content must spring up in a man's own mind: and he who has so little knowledge of human nature as to seek happiness by changing anything but his own disposition, will waste his life in fruitless efforts, and multiply griefs which he purposes to remove. To be humble to superiors is a duty, to equals courtesy, to inferiors nobleness, to all—safety—fortune may begin a man's greatness, but it is virtue continues it. Contentment is the truest riches, and covetousness the greatest poverty. He is not rich that has much, but he that has enough. That man is poor that covets more, and yet wants a heart to enjoy what he already has. We can never be perfectly humble, till we come to a thorough knowledge of ourselves. The proper business of friendship is to inspire life and courage; and a soul thus supported outdoes itself; whereas if it be unexpectedly deprived of these succors, it droops and languishes. Being sometimes asunder heightens friendship. The greatest cause of the frequent quarrels between relations is their being much together. Among the many enemies of friendship, may be reckoned suspicion and distrust: the former is always hardening the cautious and the latter repelling the delicate. [The following article from the New York Tribune, showing the gradual decay of the Turkish empire may go to show the fulfillment of prophecy, the drying up of the Euphrates and its final overthrow as near at hand. Truly the signs of the times indicate the near approach of the day of the Lord. JOSEPH CLARKE.] The conspiracy recently discovered in Constantinople is a new feature in the history of the Ottomans. It was not intended to accomplish a revolution in the Seraglio; it was not provoked by Viziers jealous of power, nor by the maladministration of favorites, nor by the cruelty or weakness of a Padishah. It had a deeper character. The outraged Koran called on the conscience of the faithful for protection against the western saviours and civilizers. Not against Russian influence, so much talked about for years past, but against the general Giaour, be he French or English, friend or foe; against benefactors, advisers, self-constituted guardians, and directors. It was the old spirit of Moslemism endeavoring once again to give expression to its deep, irreconcilable hatred of the western world, to make a supreme effort to rid itself of the polluting contact. 15The work of decomposition is going on with fearful rapidity in Turkey confirming the assertions and predictions which we have made for these six years past. The more progressive Turks of the Redschid school too clearly foresee the final and not distant dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, and the old Turk spirit. They have lost their confidence in the reforms which they themselves have introduced. They have lost their faith in the present vitality of the Turk element; they have been taught by events that it is absolutely impossible to modernize the Koran, or to blend it in any way with western civilization. Whatever may be said to the contrary by Turkophiles, we have the best authority for declaring that even the members of the Sultan's Cabinet, whose destruction was planned by the conspirators, inwardly share the opinion of the fanatics themselves, and would have wished their success could their own lives have been spared. Losing their faith in reforms, these reformers fall back on their faith in the Koran, wearied and disgusted by the dictatorial importunity of their European advisers. The race of the Turk is rapidly dwindling in Europe. Of the four and-a-half millions of Mohammedans in European Turkey, less than a million are of Turkish descent. The Bosnians and Albanians are of European stock; Armenians and Greeks from Asia Minor abound throughout the country. The Slavic Bulgarian, the hardest field-laborer in the world, is crossing the Hellespont and awakening to rich life the fertile soil of Asia, so long sleeping under the lazy indolence of the Turk. The days of Ottoman sway in Europe are numbered; the power of the Turk is weighed and found wanting; the final catastrophe approaches. It has been deferred until now only by the excitement of an artificial, morbid sympathy for Europe, mainly through the press which Redschid Pasha alone has subsidized to the extent of two and-a-half millions of dollars. But this exterior pressure cannot make up for lack of interior strength. The Turkish empire is doomed on both sides of the Dardanelles. For, when the Sultans lose Constantinople, they will lose the last shreds of their prestige over the Mohammedans of Asia and Africa. WE'RE GOING HOME.
By M. L. Dean
WE'RE going home to heaven above,
Will you go? will you go?
Where all is peace, and joy, and love,
Will you go? will you go?
The way is narrow, it is straight,
Aud few there are that find the gate,
Come now, for soon 'twill be too late,
Will you go? will you go? Come sinners, come without delay,
Will you go? will you go?
The Saviour calls, his voice obey,
Will you go? will you go?
If you repent and turn from sin,
The gate you'll find, aud enter in,
Eternal life and glory win,
Will you go? will you go? The city there is built of gold,
Will you go? will you go?
Its beauty uever can be told,
Will you go? will you go?
The tree of life withiu it stands,
Planted by God our Father's hands,
Saints will be there from ev'ry land,
Will you go? will you go? Eternal life will there be given,
Will you go? will you go?
To all the saints that enter heaven,
Will you go? will you go?
Sickness and sorrow pain aud death,
Will never reach that happy place,
There we shall see our Father's face,
Will you go? will you go? Brethren who love and serve the Lord,
Will you go? will you go?
Who fear aud tremble at his word,
Will you go? will you go?
Then keep your garments pure and white,
The city soon will be iu sight,
God and the Lamb will be its light,
Will you go? will you go? The earth will soon like Eden bloom,
Let us go! let us go!
Saints will be ransomed from the tomb,
Let us go! let us go!
Our Saviour then will be our King,
A crown of life to us he'll bring,
His praises we will ever sing,
We will go! we will go!
M. L. DEAN. Send the Review to the Needy
Sister E. A. Rawlins writes from Nevada, Minn.: "I had the privilege of hearing Bro. Ingraham at Deerfield, Minn., and was thankful for the opportunity of again meeting with those that love God and keep his commandments. For over three years my lot has been cast far distant from those that love God's holy law, and what could I have done without the Review? I hope there are none of the lonely ones who wish to read it, who are deprived of the privilege. "Brethren and sisters, let us awake to a renewed interest in the paper, and aid what we can in sending it to the needy poor, that they with us may share the blessing of hearing from the church at large, and reading the welcome epistles from those who love God's holy law. At the conference four miles North of Mantorville, three were baptized, and arose to walk in newness of life." WRIGHT GOODALE
By Wright Goodale
Bro. Smith: I desire to give in my testimony by way of the Review, with those that are trying to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. I thank the Lord for the privilege of hearing the truth preached. The recent conference here has made I trust a lasting impression on my mind, and also on the minds of many of my brethren and sisters. I do praise God for his goodness to us, and I trust that we shall walk in newness of life. It has been over two years since I first experienced the love of God in my heart, and about fourteen months since I have seen the Sabbath of the Lord. Dear brethren I have endeavored to keep the commandments and the faith of Jesus, and live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. In so doing I have met with trials; I have met the scoffs of the world and the frowns of some near and dear to me. But we must expect these things. We are told in the word of God that in the world we shall have tribulation, but in Christ there is peace; and if we look at the sufferings of Jesus for us we shall not think of complaining. Who would not be willing to suffer with him, knowing that if we suffer, we shall also reign with him, but if we deny him he also will deny us. Let us endeavor to walk in strict obedience to his requirements, that we may with one mind and one mouth glorify God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. I feel like trying to become a doer of the word, and not a hearer only. When I look in to the word of God and see the straightness of the way and how far short I come, I do feel like consecrating myself anew to his service and trying to live more in accordance with his word that I may be sanctified through the truth. Let us dear brethren try to imitate our blessed Master in all things; let that mind be in us which was also in him and let us love one another with pure hearts fervently, that we may shine forth as lights in the world, be accounted worthy to escape the trouble that lies just before us, and stand before the Son of man. “Then they that feared the Lord, spake often one to another.” Bro. Smith: I am striving to make a covenant with the Lord by sacrifice, and have great reason to praise him for his goodness in permitting me to hear the third angel's message. It has been about one year and eight months since I heard Bro. Sanborn speak on the Sabbath in Illinois. I still feel to praise the Lord for then letting me see the truth with a desire in my heart to obey it. My prayer was, Lord, lead me in the right way, and grant me thy grace and I will walk in it. I believe he has thus far. I have also received strength to overcome the use of tobacco. I hope to learn of Christ daily, and follow the leadings and teachings of the Holy Spirit. I wish to suffer with Christ in trials and afflictions, that I may be tried, made white and purified; then I shall appear with him in glory. Brethren, let us give heed to the many admonitions Christ has given us, lest we fall of entering into that rest. L. D. Newton.
Twin Grove, Wis. OBITUARY.
By Amelia Jane Dyer
Fell asleep in Jesus, Nov. 12, my twin sister Emily Louisa, aged 16 years. She embraced the third angel's message last July, at the tent-meeting in Delta. Her whole soul was aroused, and her thoughts seemed all centered on the Lord and the cause of truth. She had been trying to serve the Lord for a year previous, but the warning cry of this message stirred her inmost soul, and gave a new impetus to all her actions. Deeply do we feel her loss. We miss her earnest zeal and triumphant faith, and her kindly words to cheer us on; but we hope to meet her soon in the bright morning of the first resurrection, when Christ shall raise to life those that sleep in the dust of the earth.
AMELIA JANE DYER.
West Swanton, Ohio. The Benignant Invitation.
Matt. xi, 28-30. "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." This is pertinently and lovingly addressed to all souls who feel heart-burdened, spirit-broken, soul-wearied, from any cause—the sin-sick, the outcast, friendless, oppressed, neglected, bereaved, afflicted, poor, needy and dejected. All these are invited to come to Jesus as their friend, helper and redeemer. "I will give you rest;" spiritual rest, comfort, hope, peace and joy. I will impart to you the highest truths, the divinest principles, the sublimest blessedness. "Take my yoke (of righteousness) upon you, and learn of me (as your religious exemplar and master), for I am meek and lowly in heart (not austere, haughty, despotic, or vindictive), and ye shall find rest unto your souls." "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." All the requirements of my religion are reasonable, practicable, salutary and beneficent. They are such as conduce to the highest good of all souls both in this world and the world to come.—Pract. Chris. A Desire for the True Gospel
Sister A. Brewster writes from E. Townsend, Ohio: "We rejoice that we ever heard the third angel's message. My husband and myself are trying to live i.y the truths of the Bible. We hunger for the word and bread of eternal truth. We should like to have some preacher come this way and deliver a number of discourses. There is a plenty of Orthodox preaching; but it falsifies and spoils the word of God. We want to hear the true gospel of the kingdom preached; for w- believe in the soon coming of the Saviour; and that to those who look for him, he will appear without sin unto salvation. It is my desire to :vercome and be found with the wedding garment on, and be among those who will say, This is our God, we have waited for him, and he will save us."