Review and Herald, Vol. 27, No. 19.
Sermon, Number ThreePage 1
Earlier text: Sermon, Number ThreeWages Kept Back by Fraud.
A Teacher of the Freedmen, writing from Portsmouth, Va., to the American Missionary, says:— "In some respects, this winter has been the hardest for the freedmen, of any since the beginning of the war.
"Perhaps the saddest cry, as well as the most frequent, is that occasioned by unpaid wages. Several tell me they have worked weeks and months, and could not get a cent of their earnings, and did not expect it. Every day brings to my notice many such instances, and there is no doubt that the number of such is very large. What a people is that, who, amid such a pressure and discouragement on every side, still keep heart, looking to Heaven, and struggle patiently on!" Another one writing from Georgia, says:— "There has seemed lately to be an unusual influx of poor, destitute people from the country. 'Soon as we made de crop, dey run us off, and gib us nothin,' is the pitiful story they tell of their cruel masters, too well confirmed by their wretched appearance and tattered dress." As we read these statements, we could but think of the testimony of James, chapter v, 4: "Behold the hire of the laborers, who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth; and the cries of them which have reaped, have entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth." While we have been accustomed to apply this to the colored people in their former condition of open slavery, it would seem to be more applicable to their present condition, than to that. Then, of course they could expect nothing but their bare subsistence; but now they are engaged under agreement for wages, and when they have accomplished their work, or as they say, "made the crop," they are "run off" and defrauded of their pay. How intensely applicable is the language of James to this new villainy of the fiendish slaveholders. Let us be thankful that all these cries enter into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth, and that he will avenge them and that speedily. The exhortation James gives the church in connection with this is, "Be patient, therefore, brethren unto the coming of the Lord." Contempt of God’s Authority
The worst thing that can be found in all the sins that ever were committed, is the contempt of God's authority. Now, there is as much contempt of the authority of the great God in the commission of little sins, as there is in the commission of great sins. THERE was much of genius, much of learning, much of strength, in the elements of this man's usefulness. He was not an intriguing, planning character, for he became, at every important step in life, just what he had never intended to be. To secure his personal salvation, he left the university, where he stood high as a scholar, and as a man, and entered the cloister, where he sought to find salvation. Finding here dissolute, wicked men, and discovering, too, that retirement did not lessen the evil of his own heart, he had nearly sunk down and despaired of hope of life. In the practice of the rites and ceremonies of Romanism, he sought consolation; but in vain he fasted and did penance, and his physical system was fast sinking into the grave. At this point, God raised up for him a spiritual guide, (for a few lights remained in the gloomy darkness of the Roman church), and pointed out to Luther the distinction between faith and works. The secret of Luther's difficulty was discovered. Catholicism offered salvation to all who complied with her ritual. Luther had complied with, and fully satisfied the most rigorous exactions of the Catholic masters. He was a most devoted monk, and a rigid ascetic, but all in vain. He still grew more and more burdened with sin. His fellow monks rallied him with scoffs and ridicule, and accused him of associating with the Devil. Staupitz pointed him away from works, and showed him the grand and fundamental principle of the gospel, justification by faith. Soon light burst in upon the mind of Luther, and his load of sin was gone, and he became free. This doctrine of justification by faith, was destined to be in the case of this reformer, the dividing sword which should sever him from the Papal church, and afterward, the grand rallying cry, the watchword of the Reformation. Why? Because that if it could be proven that the works of penance, and the varied rites and ceremonies of the Papal church, were ineffectual to salvation; if faith was essential to good works, then Papal indulgences, and the various forms then considered as constituting the life of religion, were at most, but of secondary importance; and such an admission is fatal to Romanism, which is ever confident and assuming. The infamous Tetzel sold indulgences for future sins, and when the purchaser came to his confessional, and Luther, then a monk, exhorted penitence, the offender insisted upon having full absolution, and to prove that there was no need of further agitation of the matter, presented his indulgence from the Pope, with the receipt of the money. The pardon was full, and what need was there of faith? Thus it was in effect with Rome, her rites, and ceremonies, and decrees, were declared holy and acceptable to God, through the Pope, who clothed his legates with the same power. Luther had tested the virtue of dead forms in his cell, and found them cumbersome and powerless; the doctrine of justification by faith he had tested, and found it life, and joy, and peace. He stood up and proclaimed to the world and the church, to Tetzel and to his master, the Pope, that no unrighteous man could do a good act; that a man must himself become righteous, that is, have a living faith, before he could do a righteous act; and his repentance must be accompanied with faith, to insure pardon and acceptance. Rome, to secure her power, denied this doctrine. The mighty reformer sustained it; and Romanism fell. J. CLARKE. Report from Bro. Taylor.
By C. O. Taylor
THE 20th, we reached Bro. Abbey's in the midst of a heavy snow storm; but found all warm and quiet when once in that pilgrim home. During the remainder of the week we visited different families in Bro. A.'s neighborhood. The 23d, were sent for to come and pray for Bro. Crumb and family,—his son Joseph being dangerously sick. We had liberty in praying, yet no especial light to ask for his recovery. He continued to fall till the 25th, when he fell asleep. The 26th, we laid him in his quiet, narrow bed, to rest till the trump shall sound. We spoke words of instruction and comfort from Heb. ii, 14. Our meetings with the church on Sabbath and first-day were those of profit. They were able to see that they had not in all things lived up to their privilege. Some were with us only on the Sabbath, and that brought in the scattering influence, which hindered the work. About six rose for prayers, and resolved to seek the forgiveness of their sins and lead a new life. Some found favor before the meeting closed. The evening of the 26th, we had a meeting at Bro. Clarke's, about six miles from B., who moved from Jefferson Co., a year ago, where they became interested in the Advent faith, and who of late have taken a decided stand for the truth. The Lord worked for us greatly in turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, and one entire family, seven in all, confessed to each other, and gave themselves anew to God. When we left, we left a happy family, all resolving to meet us on the sea of glass. The Lord used Bro. and sister Brown to help this family, being cousins, and formerly neighbors. We were all blessed together, all happy together, and all shouted together. March 3d, found us with the church at Middle Grove, to labor with, and for, them. This people have not all the advantages of some of the other churches. They are so far from any church that they never meet with others of like faith; and then their former experience has not been of the right kind in all respects; and added to that is the sad fact that they have not done as well as they could. We found them at this time in a sad and low condition. The Lord worked for us and gave us good evidence that he was willing to bring this people up, and all felt at the close of the second day's meeting, that they would take an advance step and get nearer to God. Some hearty confessions were made by some, but with others the work was not as complete as it should have been. We remained with them two Sabbaths, and did all we could for their good. We hope they will not lose sight of the individual work they have to do. I am confident that what they have to do for themselves and families, is to get "home religion" deep in their hearts. I pray that they may prosper in all things pertaining to godliness. Under date of March 30th, Bro. Taylor again writes: We reached Verona to fill our appointment on the 17th. Met with the most of the church Sabbath evening. Spoke to them a few words of instruction and encouragement; had a season of prayer, in which the Spirit helped in asking the Lord to work for us. He did help, but it was in a way that most present knew not. Many of our people have forgotten, or have failed to come up to the work that is to be done for themselves. They have in some degree felt their poverty, and their lukewarmness, yet have not with zeal repented. This church received in love the plain testimony given, and took hold of the work of overcoming in earnest, and with determination. Some heavy crosses in confession were borne, and I am confident that good fruit will be the result. The 24th and 25th, we met with the church at Kirkville, and a good free time we had. It was easy speaking, praying, and singing. This church has always been ready for any advance step in the onward march toward the kingdom. We met here Bro. Patten from Clay, Brn. Satterlee and Parmalee from Verona, who added much to the interest of the meeting by their prompt and warm-hearted testimonies. Others, not connected with us in all points of truth, were present, who cheerfully acknowledged that the good Spirit was there; yet I had to mourn in spirit to see that it did not have the effect on them that it should. They did not see their poverty, darkness, and blindness, as they ought; and as a consequence, will not seek as they should, and in the way that God has pointed out in his word, and was then pointing out by his Spirit, a preparation to meet the coming King. I would still impress on their minds, and I pray that the Spirit may write it indelibly, that past blessings do not suffice for present enjoyments; neither do past duties or labor answer for those that our Master is calling us now to do. It is the work of all, that would sit down with Christ on his throne, to see themselves in the light pointed out by the True Witness to heartily repent, get the love, righteousness and the sweet melting influences of the Holy Spirit, in their hearts. As a people, there is an advance step in consecration to God and holiness. It is dangerous to remain where we have been any longer. The door must be opened, and Jesus must come in and take full possession of us. A great work is yet to be done for us. We should be in haste to have it done, and should do all on our part to hasten its completion, that the King may come in and examine the guests, and we may be found having on the wedding garment. Mercy, sweet mercy, is lingering around our dwellings, and our hearts; and the long suffering of God is waiting as in the days of Noah. Oh for a waking up and putting on strength! We must do this, or to be spued out will be our portion. Theory will not save us. Report from Bro. Sanborn.
By Isaac Sanborn
Bro. White: I commenced meetings Feb. 24, in the town of Gridley, McLean Co., Ill., where I labored one year ago, and left nineteen Sabbath-keepers. The most of them have been faithful. I have just closed another series of meetings among them. For some time previous to my meetings here, the brethren observed every other Sabbath as a day of fasting and prayer, for a revival of God's work in their own hearts, and for the conversion of their neighbors. Their prayers were most signally answered during our meetings. Six were baptized, and a church of twenty-two members was organized. Bro. Wm. H. Slown was ordained elder, under whose faithful watchcare we trust the Lord will build up and strengthen the little band. We had at the close of our meetings a great blessing in attending the ordinances. We also found that much prejudice had been removed from the minds of some, who we trust will soon find their place among the remnant. From Gridley I went to Pontiac, Livingston Co., Ill., and preached twice with success in breaking down prejudice in the minds of some, and convincing others of the truth; and I pray the Lord to help them to obey before it will be too late. From here I went seven miles west of Pontiac, into the neighborhood of Bro. Stratten to hold meetings, but the weather being very bad we had no meetings, but I spoke to the family of Bro. Stratten about four hours the next day, leaving him convinced that the seventh-day is the Sabbath. I pray that the Lord will help him to keep it. Also in a neighborhood east of Pontiac, where the Review and publications are circulated and read, I learned that the people are very anxious to hear preaching. I hope to be able to visit these places soon. After preaching Thursday night in Pontiac, I took the train for Chicago. Got there in time for preaching Friday evening. Preached in all seven times, which created quite an interest in the minds of some, who, I trust, will soon keep the commandments of God and faith of Jesus. At the close of our meetings we went to Camp Douglas, where three were baptized. The hearts of the little band of Sabbath-keepers seemed to be much encouraged. I trust the faithful labors of Brn. Miller and Stevenson will be greatly blessed of the Lord. I reached home in time to commence meetings in Johnstown Center, March 21, and continued through our Quarterly Meeting. The weather being bad and the roads bad, the attendance was not so large as we had expected; yet we had a very good meeting. Six were baptized and received into the church, and we are still praying that the Lord may bring others in soon. Find myself now at home much worn and tired with my past labors. Many pressing calls for labor are still before me. Will my brethren pray that God may direct me?
ISAAC SANBORN. Will It Do.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
A MINISTER whom I met the other day, in speaking about keeping the Sabbath, said, "Well, I think that if we keep one day in seven, one-seventh part of the time, it makes no difference what particular day we keep, whether it is Saturday, Sunday, or any other day." Said I, "God divided time into periods of seven days each, called weeks, has he not?" "One-seventh part of that time is a Sabbath?" "One-seventh part of that time God has blessed, has made holy? 'The Lord blessed the Sabbath-day and hallowed it.'" "Then one-seventh part of each week is holy time?" "Then it is not all holy time?" "Now suppose that there were seven men, one keeps Sunday, another Monday, another Tuesday, and so on, the week through, each keeping a different day. The seven together, keep the whole time. Is it then all holy time?" "Then they can not all be keeping holy time, can they?" "It would seem not, from that." "How much of the time in each week is holy?" "One-seventh part of the time only, of course." "But here are seven men keeping150 seven-sevenths of the time. Some of them must be keeping unholy time, must they not?" "Yes, I suppose they are." "How many, then, can be keeping holy time?" "Then the rest are wrong, and he is right?" "It must be so of course." "Now to make the application: You keep Sunday and I keep Saturday. Together we are keeping two-sevenths of the time; but only one-seventh is holy time. Hence, one of us must be keeping unholy time; one of us must be wrong?" "Yes, that seems evident." "Then the one-seventh-part-of-time-theory will not do?" He admitted that it would not, and then tried to sustain his Sunday Sabbath by another argument. By the above, we see that it is impossible to sustain the theory that any one-seventh part of time will do, as long as they admit that one-seventh of the time is holy. Report from Bro. Rodman.
By P. C. Rodman
Our Monthly Meeting in South Kingston, R. I. was both interesting and profitable. The reports from different churches were encouraging, showing a steady advance of the truth. The church with whom we met have had much opposition, but the Lord enables them to press on in the work with courage, trusting in the God of truth. The church at Newshoreham reports by letter, that one has moved away, but the Lord has added one in his place to encourage their hearts, and they are pressing together. The Abington church report that they are striving to overcome. Three have recently been added to their number, decided to be obedient to Heaven's King by keeping all his holy law. The church in Exeter report a growth in grace, and in the knowledge of the truth. They have meetings every Sabbath, and one evening meeting during the week. The Lord is meeting with them, and blessing as they never experienced before. The church in Ashaway report a pressing on in the work. Bro. Macomber having moved into the place, they expect to start a Sabbath School soon, and raise the standard in the name of the Lord. Bro. S. N. Haskell reports the cause in his region—South Lancaster, Mass.—as encouraging; the brethren being full of hope and united to work for God. The interest in this meeting increased from the commencement; all the brethren expressing themselves as encouraged and confirmed in the present truth; and that the Lord is moving out a people by the third angel's message to prepare for translation. Shall I be among them? Oh for strength and wisdom to continue in the word of truth until we meet the angelic messengers that shall escort us to glory at the bidding of the Captain of our salvation. Sabbath and first-day, 24 and 25, in Exeter, preached four times. First-day evening organized S. B. Thus we press on. There Will be Two Resurrections.
By Sarah J. Wakeling
LET us take a walk in yonder silent graveyard, and muse awhile upon the certainty of death, and the narrow house which is the silent abode of so many of the sons and daughters of Adam. Here we see the graves of the young, the middle-aged, and the old. Those who lived many years upon the earth, and have gone down into their graves with their silvery hair; those, too, who were folded in death's cold embrace while in their prime, while all their powers were active, and in their full development. We see also the graves of the youth, to whom life looked pleasant and desirable, but death cast over them his sable mantle and they sank into the tomb; also the tender infant, a beautiful flower nipped in the bud. And when we see all this, and permit our thoughts to dwell upon it, and ourselves to realize, that we, too, may some day lie in the cold and silent tomb, how naturally arises in our mind the question, Is this to be our end? Will we never arise from that final resting place? or shall "the dead arise," as it is said. Is the sleep of the dead an eternal sleep? a sleep that shall know no waking? Death is not such a sleep. Jesus our Saviour will come with his holy angels, and he will look upon the graves of the sleeping saints, and bid them arise, and they shall "wake in his likeness." There will be a great earthquake, and the graves will be opened, and the earth shall shake out the bones, and "bone shall come together to his bone," and the flesh and the sinew shall come upon them, and the Lord shall cause his wind to blow upon them, and the breath of life shall re-animate those bodies, and they will arise a great multitude, and be borne away by angel hands, while the living saints are translated, and caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air. But do the wicked never have a resurrection? Yea verily. The rest of the dead lived not again, until the thousand years were finished; then the heavenly city, New Jerusalem, comes down like a bride adorned for her husband, and rests upon Mount Olive, which parts and forms a great plain. Then Jesus and his saints enter into the beautiful city, and with an awful voice he calls upon the rest of the dead, who come forth from their graves to hear the dread sentence, "Depart from me," which, by their own deeds they have brought upon them. Still they are rebellious. They come up on the "breadth of the earth" with the Arch-Deceiver at their head, whose number is as the sand of the sea, and they encompass the city to make war against it and to overcome it. But Jesus and the saints ascend to the top of the city, and the wicked then behold them in all their glory, and realize that they are forever barred from enjoying the bliss of Heaven. Then fire descends and consumes them. Their end is death, eternal death! and the fire which consumes them goes on and burns up every remain of the curse, and earth, "In Eden robes shall bloom again." There shall then never be any more death, and sorrow and sighing shall find no place. But throughout its wide extent shall be joy, peace, happiness and love. The righteous shall safely dwell in mansions of light, and live in the bright presence of their King. The Lord will comfort Zion, and restore her waste places, and make her like Eden, like the garden of the Lord, and joy and gladness shall be found therein. A Fatal Accident.
By T. M. Steward
Bro. Stephen Lawton of Mackford, Green Lake Co., Wis., aged 49 years, was killed by accident, at Pittsfield, Mass., the 13th inst. He had been East on a visit for several weeks, and was just returning home. He arrived in Pittsfield from the East on the 3 o'clock A. M. train. As it was very dark, he inquired the way to the American House, and was directed. He was soon heard and found upon the ground some eighteen or twenty feet below where he had evidently fallen from the wall near the Rail Road bridge, in North Street, and was horribly mangled, breaking one leg, an arm, and fracturing his skull. He was taken to the American House, medical aid procured, and every thing possible done to alleviate his sufferings, but he died about 10 o'clock, A. M. of the same day. After telegraphing to seven places, they at last found his residence. The heart-rending news reached his wife in Mackford the 16th, when she immediately sent for them to forward the body to her. They did so, and it arrived the 23d. His friends felt relieved to see that he was well cared for and neatly laid out in a respectable coffin, and ready for burial. He looked very natural, with a heavenly smile upon his countenance. Sabbath we attended his funeral, and sought consolation from the text, "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." 1 Cor. xv, 26. Sr. Lawton is left a lonely widow in this cold-hearted world, but sorrows151 not as those who have no hope. We have in the life and character of Bro. Lawton, unmistakable evidence of deep-seated, genuine, love-inspiring piety. He was a man respected and beloved by all who knew him. Evidence of this might be seen in the falling tear from a house full of all classes. May it make a lasting impression on their minds. One prominent man (not a professor,) said of him, that he thought no man he knew of was so well prepared to die. May we all live the life of the righteous, that our last end may be like his. "Dear as thou wert, and justly dear
We will not weep for thee;
One thought shall check the starting tear;
From sorrow thou art free.
"Angels shall guard thy sleeping dust,
And, as thy Saviour rose,
The grave again shall yield her trust,
And end thy deep repose."
The Coming of Christ.
By Henry F. Phelps
"It will not be for a thousand years; at least it will not be in my day." "The teaching of such a doctrine is false, for Christ says, 'of that day and hour knoweth no man.'" So says the objector to our view of the soon coming of Christ and the end of the world. It is but a false endeavor to calm their minds. It will prove a snare to their souls. That day will overtake them as a snare. They are fulfilling the word that says, they shall cry "peace and safety." How terrible will be the consequences. "Sudden destruction cometh upon them, and they shall not escape." That time is coming. The end is approaching. The world is ripening for destruction. Babylon is filling up her cup. Crime is on the increase. There is hardly a paper published, but its pages are full of the recital of crime. "Stupendous robberies," "Daring burglary," "Horrible and fiendish murders." In my last paper, St. Paul Press, I sum up the following: "One and a half million of dollars in bonds stolen." "Three thousand three hundred dollars obtained from the Central National Bank, through forgery by boys." "A union man shot by a returned rebel soldier. The brother of the deceased raising a company, followed him, and overtaking him riddled him with bullets." "A man murdered in his own house; his wife supposed to be accessory to the crime." "Discovery of the murderer of the Joyce children." "Horrible affair:—A robber beats a child to death with a Bible. Two other children horribly beaten and left for dead." Add to this terrible record, accidents and losses by conflagrations, steam explosions, rail-road disasters, and the catalogue is full. The heart sickens at the recital. The eyes grow dim at the sight, and we turn in disgust from the scene. No wonder that Jeremiah said, "A horrible thing is committed in the land." Truly, "Wicked men and seducers are waxing worse and worse." And here see a word of blasphemy: "Dr. Cumming's prediction that the world will come to grief in 1867, is irreverently commented upon by the Augusta (Georgia) Constitutionalist, which says, 'We are firmly persuaded that this will prove to be a "great cry and little wool;" for, shave the pig-headed world as you may, bristles alone fall into the apron of the inspired barber. All this raving about the end of the world, is mere bosh and indigestion. A bad stomach is the origin of a vast deal of the lugubrious religion of our fellow creatures, and Dr. Cumming will do well either to go to a water-cure establishment or sanitary commission, before he dons his ascension robe on the judgment day of 1867. We stake our money on the planet and think it safe.'" This needs no comment. It is evidently a dive at the whole class of men who teach that the end is near. Thus everything tends to swell the cry of peace. And as these signs thicken around us like clouds before a gathering storm, let us hail them as signs that betoken our deliverance. Offense as a Mark of Pride
To be easily offended, is one of the most indubitable marks of pride. Pause and Think.
By C. M. Willis
WHAT is your besetting sin?
Do you know?
There is surely one within,
Hidden though;
In each breast one finds a home,
Though 'tis oft concealed with care,
You may think it overcome,
It is ever lurking there,
Pause and think, Pause and think. Every one has something wrong,
So have you;
Something you have harbored long,
It is so.
Deeply search within your heart,
You will find it hidden there,
Of your nature 'tis a part,
Of its name, though unaware,
Pause and think, Pause and think. It may be a bitter tongue,
I don't know,
Which would seek a neighbor's wrong,
Is it so?
Have you let it have its say,
Till you feel it is no shame,
When you let it run away,
And traduce a neighbor's name?
Pause and think, Pause and think. Hasty temper it may be,
I can't tell;
Getting angry every day,
Is this well?
At each slight unguarded word,
Do you let your passions rise?
When your breast by storms is stirred,
Do you hear to reason's cries?
Pause and think, Pause and think. Do you let pride fill your heart?
Look within:
And contend that fashion's art,
Is no sin?
Do you crave the highest seat,
With a proud and lofty eye,
And the poor refuse to greet,
But with haughty look pass by?
Pause and think, Pause and think. What if you should love your gold,
This may be:
Hoarding up your sums untold,
Look and see.
You forget the poor to bless,
Cease to wear a quiet mind,
You are seeking happiness,
But you'll seek and never find,
Pause and think, Pause and think. Self-conceit may puff you out,
Windy words,
No one else, when you're about,
Can be heard;
Ever seeking your own ease,
All must to your wants attend,
All may try your whims to please,
But you'll never gain a friend;
Pause and think, Pause and think. I could name a hundred more,
This will do:
You may think the list all o'er,
Which have you?
Some one to your garments clings,
Which if you don't cast away,
Will inflict its bitter stings
In the great, the reckoning day,
Pause and think, Pause and think. C. M. WILLIS.
Charlotte, Mich. The Last Sickness and Death of
By D. T. Bourdeau
DIED, of consumption, in Fairfield, Vt., March 1st, 1866, Bro. J. J. Herrick, aged 32 years, and about eleven months. Bro. Herrick was converted from the world by the preaching of the third angel's message, by Elder Sperry and others, six years ago the present spring. He heartily embraced the message, and during his subsequent life earnestly endeavored to adorn his profession by practically carrying out in his life as well as in his words, the holy doctrine he professed. In this direction he made rapid progress, and gained the confidence of all who could appreciate moral worth. When the subject of organization was attended to by the church of Enosburg, Bro. Herrick was appointed elder by the unanimous vote of the church. As an elder, he performed his duties faithfully—never absenting himself from meetings, unless hindered by sickness, always leaving his testimony on the side of truth, and frequently watering the truth with his tears. He was choice of his words and was a peace-maker. He delighted to keep pace with the message, and was willing to make any sacrifice for the advancement of the cause. When troubles and trials assailed the church, we knew where to find Bro. Herrick—on the side of right. If at times he seemed to halt before duty, it was because of his caution and great anxiety to do right. He taught in the Bible Class and Sabbath-School, and felt for, and yearned after the children, whose affections he won, and with whom he was often seen weeping while teaching them the way of life. But especially did Bro. Herrick's Christian character shine in the furnace of affliction. He was calm and had a rich hope to sustain him. He said he would sleep, as it were, but a moment, and then come up in the resurrection. He felt for sinners, and his interest for the church and the children continued to the last. A few weeks before his death, he requested an interview with the church and children at his own house, which was granted to him on the Sabbath. When prayer had been offered and a few appropriate testimonies given he was brought into the room, and with the marks of death stamped upon his countenance, thanked God for the privilege of seeing the church again, for having had a heart to receive the truth, and for all the blessings he had enjoyed in the message, exhorting the church to persevere to the end. He then briefly addressed the dear children, referring to the comfort he had taken with them, and telling them to be good and meet him in the morning of the resurrection. This was an affecting scene. May it long be remembered by the church of Enosburg. He said it had been a struggle for him to give up his faithful wife and five dear children, till he had earnestly prayed the Lord to save them by life or by death. Then he was blessed in leaving them under the care of Him who has promised not to forsake the widow and the fatherless. The last time we visited him, he was triumphant in grace, and was absorbed in the closing work of Christ in the sanctuary, in which he felt he had an interest. On the funeral occasion, remarks were made by the writer from the following words: "He being dead yet speaketh." Heb. xi, 4. D. T. Bourdeau. Sustaining the Review
By Hiram Abbott
Bro. White: I esteem it a privilege and duty to cast in my mite in favor of God and the truth. I can say with a sincere heart, I love God, I love his truth, I love his scattered and despised children. My love to God has been increased by reading the last number of the Review. I was made to rejoice while reading those soul-cheering testimonies which were recorded there. I ask, what would the remnant people of God do if it were not for this messenger of truth? My prayer to God is, that it may be sustained. Brethren in Christ, let us do what we can to SUSTAIN THE PAPER! The Review is like a ship which has returned from the golden world, laded down with the choicest treasures. It makes its weekly returns, bringing to the hungry, food; to the thirsty, drink. I would say for the edification of those of like faith, that there are a few in the little church at Wakeman, that are still striving to keep ALL the commandments of God, and the testimony of Jesus. The church here have had many internal trials and conflicts to endure; but I thank God that he has borne with us until the present. Satan has been trying to sift and destroy our small church, but the Lord has been stronger than all our enemies. We have sustained our weekly and monthly meetings ever since we have been organized, which has been nearly three years. Some of the time we have not been in as good working order as we should have been, therefore we have not made that progress in the truth, and the divine life that we should have done; but the Lord is bringing us to feel the need of a deeper work of grace in our hearts. My prayer to God is, that he would inspire our every heart with a more ardent zeal. A zeal that will enable us to surmount every difficulty; a zeal that is according to knowledge. I feel as though God's people will soon be called on to the conflict; the time of trouble is not far distant; the mutterings of the approaching storm are already heard; let us raise our united cry to our heavenly Father, to clothe us with the armor of righteousness, and prepare us for the conflict, so that when our leader says, "On to the conflict," that we shall be ready, by the grace of God to enter the engagement, with a full assurance of certain victory. Jesus is our captain; he will not leave us nor forsake us. Let us prove faithful to him until he comes, and eternal life is ours. The wise men of the east were rejoiced to see that star, that pointed to the redeemer's birth. They were in patient waiting for his coming. We, too, should be patiently waiting for the coming of our Lord. The omens are thickening all around us, of his soon coming. Dear brethren, let us lift up our heads, for our redemption draweth nigh. Come, Lord Jesus, COME QUICKLY! “Then they that feared the Lord, spake often one to another.” This department of the paper is designed for the brethren and sisters to freely and fully communicate with each other respecting their hopes and determinations, conflicts and victories, attainments and desires, in the heavenly journey. Seek first a living experience and then record it, carefully and prayerfully, for the comfort and encouragement of the other members of the household of faith. DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: Do any of you possess Martha's careful and troubled spirit? Does almost everything in life go contrary to your wishes and feelings? Do you sometimes feel that if your trials were of a different kind, or were directly from the hand of God you could bear them better, but as they are, they are more than you can well bear; and that they are of such an aggravating nature too, that you don't really know as the Lord wants you to bear them in silence? Thus I have heard people talk, and thus it has been with myself in a measure. But thanks be to God who has given us a perfect remedy in his word for all the ills of this life. The apostle said to the Philippians, Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. Then he adds, that the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ. I have tried to obey the apostle's injunction, and have experienced the blessedness which is promised. Truly no one who has not obeyed can understand the rest and peace that the soul feels who leaves all in the hands of God, firmly believing that he will do all things well. I love God's blessed word and all of his dear children. I love and highly prize the Review. I love the Testimonies for the church, and cannot see how any one who has a deep and living experience of their own, can doubt their heavenly origin. A Call to Watchfulness
By J. E. Farrar
BRO. WHITE: It has been about six years since I commenced to keep the Sabbath of the Lord, and to try to live out the truths of the third angel's message. I can truly say the truth looks more beautiful and harmonious to me to-day than in times past. "The faith of the just will shine more and more unto the perfect day." I want the truth to have a sanctifying influence on my life, I am determined, God being my helper, to overcome all my sins and evil besetments, and to be found without guile in my mouth, that I may be prepared for the coming of Him whose right it is to reign,—even Jesus the Son of the Most High God. None but those who have clean hands and pure hearts, will rejoice at his coming; then he that is "righteous will be righteous still, and he that is filthy shall be filthy still." I want to have all my sins confessed and forsaken, that they may be blotted out while Jesus stands before the mercy seat. We are living in perilous times; our adversary, the Devil, goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. It is needful for us to ever be on the watch-tower, lest we be taken in his snares. Brethren, pray for me. J. E. Farrar. Marquette, Wis. Letters from Vermont and Illinois
Sister A. L. Burroughs writes from West Charleston, Vt. : I feel to praise the Lord for the light of present truth, and for a heart to receive it. It never looked more precious to me than to-day. I believe the unmingled wrath of God will soon be poured out upon the wicked. Dear brethren and sisters, shall we be able to stand in that day? I want to be ready. I want to have on the whole armor of God and have my loins girt about with truth, that I may be shielded in the day of God's wrath. My prayer is, that I may have his Holy Spirit to guide and help me at all times. I love God. I love his holy law, and I love to think and meditate upon it. "I love to steal awhile away
From every cumbering care,
And spend the hours of setting day
In humble, grateful prayer." Bro. H. Hull writes from Princeville, Ill. : I commenced keeping all of God's commandments about three months ago. Soon after I commenced keeping the Sabbath, I came to this place that I might enjoy the society of those of like faith. Here I found friends who greatly encouraged me, and gave me employment. Although I have had strong temptations to turn from the straight and narrow way, I thank God that his grace has been sufficient for me, and that I am still found trying to do his will. I have never felt like turning back, nor been sorry that I have taken the steps that I have. I desire to keep onward, with my heart fixed on Christ, through whom I hope at last to enter the blissful haven, with all the redeemed of earth.