HAVING ascertained what constitutes the beast—that it is the Papacy—the next inquiry is concerning his mark and worship. There are but two classes brought to view in the Third Angel's Message; the righteous and the wicked. Their only distinguishing features, as there brought to view, are the mark of the beast on the one hand, and the commandments of God on the other. It appears from the language that those who have the mark of the beast are not keeping the commandments of God, and vice versa. A full investigation of the mark, therefore, will involve the necessity of a previous examination of the commandments of God, to see wherein they differ from the code of morality at the present time enjoined.
No question is raised on the first three and six last commandments of the decalogue, by any sensible or pious people. Their intrinsic holiness, perfection, immutability, and perpetuity, are by all such readily acknowledged. The only point wherein the practice of the christian world confessedly differs from the letter of the precept, is in regard to the fourth commandment, which connects with the worship of God, a weekly Rest-day, devoted to purposes of religious devotion. The commandment tells us that the seventh day of each week, is the day that has been set apart for this service. The church of the present day, by precept as well as practice, says that it is the first day of the week which should be devoted to this use. What is the secret of this great change? Has it been accomplished by divine agents, or is it the work of man? Was it designed to be thus by Providence, or is it one of those schemes of the enemy by which he seeks to drown men in destruction and perdition? These are grave questions; but into these the subject naturally resolves itself; and if the first cannot be sustained, the latter must be admitted.
Concerning the Sabbath, there are only three questions which need be asked and answered: 1. When was it instituted? 2. For whom was it designed? 3. How long was it to continue? These three queries cover the whole ground; for if we know in regard to any institution, when it was instituted, for whom it was instituted, and how long it was to continue, we know all that need be known concerning it.
We know there was at some time a Sabbath instituted. We find it all through the Bible. The commandment which enjoins it is placed in the very bosom of the decalogue, which is sufficiently signified to be a code of laws separate and distinct from all others, from the fact that it alone was uttered by the voice of God, in the hearing of all the people, and it alone was written with his finger on the tables of stone. By the fourth commandment we are pointed to the creation of the world as the time when the Sabbath was instituted; and as we might expect in this case, so we find the history of that institution among the records of the first week of time. We read that God rested the seventh day, and therefore blessed it and sanctified it, because that in it he had rested. Gen. ii, 2, 3. Let the fact be marked here that nothing was done to the seventh day till after God had rested upon it. Then, because he had rested upon it, he set his blessing upon it, and sanctified it, or set it apart for a holy use. The fourth commandment says God blessed the Sabbath day; then it was the Sabbath day when God blessed it. No other time or place can be found for the institution of the Sabbath, but the creation of the world and the garden of Eden.
A word now concerning its design. God by the fourth commandment, enjoins the observance of the Sabbath, the seventh day, and gives as the reason for this institution, the fact that in six days he created the heavens and earth, and rested on the seventh day. The Sabbath then is a memorial of creation. Suppose a law should come into existence enjoining the celebration of our national independence, would it not run somewhat after this manner: Let the fourth day of July of each year be spent in demonstrations of public joy, &c., for on the fourth of July in the year 1776, our forefathers declared themselves a free and independent people; and no one would ever think of calling it anything but a memorial. So of the Passover. When the children of the Israelites should ask them what that service meant, they were to explain it by telling them that the Lord passed over their houses when he smote the Egyptians. This was the reason for the institution; this therefore was its memorial. So with the Sabbath. The reason and the only reason given in the fourth commandment for its institution, is the Lord's resting on the last day of the first week of time. Consequently it was instituted as a memorial of that event, and designed to perpetuate in the earth the memory of the true God, the maker of worlds.
We hope that these two facts, namely, that the Sabbath was instituted in Eden, and that it is a memorial of creation, will be fully appreciated by every reader. With these established, a good foundation is laid for all future argument on this subject. If the reader is well grounded here, he will be saved from all those foolish notions by which many have suffered themselves to be deceived concerning the wilderness of Sin and the deliverance from Egypt. And to say that the Sabbath is a type of anything connected with the plan of redemption, since it was instituted in Eden before man fell, and consequently before he needed any redemption, is at least, not to multiply epithets, an extreme absurdity.
The second question, For whom was it designed? can now hardly furnish ground for controversy. We take it for granted that the reader is satisfied that the Sabbath was instituted at creation. If not, let him not proceed any further till he has so far examined that point as to become satisfied thereon. Then, since the Sabbath was made in Eden and made for Adam, there is no possibility of avoiding the conclusion that it was designed for all his posterity. For who can tell which one of Adam's children would be exempt from a requirement which was obligatory upon their father, or who of his children's children, or of any of his descendants, however remote, would be exempt from it? Adam as he stood at first was the representative of the human race. A severe proof of this is found in the application which God has made of the penalty attached to his personal transgression; and it might as well be claimed that mankind should be released from death, the penalty of Adam's transgression, as from the obligation of a regularly recurring rest-day, the observance of which was Adam's duty.
Pass down to the ushering in of this dispensation! Behold the Great Teacher, the Son of God, the Perfect Pattern! We hear him declaring that "the Sabbath, was made for man." There are here no lines drawn; there are no distinctions given; there is no limitation made; the expression is an exceeding broad one, it covers the race—"the Sabbath was made for man." And here we let it stand, satisfied that from the evidence of the commandment itself, the experience of the first Adam and the testimony of the Second, it is sufficiently evident for whom it was designed.
Third, how long was it to continue? Still bear in mind that the Sabbath was an institution of Eden and given to man in his perfect state. Now let us inquire, How long would the Sabbath have continued, if man had never fallen? Think of this. And if we can find no limitation to it in this case, as is assuredly the fact, the only question further that can arise, is, Is there anything in the plan of salvation, which, under these circumstances, can limit the existence or the obligations of the Sabbath? There is nothing. Every one can see that there is not; and we may be assured that man by his fall did not become absolved from any obligations which he was under in his perfect state. Christ and his apostles invariably taught the perpetuity of that law of which the Sabbath is a part; and fifty-nine times does the New Testament recognize the seventh day as the Sabbath in, and consequently as the Sabbath of, this dispensation.
Such are a few of the general principles involved in this question. And what is the import of all this? Simply that the seventh day of each week, is the Sabbath of the Lord, and must be kept if we would render obedience to the fourth commandment of the decalogue. We see then the significance of that declaration of the Third Angel, "Here are they that keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus;" and we see what must constitute the distinguishing feature of those who do thus keep them; for all christendom acknowledges the validity of every commandment except the fourth, both by precept and in their public walk. Now what constitutes the distinguishing feature of the other class? Whatever does, is the mark of the beast; for they bear that mark, and that stands in contradistinction to the commandments of God.
(To be Continued)
THE CONFERENCE.
By Editor
As the brethren in all parts of the field have probably noticed the appointment for a general Conference in this place, commencing the 21st inst., we suppose they will be waiting, some of them perhaps anxiously, for a report from the same, to learn the particulars of its progress, its points of interest, its issue, and probable effects upon the cause of truth.
We hardly know where to commence, or what item of interest first to present, of the refreshing season we have just enjoyed. If the interest, the life, the vigor, and the apparent zeal and courage of the numerous members of a large Conference, are any index of the prosperity of the cause which called it forth, we certainly have no reason to be discouraged; for the meeting which has just closed may claim to be the largest and the best ever held by Advent Sabbath-keepers. At least when it is so adjudged by those whose experience has given them a knowledge of this work from its earliest rise to the present time, we, who have entered the vineyard at a later hour, have no occasion to question the fact.
At our Conference a little more than a year since, our first house of worship in this place was closely crowded, but it held the brethren. In the present instance, our larger house was as densely filled, but it could not hold them. And those brethren who were tempted to have some unpleasant feelings on account of so large a house's being built in this place, will bear to be reminded that before long, perhaps before another Conference, it will have to receive an addition to its length of at least twenty feet. Sabbath, being fortunately a pleasant day, carriages were drawn up to the open windows, and many were in this way accommodated with hearing the words of comfort and admonition, which fell from the lips of the heralds of truth.
It is estimated that about 400 brethren were in from abroad, all from this State with the exception of one from New England (Bro. P. Folsom) six from New York, and several from each of the States of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. There were present of those who publicly advocate the Third Angel's Message, Bro. Bates, White, Waggoner, Cottrell, Bylinton, Loughborough, Rhodes, Cornell, Frisbie, Wheeler, Lawrence, Hutchins, Sperry, and Butler.
On the afternoon of the 21st inst. Bro. Loughborough presented a cheering discourse on the inheritance of the saints, based upon the declaration of the Saviour that the meek shall inherit the earth. Matt. v. And if we may be allowed to judge from our own feelings, the whole audience must have looked forward with pleasing hope to that glorious time, when the earth shall be restored to more than its primeval beauty, when it shall be inhabited, as God designed, [Isa. xiv, 18.] with a race of holy beings, when the13glory of the Lord shall fill it as the waters cover the sea, and righteousness dwell therein, and when every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, shall raise a universal anthem of praise and thanksgiving to the Lamb. Rom. xiv, 21; Hab. ii, 14; Heb. viii, 11; Rev. v, 13.
The evening commencing the Sabbath was occupied by Bro. Waggoner. Although he remarked as he rose to speak, that it would be inconsistent for him to occupy much time, on account of the worn and fatigued state of his body, he apparently lost sight of himself under the inspiration of the themes upon which he treated; for the evening was well filled with lucid remarks and pointed suggestions, in which there was certainly no inconsistency.
But we have not time to speak at length upon each meeting. The social meeting commencing Sabbath morning at 8 o'clock was a season of life and interest. Discourse at half-past ten by Bro. Hutchins, from the words, "Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you." Jno. xii, 35. Bro. Loughborough spoke again to the people in the afternoon on the Judgment; and Bro. Waggoner in the evening on the Sanctuary. Social meeting resumed with unabated vigor on First-day morning at 8 o'clock. During the forenoon, sister White related a portion of the views she has had concerning the fall of Satan, the plan of salvation, and the great controversy between Christ and his angels, and Satan and his. It abounded in startling facts and vivid descriptions. And when the course of the narration had brought us down to the days of the first advent, the humiliation, the suffering and finally the crucifixion of the Saviour, especially then did not only the silent tear, but even the audible sobs of many in the congregation, announce that their hearts were touched by the sufferings of the Son of God for rebellious man. When we view this great controversy as now going forward—its field the world, its subject man—we see not how any one can long hesitate upon which side to enroll himself. And at least the justice of that sentence is very apparent, which condemns those who will persist to the end on the side of the power of darkness, to the same ruin which overwhelms the first rebel and his unworthy sympathizers.
At 2 o'clock P. M., we repaired to the river-side where thirteen willing souls rejoiced in a burial with Christ by baptism. Discourse at 3, by Bro. Cornell. In the evening, after remarks by Bro. Sperry, sister White resumed and continued her narration till nearly 10. There was then such a crowding in of testimonies, that not till after five ineffectual attempts did Bro. White succeed in closing the meeting. He told the congregation at length, that if they would suffer him a few remarks, he would then give them all an opportunity to express their feelings. He did so by requesting all those who were determined to press onward to Mt. Zion, to manifest it by rising. The whole congregation were on their feet with a bound; and thus, at about the hour of eleven, closed the religious exercises of the Conference.
The business meeting on Second-day was characterized by unity of sentiment and a readiness on the part of the brethren to take any action which the wants of the Cause seemed to demand. Especially was this attested by the promptness of free-will offerings to relieve the present necessities of some of the messengers. Nor were our brethren of foreign birth and tongue entirely overlooked by the Lord's stewards.
Eld. Fisher, whose name the readers of the REVIEW will recollect, as a Baptist minister among the countrymen, the Hollanders, and a recent convert to the present truth, through the labors of Brn. Bates and Cornell, very agreeably introduced himself to the brethren at this meeting. Though nearly three-score and ten years of age, his vigor appears to be renewed under the divine influence of present truth, and he pants with the ardor of youth to go forth into the field and hold up the standard of truth among his kinsmen according to the flesh. He is now translating the tract, Nature and Obligation of the Sabbath, into the Holland language, and designs laboring in the Dutch Colony so-called, consisting of thousands of that people, not many miles from this place. Brn. Czechowski and Bourdeau go from this meeting with their different French tracts to their mission-fields in Northern N. Y., Vt. and Canada. Thus the agencies are actually preparing before our eyes to carry forward that message which is to go before "many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings."
But there is another fact without which all others are weak and insignificant, and that is, that the Lord was with us by the presence of his Holy Spirit. It is his Spirit which must be the moving agent in this whole work. With it, though we numbered but two, we should be enabled to put to flight ten thousand of our foes: without it, though innumerable, we should be weak as straw. The prevailing impression among the brethren seemed to be that this is the Lord's work, that he is in it, and he will carry it forward. As they go to their homes, may they impart these feelings to those who were not privileged to attend, and thus a vivifying influence be spread abroad as one result of this meeting.
Brethren and sisters throughout the broad field, we would bid you in behalf of this good Conference, be of good courage; we would bid you gird on the armor anew, trim up your lamps to a brighter flame, and with your loins girded about with truth, be like unto men who wait for their Lord when he shall return from the wedding; for he will assuredly come; he will not tarry.
BUSINESS PROCEEDINGS
By Editor
of the Conference of May 21st, 1858.
THE Conference proceeded to organize on the afternoon of the 21st inst. Bro. Jas. White was chosen to the chair. The object of an organization thus early being to appoint a committee to arrange and bring before the meeting such matters as were subjects of Conference action, the committee were accordingly appointed, and the meeting adjourned to the 24th, inst. at 8 A. M. A discourse from Bro. Loughborough on the inheritance of the saints completed the exercises of the afternoon.
Second-day morning, 8 o'clock. Bro. White having requested from the Conference a release from his position, through indisposition of body, Bro. Joseph Bates was chosen chairman in his stead.
The committee first presented the subject of the Battle Creek Meeting House, the cost of which we regret to say is not yet made up. The report of the building committee showed a deficiency of $208.41. Bro. Jas. White was appointed a committee to attend to the settlement of this matter.
Second, the Power Press. The few unsettled items that yet remain in this enterprise, were also left with Bro. White.
Third, Tent Operations. Many remarks were made by various persons in reference to the prospect of the Tent enterprises in the different localities of New England, New York, Ohio, Mich., Ills., Wis., and Iowa. No action was however taken in the matter except the resolution that a new sixty-feet tent be procured for Mich., the old one having become unfit for service; and that a fund of $400.00 be raised to defray tent expenses the coming season. Brn. White, Loughborough, and Cornell, were appointed to attend to the business of its purchase. The Mich. Tent Committee will stand as usual.
The wants of the West and the calls for help from that section, were not overlooked. It seemed the mind of the Conference that Bro. J. H. Waggoner should labor in the West, and if the way should open, in connection with Bro. M. Hull in Iowa.
In the afternoon session, the subject of our brethren of other tongues was taken into consideration. It was
Resolved, That the Conference approve of all that has been done in behalf of Bro. Czechowski, and that they still recommend him to the consideration of the stewards of the Lord in different places.
Resolved, That a committee of three be chosen to attend to the wants of the cause in this direction, and the publication of works in other languages. Brn. J. White, U. Smith and C. Smith were appointed this committee.
Whereas, G. Cranmer has been preaching views contrary to the present truth, and grieving the brethren by disorderly walk, and
Whereas, he has been faithfully labored with and still persists in his course, therefore
Resolved, That the churches be warned against him as not in harmony with the body.
JOSEPH BATES, Chairman.
URIAH SMITH, Secretary.
SPIRITUALISM AND FREE LOVE.
By James White
THE following notice of a sentiment expressed at Ravenna, Ohio, on the 4th of July, at a Spiritual meeting, I took from a Lockport, N. Y., paper; but as it contained no credit, it was impossible to tell its origin, or to determine its reliability. But as further evidence has come to light on the point, I would now call attention to the statement.
"A BIG HEARTED WOMAN.—On the 4th and 5th of the present month the Spiritualists of Ohio held a convention at Ravenna. Much was said, and, it may be, more was done among them. During the discussion a Mrs. Lewis, of Cleveland, evidently a warm spirited woman, delivered herself by saying, that she was in favor of universal freedom, and that loving whosoever she chose was a part of that freedom, and to confine her love to one man, was an abridgment of her rights. She said that 'although she had one husband in Cleveland, she considered herself married to the whole human race. All men were her husbands, and she had an undying love for them.' She said also, 'What business is it to the world whether one man is the father of my children, or ten are? I have the right to say who shall be the father of my offspring.'"
A correspondent of the Spiritual Age, S. B. Brittan's new paper, writing from Cleveland, Ohio, July 22d, 1857, says:
'On the 4th of July, at Ravenna, over five thousand men and women, with intelligence beaming upon their countenances, gathered together under the broad canopy of heaven to listen to the words of life. Many speakers from abroad were there, and many new truths were elicited. On last Sunday, at Hudson, some forty miles from this city, two thousand were present, but the meeting was disturbed by the introduction of sentiments utterly revolting to refined minds. Still the meeting was, on many accounts a pleasant one. We do not think such conventions the proper place to broach the free love and free lust notions, and we do not think it is exactly right to attempt to fasten the stain of such views upon the believer in Spiritualism. We do not deny that some Spiritualists are free lovers, and some of them, too, practice their free love notions; still, Spiritualists are not to be held responsible, any more than should the entire Baptist denomination for the course of its Kalloch.'
'We do not think such conventions the proper place to broach the free love and free lust notions.' And pray, why not, Mr. Spiritualist? Are not such conventions designed for the promulgation of 'progressive principles?' I have heard them proclaimed by Spiritualists in public and in private, and read them in their publications; and it is altogether useless to deny that free-love, as it is called, is a concomitant of Spiritualism. Mr. Hobart, of this State, with whom I discussed the subject of Spiritualism in the tent at Colon, and who claims to have been the first Spiritualist in Michigan, advocated free love in his exposition of Spiritualism, and claimed that he knew what Spiritualism is as well as any one. It is a fact, and no one can deny, that free-loveism is more or less advocated in every community where there are Spiritualists. From Maine to California it is the same, and I do not know of any Spiritual paper in the country that has not contained more or less of it in their editorials or in their correspondence. Some numbers of the Truth Seeker, published in Indiana, have been nearly filled with it. It has been advocated by learned men in the "investigating class" of Spiritualists in the city of New York. Spiritualists who deny this feature of their doctrine, are either dishonestly covering up their position for the sake of expediency, or else they are behind the times.
Many of the sentiments expressed by Spiritualists are too abominable to be reiterated even for the sake of exposing them, but it is an evil of such a monstrous nature, and growing with such alarming rapidity, that duty compels us to raise the cry of warning. Evidences are pressing upon us that in the last days it will be as it was in the days when Lot went out of Sodom in more senses than we have generally realized.
J. H. W.
LETTERS.
By Amanda Philips
"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another."
From Sister Philips.
BRO. SMITH: While my heart is cheered with the communications from the dear saints, weekly through the Review, I want to add my feeble testimony in favor of the precious truths it advocates. I never felt a greater love for, nor a deeper sympathy with, those that have left, or are willing to leave, all for the truth's sake. My prayer is that you may be sustained, and all those who labor in the Office may have so much of the blessed Spirit that light and truth may emanate therefrom, and the church in Battle Creek be truly like a city set on a hill. I am grateful to my heavenly Father for the kindness I received from them, and his dear people elsewhere in the West.
When I reflect on the goodness of God in sustaining me with my poor health, while going from place to place, I am led to exclaim, The Lord hath done all things well. Praise his holy name! I was strengthened and encouraged while meeting with the churches in different places on our way home, and especially at Norfolk. In the morning prayer-meeting the Lord condescended to let his Spirit rest upon us, and my bodily strength was so increased that I bore the remainder of my journey with ease; and my health has been somewhat better since I arrived.
I found the church here striving to overcome. I never felt more like consecrating my all into the hands of God than at the present time. My life, my health, and all that I have and am, to suffer or enjoy, as it shall seem good in his sight. I believe with all my heart that the last work of the Third Angel's Message will soon be finished, and then he that is holy will be so still, and he that is unholy will so remain.
And now, dear young friends, children of the remnant, suffer a word of exhortation from me. I have formed acquaintance with many which I sincerely love, and should be glad to meet on the Mount Zion; but in order for you to be prepared, you must cut loose from the world, and your young associates that do not love the truth. You must be separate, crucify self, and live wholly to God; then you will be ready. I entreat you to be in earnest, for God is in earnest with you. Soon the last prayer will be offered for your salvation, and then it will be too late. Mercy will be gone and gone forever.
Dear friends, one and all, if I never more meet you here, I hope so to live that I may meet you in that land where sorrow and sighing will be done away; and the weary forever be at rest.
Yours in hope of eternal life.
AMANDA PHILIPS.
Roxbury, Vt., May 16th, 1858.
Awakened to the Advent Faith
By Charlotte Gazin
From Sister Gazin.
BRO. SMITH: About the middle of January last, Brn. Wheeler and Edson came to our place and gave six lectures. We made up our minds to keep the Sabbath of the Lord, and felt somewhat interested in the Advent faith. They left us some publications which we read and compared with the Bible, and by the grace of God we are now able to rejoice that our eyes are open to see where we are. When the truth of the Advent faith began to take hold on my mind, O what new beauties did the plan of salvation present to my view! Even nature itself wore a lovelier garb. Though I had been a professor of religion about six years, I now felt I had need to apply the message to the Laodiceans to myself.
I feel truly thankful to God that he ever sent those dear brethren this way. I believe that they will receive a rich reward in the coming day. They did faithfully warn the people in this place to flee from the wrath to come.
I feel that we have great need of patience, and watchfulness and prayer. I want to be fully resigned to the will of God, and so to live that we may be able to escape the things that are coming on the earth. Though we have not the privilege of meeting with those of like faith to worship God, and sometimes feel very lonely here, and have our names cast out as evil, yet I feel fully determined to go on to perfection.
Brethren and sisters, pray for us that we may be of the number of the saved. Your sister in hope of life. CHARLOTTE GAZIN. Indian River, N. Y. May 6th, 1858.
Returning to the Third Angel’s Message
By A. H. Daniels; Sarah A. Daniels
From Bro. & Sr. Daniels.
BRO. SMITH: It has been five years since we embraced the Third Angel's Message under the preaching of Bro. Phelps, and we little thought then what crooked paths we should make in the progress of religion in so short a time. We have been too easy to believe those who profess to be Adventists, yet deny the Third Angel's Message. O, we pray that the Lord will forgive us and open the eyes of all those who are deluded in the same way. A little more than one year ago we left off family prayer, and in a short time we were without a light to our feet, or a lamp to our path, and no hope to guide us in and through this vale of tears. We could exclaim with the poet,
"How tedious and tasteless the hours,
When Jesus no longer I see."
Yes, dear friends, we know by experience that no person after believing the Third Message can for one moment feel safe out of it, unless God has sent them strong delusions that they should believe a lie. O what a cold and cheerless world this is. Here we have trials and afflictions, disease fast preying upon us, brother at war with brother, man against his fellow-man. All is confusion in every grade, from the high to the low, from the rich to the poor. Who would live here without the hope of a better resurrection? We do not want to. O no, we are determined to take the Bible as our guide, and keep God's holy law, the Ten Commandments. H. V. Reed wished me to write to Bro. Waggoner and say to him that I mistook, and that he did not deny the Third Message. I talked with Bro. Phelps about it, and we then said the position he took would soon lead him to deny the Sabbath, and I could not in conscience take it back. They denied as Bro. Phelps said, the gifts of the Spirit promised by the Great Head of the church. Mark xvi, 17, 18; James v, 14, 15, and in fact we were led to waver on that point; but we no longer doubt.
"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous therefore and repent." Thus saith the true Witness, and I believe it is applicable to our case at this time; for he says in verse 20, "Behold I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Yes, dear brethren, the Lord has been knocking at the door of our hearts for some time past, and if we had not given heed to it, I verily believe God would have left us. Pray for us that we may prove faithful unto the end that the love of God may increase in our hearts, and that we may be made perfect through the blood of the Lamb.15We are living in a very new country, thinly settled, and no one here keeps the Sabbath but ourselves. May the Lord help us to live so that others will know we are followers of the meek and lowly Lamb.
A. H. DANIELS.
SARAH A. DANIELS.
Sumner, Wis., Apr. 24th, 1858.
PSALM CXXXVII.
By R. White
By Babel's turbid stream we sat
Lamenting our sad fate,
When we remembered Zion's walls
And sat within her gates.
Our harps we on the willows hung,
Nor could we cheerful be
With tuneful notes or joyful song,
But sorrowful were we.
Our enemies would taunting say,
Of Zion let us hear;
With cheerful song and joyous mirth
Salute our listening ear.
How can we in this foreign land
Lift up our cheerful voice
To sing the songs of Zion here,
Or in the Lord rejoice.
If I forget thee, O my home,
May I forgetful be
Of the blest power, Jerusalem,
To tune my harp for thee.
O Lord, remember Zion's foes,
And o'er their guilty head
Let floods of thy displeasure flow
Till numbered with the dead.
And may thy church by grace divine,
Yet raise thy praises higher,
And Zion in thy glory shine
And all her foes expire.
R. WHITE.
The word "Many."
By H. W. Lawrence
"MANY" are now seeking for pleasure in a form of religion. I have been reminded of some scriptures where the word "many" occurs; such as, Isa. ii. 3; Luke xiii, 24; xxi, 8; Mat. vii, 22; Phil. iii, 18; 2 Pet. ii, 2. I call attention to these references and this subject more to request some of the brethren to write with reference to the present movement in the sects, than to remark upon them myself. Yet my observation in portions of four counties for the last four months, and facts gathered respecting the fruits of nearly one dozen so-called revivals, have led me to conclude that the truth and true spirit will soon be withstood by the "many," whose work and characteristics are marked in 2 Tim. iii.
1. The absence of persecution towards these popular movements, is one mark worthy of notice. 2. Many of the seekers deny the necessity of bearing the cross in obeying revealed truth—admitting a hope of more enjoyment in the affairs of this life, and conforming to things "highly esteemed." Luke xvi, 15. 3. The lack of humility and repentance preventing that kind of unearthly agony on the part of the church that used to be many years ago.
The above, in substance, has been related to me by old members of some of the sects, who see such a contrast in their early experience and that of many others at this time as to freely speak, and seek for a solution. I am led to believe that the Spirit of Christ will lead its possessor to love both the appearing of Christ and his doctrine. It does appear that those who obey him and purify themselves in obeying the truth through the Spirit, have a foundation which cannot be moved. See Heb. v, 9; 1 Pet. i, 22.
I never felt more anxious to share with those who keep the word of his (Christ's) patience, than now. I hope to endure and triumph with the remnant, which keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
H. W. LAWRENCE.
West Bangor, N. Y., May, 1858.
An Invitation to Preach the Truth
By Samuel Treat
From Bro. Treat.
BRO. SMITH: I am still interested in the great salvation, and that, also, which pertains to the present truth. And although I am surrounded with a variety of religionists, and frequently hear of powerful reformations in the surrounding country, yet the heart-stirring communications and letters from the dear brethren and sisters, weekly read in the Review, are the most interesting to me. Still I must acknowledge that I do not live in the full enjoyment of the present truth. O, I long to be more like my divine Master, and have my life hid with Christ in God, so that when he who is my life shall appear, I may appear with him in glory. I do long to see and hear some of the dear heralds of the cross, and have them show me the straitness of the way, and the importance of walking in it, in more glowing colors than I in my weakness can paint it out to myself. And here I would extend an invitation to some of God's faithful ministers to come and preach the word of life to us. I know of two families that are anxious to hear. They are unconverted persons, but they have more than once asked, "Why do not some of your preachers come here? I would go miles to hear them, for I believe they are the nearest to the truth."
Brethren and sisters, be faithful, and be of good courage. Our faith and faithfulness is being tested; but if we endure to the end, we may with Paul say, "There is laid up for me a crown of righteousness."
Yours in love.
SAMUEL TREAT.
LYDIA BARROWS
By Lydia Barrows
From Sister Barrows.
BRO. SMITH: Feeling a love for the truth and its prosperity, I would say a few words to the saints scattered abroad. Although weakest of them all, I yet praise God that I have a humble place with his people. To suffer with them? Yes, that I may receive the inheritance. Moses had respect unto the recompense of reward, and shall not the saints when it is so soon to be given? But is this to be obtained without a struggle? It seems to me that the great and wondrous love of God is manifest, after we have given up all, that he should receive us. O 'tis for Jesus' sake. Were it not for this, we might lie down in sorrow. Precious Redeemer! He gave his life for us while we were sinners, and is now pleading his precious blood in the heavenly Sanctuary. Shall we be unmoved at all this, and act as idle spectators, as though we had not a case to be decided there? Yet a little while and the mandate will go forth, “He that is filthy let him be filthy still, and he that is holy let him be holy still.”
Jesus has said, I know thy works; and may we remember, dear brethren and sisters, for all the light that God has given us, we are responsible, whether by his messengers, or through the gifts of the Spirit. In this way God has taught his people in ages past, and I praise his holy name that this is a token in these last days that he is with them still. While Satan is at work with all power, and signs, and lying wonders, to deceive, God will work for those that love him.
But I hear some say, The Bible is a sufficient rule. So it is; if perfectly understood and followed. Did not Peter understand that God had spoken by the prophet Isaiah, that Christ should be a light to the Gentiles, that he might be his salvation, unto the end of the earth? Yet God saw fit in his unbounded goodness, to show Peter more clearly than this, that he should carry the gospel to the Gentiles. There were some that found fault with him, but when they heard from his own mouth what God had shown, “They glorified God, that he had to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.”
It seems to me that if we as a church had appreciated as we should the gifts that God has bestowed, we should now be nearer apostolic faith. But I praise God that his hand is in this work, and he will carry it on. Every member will be in its place. The gifts which are given for the perfecting of the saints will be more manifest.
While meditating upon these things my heart has felt unutterable love for Jesus. I praise him for his unspeakable goodness to me. The thought of overcoming with his people, of seeing Jesus as he is, and being made like him, inspires my heart with renewed courage to strive to gain eternal life.