“The Sabbath was made for man”—male and female—yet it is a lamentable fact that many females among us violate the rest of the holy Sabbath by unnecessary cooking on that day. It being a truth, uttered by the Son of God, that the Sabbath was made for man—for the entire race—it follows that God, whose ways are equal, requires its observance equally strict during all time.
We will go back to the giving of the manna to the children of Israel in the wilderness, and see the special directions there given touching the subject of cooking on the Sabbath.
“Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no. And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily. And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one man: and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses. And he said unto them, This is that which the Lord hath said, To-morrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath unto the Lord: bake that which ye will bake to-day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning. Ex. xvi, 4, 5, 22, 23.
Was it a violation of the rest of the Sabbath for them to cook their manna on the seventh day? It was. And it is no less a violation of the holy Sabbath to cook our food on that day, which can be cooked on the sixth day.
We have the account [Num. xv, 32-37] that while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the Sabbath-day, for which he was stoned to death. We are not told for what purpose he gathered them; but probably to kindle a fire. As they had need of fires only to wash their clothes, and to cook their manna, and were commanded to cook on the sixth day food necessary for the seventh, this act of gathering sticks for a fire was a violation of the law of the Sabbath contained in the fourth commandment.
The Israelites while in the wilderness did not need fires on the Sabbath-day. They were in a mild climate; their food was rained down from heaven, and their clothes were miraculously preserved. “There was not one feeble person among their tribes.”Ps. cv, 37. For them, under such circumstances, to have kindled a fire on the Sabbath, would have been an open violation of the Sabbath law.
We are differently situated. We live in an age when the race has become comparatively feeble, and in the cold season of the year we would kindle a fire on the Sabbath as an act of mercy and necessity, the same as we would water an ox or a horse, or lift a sheep from a pit. Such acts, the “Lord of the Sabbath” pronounced “lawful.” But it is evidently wrong, and a violation of the Sabbath, to neglect to make those necessary preparations for the rest of the holy Sabbath which can be consistently made on the sixth day. The Sabbath law did not oblige the Jews to suffer either cold or hunger; neither does it us, for “the law is holy, and the commandment holy, just and good.”
But for us to kindle fires, in Summer or Winter, expressly to cook food on the Sabbath, that it may be warm and better indulge the appetite, is no less197a sin than the cooking of the manna on the Sabbath in the wilderness.
Brethren and Sisters, let us put away this unnecessary cooking on the Sabbath as a sin in the sight of God. Plain food, cooked on the sixth day of the week, is sufficient on the Sabbath for all persons in health. The lessons taught by the Lord of the Sabbath touching acts of mercy and necessity on the seventh day, are sufficient to guide us in all cases of sickness. It is a time of self-examination. It is our duty, brethren and sisters, to search our hearts and our lives with the strictest care, and put away those sins which separate us from God. J. W.
REPLY TO J. H. B.
By A. S. Hutchins
MR. EDITOR: On this interesting subject I find an article from your correspondent, J. H. B., in your paper of March 6th. Some points in this article we would be glad here to notice, with your permission, presenting to the readers of the Standard what we candidly believe to be the testimony of the Scriptures, bearing directly on this subject, and which we think cannot otherwise be construed.
He says, in speaking on the end of the present structure of the earth, and the present race of animals upon it, It is about settled that no positive proof can be found in the Old Testament. There is certainly no proof of it in the prophecy of Daniel, the great fountain of all modern prophecy on this subject.
The prophets say, “Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof. The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the Lord hath spoken this word. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left. (The “few men left” we understand to be the righteous, the “little flock.”) The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.” Isa. xxiv, 1, 3, 6, 20.
Daniel, in speaking on the destruction of the kingdoms of this world, says, they became “like the chaff of the Summer threshing-floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them.” Chap. ii, 35.
“For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.” Mal. iv, 1.
We think these scriptures, with other quotations which might be made from the Old Testament clearly reveal the purpose of God at some future time to utterly empty the earth, to turn it upside down, and to burn up all the proud, and all that do wickedly, &c.”
That the end of the world, in its present structure will come, your correspondent does not deny. He thinks the Saviour is speaking on this point when he says, “Of that day and hour knoweth no man.” Matt. xxiv, 36. And also in his instruction to his disciples. Acts i, 7.
Let it here be understood that we are not laboring to establish the “day and hour” of the second advent of the Saviour, or the end of the world. But when we are told that we can know nothing of the time when events so important as these are to take place, and that thousands of years are yet to roll on and then the world be in darkness as to when the end shall come, we are inclined to ask, Are these things so?
With J. H. B. we believe the Saviour to be speaking of the end of the world. Matt. xxiv, 36. The question which he is answering is, “What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” Verse 2. In the 29th verse he speaks of the signs of these events. The darkening of the sun and the moon, and the falling of the stars, are in the past.
Verses 32, 33. “Now learn a parable of the fig-tree: When its branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that Summer is nigh: so likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, (signs which he had spoken of,) know that it is near, even at the doors.” Then Christ’s followers are to know when it (or he, margin) is near, even at the doors.
The attempt to show from Acts i, 7, that it is not for us to know when the end shall come, is certainly a failure; for in the 8th verse we read, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you,” &c.
Again, says Paul, “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.” 1 Thess. v, 4, 5.
Farther we agree that Christ “must reign until he hath put all enemies under his feet.” But that the act of putting his enemies under his feet is their conversion to the Christian religion, the Bible nowhere teaches: but contrariwise, “Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” Ps. ii, 8, 9. See also Rev. xi, 15, 18.
Your correspondent farther states that “The children of Israel must still have the land of Canaan—literal Canaan for 950 generations. See Chronicles xvi, 15-19.”
The scripture to which reference is made here, reads, “Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word which he commanded to a thousand generations; even of the covenant which he made with Abraham, and of his oath unto Isaac; and hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant, saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance; when ye were but few, even a few, and strangers in it.”
Here lies the great burden of his proof that the end of the world is far, very far in the distance, even “over 40,000 years.” “What is truth?” On this point we remark,
1. The promise to Abraham and to his seed of the possession of the literal land of Canaan, was conditional. Please read Deut. iv, 1, 2; v, 32, 33; vi, 1-3; viii, 1. These texts clearly show that the commandments of God must be kept in order to go in and possess the land.
That this promise was conditional was made known to Abraham. Gen. xvii, 1. “Walk before me, and be thou perfect.” (Margin, upright, or sincere.) Verse 8. “And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession.”
The reader is here requested to turn and read Lev. xxvi, where great blessings are promised to Israel, if they walk in the statutes, and keep the commandments of God. “I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land.” Verse 6.
Again in Jer. xvii, 21-25, we find a promise that if they would obey God, that the city of Jerusalem should remain forever.” Now we ask why did not Israel realize and sweetly enjoy all these promises? Answer. Because of their disobedience. Please read Jer. xviii, 9, 10. Again we ask, Is there one promise left that Israel shall enjoy the literal land of Canaan this side of their dispersion, and the destruction of their city, and the desolation of their house? We answer, No. On this point read the declaration respecting the kingdom of Israel, uttered more than two thousand years since, “I will overturn, overturn, overturn it: and it shall be no more, until he (Christ) comes whose right it is; and I will give it him.” Eze. xxi, 27.
2. The promise made to Abraham embraced more than the literal land of Canaan, and is to be realized in the earth after it is restored to the Eden beauty and glory. For he died without having received the promise. Says Stephen, “And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on.” Acts vii, 5.
Paul says that promise was, “that he should be heir of the world.” Again, in speaking [Heb. xi] of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, with other worthies, he says, these received not the promise.
We learn from the testimony of Paul, speaking on the promise, that the seed of Abraham is Christ. “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.” Gal. iii, 16.
The heirs of this promise are the faithful followers of Christ. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Gal. iii, 29. See how Paul considered himself in connection with the promise. Acts xxvi, 6-8. He was judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto the fathers.
The following texts clearly sustain the position that the earth is yet to bloom in its primeval beauty, and be filled with the “knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” And that the meek shall inherit it. 2 Pet. iii, 7, 10-13; Isa. lxv, 17, 20; Rev. xxi, 1; Matt. v, 5. “And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” Rev. xxi, 2, 3.
To this city Abraham’s eye in faith was turned, “For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” We look for the same city, therefore we look for and love the appearing of the Just One; and the fast unfolding signs portend that that great and glorious event is near, even at the doors. To all lovers of Zion we say in the language of Peter, “But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.” The wheat and tares are to grow together until the harvest, the end of the world. “Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, (not better and better, and all the world be converted,) deceiving, and being deceived.” 2 Tim. iii, 13.
The candid reader will perceive, if our position be tenable, the attempt to show from the “thousand generations,” 1 Chron. xvi; Ps. cv, that the end of the world is far in the future, is a total failure, as the promise of the land is not to the Jews after the flesh, but to those who are Christ’s.
But if we are not right, and literal Canaan must yet be possessed, that the promise of God to Abraham may be fulfilled, then for aught that we can see, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, with all the worthies of the old dispensation, must be resurrected and realize the promise. And all the followers of Christ must yet bend their course to old Canaan!
This view of the subject has but a cold comfort for me. I think the worthies of the old dispensation would hardly be satisfied with such a reward. “But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” Heb. xi, 16.
A. S. HUTCHINS.
Burton Landing, Vt.
END OF THE WORLD.
BRO. SMITH: Not long since there appeared in the Standard, a paper published in this town, (Irasburgh,) an article from the pen of J. H. B., (a Congregationalist preacher,) on the "End of the World." In this article he states that Israel must still have the land of literal Canaan for "950 generations," before the end of the world can come. He says this will be "over 40,000 years."
This article we replied to; but on stepping into the Office to see if the Editor would favor us with a space in his paper, we found another (an Advent preacher) had replied to J. H. B. So I send my reply to you, and if you think it proper you may give it a place in the Review. In my reply you will find the substance of his argument.
Begin Now.
By I. N. Pike
SPOKEN FROM EXPERIENCE.
BRO. SMITH:—I would say a word through the Review to those who are almost persuaded to obey God, and come out and keep all his commandments. Make a trial. There must always be a beginning to every enterprise. An individual who has conceived a project—who has had it repeatedly before his mind—who has resolved it over and over again in his thoughts, and been nearly induced at different times to set about it, is in point of fact no nearer its accomplishment than before, nor will he be until he actually enters upon its execution.
Men may dwell never so long, and earnestly, upon a given enterprise, but the enterprise will never be effected nor its advantageous results secured until it is begun. No matter how desirable it may be, you have got to take a decisive step, make an actual start, or the object can never be attained.
Do not delay as I have done, in matters that interest the eternal welfare of the soul. I was brought to see the necessity of a change of heart when a youth, but got into a backslidden state, and remained there some five and thirty years; not without some strivings of the Spirit at different times, and often would I resolve anew to start and serve God, yet remained where I was until I was led to see and put in practice the keeping of God's Sabbath, since which time a flood of light has flown in upon my soul that I never before saw, for which I feel to praise and bless God. Yet I have lived in carelessness and indolence until the best of my days are past, until old age and disease are preying upon me, and I find my mental faculties impaired, and feel deeply to regret that the days of my youth were not spent in the service of God.
I. N. PIKE.
Jamaica, Vt.
Questions for Self-Examination.
By J. Whitmore
THE following questions for self-examination are recommended to every brother and sister, for a faithful and prayerful consideration.
1. Are you living in the indulgence of any wrong feeling towards any brother or sister, or any other person? And are you living in the neglect of any known duty to God and man? Do you fear God and keep his commandments, which is the whole duty of man? Can you say with David, Search me, O God, and try my reins, and see if there is any evil in me? Is it your daily prayer, Lord, cleanse me from every secret fault? Is your mind fixed on him who gave himself for us, that he might cleanse us from all sin? Be ye holy for I am holy.
2. Do you hold communion with God by daily secret and earnest prayer? Jesus said, Enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father who seeth in secret and he shall reward thee openly. Pray without ceasing. Watch and pray lest ye enter into temptation. In every thing give thanks to God by prayer and supplication. With thanksgiving let your request be made to God.
3. Do you who have families daily practice praying with and for them. Hear what the Lord has said: I will pour out my fury upon them that call not on my name. Have you children under your care, and do you train them up according to the word of Solomon? Prov. xxii, 6. These words which I command you this day shall be in thine heart, and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way; and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up; and thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. Deut. vi, 6-8.
4. Do you avoid every appearance of evil, and let your conversation be as becometh the gospel of Jesus Christ? Phil. i, 27. What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness, and what communion hath light with darkness, and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols. Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 2 Cor. vi, 14-18.
5. Do you daily grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ? In order to do thus you must daily search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me. John v, 39. If thou cryest after knowledge and givest thy voice [margin] for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. Prov. ii, 3-5.
6. Do you remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy? Do you devote the day to public and private worship? Ye shall keep my Sabbaths and reverence my Sanctuary. I am the Lord. Lev. xix, 30. If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable, and shalt honor him, not doing thine own way, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words, then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father, for the Lord hath spoken it. Isa. lviii, 13, 14.
7. Can you adopt the words of David and say, I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord and enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise.
Dear brethren and sisters, remember the words of Mal. iii, 16. Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another, &c. Have you that faith that is more precious than gold? If by examination you find a lack, then quickly give heed to the counsel of the true Witness, and buy gold tried in the fire that you may be rich, and white raiment that you may be clothed, and eye-salve that you may see, and behold wondrous things out of God's law, and be zealous and reform, before the Lord spues you out of his mouth.
Your brother looking for the Lord.
J. WHITMORE.
Jackson, Mich.
"You will Vote at our Spring Election, won't you."
By Joseph Clarke
THE above question is asked of me very frequently, now as the Spring election draws near, to which I answer as follows:
A godly person is an ambassador for Christ—he is placed here to act for God. He prays, "Thy kingdom come," and well he knows that this petition if fully granted can only be consummated in the overturn of all earthly kingdoms. If this be a correct view of the matter, then it cannot be consistent for Christ's children to meddle with political affairs.
But, says the objector, what fault do you find in our national government.
First, I answer that this democratic government, legalizes swearing by idol gods. Some years ago a witness was brought forward in one of our courts to give evidence, and refusing to swear by Jehovah, (he being a heathen,) was permitted to swear by the river Ganges, his god. This case was afterwards tested in a higher court, and its legality was established as constitutional.
We must infer from this that this democratic government knows in law no God in particular. Whatever god a person may choose, whether Baal or the Ganges, or any other heathen deity, is legalized. Is not this paganism?
Second, This government legalizes Sabbath-breaking. It establishes mail contracts with special regard to the pagan Sunday, and at the same time ignores the Sabbath of the Lord. It does by State laws set up the pagan festival of Sunday as the true Sabbath, and at the same moment it does by its State laws cripple the freedom of the God-fearing Sabbath-keeper.
Third, This government does sanction, and has from the first sanctioned, Slavery. Let him who doubts this examine the constitution giving to the slaveowner three-fifths of a vote for every one of his human chattels. Witness the Fugitive Slave Law, a damning feature of this our vaunted free government; and the foul stain extending to the very doors of the capitol.
Fourth, The policy of this government has from the first been destructive of the true interests of the unfortunate Red Man. By violence and deceit, by plausible pretext and corrupt design, by artifice and fraud, and strength of hand, the poor child of the forest has been wasted and driven from station to station, from fort to fort, till despair has entered his poor heart, and he now drowns his sorrows in debauchery and drunkenness.
What more need be said to condemn this government as antichristian, unworthy the fellowship of the elect. If I enter the lists as a voter, I do in fact endorse this government as worthy of fellowship. If my name is entered upon the poll-book I then become a part of the body-politic, and must suffer with the body-politic in all its penalties.
Let me "come out and be separate," and "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness."
I am glad that a people are arising to maintain and support the pure religion of Christ; a people who do not make void the law of God; a people who are striving for the purity of the decalogue through the blood of Christ. May heavenly wisdom deliver them from evil.
At present a few of us meet on the Sabbath amid the scoffs of our contemporaries. Bro. Jesse Dorcas has visited us since we commenced Sabbath-keeping.199H. H. Baker, Ag't of the Am. Tract Society, has kindly sent us a package of tracts for distribution. Pray for us that our faith fail not, and that we may have the love of God abiding in us. We have no party to build up, nor sectarian views to uphold.
We cordially invite Sabbath-keepers to come and do us good, as we are few and feeble.
JOSEPH CLARKE.
Portage, Wood Co., Ohio.
THE LOVE OF MANY IS WAXED COLD.
By Rebeckah Smith
Are we suffering persecution, trying God's commands to keep?
Are our spirits crushed within us? Do we oft in silence weep?
From the world naught else we look for; we expect its coldest frown;
But when those we love turn from us, how we sink in sorrow down!
Where we've felt God's image planted, where in union we have prayed,
Where our faith has gained the victory, and we knew from heaven our aid,
O what change has cooled the fervor, what could mean this cold retreat!
Lord, let thine in union ever, and in love, each other greet.
God's own searching eye is on us! Jesus feels our every grief!
He'll not have his own thus wounded, but will bring them swift relief,
Making known our every duty, teaching where he'd have us go,
Saying, Fear not! I'll be with you, and all needed help bestow.
Though you see your bread withholden, find no place to lay your head;
Cast your all on Heaven's protection: God to life can raise the dead!
Who the widow's oil replenished? Who kept good her needed store,
When Elijah shared her morsel, having naught to purchase more?
If we blindly hug earth's treasures, where shall we a shelter find?
Soon the plagues will be upon us! all then on the altar bind.
Do you say 'tis on the altar? By the fruit it will be known:
God is searching out his people, and is sealing for his own.
Let us fear lest we offend him, and he pass our dwelling by:
He will have a holy people, whom no plague can e'er come nigh.
Haste to get thee disentangled! Haste to get from bondage free!
Lose not for this world's possessions, life and immortality!
REBECKAH SMITH.
West Wilton, N. H.
Scripture Memory and Sanctified Grace
A memory well stored with Scripture, and sanctified by grace, is the best library.
Keeping the Sabbath Alone
Sister Mary Spur writes from Lagrange, Wis.: "I wish to say to you that I am still trying to keep the true Sabbath-day though alone and much opposed. Having heard no preaching brother for two years,200nor seen but one, the Review is a welcome messenger to me. It oft times cheers my drooping spirits. I read it with pleasure and I am blessed in so doing. Though weak, I beg your prayers that I may keep all the commandments of God and live so as to meet you all on the new earth."
A Victory Gained.
By Editor
Sister D. McCollins writes from Almont, Mich., Apr. 8th, 1857: "I had many extravagances in my life, and one was hard to overcome; but by the help of the Lord I have been an overcomer of the use of tobacco, and my companion with me. The trial was a great one for us; for we never forgot the pipe and tobacco, until we saw in your paper the solemn entreaties to the brethren and sisters to leave off the use of that polluting sin. I enclose one dollar to apply on my paper, and hope to save more, and live to overcome all, and sit down in the kingdom."
COMMUNICATIONS.
By David Arnold
"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another."
From Bro. Arnold.
BRO. SMITH:—Permit me through the Review to make a confession of some of the wrongs of my past course, which have been too public to heal by private confession.
I have been slow to see the wrongs which I have done, and feel that I have great reason to be thankful that the Lord and the church have had patience and forbearance with my tardy course in setting things right. I now see that by a process of human reasoning I have not only darkened my own mind, but have shed a dark influence over others, to their spiritual injury.
I have also, while trying to set things in order in the church, created disorder and confusion. In this state of things I was sent last May to the general conference at Battle Creek. While there the Lord saw fit in mercy to give the brethren there assembled light in reference to my true position, and also manifested through one of the gifts of the holy Spirit my condition as it stood in the sight of a holy God, all of which I then fully received as direct from the fountain of light, but have been slow to see and realize its full import. But through the tender mercy of God and the persevering labor and patience of the church in this section, I think I can now not only say I believe what was shown concerning me to be true, but that I can feel and realize it to be so.
And while I would humbly and heartily confess all my wrongs, I would say to all who have been injured by my past course, especially Bro. White and Bro. Rhodes, Will you forgive me? And now permit me to say in conclusion, that I feel to take some humble place in the church of Christ, and try by carefully studying the humble pattern, "not to think more highly of myself than I ought to think."
Your unworthy brother striving to overcome.
DAVID ARNOLD.
Fulton, N. Y.
A Testimony of Revival and Overcoming
By E. S. Kellogg
From Sister Kellogg.
Bro. Smith:—As I often hear from the brethren and sisters through the Review, I thought I would throw in my feeble testimony. I can truly say the Lord is working for his people.
I feel that the Lord was merciful to us in sending Bro. Holt this way. We were striving to overcome, as we thought, but O what feeble efforts we made. Bro. Holt came laden with precious truth, and the Spirit of the Lord accompanied the word, and the counsel to the Laodiceans I trust was truly set home to the hearts of the brethren and sisters here.
I can truly say that time looks short to me, and I believe the way is opening, and we shall soon hear the sound of the loud cry of the Third Angel's Message. For one I am determined by the assisting grace of God to overcome, that I may receive the refreshing when it comes from the presence of the Lord.
The brethren and sisters here are striving to arise.
E. S. Kellogg.
Ionia, Mich., Apr. 8th, 1857.
Arising from the Laodicean Lukewarmness
By Maria E. Lockwood
From Sister Lockwood.
BRO. SMITH: As I have been greatly edified and comforted by reading the communications from dear brethren and sisters of like precious faith, I cannot but feel it my duty to contribute my mite also. I believe that the last message of mercy to poor fallen man is already being given, and that the world is fast ripening for destruction; and also that the true church of God, the remnant, is now receiving its last warning message. Solemn thought! Yes, I believe that the Lord is doing a great work for his people, and that all who do not take heed to the timely warning of the faithful and true Witness, and arouse from their lukewarm state, repent and return unto the Lord, and buy gold tried in the fire, white raiment and eye salve, will be spued out of his mouth. Shall we remain careless and indifferent? God forbid. For one, I am trying with all my might to arouse from the lukewarm state in which that message found me.
I am bound for the Kingdom, and though I have many besetments, yet to overcome, I believe that the grace of God is sufficient for me. My prayer is, O God make known to me my every duty, and give me grace to perform them; help me to cleanse and purify my heart, and to remove everything that hinders a free intercourse between myself and thee. O the thought that we have but a little while longer to remain in this sin-cursed world, if we are faithful it is a cheering thought, it is enough methinks to nerve us for any struggle that may be before us, while pilgrims and strangers we sojourn in this world of temptation and sin. Then let us have on the whole armor of righteousness, our lamps trimmed and burning, and we ourselves like unto those waiting for their Lord.
Yours in hope of eternal life.
MARIA E. LOCKWOOD.
Hartland, Mich.
Thirty-Five Begin Keeping the Sabbath
By William Russell
From Bro. Russell.
BRO. SMITH: It is with gratitude to God, that I announce to those of like precious faith what the Lord has been doing for us here.
Bro. and Sr. Stuart have been with us during the last six weeks, and when a house could be procured to hold meetings in, Bro. Stuart lectured to the people; and the Lord has blessed his labors in a wonderful manner. During the course of his lectures there was much opposition raised by the nominal churches in this place, especially by the Methodists and Universalists. As Herod and Pilate were made friends, so were the different sects united in their efforts to put down the truth. But, bless the Lord, the truth has had its desired effects upon the hearts of the people.
From the time the lectures commenced up to the present time, thirty-five have commenced to keep the Sabbath of the Lord, instead of that of the Pope. Thirteen have put on Christ by baptism. There are forty-six Sabbath-keepers in this vicinity.
My dear brethren and sisters, we have had a season of rejoicing. Our meetings on the Sabbath have been very interesting. The Lord has met with us and blessed us.
Bro. Stuart's health is much impaired from incessant labor. May the Lord give him health and strength to proclaim the Message to a perishing world. May the Lord send more laborers into this place; for the harvest is plenteous, but the laborers are few.
There seems to be a good work commenced in the hearts of the people in the village of Mauston, about three and a half or four miles east of this place, where Bro. S. has been lecturing most of the time for the last two weeks.
O that the Lord will continue to work till the church gets out of its lukewarm state, and be prepared for the glorious appearing of the Saviour.
Yours waiting for the kingdom of God.
WM. RUSSELL.
Mauston, Adam's Co., Wis., Apr. 1st, 1857.
Spiritual Wealth Requires Diligence
By John Harvey Kellogg
Never expect spiritual wealth while you are indulging spiritual sloth.
A Testimony from Lagrange
Sister B. Smith writes from Lagrange, Wis.: "For the first time I write to inform you that I am a trying to obey God in keeping his commandments having been a believer in the seventh day Sabbath for four years. I have often thought when reading the many stirring epistles from the brethren and sisters that I would write, but I have neglected it until now I am blessed with the privilege of reading the Review after sister Spur reads it, as we live but two miles apart. We meet together now and then and the Lord blesses us two. Blessed be his holy name! I confess that I am too much in the lukewarm state, and I must be zealous and repent. O that the Lord would help us all to gird on our armour anew and come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty. I can say at times I feel as though I was a stranger and a pilgrim here, and I can say with the poet,
No foot of land do I possess
No cottage in this wilderness,
And at times almost forsaken having no preaching; but I praise the Lord to-day that I can read the paper and that it comes laden with truth. My prayer is that it may be sustained."
A Seeker for Truth in Wisconsin
Bro. Jas. Higby writes from Maiden Rock, Wis.: "Dear Sir, I would inform you that I have been reading your paper furnished me by the kindness of Mr. Ralston of this place, and am much pleased with it, and the doctrine advocated by it; and I am led to conclude that the second advent is much nearer than I had supposed. As regards the Sabbath, I have been of the opinion that it was the seventh day, and not the first day. Several years since I preached what I thought was the gospel; but found I could not say, Thus, and thus, saith the Lord; and seeing so many forms without the power of God, I was led to conclude that Paul said, Turn away from such, and I did so.
"I now think I see some light in this age of darkness, and I want more light. I wish you to send me some of your books and your paper, if you can put confidence in a stranger that is seeking for truth, that I will send you your pay for the same, which I cannot do at present.
"I would not have written at this time, nor until I had ample means; but the time seems so short and the work so great I could not content myself to wait. My family are all anxiety about it. Mr. Ralston has a large family, mine is not so large. We are the only ones that keep the seventh day in this part of the country. We want some one here to preach, and I think it would do much good. Mr. Ralston spoke of Mr. Bates or some one that could open the way for us. If they could come this way it would rejoice us very much. This is a new place on the side of Lake Pippen, and sinners a plenty. My prayer is may God be praised and you blest, in convincing many of the truth."
Extracts from Letters.
By Editor
"Sister H. Clough writes from Lyndon Vt., Apr. 9th, 1857: It seems to me that we are living in perilous times indeed, when even the remnant that profess to be keeping the commandments have been in such a lukewarm state, and knew it not. O how good the Lord is to show us our situation, and give us a timely warning. I pray God that we may all give heed to this call. I for one want to gird on the armor anew, and trust fully in the Lord God of Israel who alone is able to deliver from the power of the world, the flesh, and the Devil. The message seems to be rising in interest here. The Lord help all his people to cut loose from the cares and snares of this wicked world, and live as heirs of the grace of life, live as if we did really expect the Saviour would soon come and take his children home. I want to live so that I can say, Come Lord Jesus and come quickly."