THE proper support of the ministry is a subject which demands careful attention. That the minister has wants, and that he must depend on the church to supply them while he gives his time to the work of his high calling, no sane man will deny. On this point discussion is unnecessary. "The laborer is worthy of his hire." Luke x, 7. These words were spoken by Christ in reference to the labors and support of his ministers. But the institution of a system by which gospel laborers may receive according to their works, and this is certainly just, is a matter which calls for close investigation. It is as true to-day, as it was eighteen centuries since, that the laborer is worthy of his hire. And we affirm that it is equally true that the hire is worthy of its labor.
In the summing up of the accounts of men in the final judgment, all are to receive according to their works. None will deny the justness of this course then. And why is it not the will of God that it should be carried out now with those merciful exceptions which circumstances may seem to demand, in the support of the ministry?
The plan of systematic benevolence adopted by Seventh-day Adventists for the support of the ministry is complete in all its parts. It is in harmony with both mercy and justice. Its claims upon the poor are so very light, and upon the wealthy so just, that both embrace it, and cheerfully act upon it. By this system all that was disagreeable in raising means formerly for the support of the ministry is done away, and the willing task under the present system becomes a bond of union to the church.
In this matter our people act nobly. And they have a right to demand that their free-will offerings be properly appropriated to those who labor for the advancement of the cause of truth. Our system of raising means is complete. But, up to the present time, for want of system in labor, and a proper and careful regard for justice and mercy in the disbursement of the means so liberally and cheerfully cast into the treasury, great mistakes are made. To illustrate: Eld. Loughborough, during last Conference year, labored in New England, absent from his family at one time about nine months, laboring incessantly, with his worn and feeble strength, accomplishing two strong men's work, received nearly the amount to meet actual expenses. Under these circumstances, and much reduced in strength and flesh, he cheerfully seizes the work in the West, to build up what some of our liberally-supported ministers there have torn down. In the same Conference to which Eld. Loughborough belongs is a young preacher, not yet suitably proved to receive ordination, who did not accomplish last Conference year one-tenth what Eld. L. did, and yet he did receive from the hands of the disbursing committee nearly the amount paid to our active, experienced, and efficient Bro. Loughborough, so that this young man after being well cared for at the homes of the brethren, and well clothed, had a surplus at the close of the Conference year of more than two hundred dollars.
Now we do not hesitate to say that unless such injustice can be prevented, and the means in the treasury be disbursed as nearly as possible to every man according to his work, we cannot longer in any way sustain our present system of raising means. But existing wrongs must be corrected, and our system of benevolence saved from ruin.
We propose, as the best thing that can be done at present,
1. That one or more of the Gen. Conf. Com. attend all the State Conferences; and as they are best acquainted with the labors of ministers throughout the wide field, and the condition of the different State treasuries, and the Gen. Conf. treasury, they act as counsel in the just recompense for ministerial labor in the different States.
2. That as soon as possible there be established equality, in all the States from Maine to Minnesota, in the compensation for ministerial labors.
3. That each minister keep a record of every day of the week during the year, where he has been, and what he has accomplished, and that this record be submitted to the inspection of the financial committee of the Conference to which he belongs, to receive from the Treasury according to his work, and the fruits of his labor. Conference in session need not be detained by these tedious reports.
We think it not enough to count the minister's sermons during the year. Has he labored among the churches? Let his report show what he has done for the churches. Has he labored in new fields? Let his report show how many he has brought to the truth, and whether they are persons of good moral standing in community, who will do honor to the cause of truth, or persons of no standing and influence in community. We cheerfully bid all, high or low, rich or poor, bond or free, a hearty welcome to all the blessings of the truth, to purify, sanctify, elevate, and save them. But we confess ourself thoroughly disgusted with the flaming reports of numbers of those who call themselves to the work, and come down in style and manners to suit the taste of a class who have no reputation to sacrifice, hence, no cross in embracing the truth. That class of ministers can convert more of their kind to the Sabbath than Elders Andrews, Loughborough, Cornell, Ingraham, and others, can convert of their kind. Yes, they will go out with our publications and scrape them up into the Sabbath, then give a flaming report of numbers; but many of those, after disgracing the Sabbath cause for a while, slide out of it as easily as they slid in. Hence we say, in considering a minister's labors, the moral rectitude of the persons brought to the truth by him should be considered.
All competent committees, will, however, know how to take into the account all the circumstances that surround ministers in their labors, and do all in their power for their encouragement. But we may justly appeal to all who cheerfully cast into the treasury of their hard-earned liberalities, that when they hire a man to labor, they not only take into the account the amount of labor performed, but, also, the manner in which it is done. As things now stand, in some States, men are paid alike for building up, and for tearing down; for serving God, or for serving Satan; for active labor every day, or for waiting at home for the storm to subside, the mud to dry, the snow-drifts to be broken, or the weather to become cooler.
We see no reason why ministers cannot labor, sixty hours at least out of every week, as well as men of other callings. We affirm that they can. Having labored more than seventy-two hours in each week for the last fifteen years, we are prepared to judge in this matter. Our manner of life has been to study and preach on the Sabbath, and then during the other six days of the week be actively engaged in the editorial and business departments of the Review Office. We say, Let every minister who desires health, activity of mind, and buoyancy of spirits, work at least ten hours each day. He can study with his might five hours, visit from house to house with his might four hours each day, and each day preach one hour, instructing and arousing the people with living thought from his vigorous and well-disciplined mind. He has then left him fourteen hours for sleep, recreation, prayer and meditation.
The farmer toils all day with the monotony of his work, the blacksmith swings the sledge and hammer, and blows the smutty bellows all day long, the printer stands picking type, as a hen picks up corn, all day69long, the editor sits at his table all day long, as a goose sits upon her nest, till his brain is weary, and his soul disgusted with the papers before him. And so we might mention a hundred and one monotonous callings which require perpetual application, or the toil-worn man is docked in his wages. But the minister knows no such sameness. He can enjoy the luxury of study and regale his mind with knowledge. Then he can visit and pray with the people, and refresh his own spirit with the very bread of Heaven, and then stand before the people and receive heavenly showers of grace as he from a gushing soul waters others.
And yet many ministers dwell upon the hardships of their life till they make themselves believe that the above-described joyous ministerial life is next to martyrdom. My God pity them! One reason why some of them have no more joy in their work is because of the listless manner in which they engage in it.
The sun is up two hours before them. Leisurely they chat with those who entertain them till noon, and spend the afternoon as though time hung heavily upon their hands. And the people from custom mistake this ministerial idleness for the meekness and humility of the Bible.
Now we propose that our ministers fall under the inspiration of that activity in their high and happy calling, which is conducive to physical, mental and spiritual health, and that every man be rewarded from the treasury according as his work shall be.
In the next number we promise to remark upon the proper course to be pursued by, and toward, men who have their eye upon the ministry. J. W.
The World’s Conversion a Fale. No. 5.
By R. F. Cottrell
ANOTHER positive proof that the world will not be converted before the coming of Christ, is the clearly revealed fact, that the great antichrist of prophecy is to have a continued existence in the world until the advent, and is to be destroyed by the blazing glory, the “flaming fire,” in which the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven.
This antichristian power is foretold in the New Testament as well as in the Old, and consequently acts its part in the Christian dispensation. Therefore, if it has arisen and is to exist to the end of the dispensation, that is, to the second coming of Christ, there is no possibility of the conversion of the world and a temporal millennium this side of that event; for as long as antichrist remains in the world, it is self-evident that the whole world cannot be Christian. If the whole world should unite to the Christian body, none would be left to constitute the antichristian body. Therefore should the conversion of the world take place before the advent, the “man of sin” cannot, as Paul declares, be “destroyed by the brightness of his coming;” unless indeed he has a resurrection before He comes who has the “keys of death and of hell,” that is, the resurrection power.
There can be no doubt with the student of prophecy, that Paul’s “man of sin, the son of perdition” is the same power spoken of by Daniel the prophet in chap. vii, as the “little horn,” and in the book of Revelation as “the beast.” And whoever will compare these several descriptions of this “abomination of desolation” with the history of the world during the gospel age, will find that they point, unmistakably, to that power whose highest official is the pope of Rome. Its mouth speaking blasphemies, its unparalleled persecution of the saints of the Most High, and the long period of its reign, being twelve hundred and sixty years, constitute a description which infallibly applies to the papal power; because that no other power has ever existed that fills the description.
Of this power it is said, “But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.” Dan. vii, 26. This text represents that the dominion or civil power of the papacy is taken away a little before the end, and that from that time it consumes away to the end, when, as the following verse shows, the kingdom of God is established, that power being utterly destroyed from under Heaven. See verse 27. Paul’s testimony harmonizes perfectly with this, and also proves that the “end” spoken of by Daniel, is the end of the gospel age, at the second coming of Christ. Says the apostle, “And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.” 2 Thess. ii, 8. Thus it is proved that the great antichrist shall exist to the “day of Christ,” and shall be destroyed when he descends to take vengeance on his foes and save his people. The present consuming, enfeebled, dying state of the papacy is a sure indication that the end is at hand.
Again, in Rev. xix, the personal coming of Christ is represented in symbolic language, as one coming from Heaven upon a white horse, followed by the armies of Heaven upon white horses—the holy angels that come with him. At this time, the beast so particularly described in chap. xiii, which, as I said before, can represent nothing which ever existed upon earth but the papacy, is still here, and in array against the coming King of kings. “And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.” Verses 19, 20.
Thus it appears that, if we are to have a glorious millennium before the coming of Christ, the “wild beast,” with his mouth of blasphemy, if not his horns of power, will remain upon earth through it all, and also the false prophet that deceives the world with his miracles. Deliver me from such a millennium! Who knows but we are enjoying it now! The professed Christian world are following the traditions of the beast, and being deceived by the false prophet. And I seriously am inclined to believe that one of the leading deceptions of the false prophet, is the doctrine of the world’s conversion and a temporal millennium before the coming of Christ. While men are looking for the “good time coming,” and finally resolve to fight their way through to it, suddenly the parting heavens reveal the coming of the Son of God, and they find themselves fighting, or attempting to fight, against the coming King of kings and Lord of lords.
We have proved that so far from the doctrine of the conversion of the world being taught in the Scriptures, it is pointedly contradicted by the prophecies. It is a most deceptive and dangerous doctrine. What could be better calculated to deceive men, so that the day of the Lord should come upon them as a snare, or as a thief in the night? And thus it will be, notwithstanding all the thrilling warnings and exhortations of the word of God to watch and escape the danger. And can it be possible that almost every denomination of Christendom, and almost every professed minister of the gospel, are lending a hand to help on this fatal delusion? Oh, that candid, truth-loving men and women knew (if they could bear the sight), the extent of prevailing apostasy in the professed church of the present day. If the apostle could say, when viewing the beginning of apostasy, “In the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils,” well might he exclaim, when, by the Spirit, he saw the culminating point to which this apostasy is now approaching and has nearly reached, “In the LAST DAYS PERILOUS TIMES SHALL COME.”
Awake, dear readers, to the perils which surround you, threatening to engulf you in irretrievable ruin. Do not sleep over the subject of your salvation, and indulge in delusive dreams of the conversion of the very dregs of humanity; and of a “good time coming,” till the thunders of the day of God that shall shake the heavens and the earth, shall awake you to the lamentable fact, that “the harvest is past, the summer is ended,” and you are “not saved.” Now is the time, while mercy lingers, with our great High Priest before the throne of God in Heaven, to make preparation to stand in that tremendous day, which soon and suddenly will burst upon a world ripened in wickedness, and upon a professed church, wholly departed from her God!
O, hasten! to make your escape.
Are the Planets Inhabited?
By M. E. Cornell
THINGS invisible may be understood, to some extent, by things which do appear. See Rom. i, 20. We read that God "made the worlds." Heb. i, 2. If our world is one of the "worlds," and it was made to be inhabited, may we not conclude that others are inhabited also? If not made to be inhabited, are they not made in vain. Of one of these worlds it is said, "He created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited." Isa. xlv, 18. From this passage we infer that if the earth had not been formed to be inhabited it would have been created in vain.
Astronomy teaches that there are many worlds, and that they are provided with suns and moons, to give them light. But why has the Creator made this provision if they are not inhabited?
That there is, at least one world besides ours, inhabited by intelligent beings, is absolutely certain; for some of those heavenly beings have visited this world on errands of mercy, and have demonstrated their existence by walking, and talking, and even eating with men.
The idea that God is dependent on this little speck in the universe for the glory due to himself, is altogether too contracted. Some have spoken proudly, and have limited, "The high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity."
The following from Jacobus' Notes in regard to the immense distance of the fixed stars, may help to give us some idea of the infinity of space.
"In 1837, Prof. Bessel of Germany, commenced a series of astronomical measures for getting the exact distance of the fixed stars, a thing that had never been70done. The instrument which he used in connection with a powerful telescope, in his experiments, was called the great Konigsberg heliometer. After three years' hard labor, he was so fortunate as to obtain a parallax, but so minute, that he could hardly trust his reputation upon it. But after repeated trials and working out the result, he was fully satisfied that he could give the true distance to sixty-one cygni. But who can comprehend this immense space? We can only convey an idea to the mind, of this distance, by the fact that light which travels twelve millions of miles in a minute, requires not less than ten years to reach us! Just let any one try to take in the idea. One hour would give 720,000,000 of miles; one year, then—8,760 hours—this gives 6,307,200,000,000, and this multiplied by ten, gives 63,072,000,000,000. This, according to Bessel, is the distance of the nearest fixed star to the sun. All astronomers confirm the correctness of Prof. Bessel's calculations. But this distance, great as it is, is nothing to be compared to the distance of the Milky Way. Sir William Herschel says that the stars, or suns, that compose the Milky Way, are so very remote, that it requires light, going at the rate of 12,000,000 of miles in a minute, 120,000 years to reach the earth. And he says there are stars, or rather nebulae, five hundred times more remote! Now make your calculation; 120,000 years reduced to minutes, and then multiply that sum by 12,000,000, and the product by 5,000. What an overwhelming idea! The mind sinks under such a thought; we cannot realize it; it is too vast even for comprehension. David says (Psa. ciii, 19) "The Lord hath prepared his throne in the Heavens, and his kingdom (or government) ruleth over all." M. E. CORNELL.
For Consideration.
By John Nevins Andrews
“Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after. Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.” 1 Tim. v, 24, 25.
Query. Does not the first of these two verses belong wholly to the wicked, as the last one belongs only to the righteous? Are there not two classes of wicked men brought to view in verse 24, and two classes of righteous in verse 25? Does not the apostle reason from God’s providence which makes a signal distinction between sinners in this life, to that same fact in the cases of his saints? Does not verse 25 teach that God is pleased to honor even in this life the good works of some, and to render them especially manifest before all; while others whose good deeds are not thus made prominent shall eventually find that not one of their acts of obedience is overlooked or forgotten? Is not this statement concerning the righteous presented as a parallel to that of the wicked in verse 24? And may not the meaning of verse 24 be this: That some men’s sins call down the special vengeance of Heaven even in this state of things, while other men go on in sin with nothing to specially indicate the displeasure of the Almighty? May not the Antediluvians, the Sodomites, Korah and his company, Ananias and Sapphira and many others be considered as belonging to this class? While those who have more than heart could wish, who spend their days in pleasure and go down into the grave in peace, properly represent the latter? So of the righteous. Are not some in the providence of God held up as examples, and their good deeds published to the world, while others equally precious in his sight remain unknown to the great mass of their fellow-men, and will only be honored of their Master in that great day which shall manifest the sons of God?
J. N. Andrews.
THE INSATIABLENESS OF MAN.
Give a man the necessaries of life, and he wants the conveniences. Give him the conveniences, and he craves for the luxuries. Grant him the luxuries and he sighs for the elegancies. Let him have the elegancies, and he yearns for the follies. Give him all together and he complains that he has been cheated both in the price and quality of the articles.
Divine Unity Is Love
THE essence of the divine unity is love, and God is only known by loving him.
Business Proceedings of the Iowa State Conference Held at Pilot Grove, Iowa, July 3, 1865.
Conference called to order by Eld. B. F. Snook, President. Prayer by Eld. James White. Delegates from nearly all the Seventh-day Adventist churches of Iowa presented their credentials, and took their seats in the Conference. The following churches were represented: Pilot Grove, Marion, Eddyville, Washington, Waterloo, West Union, Wawkon, Fairfield, Lisbon, Sandyville, Fairview, Vernon, Palestine, Liberty, Laporte City, and Knoxville.
Voted, That this be accepted as the annual State Conference for 1865.
Voted unanimously, That Elders James White and J. N. Loughborough be invited to participate in the deliberations of the Conference.
Voted, That a committee of three be appointed to nominate officers for the ensuing Conference year. Elders White, and Loughborough, and H. Nicola were appointed said committee.
After consultation, the committee nominated the following officers, who, upon motion, were duly elected: President, Geo. I. Butler, of Wawkon. Vice President, A. A. Fairfield, of Liberty. Secretary, H. E. Carver, of Marion. Treasurer, Thomas Hare, of Marion. Conference Committee, Geo. I. Butler, Noah Hodges, and H Nicola.
Brn. White, Snook, and Cook, were appointed a committee to prepare business for the Conference.
After due consideration, the committee presented their report which was accepted.
Reports from the churches being in order, their condition was reported as follows:
Members.
S. B. Pledges.
Pilot Grove,
53
Marion,
41
Fairview,
33
Washington,
11
Fairfield,
22
Lisbon,
38
Wawkon,
40
Waterloo,
8
Vernon,
16
Liberty,
40
Palestine,
14
Laporte City,
14
Eddyville,
10
Sandyville,
40
Knoxville,
46
West Union,
31
Elgin,
16
Total,
472
Voted, That the churches pay to the Treasurer the whole amount of Systematic Benevolence funds that may be paid in during the Conference year.
The Treasurer reported the whole amount of funds received and paid out since last Conference, (9 months) as follows:
Rec'd from Sept. 16, '64, to June 30, '65, $1184,94
Paid out " " " " 1156,16
Balance on hand, $28,78
Ministers' reports being called for, Eld. B. F. Snook read his report of labors, also of receipts and expenses, which was received. Eld. Brinkerhoff made a report of receipts and expenses, which was received.
Elders Snook and Brinkerhoff tendered to the Conference their resignation as ministers. Upon a deliberate consideration of all the circumstances in the case, the Conference unanimously voted not to receive their resignation.
Voted unanimously, That the cases of Elders Snook and Brinkerhoff be placed in the hands of the General Conference Committee; and that they be requested to recommend to the Iowa Conference Committee, such action, in each case, as they may deem best for the cause, and their own welfare.
Voted, That the case of those who may apply for license to preach, be placed in the hands of the General Conference Committee for recommendation as to what action should be taken.
Voted unanimously, That the Gen. Conf. Committee and sister White be invited to labor within the bounds of this Conference, as long as they may deem that the good of the cause demands.
Voted unanimously, That the thanks of this Conference be tendered to the Gen. Conf. Committee and sister White, for their presence and efficient labors among us at this time.
Voted unanimously, That the thanks of this Conference be tendered to the Pilot Grove church, for their kindness and hospitality, in providing so well for the comfort of the large body of Sabbath-keepers attending this Conference.
Voted, That the proceedings of this Conference be published in the Review. On motion adjourned.
G. I. BUTLER, President,
H. E. CARVER, Secretary.
A Fact Narrated.
By M. W. Howard
I was somewhat amused as I noticed in a brother's recent report, the mention of one who in hasty "zeal to maintain his assumed position, affirmed that fellowship in the New Testament, meant collection or contribution." Now to persons of cool practical sense, such positions seem so absurd that the statement of them looks like a fabrication! But by it I was reminded of a similar adventure some years ago, when I was first learning71to attack that stronghold of modern theology, a thousand years' millennium. Usually some show of reason
is adduced, or else acting upon the maxim that "discretion is the better part of valor," its adherents will maintain a morbid silence regarding proof, and content themselves with asserting the assurance of their belief. But here I met one who in his fancied correctness, sought to prove it, or rather to prove he had proof. Taking the Bible I turned to a passage in point (the precise one I do not now recall), which ought to have been sufficient to silence a greater adept than himself. His ready answer was "That is all in the past." But said I, the passage gives us to understand most emphatically, that it shall be in the time of the end.
Seeing himself hedged in on every side, a desperate effort was needed to extricate himself; and surely he resorted to it. Passing his hand rapidly over the sacred page, he said, "The Old Testament is all fulfilled, every word of it—prophecies and all!!
Astonished I looked at him; and suiting the action to the word, I closed the book, saying, Then let us lay the obsolete thing aside. But now how are you going to prove the millennium? for the New Testament says not a word about it. It was now his turn to be surprised; and in his surprise and haste he said, "Mount Zion means millennium; and if the word mountain don't mean millennium, pray what does it mean?"
I had few words to waste on so manifestly absurd a position, and our conversation soon ended; for I had no doubt if he had borrowed his idea from anything, it was from those words, "But in the last days it shall come to pass that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains" &c., but had quite forgotten that this was in his fulfilled (?) Old Testament.
Out of regard to others who may be equally desirous of sustaining this sinking theory, but who would never resort to so preposterous a position, I frankly confess that the person with whom I had this conversation, was in his dotage, like the theory he advocated, and has since been laid aside in imbecility of intellect. Would that this long-cherished theory might as easily be laid aside, its advocates having learned that asserting a thing does not create a fact, and having learned this, learn to go and preach the gospel to every creature for a witness, according to the divine commission, without presumptuously claiming that "the result of this preaching and praying shall be the conversion of the world."
M. W. HOWARD.
Malone, N. Y.
Meetings in Portland, Me.
By John Nevins Andrews
In company with Bro. Cornell, I had the privilege of meeting with the brethren in Portland and vicinity, on Sabbath and first-day, July 8 and 9. We had, I trust, a profitable series of meetings. The word of the Lord was precious to those who spoke it, and seemed to interest and benefit those who heard. Our seasons of social worship on Sabbath and first-day mornings were encouraging and precious seasons.
The Sabbath-keepers in Portland and the adjacent towns are not numerous; yet to me it was very encouraging to meet so many in a place where in times past the cause has been so feeble. Thank God for what has been accomplished in the East. There is still some interest to hear in Portland. Our meetings were attended by a first-day Advent preacher and his wife, who acknowledged their strong conviction that the Sabbath of the fourth commandment ought to be observed. God give them grace to act up to their convictions of duty.
Our brethren in Portland have a very pleasant and commodious hall. If they walk worthy of the high calling with which they have been called, others will be added to their number of such as shall be saved. They cannot have preaching indeed only at long intervals, but they can have interesting and heavenly seasons of social worship. Yet to secure these, each member of the church must have a living experience in the things of God. Such I trust will be the case in Portland. The consistent lives, and godly example of our brethren there, will exert a powerful influence in behalf of the present truth. But if these things be lacking, the cause of truth will be wounded in the house of its friends. "A city set on a hill cannot be hid."
I have devoted considerable time since I came to Maine, to writing. I trust that I shall be able now to give myself to the work of teaching the word of God, and visiting from house to house. I have a most earnest desire to accomplish some good, in a humble way, in the cause of God.
Bro. Cornell has resumed labor in Augusta with some tokens for good. Our meetings will be on the coming Sabbath and first-day, in Cornville. Letters may be directed to me at Topsham. Brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified.
J. N. ANDREWS.
Topsham, Me., July 19, 1865.
The End of Time.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
[The following description of the last days by Pollok seems quite prophetic of the present time. D. M. C.]
“The race of men, perplexed, but not reformed,
Flocking together, stood in earnest crowds,
Conversing of the awful state of things.
Some, curious explanations gave, unlearned:
Some tried affectedly to laugh; and some
Gazed stupidly; but all were sad and pale,
And wished the comment of the wise. Nor less,
These prodigies, occurring night and day,
Perplexed philosophy: the magi tried,
Magi, a name not seldom given to fools,
In the vocabulary of earthly speech,
They tried to trace them still to second cause;
But scarcely satisfied themselves: tho' round
Their deep deliberations crowding came,
And wondering at their wisdom, went away,
Much quieted, and very much deceived,
The people, always glad to be deceived.
“These warnings passed—they unregarded passed:
And all in wonted order calmly moved.
The pulse of nature regularly beat,
And on her cheek the bloom of perfect health
Again appeared. Deceitful pulse! and bloom
Deceitful! and deceitful calm! The earth
Was old and worn within; but like the man,
Who noticed not his mid-day strength decline,
Sliding so gently round the curvature
Of life, from youth to age—she knew it not.
The calm was like the calm, which oft the man
Dying, experienced before his death:
The bloom was but a hectic flush, before
The eternal paleness: but all these were taken
By this last race of men, for tokens of good.
And blustering public News aloud proclaimed,
News always gabbling, ere they well had thought,
Prosperity, and joy, and peace; and mocked
*The man who kneeling prayed, and trembled still;
And all in earnest to their sins returned.*
Meanwhile the earth increased in wickedness;
And hasted daily to fill up her cup.
Satan raged loose; Sin had her will; and Death
Enough; blood trod upon the heels of blood;
Revenge, in desperate mood, at midnight met
Revenge; war brayed to war; deceit deceived
Deceit; lie cheated lie; and treachery
Mined under treachery; and perjury
Swore back on perjury; and blasphemy
Arose with hideous blasphemy; and curse
Loud answered curse; and drunkard stumbling fell
O'er drunkard fallen; and husband, husband met
Returning each from other's bed defiled;
Thief stole from thief; and robber on the way
Knocked robber down; and lewdness, violence,
And hate, met lewdness, violence, and hate.
O Earth! thy hour was come; the last elect
Was born; complete, the number of the good;
And the last sand fell from the glass of time.
The cup of guilt was full up to the brim;
And Mercy, weary with beseeching, had
Retired behind the sword of Justice, red
With ultimate and unrepenting wrath;
But man knew not: he o'er his bowl laughed loud;
And prophesying, said: To-morrow shall
As this day be, and more abundant still.”
What Enjoyment Awaits us in Heaven.
By St. Augustine
If you see a long life of health, there they will have a healthy eternity, an eternal health, because the just shall live forever; the Lord hath said, “they shall surely live.” If satisfaction, they shall be satisfied when they see the glory of the Lord; they shall be filled with the riches of the house of God. If melody, then the angels shall sing to God without ceasing. If any pure pleasure delights you, the Lord will give you to drink of the rivers of his pleasure. If wisdom, then the very wisdom of God shall show you true wisdom. If friendship, they shall love God more than themselves, and one another as themselves; and God shall love them more than they themselves do; for they shall love him, and one another through him, but he shall love himself, them through himself. If concord, there all shall be of one mind, for the will of God shall be supreme. If power delights you, they shall be able to execute their will as God does his; for as God does what he wills by his own power, so through his power shall the saints execute their will. For as they shall desire nothing but what he wills, so he shall will what they desire, and what they desire must therefore be. If honor and riches, God shall appoint his good and faithful servants over many things, yea, they shall be called the sons of God and gods; they shall be heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ. But if certain security, they shall be as certain of never losing their security, as they will be certain they will never lose it of their own will; and that God who loves them, will take away from them nothing which they desire to retain; and that nothing else can do so, for God is on their side, and nothing shall separate them from God. How great and blessed is the joy where so great and blessed a good is!—St. Augustine.
The Uncovering of the Roof.
“AND they came unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was; and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.” Mark ii, 3, 4.
The following remarks from a very excellent work throw considerable light on this interesting incident:
“In genuine Arab houses no bedsteads are used, and consequently no rooms are set apart expressly for bedrooms. Mattresses are spread anywhere, in the various rooms and courts, or on the terraces, according to the season, or to the convenience of the moment; and the beds and bedding are rolled up and put away during the day in recesses made for them. Thus, with a pretty good stock of mattresses and lehaffs, a large number of guests may be entertained any night at a moment’s notice. The room was well ventilated by two large square openings, near the ceiling, opposite to each other, one being just over the door, and the other over the recess for the mattresses. This sort of bed could easily have been carried away by the sick man of Capernaum; and if the houses of Capernaum were built like most of the houses of the present day in the towns of Palestine, the uncovering of the roof referred to in the fourth verse of the same chapter, admits of an easy explanation. The inner court of the house is usually more spacious than any of the surrounding rooms, and often there are platforms or benches of stone on each side, spread with carpets and cushions, used as divans during the day and as sleeping places at night. To such a court Christ may have retreated when the crowd increased. We may imagine him there, with the wondering people round him, and the crafty and scornful scribes seated near on the divan—all sheltered from the hot sun by some kind of matting or canvas, supported on a trellis work of tree-branches and planks, more or less secure. When the sick man was carried by his friends to the house where Christ was preaching, ‘they could not come nigh to him for the press,’ so they very naturally went on to the terrace or house-top, and ‘uncovered the roof’ of the court: that is, they removed the matting which sheltered it, and then they ‘broke up’ the trellis work and let down the bed whereon the sick of the palsy lay. If an ordinary house-top had been broken up, the wooden beams, and the masses of earth and stone of which it is composed would, in falling, have endangered the lives of those below.”
The Name of Jesus
THE name of Jesus is not only light but also food, is likewise oil, without which all the food of the soul is dry; is salt, unseasoned by which, whatever presented to us is insipid; it is honey in the mouth, melody in the ear, joy in the heart, medicine to the soul; and there are no charms in any discourse in which his name is not heard.
Preaching
PREACHING.—“All the fine words and phrases in the world can never mortify one lust, nor convert one soul to God and goodness.”—Beveridge.