p. 23 | Review and Herald, Vol. 16, No. 3. (6/5/1860)

1867.

By R. F. C.

It is not so unpopular at present as it was a few years since to compute the definite periods of the prophetic word. Editors of what are called orthodox papers are beginning to acknowledge that the study and interpretation of prophecy is allowable, and even a proper pursuit. The writings of Dr. Cumming and other recent writers, who seem to find the termination of prophetic time in 1867, are less repugnant to the carnal mind, for some reason, than was the true proclamation of their termination in 1844, when God, in fulfillment of his word, moved out the unwelcome message, "Fear God and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come." There is something more worldly-wise in these recent writers, some chance at least seems left for sinners of this dispensation to slip over unharmed into the next, and instead of all the nations of the earth being broken with a rod of iron, and dashed in pieces as a potter's vessel, the prospect is held out that some favored one or more of the angry nations will have the adroitness to "emerge from the great tribulation" with flying colors. This may be seen from the following extract which the Advocate, of Buffalo, N. Y., takes from the London Watchman. Speaking of Dr. Cumming, the writer says, "He thinks England, for reasons it is unnecessary here to enumerate, is to emerge from the 'great tribulation,' and has sun not disappear till lost in the greater splendor in which 'there will be no need of the sun.'"

"It is, then, a very general belief that we are on the very verge of a gigantic struggle; that France is to originate, ride, and if able, overrule the storm; that England, because of her free thought, free speech, free press, and Protestant religion, the spring of them all, is to have directed on her the concentrated fire of Europe; and we must do them [Cumming and other interpreters] the justice to add, they patriotically urge, on their ground, and from their point of view, what sane politicians uphold on theirs, an instant and powerful preparation on our part at any expense to defend old England's shores."

When the Jews had rejected and crucified the true Messiah who came in exact fulfillment of their own prophets, they were prepared to believe and follow almost any impostor that promised well for their nation. And since popular christianity has crucified the true time message, it can put confidence, without evidence, in something more pleasing to the carnal mind. The gathering of the Jews and some sort of a temporal millennium is just the thing. The idea that the Lord is coming, and that probation will then be closed forever,

is too horrible to be thought of by the mass of nominal Christians. I will give another extract from the above authority. After giving the doctor's reckoning of the 1260 years, &c., he says, "What goes to confirm this, is the fact that another period was given by Daniel, called 2300 years, on the end of which 'the cleansing of the sanctuary,' i. e., the preparation of Palestine for its people, was to begin. Dating this period at what has been, if not clearly, at least probably assigned, before Christ 478, we find its termination in A. D. 1822. To this period Daniel adds another of 45 years. This brings us down to 1867. Daniel says he is especially 'blessed' who arrives at 1867."

Now by what authority is it asserted that Daniel adds a period of 45 years to the 2300? There is not a shadow of proof of this assertion in the word. And where is the proof that the cleansing of the sanctuary is the preparation of Palestine, or any other part of the earth, for its people? It is mere assumption. The Bible is all against it. But food like this seems quite palatable to the vitiated appetite of the professed Christians of the present day, having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. The disagreement of their popular authors, who, though they are agreed in 1867 for the termination of prophetic time, arrive at this conclusion by entirely different and contradictory calculations, instead of weakening their faith, confirms it by such striking coincidences.

One class of interpreters commence the 1260 years in A. D. 532.

To this add 1260.

This brings us to 1792.

To this last date they add 30 years, which brings us down to 1822, and then they add 45 more, which gives the favored date, 1867.

Another class commences the 1260 years in A. D. 607, added, 1260, brings them at one bound to 1867.

Thus the same golden conclusion is reached by another and more direct route. This class also give us an exposition of Daniel's great epoch, the 2300 days. They commence them in B. C. 433. What reason they have for this I do not know, and I presume they do not, only that commencing there they would end in 1867.

And now, "since I have got into quotations," I will give a very soothing extract from the N. Y. Observer upon the same subject and the signs of the times:

"When Russia takes possession of Constantinople, when France extends her African empire over Egypt and completes the Suez Canal, when England takes the government of Syria and Palestine and runs a railway from the Mediterranean through the plains of Sharon and Esdraelon into the East, then the desert will blossom as the rose: then a highway shall be there, and the ransomed of the Lord will return to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads."

It is not so much a wonder that those whose minds have never been enlightened with the light of the Advent messages should show themselves so much in darkness on the prophetic periods, and concerning the stupendous events about to burst upon the world. But when we see those that have been once enlightened on the true dates, and were leading men in the annunciation of the solemn message, "Fear God and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come," giving their influence in favor of such a movement on time as is now in progress, what language is suitable to express our astonishment? When we see him whom the Lord moved out to put shoulder to the wheel with his chosen servant, Wm. Miller, to publish the glad tidings of the everlasting gospel—one who understands the chronology and knows the power of those arguments upon which was based the proclamation of the time message of 1844—one who has for these many years claimed the "original Advent faith," and has, since the passing of the time, vindicated the original dates—when we see such an one renounce all the past light on time and the mighty movement by which God set his seal to the truth, and fall in with a movement based upon discordant conjectures, and which casts aside the well-defined period of 70 weeks which was "to seal up the vision and prophecy," we may well exclaim, "how are the mighty fallen?"

And what is the cause of such a fall? Simply the

rejection of the truth of the third message, which bears in its forefront the commandments of God. It is a dangerous thing to oppose the work of God. It is a dangerous thing to neglect obedience to truth so mighty, so clear, so overwhelming as that which is now being proclaimed, and to which God has so manifestly set his seal!

REPORT FROM BRO. COTTRELL.

By Roswell F. Cottrell

BRO. SMITH: When I last reported to the Review, I was on my way to Wyoming Co. in company with Bro. Saunders, in compliance with a call from Bro. A. There were but two Sabbath-keepers in the place, though one more, at least, admitted that we have the truth. On first-day we had a respectable number of attentive and intelligent hearers, and we think much prejudice was removed. We hope there are souls there that will hear the voice of the good Shepherd. We desire to see them again as soon as the Lord will.

Returning we spent the Sabbath at Mill Grove. Had a good meeting. Those who had lately embraced the truth there were firm and persevering. One of them, having never made the profession of her faith in Christ, embraced this opportunity to do so in the Lord's appointed way. Also the son of my brother, J. H. Cottrell, confessed the Lord Jesus by being baptized into his death. The young among us are beginning to feel the importance of obeying the truth.

Our late monthly meeting at Olcott was one of the best we ever had. Not so many from a distance were present as we had hoped. Yet there was a representation from Clarkson, Rochester, Barre and Mill Grove. On Sabbath the oldest daughter of Bro. Wager requested baptism, and was baptized. After a discourse in the evening, on the subject of the Sabbath, for the benefit of some friends from Lockport (the parents of Bro. Rumery of Michigan) who had taken pains to come and hear, a call was made for the young, and to our great joy there was a general response from those present. Two more of Bro. Wager's children, three of Bro. Lindsay's (all that are living at home), and the son of Bro. Paine manifested their determination to enlist in the service of the Lord and go with us to Mt. Zion. The next morning we went to the water again and three of these confessed the Lord in baptism; the others thought they had reasons to defer it for a little while. I hope they will not defer it long. I desire and expect to see the time when primitive practice will be restored. When those convinced of the truth will cry out, Men and brethren, what shall we do? And receiving the same answer that Peter gave to this question, they will gladly receive the word, and the same day be added to the church.

There is still an interest in the truth at Somerset. I have recently been there, and left appointments for next first-day. R. F. C.

CONVINCED, NOT DECIDED.

By Jos. Clarke

You admit the third angel's message is now being proclaimed; you see the consistency of the truths brought to light in this message; you acknowledge that these truths vindicate the justice, goodness and benevolence of God; you see that these truths are ancient as the everlasting hills, that they have been covered up for ages by the rubbish of tradition; that they are all founded in the word of God, and you are deeply convicted of your duty, that there is salvation only in obedience to these plain, rudimental truths of God's word; yet you are undecided.

You are alarmed in view of your situation outside of the ark, and you know and realize that while you bow to the institution of the beast, you are exposed to be left to receive his mark; yet you ponder.

You are aware that while you are pondering this matter over in your mind, all heaven is interested, angels watch with interest what will be your decision, and saints too are anxious in your behalf. Satan stands by and persistently strives to convince you of the injury your business would suffer, how your partners or associates would frown or sneer, yet you say this does not move you; and still you ponder, still you are undecided; why is this?

Should some emperor offer you a present of high value, on condition of your performing some possible, practicable, virtuous action, which would be honorable both as to the reception of the prize and the practice of the virtue, how long would you hesitate? Not one moment, lest some one else should seize the prize while you were parlaying.

Let me expostulate. You seem to hesitate: Who made the world, and all that is therein, and by whose fiat does it move in its accustomed motion? Does the inanimate earth move in obedience to its Maker; and shall intelligent, reasonable man alone disobey?

God says the seventh day is the Sabbath, the pope says the first day is the Sabbath. Whom will you believe? Whom will you obey? God pronounced death upon Adam, Satan denied the truth of God. Now whom will you believe? God in his word says, The dead know not anything. Satan says they do; that death is not an enemy, but the "grand accoucher of the soul." Now who is entitled to your credit? Still can you hesitate?

What if business is injured, and property sacrificed? Will you have a home in the city of God? a blazing crown, and a sight of God upon his burning throne? the company of angels, and glorious martyrs, and prophets, and apostles, and all the lovely and good of earth? What is the wealth and ease of earth? Away with its honors; away with its treasures. Seek for immortal honors, and unfading wealth. Seek for an imperishable crown, a permanent home in the refined, the pure, the intelligent society of celestial beings, angels who stoop to protect, to warn, to comfort you now, but who, if you grieve them, will not long strive. Time is closing. This work is short. Decisions now are final. Soon will the good Spirit wing its way from earth, and probation will end. Decide, oh brother, for truth and eternal life.

JOS. CLARKE.

REPORT FROM BRO. BATES.

By Joseph Bates

BRO. SMITH: The churches in Caledonia and Bowne have been laboring to overcome the besetments of the enemy of all righteousness, and set things in order, and move onward in harmony and union in this closing work of the third angel's message. I have been dividing my labors with them since the first of May, during which time the way has opened for several meetings in which to proclaim the truth connected with the last message of mercy. Last evening at the close of the Sabbath we had a good free meeting in a new place in an unoccupied new house, belonging to a family who had just begun to keep the Sabbath. They had been listening to the age-to-come and no-Sabbath doctrine, but have decided to "obey God rather than man."

Mr. O. R. L. Crosier, whose residence is hereabouts, is still engaged in the cause of his aged employer, circulating his report that the Sabbath was abolished when the Lord Jesus was crucified; consequently no living being is bound to keep it under the gospel dispensation. Some of his hearers laud him as a most wonderful preacher, and there need be no marvel at this, so long as he preaches such a wonderful doctrine.

If Mr. C. and his admirers continue to circulate their wonderful doctrine that God's holy law is abolished, in part or the whole, they can at the same time read their own condemnation to death in the following words of inspiration: "To be carnally minded is death, . . . because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Rom. viii, 7, 8. "Not subject to the law of God," that is, not living in obedience to the law of God. The law of God is a whole law of ten precepts. For proof of this, read the apostle's testimony in chap. vii, 1, 7, 12, 14, 22, 25.

Will an objection be urged because it reads in verse 6, "But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held?" Then the marginal reading compared with the first clause of verse 4, will answer the objection that Paul's brethren are dead to the law. See also Macknight's translation. It is clear then, that all those who teach and believe that a part or the whole of the law of God was abolished when the Saviour died on the cross, are not, neither indeed can be, subject, or obedient, to that portion of the law which they teach is abolished. That no part or portion of the law of God was abolished, or changed when the apostle Paul penned this epistle to the Romans, in A. D. 60, twenty-nine years after the Saviour died on the cross, is evident from the six verses already quoted. In chap. vii, 1, he shows the utter impossibility of its ever being changed or abolished, because he declares the law [law of God] "hath dominion over a man (every man) as long as he liveth."

Why I particularly speak of Mr. Crosier in this article is, that he made it a point (as I am told) to follow me where I had given seven lectures, two of which were on the Bible Sabbath, where some decided to observe it, and taught that there was no Sabbath binding since the crucifixion. A few evenings since, I preached there again, and endeavored to show the perpetuity of the Sabbath.

We had a good season attending to the ordinance of

baptism in Caledonia the 6th inst. Five were buried in baptism and raised to walk in newness of life. There were several other candidates held back by influences beyond their control at present.

JOSEPH BATES.

Caledonia, Mich., May 20th, 1860.

SUGGESTIONS FOR TENT OPERATIONS

By M. E. Cornell

THE NORTHERN IOWA TENT

Remains for one week at Fairview, and about two weeks at Marion, and then launches into entire new fields. That will be about the usual time of commencing tent operations, so that we hope to have the entire time occupied in places where the truth has never been preached.

We have always had the best success away from the railroads and large, aristocratic towns; but especially this season will it be necessary to go into back districts. The political excitement will be so great in all the large towns that the interest in our cause cannot predominate. Small country towns surrounded by enterprising farmers will doubtless be the best places for tent meetings during the present season.

Bro. Perkins (deaf and dumb) and Bro. Field have made a very nice book-chest, large enough to hold $100 dollars worth of books. It is most perfectly dovetailed together and then glued so that it is water tight. It has drawers to slide back and forth similar to a tool chest, and is the best for the purpose I have ever seen.

For lights in the tent we have always used candles or open fluid lamps, and have had much trouble with them when there was any air stirring, besides having a very imperfect light. We have now a large camphene lamp for the center which cost $2. It lights up the tent beautifully, and burns three hours at a cost of only five cents, and is not in the least affected by the wind. The same amount of light with candles would cost about twenty cents.

On the stand we have a coal oil lamp which cost seventy-five cents and will give a brilliant light for two or three hours, at a cost of only three cents. In a short time we save enough to buy the lamps and have a light that is a light, compelling those who choose darkness for their evil deeds, to go away from the tent. To preserve the glass chimneys of our lamps we put them into a small box made for the purpose, well supplied with wadding, and we pack them away every evening after meeting.

With proper caution there is but little danger in using a camphene lamp. I am thus particular because we have had so much trouble about lights when there was no need of it.

The greatest difficulty, however, that we have to meet is to manage a tent in a rainy, stormy time. But the danger and trouble can in a great measure be overcome by taking necessary and timely cautions. We have many times let down our tents, or had them blown down because our stakes were not deep enough in the ground. The care and trouble of raising a wet tent is so much that we desire to avoid it when possible. Besides when we let down the canvass in the wind to be whipped around on the rough seats, it is liable to be torn before it can be fastened down.

Let the stakes be driven down about three feet in common soil, and then have several extra strong guys ready to put on the side most exposed and the tent will endure every wind except the sudden whirlwind, the hurricane or heavy gale.

After taking pains to guard against the wind and the elements of strife among the people, we can only trust all in the hands of our Master, who has promised to be with us even to the end. While we are in his work faith enables us to look through the darkness to the light and victory beyond. M. E. Cornell.

Fairview, May 18, 1860.

P. S. If any of the brethren have any good suggestions in regard to tent operations I hope we shall have the benefit of them. M. E. C.

D. M. SANBORN

By D. M. Sanborn

From Bro. Sanborn.

BRO. SMITH: Feelings of sympathy for the remnant prompt me to write. Through the kindness of some friends we have the privilege of reading the Review, which we have done for some months past with much interest. As this is my first communication I may be pardoned for speaking a little of myself. I find myself spoken of as a Baptist preacher, in Bro. Loughborough's report of the Orion conference. Allow me to say that all the reason for applying that title to me, is that during about half of the past year I have had the privilege of speaking to the church and others, the word of the Lord, which continued to the time of our commencing to keep the Sabbath, which was, I think, the first Sabbath in November, since which time we have had some queries in our minds as to whether the Baptist church is really the kingdom of heaven, testing it by our Lord's words, "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven; but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." Matt. v, 19.

When Brn. Cornell and Lawrence were at Lapeer with the tent, I had occasion to pass through there, and staying for the night, I heard Bro. C.'s reply to Woodruff. I had previously a good deal of prejudice against Adventists, having heard a great many strange stories about them. But before Bro. C. had finished his discourse I found the outposts of my prejudice giving way. His remarks on the subject of man's mortality were particularly interesting, as I had searched in vain to find the orthodox claim to inherent immortality sustained by the Bible.

When Bro. Lawrence was here holding meetings my health was such that I thought it not prudent for me to attend evening meetings at all; and my old prejudice saved me from any very deep regret on that account. But one thing that served to open my eyes was the very prudent remark of our pastor that "the best way to get along with these men was to let them alone, keep away from them entirely," which was quite different from his usual readiness to meet error.

By the great mercy of our Father in heaven we have been led to see the truth on the Sabbath, and we can say with Paul that we "conferred not with flesh and blood," but began immediately to walk in the light.

May the Lord in mercy continue to lead us into all truth, and establish us in the same and help us to perfect holiness in his fear.

Our numbers are few. Besides my own family, consisting of my wife and little girl 11 years of age, and myself, there are but two Sabbath-keepers in this vicinity, and we are so far apart that we are often unable to meet together, though we try to meet on every Sabbath for worship and mutual encouragement. We feel to pray that the Lord will use us as means, or at least by some means bring others to delight in his law, and take hold on his Sabbaths, or else open the way for us to walk with his people in some other place; for no earthly good can compensate us for the loss of the society of those who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus. May the will of the Lord be done.

In the love of the truth.

D. M. SANBORN

North Branch, Mich.

SMALL THINGS.

By Wm. S. Foote

THIS is a misnomer when applied to many things with which we have to do, who have embraced the third angel's message. For instance: A professor of religion asked me why I had left off the use of tobacco. My answer was, I consider that by using it I should sin against God, which I am not willing to do for the sake of gratifying a sinful appetite. "Poh!" said he, "that is making too much of a fuss about a small matter."

There are other things about which some who profess to love the present truth may think we are "making too much of a fuss." And one is, the too common custom of giving the appellation of brother, or sister, to those who despise and reject the truth, and are its enemies and ours.

We profess to be the followers of Jesus; and the apostle John says, "He that saith he abideth in him, ought himself also to walk even as he walked." Are we walking with him, or following his example by calling those our brethren who reject and disobey the law of God? If we read the word of God aright, our Saviour gave the title of brother, or sister, to those only who kept the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. On a certain occasion he said, "Whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." Matt. xii, 50. He says also in John iv, 34, "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me." Is it not the will of God that we do his will also and keep his commandments?

Says David, "Behold how good it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" God has but one church. Is there any unity between those who are striving to obey God, and those who despise his government, and his holy law? If I am a Christian, is it right for me to call him my brother who is treating the solemn truths of God's word with sneers, scoffs and ridicule?

By calling such our brethren, do we not acknowledge them to be the followers of him who said, "I have kept my Father's commandments;" and does not such a course on our part, have a tendency to encourage them to go on in their own chosen way, and reject the last offer of mercy? Is there any fellowship between light and darkness? between Jerusalem and Babylon? Let us act consistently. WM. S. FOOTE.

Having the Spirit of Christ

By E. MACOMBER, jr.

Except ye have the Spirit of Christ ye are none of his.

"Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his." There are faithful spirits, hasty spirits, humble spirits, excellent spirits, spirit of judgment, a perverse spirit, spirit of heaviness, unclean spirits, foul spirits, a spirit of strife, envy, &c. &c.

But we are to have the Spirit of Christ. I have thought when I felt fretful about temporal matters, that this is not the Spirit of Jesus. When I have felt fretful about ungodly professors of religion and the wicked, I have thought, this is not the spirit of Jesus. Perhaps some of my dear brethren have not suited me in every point, and I would get a little fretful about it. I am satisfied that this does not agree with the Spirit of the Lord; therefore I will try and not fret any more about these things, and the Lord will help me and all others who will try to overcome the world, the flesh and the Devil.

"Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the Lord and do good; so shall thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Cease from anger and forsake wrath, fret not thyself in any wise to do evil." May the Lord help me, with all such as are honestly seeking to know the truth, and mean to obey the commandments of God, that we may have the Spirit of Jesus within us now and until he comes. We read in Rom. viii, 11, "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." Verse 13. "For if ye live after the flesh ye shall die; but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body ye shall live." Verse 14. "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sons of God." Surely the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are walking therein; but the Lord will help in every time of need, such as honestly strive to walk in the way. This is my experience, and many have testified to the same.

Dear brethren and sisters, I never have seen many of your faces, but I expect to meet you when the Lord comes. Though far from each other here, some of us, we shall be near together in the blessed kingdom. It cheers my heart to hear from you through the Review. I meet with a little church of brethren here, and we have heavenly times. The Lord does refresh us with his Holy Spirit. I feel sometimes that I have almost a double portion. Thank the Lord that the promise is to two or three that meet together in his name that he will be in the midst. To such the promise is sure. He also says, "Fear not little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."

E. MACOMBER, jr.

New Shoreham, R. I.

LETTERS.

By E. S. Walker; Eliza Walker

"Then they that feared the Lord, spake often one to another."

From Bro. & Sr. Walker.

BRO. SMITH: We wish to say a few words through the Review to the brethren and sisters abroad which were suggested to us when our little one was lying before us in the cold embrace of death.

Dear brethren and sisters, have you ever lost a loved one? Has death ever entered your family circle and claimed as his victim some cherished one? If so, you can sympathize with us and appreciate our feelings when we were called upon this morning to part with a dear little girl aged 4 years 4 months and 3 days. Yes our dear little Clara, the pet of the household is dead. She fell asleep sweetly in Jesus this morning. She is now lying before us, unconscious of anything passing around her, of the sighs and tears uttered and shed for her. Happy being! sweetly sleeping in Jesus, her life being hid with Christ in God. The next event occurring to her will be the sound of the last trump, which shall wake her from her mossy tomb, when this corruptible shall put on incorruption, and this mortal shall put on immortality. She will then rise triumphant, and be caught up to meet the Lord in the air, and so will she ever be with the Lord. But oh! how we do miss her. Her little feet were ever ready to run to meet us when returning

home, to take us by the hand, and with her innocent prattle conduct us to the house. Oh! how kind and affectionate was she to us; ever willing, ever ready to do our bidding. Every little thing which she owned or used to handle reminds us of our sad bereavement. Every place she used to frequent calls to our recollection our dear little one. Our prayer to God is that we may be kept faithful until death, or until the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, so that we can meet her at the resurrection morn, and be permitted with her to enter upon that inheritance which is incorruptible, undefiled, and which fadeth not away.

Oh how sad and dreary this cold world appears, this world of tears and sorrows, this world where death now reigns without a rival and without a foe. Oh why do we cling so to this sin cursed earth? Why so taken up with its vanities, with its treasures and perishing things? Why so loth to leave it when everything in it is against our eternal interest? Why can we not realize that we are but pilgrims and strangers here; that we have here no continuing city; but that we are seeking one that is to come, whose builder and maker is God.

Oh brethren and sisters, let us strive to wean our affections from the world, from its fascinations and its allurements, and endeavor to place them upon God and our Saviour, and upon our eternal inheritance, ever striving to overcome, ever trying to keep all the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, so that when Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall we also appear with him in glory.

Brethren and sisters, let us pray that the God of peace may sanctify us wholly, and that our whole spirit, and soul, and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

E. S. WALKER. ELIZA WALKER.

Knoxville, Iowa, May 19, 1860.

MEETING IN WISCONSIN.

By Isaac Sanborn

Bro. Smith: It is six weeks to-day since I left home for the conference at Mackford, where I met many of the dear people of God, and where also we were much revived by his Holy Spirit. From that place I went to Hundred Mile Grove, and preached in that vicinity three weeks. On Sabbath, May 12th, after preaching, we repaired to the water where seven were baptized into the likeness of Christ's death, and raised to walk in newness of life. In the afternoon we met to take into consideration the necessity of church order, after which the church was set in order. Then met again at seven o'clock in the evening to attend to those sacred ordinances instituted by our Lord on that day in which he was betrayed and crucified, and truly we all realized the fulfillment of that precious promise of our Saviour, which says, If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. The church then also adopted the plan of systematic benevolence.

I continued my lectures for another week in Leeds Center, Columbia Co., ten miles east of Hundred Mile Grove, and last Sabbath after a short lecture, there were thirteen who confessed that they would keep all the commandments of God, and try to secure an inheritance in his kingdom. I believe there are now fifteen or twenty keeping the Sabbath in the vicinity, and still the work moves on. May the Lord help the people to be faithful is my prayer.

Isaac Sanborn.

Hundred Mile Grove, Dane Co., Wis., May 21, 1860.

Holding Fast to the Truth

Bro. S. Mountford writes from Newkirk, Wis.: "I would esteem it a great privilege to speak a few words through the columns of the Review to our brethren and to let them know that we are still holding on to the truths it advocates. I delight in the law of God and the faith of Jesus, and I still feel like following in the footsteps of my blessed Redeemer. He kept his father's commandments [John xv, 10], and it is my duty to go and do likewise. Although my friends prophesied when I commenced to keep God's holy law, that I would give it up in less than six months, yet I feel as strong in the faith to day as ever I did, and as good a determination to hold on to the end notwithstanding twenty months have elapsed since I turned my feet into the testimonies of the Lord.

We are nearing that time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation, and my prayer is that the Lord would remember the remnant who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Brethren let us try to be faithful and watchful and prayerful. Let us exhort and encourage one another, and so much the more as we see the day approaching. Time is short and we should not waste it. Jesus is soon coming to gather his children home. May I be one of that number who shall stand with the Lamb on mount Zion and sing that song which no man can learn but the hundred and forty four thousand which were redeemed from the earth."

The Blessed Hope

Bro. A. A. Marks writes from Jackson, Mich.: "By the aid of the blessed hope I am yet looking beyond the trials and troubles of this world to that reward soon to be given to the saints in the earth made new. Here are losses, and crosses, disappointments, and sorrow, and pain; there in that bright world amid the beauties of the new earth, will be the palms of victory and crowns of glory that fade not away; and Jesus will be the giver of all this, to him that overcometh. O, who would not wish to exchange the sorrows of this dark world for the joys of that immortal inheritance, where the saints of all ages will plant their feet on a soil free from the curse. Here how often do we see the lovely and the beautiful fade away in death, while others are left to mourn; there Jesus, the great Life-giver, will destroy death, and bring up the saints clothed with immortal health, beyond the reach of pain or death. Truly ours is a blessed hope, as we toil on amid the trials and sorrows of earth, to know that the coming of Jesus and the redemption of our body, is but just before us.

"The Lord is coming; but shall I be ready to meet him? I love to meet with the people of God now and join in their worship; but what will it be to join the songs of the redeemed in the kingdom of Christ, and to stand upon mount Zion with the Lamb? But if we would share in the reward of the people of God, we must live as they have lived here. There is a battle to fight, a race to run and a victory to gain.

"May God help us brethren and sisters to pattern after Jesus; and now while the plan of salvation is drawing to a close, and the third angel's message is doing its work, may we be found gathering with Christ and clinging closer to the body, that should a shaking time come, we may not be spued out of the Lord's mouth. Let us take courage brethren. There is glory for the saint of God but a little in the distance. Look up lone pilgrim and lift up your head; your redemption draweth nigh. Let faith penetrate the darkness that many times presses in upon us, and take hold on God; he is ready and willing to help his children, if they but trust in him and do his will. Let none falter now, when we are so near the end. A few more conflicts with the powers of darkness and all will be over. A few more trials and tribulations and persecutions to wade through, and we if faithful shall stand upon mount Zion with the Lamb beyond the reach of sorrow."

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