THE instruction with which the church in Battle Creek was favored, Jan. 16, is deserving of special mention. Another is added to the many occasions we have enjoyed, in which the Spirit of God has seemed to be especially present to prompt his servants to bring forth just that instruction needed by the people.
Bro. White spoke in the forenoon from Phil. 2:1-11, a rich portion of Scripture, opening a large field of timely and profitable thought. Sister White spoke in the afternoon on the present hour, its duties, importance and dangers. These were set forth in such a manner that we would all could have heard. We as a people, everywhere, need to be aroused to the fact that we are not half awake to the time in which we are living. Events the most solemn of any since time began, now hang over us; a work of the most imperative nature is committed to our hands; an individual preparation of which we have as yet but a faint perception, is to be made; dangers of which we are little aware, crowd our way; and time is dashing on swifter than a thousand rail trains, to the final consummation. Yet how little of feeling there is over these things! How few realize the situation! How easy and contented we all are! How listless and indifferent are the actions that should be performed as if we had sinews of steel and hearts of fire! We have a theory of truth that is clear, consistent, harmonious, and powerful; but we seem to have caught as yet but a glimmer of its awful reality. Oh! that the chilling and dimming mists of this state of sin and unbelief could be lifted, and all eyes be opened to see things clearly.
Almost overcome by the weight of the solemn truths she was presenting, sister W. was hardly able to control her feelings while speaking. A great burden of soul was manifest for this dear cause and people; and her words were some of the most solemn to which we have ever had the privilege of listening. Well will it be for all who heard to heed the timely admonitions, and arouse to newness of life. U. S.
S. N. H
[We are tempted to add, for the encouragement of our readers, the following from a private postscript appended to this communication, concerning the good meetings Bro. H. is now holding in Wisconsin.]
I am stirred through and through, when I see the openings and so few to fill them. My coming to this State I hope will be a blessing. We had a solemn meeting at Oakland, and I hope a profitable one. Last evening and this forenoon we had a meeting here at Sand Prairie. The Spirit of God seemed to rest down upon us this forenoon. I do not know that there was a dry eye in the congregation. We leave to-morrow for Mt. Hope. Our appointments are out as follows: Sabbath and first-day at Mt. Hope; Monday evening here; also Tuesday evening and Wednesday forenoon and evening; and Thursday forenoon and evening; &c. I do not know as I shall ever visit this State again, and I mean to make as thorough work as I can with God's blessing on this tour West.
S. N. H
National Religion.
By M. E. Cornell
The movement tending toward a union of church and State by so amending the Constitution of the United States that it will enforce popular religious institutions and sentiments, is growing rapidly, being backed up by many men of influence and ability. More than twenty years ago these sentiments began to be whispered here and there; but now the thing is taking shape, and it is fast becoming a power in the land.
Nearly all Protestant expositors of prophecy admit that the “beast” of Revelation, 13th chapter, is a symbol of the papal power. That was a power that enforced upon the people what they called, “Christian institutions,” by the civil law. It was the civil power, legislating upon religious matters at the instigation of the popular religionists of that time.
The prophecy declares that an image will be made to that power. And we see it is already forming. But they cannot set up their image until the Republican Constitution is remodeled. As it now stands, oppressive State laws could not be enforced. When once that which now hinders is taken out of the way, then, as it was with the papacy, “that wicked will be revealed.”
That such an image will be made in this country is as certain as the sure word of prophecy. All can see its approach if they will.
Charles Beecher, in his very justly celebrated sermon on creeds, utters the following almost prophetic language:—
“And what do we see just ahead? Another general council! A world’s convention! Evangelical Alliance and universal creed!”
Daniel Ullman, Esq., of New York, in his celebrated speech on the anniversary of Washington’s birthday said, “We need a common religious sentiment—a consistent national sentiment.”
Dr. Lyman Beecher said: “There is a state of society to be formed by an extended combination of institutions religious, civil, and literary.”
These sentiments carried out will result in the enforcing of religious observances by law, and having a virtual union of church and State.
Many very learned and influential men, both politicians and ministers, are working hard for the proposed step toward a national creed and religion.
The National Association for the Amendment of the Constitution recently met in Boston, and the reports show that they are making rapid strides, at least in the boldness of their utterances. While they disclaim any intention of binding the consciences of any, they boldly pass a resolution which they must know would certainly oppress many conscientious people. They resolve that,
“This constitutional recognition of the connection of our Government with Christianity is necessary, not to sustain the Christian religion, but to aid in preserving and maintaining the Christian institutions and usages of our nation.”
How can they maintain the so-called Christian institution of Sunday-keeping except to have a stringent Sunday law? And this would oppress many, and they know it. But this is their intention; for they have several times plainly declared it.
One of the speakers, Rev. W. R. Clark, on the proposition, “The Demand for the Religious Amendment of the Constitution of the United States a Moral Necessity,” said:—
“The enemies of Christianity have now pressed squarely in the issues of our civil life the question of the relation of Christianity to this Government. And it must be met. It can neither be evaded nor postponed. Two of our higher Courts have already decided that Christianity is no part of our common law, basing their decisions upon the non-recognition of God in the Constitution.”
In the same convention, Rev. F. E. Tower remarked:—
“All government rests at last on a religious basis. The chief and only reliable motive to which it appeals is a religious motive, viz.: the sense of moral obligation, which is quick and effective only in the presence (through faith) of the moral sovereign of the universe. Hence the universal belief of antiquity, that there can be no separation of religion and the State, was entirely correct. . . . Unless religion is to be shrivelled in its definition to the mere shell of ecclesiastical dogmas and rites, the theory that the State has nothing to do with it is an inversion of the truth.”
“Yet such is the impression carried by the unfortunate wording of the Constitution. Passages occur which are made to bear this meaning (though, probably, not intended), and the utter absence of any acknowledgment of God supports and warrants such an interpretation. And thus this great nation, Christian from its birth, and looked to as such from the four quarters of the globe, is made to assume the utterly suicidal and absurd position of religious neutrality. Neutrality in matters of religion! It is impossible, save to the atheist.”
M. E. CORNELL.
The Antiquity of Man.
By R. F. Cottrell
By chance, or by providence, I lately went into a church. I omit to give the denomination, because it is a rule with me to treat all with equal courtesy, and to say nothing prejudicial to any particular one. The minister gave notice that on the next Sunday evening he would give a lecture on the antiquity of man, in which he would prove that Adam was not the first man, but that men had existed on the earth two hundred and eighty thousand years at least. What a strange annunciation from the pulpit by a professed minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. But the Spirit expressly testified that in the last days it would be so. “They shall turn away their ears from the truth, and be turned unto fables.”
I heard the lecture. It was attempted to prove, from profane historians, that certain kingdoms of the earth had existed forty thousand years, more or less; and secondly, by deductions from geological investigations, that men had existed on earth for hundreds of thousands of years. From the announcement of the subject, when the appointment was given, I had anticipated the drift of the argument; and at the close of the lecture, having before asked the privilege, I was kindly permitted to make the following remarks:—
The apostle Paul says, “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God.” No greater miracle can be thought of than the bringing into existence of the whole material universe; hence there can be no greater act of faith than that which believes the statement that “in the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Therefore, the apostle, in Heb. 11, where he specifies many of the great acts and achievements of faith, places this at the head of the list.
“The worlds were framed by the word of God.” Says the sweet singer of Israel, “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.” Again, “He spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.” Accordingly it is said, “And God said, Let there be light, and there was light.”
A person whose faith is bold enough to accredit these statements of the Scriptures sees no necessity for the creative work to occupy a longer period of time than that given in the first chapter of Genesis. The days of the record were such days as an evening and a morning—a night and a day—constitute, that is, days of twenty-four hours. Otherwise the record is utterly unreliable, and calculated to mislead. They were such days as the sun, to which it was given to rule the day, marks off for the inhabitants of the earth. To him who could speak the word, and countless worlds would spring into existence out of nothing, the time is amply sufficient; but if nature had to create itself, eternity itself would be too short a period in which to accomplish it.
It is by faith, and not by exploration and observation, that we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” The believer walks by faith, not by sight. In those things which are beyond his own observation he takes the word of God, simply believing what God has said.
We speak of geological formations; but the earth did not make itself. We speak of certain portions of the earth as new lands, alluvial soils, the soil having been removed by the flowing of water and deposited in a new locality. This takes time; but the creation of the material itself is quite another thing. The earth did not create itself; and it cannot tell us how old it is. We cannot tell how long a time it has taken to accomplish certain changes in the earth. Hence the confident assertions of many geologists is merely guess-work. And when men's guesses conflict with the revelation which God has given us, we hope to be excused though we choose to believe the latter.
After these remarks I read in conclusion the article in the REVIEW, Vol. 36, p. 146, entitled, “That Old Skull,” which was quite applicable to the arguments of the lecturer, and which I think worthy of republication for the benefit of those who have not read it.
R. F. COTTRELL.
Mexican Congress Weighs Church-State Separation Bill
THERE is pending in the Mexican Congress a bill providing for the complete separation of Church and State and the expulsion of the Sisters of Charity from the Republic.
Joyful in God.
By Jos. Clarke
“Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things.” Deut. 28:47.
The book of Deuteronomy is remarkable for its decisive threatenings and curses against Israel if they should prove to be disobedient; it is also still more full, in its offers of reward in case of obedience; and in this connection, the above remark is recorded: that all these curses were denounced because of their service being destitute of love, which would make the work of God a pleasure. It was a weariness and a burden because of want of heart, want of interest.
This principle is often mentioned in the word of God, that God loves the cheerful giver, and the cheerful worker. He marks all sacrifices that are made with joy; all reverses and hardships borne with joy; persecutions endured with magnanimity. It is said that the apostolic church took joyfully the spoiling of their goods. Heb. 10:34. Indeed the word of God abounds in expressions of joyfulness and gladness of heart.
Deep repentance is accompanied with great sorrow and grief of heart; but it is followed by light and joy and gladness of heart. Great dangers sometimes lie in the path of God’s people; but united prayer turns them aside, and great joy follows.
Such an instance may be considered in the case of Haman’s wicked intention; in Ahasuerus’ decree of extermination and its final reversion by means of the efforts and prayers of Mordecai, and Esther, and their people.
Special occasions of joy often follow great occasions of trouble, because trouble leads to repentance, as in the case of the joyful passover feast in the reign of Hezekiah; also such an occasion in the reign of Josiah, and numerous others. At the Red Sea, when the Egyptians were destroyed, all the hosts of Israel praised the Lord.
Malachi is very decided in his language as he describes the lack of cheerful service in his time. Unwilling gifts and forced labor, God does not approve. “What a weariness! what a burden!” was the cry of many. They had just returned from Babylon, and were in want, and it seemed to them that they could not spare a penny of money, nor a lamb from the flock; and to spend their time and means on the worship of God seemed indeed a burden; but they prospered in following the advice of the prophets, as in the case mentioned in Ezra 6:14, and many others.
Such a joyful spirit in the service of God is a sure preventive of reaction and backsliding from God. Backsliding and apostasy are always preceded and accompanied by weariness and languor in the work of God. This often finally changes to positive dislike. Israel became restive, and fretful, and homesick, just after praising God at the overthrow of Pharaoh at the Red Sea, or they would not have murmured at the drear prospect in the desert and at the want of water, and the poor prospect for supplies. They should have kept on praising God, and praying for help.
There was no reaction in the widow’s heart after she cast her last mite of money into the treasury of the Lord, because she had a joyful heart in the work. She found that joy and peace in giving which the world could not give or take away; and there can be no doubt she found supplies abundant as the manna was to the people of Israel.
God knows our real wants are few and easily supplied; and that our imaginary wants are many, and hard to fill; and Satan is constantly inflaming the imagination with these imaginary ideas of life, and thus he keeps people in a constant fret and worry, which stifles all joy and happiness in holy contentment and cheerful service. It is certainly a good thing to look at this principle in the many pleasant lights in which it is presented in God’s word.
Jos. Clarke.
Extravagant Funeral Display Criticized as Fashion and Folly
At a recent New York funeral, where the deceased was a young and beautiful girl, over $3,000 worth of flowers were distributed in and around the coffin. A chorus was sung by hired vocalists. On either side of the coffin stood four young girls dressed in white, each holding in her hand a wreath of flowers. While the minister prayed, a bell was tolled in the hall-way, and a chant sung by the hired vocalists. The lady friends of the deceased thought the entertainment “perfectly elegant.” Fashion and folly are courted in the very presence of death!
Maine Tract and Missionary Society Quarterly Meeting Report
By J. B. Goodrich; Amos Holt
Maine.
QUARTERLY meeting of the Maine T. & M. Society met at Norridgewock, according to appointment, Dec. 20, 1874. President in the chair. Prayer was offered by Bro. Stratton. The report of the last quarter was read and accepted. Report of the present quarter shows the following results:—
No. of members, 175; reports returned, 28; families visited, 43; letters written, 40. Received for membership, $14.00. “ by donations, 6.45. “ “ book sales, 0.20. Total, $20.65.
No. of new subscribers for REVIEW, 8; Instructor, 4; Reformer, 1. Periodicals distributed, REVIEWS, 101; Instructors, 28; Reformers, 28; True Missionaries, 2. Tracts and pamphlets distributed by loaning and otherwise, 27,059 pages, value, $34.39. Furnished libraries, 752 pages, value, $2.00. Total, 29,811 pages, value, $36.39.
Remarks were made by the President on the importance of having a fund to help the worthy poor, widows, and orphans, and of filling our quota of names for The Voice of Truth and Health Reformer, which was responded to by there being about $200 pledged by those present.
Then he made some appropriate remarks on the importance of each member’s reporting, and of taking hold of missionary work with more zeal and earnestness. Adjourned sine die.
J. B. GOODRICH, Pres.
AMOS HOLT, Sec.
A Note of Praise.
By M. E. Carlisle
TIME is speeding swiftly but silently on to eternity. Jesus is soon coming. Are we prepared to meet him? Are our lamps trimmed and burning? Shall we be among the redeemed finally? Shall we be able to joyfully exclaim, “Saved! saved at last?” Yes, if we are among those which have kept the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus, Rev. 14: 12, and not without.
Thank God, that my eyes are now open to see the truth, and that I have a heart to obey it. About one year ago I accidentally saw the REVIEW, and commenced taking it, and became deeply interested about the Sabbath question, soon being led to feel that I was breaking the fourth commandment.
At that time there were no Seventh-day Adventists near. I knew nothing about such a people, or their belief, only as I read in the REVIEW. But God saw fit in his infinite mercy to send a family of his chosen ones to this place, and he, through their instrumentality, has enlightened my mind upon the truth of the third angel’s message.
Six weeks ago I embraced the truth, and commenced keeping the Sabbath. My heart is filled with gratitude to God for his great goodness unto me. How can I ever thank him for so much kindness and mercy? I can only exclaim, “Praise the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, praise his holy name.” God help me to be faithful, and live out this precious truth, and let my light shine before the world. I have consecrated my whole being to his service.
M. E. Carlisle.
Orange Co., Vt.
Morality of the Sabbath and Its Importance.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
VII. Man’s moral and spiritual well-being requires just what the Sabbath precept provides, and hence it is moral.
Here, again, a wide field opens before us; but our space will allow us to explore but a part of it and that hastily. What are the proper uses of the Sabbath day? Simply the cessation of labor is not all. The day is to be employed in meditating upon God’s works, in talking of his greatness and mercies, in studying his word, in going to the house of God for singing, prayer, Sabbath-school, social meeting, hearing the word of God, and like exercises.
Deprive society wholly of this weekly rest-day; abolish your Sabbath-schools, prayer-meetings, and regular sermons; let work of all kinds and classes go right on seven days in the week, and what would society be? If you want to know, go to heathen lands where they have entirely forgotten the Sabbath, and behold their ignorance, superstition, degradation and crime. That is just what would follow in any nation by the abolition of the weekly rest-day. We are social beings, and one of the greatest means of improvement is social intercourse. Take the child that is kept away from Sabbath-schools and Sabbath gatherings, and is kept at work in the same clothes seven days in the week, and he soon loses respect for himself, feels degraded in his own estimation, and his moral sensibilities become blunted. There are thousands of such examples as this. On the other hand, it does have a refining and elevating influence upon children and youth to leave their ordinary work once a week, wash up, put on their best clothes, and assemble with others for social and religious purposes. Nothing else can take the place of this. All other means combined scarcely equal in importance the influence of the Sabbath for this purpose.
But take it from a religious point of view, and how inestimable are the benefits and advantages of the Sabbath day. To properly estimate this, we must suppose the Sabbath to be entirely laid aside and no fixed rest-day to be regarded by society. What a condition of things we would then behold! We should have no Sabbath-schools, no Bible-classes, no regular days for meetings or divine worship, no day of rest from constant, wearisome toil; but everywhere shops and stores would be open, mills running, farm work going on, and, in short, one continued tide of work, work, work, business and worldliness. The anxiety of the employer to make the most out of his capital, and of the laborer to make the most of his time, crowds out all rest-days. If the poor laborer wishes to rest, his employer will not allow him to do so. If one house closes, the other will take its custom. And so all rush on in hot haste after the world, while God and the spiritual wants of man are forgotten!
What could a minister accomplish with such a state of things? How long would the members retain their spirituality? How long would the church survive under such circumstances? Compelled to labor against disadvantages, it would not have been possible for the church to have accomplished one-hundredth part of what it has,—if, indeed, it could have survived at all. By taking advantage of a weekly day of rest when the people have leisure to come together to hear the word of God, the church has gained its strongest hold upon the people.
In wide contrast with the sad state of things which would result if the no-Sabbath theory were carried out, and the church and the world were entirely deprived of a weekly rest-day, let us suppose for a moment that the Sabbath precept were carefully kept by all the world. What a delightful, what a heavenly sight we should behold. For six days all men are busily and honestly employed in their secular affairs; but now God’s holy rest-day comes. All business is suspended; all labor is laid aside; every shop and store is closed; the mills are stopped; the cars and the boats stand still; all toil on the farm is suspended; the beasts are allowed quietly to repose in the barn or in the field; all around the world everything is quiet and still; the children and youth, cleanly and neatly dressed, are wending their way to the Sabbath-school, where they will learn about their Creator, their Saviour and a pure and holy life. The people gather at the house of God, where solemn prayer and sweet songs of praise are offered to the Lord. The elevating truths of our holy religion are set forth before them. This would be a scene for angels to behold with delight. Heaven would come near to earth, and man would be lifted up into a higher and purer life.
Of the influence of Sabbath observance, an eminent author says:— “Its calm and heavenly stillness, when,31after six days of labor and amusement, the activity, bustle, noise and tumult of worldliness die away, speak of God. And as the Sabbath sun rises in his glory, and no man goes forth to labor, and all creation seems to listen, there is not an obedient child in the world, who knows the reason of this, and has been taught his duty, who does not feel more than he did before the omnipresence of Jehovah; and have a more operative conviction that he sees everything, and hears everything, and knows everything, and is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity. Earth becomes like the house of God, and the Sabbath like the gate of Heaven. It seems to raise a ladder like that of Jacob, and to show him angels ascending and descending upon it. He can hardly forbear to say, ‘Surely, God is in this place.’ For him, in keeping the Sabbath, so to play the fool as to say even in heart, ‘no God,’ is next to impossible.” Sabbath Manual, pp. 172, 173.
Reader, if the Sabbath day is not a moral institution, then God has never given one to man. It is one of the relics of Eden, a golden link that binds us to the throne of the Creator, and brings Heaven’s blessings near to man. May it long remain, with all its hallowed and dear associations.
We grant, says one, that all the above-named evils would follow if there was no regular day for rest and public meeting; but the church or society could agree and fix upon some day for this purpose without a definite appointment by the Lord. Indeed! This admission is the strongest argument in favor of our position; for it admits that the necessity for a Sabbath day is so great that men would appoint one even if God had neglected to do so!! What does that show? Just what I am trying to prove, viz., that God in giving us a Sabbath day simply met a generally felt and acknowledged want of mankind, which grows right out of their nature physically, mentally, morally and spiritually. It shows that the Sabbath rests upon the same basis that all other moral precepts do, viz., the wants of man’s nature.
It is a noticeable fact that our opponents who contend that there is no Sabbath day at all, do still keep a weekly rest-day and use it for social and religious purposes. In this we see an illustration of the old proverb, “Nature will out.” Why do they do this? The fact is, that nature is stronger than their theories, and will assert itself.
Another says, We agree that one-seventh part of time should be set aside as sacred to God; but it makes no difference which day it is, provided all are united upon it, which is the important idea. Here, again, they unwittingly admit all that we claim. They admit that it is a moral duty of man to devote one day in seven to the service of God. Thus they give it a moral basis, just that for which we are contending! Again, they strongly urge the great importance of all uniting to keep the same day. They dwell upon the inconvenience to society, where one keeps one day and another some other day, and so on;—how this interferes with business; how each one annoys the other; how it breaks up society, &c. Thus they readily name a long list of evils which follow where men keep different days for the Sabbath.
Do they not see that these very facts overthrow their own position? They maintain that it is no matter which day you keep provided you keep one day in seven, and that every man has the liberty to choose for himself. Then they turn square about and show how very important it is that all keep the same day! Why, then, do they advocate the very principle which, if carried out, would produce the very division, discord, and confusion which they deprecate so much? Did not the Lord have as much wisdom as man? Did he not know that it was important that all should keep the same day? Did he not see that, if he left it to every man to choose what day he would keep, confusion would inevitably follow, as all men would not be likely to choose the same day? Is God so unwise as to leave his laws in this slack manner? Is this not charging God with folly? What is gained to God or man by leaving every man thus to choose what day he will keep? The only way that union could be secured in observing the Sabbath, would be for the Lord himself to designate the definite day which all must keep. Then all would keep the same day, and all confusion would be avoided. We say, then, that reason and the nature of things teach us that if God should give man a Sabbath day at all, it should be a definite day, selected and appointed by God himself. That this is just what God has done in the Sabbath precept we will now show.
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day, wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.” Ex. 20: 8–11.
Notice this language carefully, and see if it does not designate a definite, particular day, not merely one day in seven, or simply one-seventh part of our time. The Lord says, Remember the Sabbath day. What are we to remember? Not the Sabbath, but the Sabbath day, or rather the day of the Sabbath. The day, then, is the important thing which we are to remember. The Lord does not say that we shall remember a Sabbath day, some Sabbath day, any Sabbath day, one day out of seven, or one seventh part of our time. No such indefinite language is used; but it is just as definite as language can make it. “Remember the Sabbath day.” The definite article the is used. If we wish to point out a definite, particular man, we say, The man. Otherwise we say, A man. So, here, the Lord says, The day, the Sabbath day. But which day is that? He makes it still more definite. “Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; but the seventh day,” &c. “Well,” says one, “that is just what we do. We work six days and rest on the seventh, and this is all that the commandment requires, viz., that we should rest one day after six days of work, no matter where we begin to count.” But look a little farther. The Lord does not leave it in that way. Which seventh day we shall rest upon is pointed out in the most definite manner. “But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work,” &c. Here, again, we notice the Lord does not say a seventh day, or one day in seven, or one seventh part of time, nor is any such indefinite expression used. It is the seventh day.
But now comes the clincher, which settles beyond all doubt, just which seventh day we must rest upon. “But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it,” &c. Which seventh day are we to keep? It is that one which is the Sabbath day, or rest-day of the Lord. Sabbath signifies rest. Sabbath day, rest-day. The Sabbath day of the Lord, the rest-day of the Lord, or the day upon which the Lord rested. Now which day is this? Let the same commandment tell us. “For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.”
The Lord worked the first, second, and so on for the first six days of the week. He did not rest upon either of these days. Hence neither of them is his rest, or Sabbath, day. Then he did rest upon the seventh day, the last day of the week. Nor was this simply one-seventh part of time, and no day in particular. It was a definite day, the last day of the week, and no other. When the Lord had rested upon the seventh day, that day thus became distinguished above all other days as the rest-day, or Sabbath day, of the Lord, as Sabbath signifies rest.
To illustrate: Washington was born on the 22d of February. That day thus became distinguished as Washington’s birthday. The day of the month, and of the year upon which he was born, and no other day, was, is, and always must be, Washington’s birthday. Could he change his birthday from the day upon which he was born? Certainly not. Just so the Lord’s rest-day must come upon the very day of the week upon which he did rest. The commandment requires us to keep, not our rest-day, nor the Jews’ rest-day, nor the Christian’s rest-day, but the Lord’s rest-day. Which day is that? Every honest man must answer that it is the day upon which God rested.
Notice now how plainly the Lord has stated this. “Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work.” The seventh day, then, upon which we must rest, must be the one upon which God rested; else it would not be the Lord’s rest-day. The commandment, therefore, was given to guard God’s rest-day and not some other day which any man’s fancy might choose. Did God bless and hallow a day? Yes. Which was it? His own rest-day, for so it says. Are there other days upon which God did not rest? Certainly. Has the Lord sanctified any of these? No, indeed. Thus we might go on to show in the plainest manner that the language of the fourth commandment in the most distinct and definite manner designates as the Sabbath day, not simply one day in seven, but the very day upon which the Creator himself did rest, the seventh and last day of the week. This view of the case is consistent. It is eminently reasonable that God should require men to reverence his own hallowed rest-day; and further, as we have already shown, in requiring man to keep a rest-day, it is unreasonable to believe that God would leave it to every man to select which day he would keep, as no benefit would accrue to any one by such an arrangement; but great confusion and inconvenience must of necessity be brought upon all by such a course. God could easily designate a definite day which all must keep; and thus harmony would be secured. And this is just what the Lord has done in the fourth commandment.
D. M. CANRIGHT.
EXPERIENCE
By R. Winter
'Tis now high time mankind should know,
Upon whose side they stand,
And which they pay most reverence to,
The word of God or man.
I long had been tradition bound—
Led by the craft of man;
But when the present truth I found,
It showed a safer plan.
Much precious time I've thrown away
Serving the “man of sin,”
But since I've kept the seventh day,
I've greater peace within.
God's law is now my chief delight,
'Tis written in my heart,
Its precepts guide my feet aright,
And light, and truth impart.
Now would I like to make it known
What truth has done for me.
Perhaps I may persuade some one
To come out, and be free.
Though some refuse to lend an ear,
And spurn the truth away,
I'll do my duty, and be clear
In the great coming day.
R. WINTER.
Crawford Co., Iowa.
Canola, Howard Co., Kan
By J. H. Cook; J. Lamont
Kansas.
We have been laboring here seven weeks, and see no place to stop yet. About twenty have taken their stand for the Sabbath. We have great hopes of several others. The Lord has given us victory through strong opposition.
J. H. Cook.
J. Lamont.
Canola, Howard Co., Kan
The Present Age.
By C. L. Gregory
We live in an age proverbial for its infidelity and atheism. Consequently, vice and irreligion have taken possession of a large majority of the present generation, and with all their boasted advancement in the arts and sciences, their mental and physical energies have degenerated.
The unprecedented light of revelation which has been poured upon the world the past few years, has been rejected by the multitude, and they seem to have been given up to work all manner of iniquity, “like raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame.” It ought to rest with solemnity upon the mind of every Christian, that the gospel necessarily, “proves a savor of life unto life, or of death unto death,” upon every one under its glorious light.
I do rejoice that the third angel’s message is destined to do its pure work, and is going to “peoples, nations, tongues, and kings,” and thus a people will be prepared to welcome the coming of Christ, and be translated into his glorious kingdom.
C. L. GREGORY.
Ottawa Co., Mich.
Like Jesus.
By Addie McWilliams
God will have a tried people, tried “even as gold is tried in the fire.” A refiner was asked how he could tell when the gold was sufficiently purified, and freed from dross. He answered, “When it reflects our image, we withdraw the heat.”
In like manner, when our trials have wrought for us a conformity to the will, and image, of Him who died for us, when can be seen in our character the reflection of Jesus, then will the heat of trial be withdrawn. Then can we look forward with happy anticipation to “that which doth not yet appear,” and say with the apostle, “We know that when he shall appear we shall be like him.” Blessed knowledge! What wisdom can exceed this; to know that fallen man may once more bear the image of God, may one day be redeemed from the curse of a violated law, and stand again as in Eden of old—in paradise restored, when the earth is made new? ADDIE McWILLIAMS.
Soldier Valley, Iowa, Dec. 6, 1874.
Praise the Lord.
By Wm. E. Price
I HAVE been abundantly blessed and cheered of late in seeing the truth going to other tongues and nations. In the late meeting held by Brn. D. T. Bourdeau and R. F. Andrews in Iroquois Co., Ill., my feelings were inexpressible when I heard the converts speak in both English and French, telling of the goodness of God, and his mercy to them in showing them the light of present truth. My heart responded, Praise the Lord, O my soul, for his goodness to me in sparing my life to see so much of his word fulfilled in my day.
The message is going to other tongues, as foretold by the prophet, and they are receiving it. It seemed to me I could partly realize the feelings of Simeon when he took the infant Saviour in his arms, and said, “Lord, now lettest thy servant depart in peace; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation.”
The second coming of our blessed Saviour is certain, and soon to take place. The moving of the nations, show that the last great battle will soon be fought; and our intercessor cease pleading his blood for guilty man. Shall that day come and we not be ready? On to victory. Let us quicken our pace; for the day of life dawns for the overcomer.
WM. E. PRICE.
Iroquois Co., Ill.
Sow Beside all Waters.
The following extract from a letter just received at this Office shows how a foreigner became interested in our publications. The Svensk Advent Harold is our Swedish paper:—
I wish to subscribe for the Svensk Advent Harold, for it is the best religious paper I have ever seen. A traveling elder of your people passed through this county some four months ago, and I bought some Harolds, tracts, and books, which have interested me much.
If some preacher would come here, I think some good might be done. I am a friend of the good cause. Yours truly,
MAGNUS JOHNSON.