A TRACT bearing the above title has been placed in our hands for review. We cannot tell what denomination of professed Christians it may be, under whose patronage and sanction it is issued, as it simply bears at the close, the indefinite signature, 'Tract Society, 200 Mulberry-st., New York.' But unlike those works which teach that the Sabbath is abolished and done away, it has the advantage of having the Scripture upon its side in that it contends for the existence of a Sabbath from creation to the present time, and for its importance, and sanctity. In any work taking this position there is much with which all who esteem the 'Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord,' and 'honorable,' are happy to agree.
But there are points upon which we think the author errs from the Scriptures; reasoning wherein he turns his back upon revelation, the only reliable lamp for our feet, and encompasses himself with sparks of his own kindling; reasoning by which he endeavors to relax and modify the claims of the Sabbath law, and the definiteness of the institution, so as to accommodate it to a colossal tradition which now sits brooding over christendom. Here only have we any strictures to offer; and as we present the reasons for the view we entertain, every reader will of course resolve himself into a committee of one, to deliberate and decide for himself upon their validity.
So far as we have occasion to extract, we shall give the tract entire, and in such portions that no chain of argument will be broken, so that the force of the reasoning, should any be perceptible, may not be destroyed.
We have said that there was much with which every Sabbath-keeper would agree. Under this head is mainly the following, which may be entitled
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SABBATH.
"The law of God cannot be despised or violated by any nation without exposing it to the righteous judgments of heaven. The kingdoms of the earth are placed under the eye and control of Him who is 'Governor among the nations.' Ps. xxii, 28. The nation and kingdom that will not serve God 'shall be utterly wasted.' Isa. lx, 12.
"Thus it was that God dealt with the heathen nations of Canaan, when the cup of their 'iniquity' was 'full.' It was so with idolatrous Egypt, which has become 'the basest of kingdoms,' and with Nineveh also, of which God said, 'I will make thy grave; for thou art vile.' Nahum i, 14. If Tyre, once the mart of the world's commerce, has become a rock on which the fisherman dries his nets; if Edom has become a 'desolate wilderness;' if 'the pride of Moab' has been 'trodden down;' and if, later still, France, Spain, Austria and Italy, have been the scenes of frightful convulsions and bloody wars, surely these impressive facts have been recorded on the page of history to teach us that God punishes guilty nations as such for the violation of his laws, and that 'verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.' Ps. lviii, 11.
"Again, the violation of the law of the Sabbath in an especial manner provokes the divine judgments. It was one of the crowning proofs of the wickedness of Judah and Israel, that they had ceased to honor the day of God; and one of the causes of the Babylonish captivity was indicated in the declaration, 'They polluted my Sabbaths; then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them.' Eze. xx, 21. How awful was the warning addressed to rebellious Judah: 'But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the Sabbath-day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath-day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.' Jer. xvii, 27. And when Judah was carried away into captivity, it was 'to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her Sabbaths.' 2 Chron. xxxvi, 21. Is all this an inexplicable mystery? Has it no instruction for us? no application to the times in which we live? no voice of warning for our guidance? On the contrary, is it not clear that if the Sabbath be deliberately violated by a nation in direct defiance of divine law, then, unless mercy interpose, heavy chastisement must be poured out upon it?
"Again, we find that where the truth of God is abandoned, his ordinances will be dishonored. Thus was it with the people of Judah, of whom God said, 'I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have despised the law of the Lord, and have not kept his commandments, and their lies caused them to err.' Amos ii, 4.
"It is thus that Popery has made void the law of the Sabbath by her traditions, and that in two ways: first, she has dragged down this blessed day of God from the place of peculiar honor, and has degraded it to a level with the feasts and fasts of the Romish calendar, making her numerous holydays of equal authority with the holyday of God. The consequence is that, in all Popish countries, the holydays are better observed than the Sabbath, just because superstition and will-worship are dear to the carnal heart. Second, she has robbed the law of God of its full authority. She has contracted the Scriptural limits of the Sabbath, and made it a half instead of a whole Sabbath. Hence we find, when the mass is over at noon, the rest of the day is regarded as a holyday. We refer not here to countries like our own, where she accommodates herself to the religious feelings and habits of the community, but to other lands where she holds paramount sway. There one-half of the Sabbath is devoted to amusement and sensuous enjoyment. Before famine and pestilence swept Ireland as with the besom of destruction, crowds of the population might be found, after mass, playing at the game of foot-ball, wrestling in the meadow, or drinking and dancing in the public-house, while many of the priests themselves are wont to spend the evening of the Sabbath in gay society. And when we look to France—the military review, the horse-race, the opening of railways, take place on the Sabbath, while the population of Paris is divided between the attractions of Versailles, the Luxembourg, and the Louvre, and the numerous theatres which are thrown open by authority for those who are 'lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.'
"If we go to Rome, the center and source of that gigantic superstition which flings its dark shadows over the continent of Europe, we find public 'lotteries' in active operation on the Sabbath, over which cardinals themselves preside. And in Spain, after mass is over, the queen and her court, surrounded by multitudes of her people, are present at the bloody and revolting bull-fight. If it be said this laxity prevails also in Protestant countries on the continent, for this a two-fold reason may be assigned: first because the foreign reformers, not excepting Luther himself, gave an uncertain sound on the obligations of the Sabbath, and retained so much of the system they had abandoned as to leave to their countrymen a low and imperfect standard of Sabbath observance; and, above all, because the Spirit of the Reformation is well nigh dead in Germany, rationalism and infidelity have taken the place of evangelism, and 'the salt has lost its savor.' It is encouraging to know that, wherever evangelical truth has been revived on the continent, there also is awakening a corresponding zeal for the sanctification of the Lord's day.
"Again, the Scriptures teach that the Sabbath law admits of no compromise either with the claims of covetousness on the one hand, or of sinful pleasure on the other. Not with covetousness, for it is written, 'Ye cannot serve God and mammon.' Luke xvi, 13. Neither, again, will this law of the Sabbath 'strike hands' with those who 'are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: 'from such' an inspired Apostle commands us to 'turn away.' 2 Tim. iii, 4, 5.
"But we are told again that 'the Sabbath is a Jewish institution.' The law of the Sabbath occupied a place on those tables of stone on which the great Lawgiver inscribed with his own finger a law which the Author of the New Testament dispensation declared that he came 'not to destroy, but to fulfill.' Matt. v, 17. The Sabbath was no merely ceremonial or transitory law. Born, as the institution itself was, so to speak, in Paradise; recognized by patriarchs from Noah onward, as indicated by the division of time into weeks; lost and trampled down under the hoof of slavery in Egypt, (as it has ever been where slavery has prevailed,) but experiencing a resurrection in the wilderness, where Israel was free to serve and sacrifice, to worship and give praise to their fathers' God—the covenant of Sinai gave awful sanction and permanent establishment to a 'law,' which, from the beginning, had its moral claims over the race, and was emphatically 'MADE FOR MAN.'"
With most of the above testimony every advocate of the fourth commandment will be well pleased. The testimony concerning the Papacy, might have been enlarged. We shall have occasion to notice this again when we come to show what the Papacy has done, and that the manner in which it observes the Sunday, is not inconsistent with the institution itself; since, like all other of its feasts, it is a child of the church, or, according to the testimony of Catholics themselves, "not of divine but ecclesiastical appointment."
Such authority as this for Sunday-keeping Protestants will not admit. But as the fourth commandment requires that the seventh day be set apart to a religious use, and the Protestant world are found generally observing another day; or at any rate as a different day is now generally kept from that observed by the Jews to whom the law was given, and who would be as likely as any people to understand what is required by the fourth commandment, an explanation of the change must be made, and that too in accordance with the teachings of Scripture, which only Protestants will allow as authority in matters of religion.
Now if the fourth commandment does require the observance of a particular and definite day, that people to whom were committed the "lively oracles," who lived in its acceptable observance, as far as the day is concerned, for two thousand years, among whom Christ lived, joining with them in the observance of their day of rest, as we learn from the record of his life—that people, we say, could not be mistaken in the day to be kept. But they kept the seventh day of each week; and professed Christians of the present day generally keep the first. From these facts but two conclusions can be drawn: either that the fourth commandment does not sanction the practice of Sunday-keeping; or, that it is indefinite, and enjoins no day in particular, but becoming exceeding broad, embraces the whole week, and spreads its wings of protection equally over the observer of the seventh, the first, the second day, or any other that may be chosen. One of these conclusions must be taken without possibility of evasion.
(To be Continued.)
WHEN WILL THE TEMPORAL MILLENNIUM COMMENCE?
By Editor
Look at the following picture of the city of New York, the metropolis of this nation, which boasts of enlightenment and christianity—New York, the very head quarters of various Missionary, Reform and Tract Societies, who are apparently bolstering up themselves and others in the belief of the world's conversion, and the universal triumph of religion in this dispensation, and tell us when, in the order of things, such a time will commence. We would like to put this question to every infatuated believer in a view so monstrously irrational. We feel discouraged for any who are indulging in so delusive and groundless a hope. It is a sign that a reform is true when it begins at home. Before, therefore, so many men, and so many dollars are expended upon far distant shores, we want to see reformed the wretches of our own country, who though living in a land blazing with light of civilization are heathen still, with a moral character more hideously misshapen, perhaps, than even the devotees of Paganism. We want to see enough “salt” which has not lost its “savor,” manifested here to preserve the morals of the city of New York from rotting in its very streets; enough to save the city from becoming a second Sodom; before we rest our faith upon the permanence and holiness of any edifice built of material drawn from the slough of heathenism.
However bad the state of things might now be, if it was growing better, if there was evident improvement from day to day, there might be chance to hope;85but when we see things growing worse and worse, and have the positive affirmation of Inspiration that they shall grow worse continually till God overwhelms the world in one great and final outburst of his indignation, where is there ground for faith? Let each ponder the following statements and answer promptly:
“Our Commercial Metropolis.—Sixteen murders have been perpetrated in this city since the 1st of April, about which time Mayor Wood began to develop his programme of violent resistance to the laws, and the whole army of grog-sellers bade defiance to any legal interference with their desolating traffic. There have been at least twice sixteen attempts at murder, beside violent assaults and rum-hole fights without precedent. Ten thousand hardened and hopeless female outcasts swarm the streets at night; two thousand children, under the guise of peddlers, from the ages of ten to sixteen, penetrate every public building, store and office in the city, to beg, steal, spy for burglars, and on their own account practice those vices which cannot be named in respectable language; five thousand great and small gamblers prey upon the credulous and the infatuated, standing all day at the doors of their dens in Broadway, as well known in name and profession as the Mayor himself; ten thousand lazy, drunken, thieving short-boys, swill-boys, killers, roughs and rowdies of other names, lounge on the rum-cursed corners of the streets, making day disgusting, night hideous, and travel dangerous to all who can be suspected of having respectability or money; thousands of emigrant swindlers, mock auctioneers, lottery dealers, policy backers, pickpockets, hall thieves, burglars, wharf-rats, area-sneaks, pimps and vampyres, practice their knaveries as openly and with as little fear of punishment as though they were engaged in the most virtuous and legitimate of human purposes. The swell-mob of London, flying from the argus eyes of a real police and the unendurable felons of San Francisco, expatriated by the bullet and the hemp of the Vigilance Committee, are received here with open arms, parade our streets, under not only the toleration but the protection of our police, carry our primary elections, and fill high places on our nominating committees. On every hand we have vice and crime, and splendor; crime, vice, rum and beggary.
“And this is the metropolis of the Western World to day, full of uncleanness within and without; the disgrace and sorrow of all good citizens; the very Mecca of political and moral rascals throughout the world.—Tribune.”
TENT MEETING AT DODGEVILLE, WIS.
By John Norton Loughborough, E. Everts, J. Hart
THE above meeting commenced as appointed in the Review, June 27th, and held over two Sabbaths and First-days, and evenings of the week between. It was a meeting of deep interest from its commencement to its close. On First-days our Tent was filled. Evenings of the week our congregations were from 500 to 700. We presented them the subject of “Endless life alone through Christ,” and the prophecies, especially those that mark out our present position. Deep interest was manifested in the word spoken. The ministers of the several churches in Dodgeville were very busy in warning their members to keep away from us; but it had the effect to awaken an interest among the candid portion of their members to go and hear. Some of their members have already become convinced of the Sabbath question.
There were many infidels in Dodgeville, who gave us a candid hearing, and took it upon themselves to treat us kindly. One individual informed us that he had not attended a religious meeting in fourteen years. He attended all our meetings and seemed much interested. One of them said to us, “The infidels are the most interested of any of your hearers.” Yes, we replied, they seem like candid men. Said he, “They have seen many inconsistencies in the way the Bible is commonly explained, and did not once think there might be another mode of interpretation adopted that would harmonize the difficulties. As you teach the Bible, it looks clear and plain, and appears like a different book.”
We don’t know but it may look like a hard thing to expect infidels to take the present truth; but we believe some of them are more subjects of God’s favor than hard sectarians. “Stumbling-blocks” have been laid in their way, and they have stumbled over them. May the Lord rescue some of them, is our prayer.
It was a mystery to these infidels that we did not beg for money. “Why,” they would say, “how do you live?” We would tell them that we believed God required his people to go with a free gospel, and that there was a sacrifice required on their part to advance it. Unknown to us, they got up a subscription and raised $22,00, and urged it upon us. This to us is a token of their interest in the advancement of the cause.
On Second-day morning Bro. Hart baptized three souls. We expect that more will soon take their stand with the commandment-keepers there. Our hearts are encouraged still to labor on. We pitch our Tent this week in Green Vale.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
E. EVERTS.
J. HART.
Round Grove, Ills., July 9th, 1857.
DESTROY.
Our Saviour said that he came not to destroy the law. The original of this word is kataluo. It may be of interest to some to know how it is used throughout the New Testament.
The following is Robinson’s definition of this word, as given in his Lexicon, and its complete use in the New Testament.
Its signification. 1. To dissolve, to break down, to disunite the parts of any thing; hence spoken of buildings, or the like, to throw down, to destroy. Matt. xxvii, 40. Tropically, to destroy, to put an end to, to render vain. e. g., Matt. v, 17; Acts v, 38, 39. 2. To let loose, to unbind, e. g., from a chariot.
Its use.
Matt. v, 17. Think not that I am come to destroy — I am not come to destroy, but to
xxiv, 2. that shall not be thrown down,
xxvi, 61. I am able to destroy the temple,
xxvii, 40. Thou that destroyest the temple,
Mark xiii, 2. that shall not be thrown down,
xiv, 58. I will destroy this temple,
xv, 29. Ah, thou that destroyest the temple,
Luke ix, 12. and lodge and get victuals,
xix, 7. gone to be guest with a man that
xxi, 6. that shall not be thrown down,
Acts v, 38. be of men, it will come to nought,
39. if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow
vi, 14. Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this
Rom. xiv, 20. For meat destroy not the work
2 Cor. v, 1. of (this) tabernacle were dissolved,
Gal. ii, 18. the things which I destroyed.
MEETINGS IN VT.
By A. S. Hutchins
BRO. SMITH: We have been somewhat encouraged in our meetings recently. Our Tent was pitched on the 29th of May, at Right’s Mills in Montpelier. We remained here two Sabbaths and First-days; but the weather was so cold that we held our meetings in a meeting house near the Tent, most of the time. The interest to hear the truth increased. When we first went there, a few men seemed to think that with a slight effort we could be disheartened and worried from our purpose to spread our position before them. But no, no, we have too much love for the blessed truth, and too much confidence in the God whom we serve, to think that man, whose breath is in his nostrils can counteract the purpose of God.
Some good confessions were made in public by a brother living near, who had professedly kept the Sabbath for years, and who acknowledged he had had more of the theory of the message than the spirit. This led his family and others to feelings and reflections quite different about the truth.
This brother followed the example of our Lord and Master in the ordinance of baptism, as he had not before. His family followed down to the water-side, and there the blessing of the Lord rested down. His mother (eighty-six years old) a keeper of God’s holy Sabbath, was present, and rejoiced with us. His companion here resolved to keep the Bible Sabbath. Two weeks from this time (the Sabbath and First-day after the Tent meeting at Morristown) we returned here and held meetings, which were deeply interesting. Again we went down to the peaceful and pleasant river, where the companion of the brother above referred to and their daughter were buried with Christ by baptism. The daughter had just embraced religion. Her confessions, exhortations and entreaties to her parents, husband and brothers and sister were deep and feeling, at this place. Praise the Lord. Others decided to keep all the commandments of God, and others when we left were greatly interested. May the good Shepherd of the flock regard his people with tender care in this place. Brn. Sperry and Pierce, and other Brn. were with us here.
Yesterday we had the privilege of baptizing four lovers of the last message of mercy, in this vicinity. May the Lord graciously preserve and keep them in the path of duty and they finally share in the reward of eternal life.
Our visit with Bro. and sister White in our place was refreshing and encouraging to us. I might speak of other meetings of interest among the remnant, recently held; but I trust I shall shortly see you, and we shall speak face to face.
Yours in love and hope.
A. S. HUTCHINS.
Barton Landing, Vt., July 1st, 1857.
I Know Thy Works.
By Adam Clarke
The eyes of the Lord are throughout the earth, beholding the evil and the good; and, being omnipresent, all things are continually open and naked before him. It is worthy of remark that whatsoever is praiseworthy in any of these churches [the seven churches in Asia] is first mentioned; thereby intimating that God is more intent on finding out the good than the evil in any person or church; and that those who wish to reform such as have fallen, or are not making sufficient advances in the divine life, should take occasion from the good which yet remains, to encourage them to set out afresh for the kingdom of heaven. The fallen or backsliding who have any tenderness of conscience left are easily discouraged, and are apt to think that there is no seed left from which any harvest can be reasonably expected. Let such be told that there is a seed of godliness remaining, and that it requires only watching and strengthening the things which remain, by prompt application to God through Christ, in order to bring them back to the full enjoyment of all they have lost, and to renew them in the spirit of their minds.
Ministers continually harping on, Ye are dead, ye are dead, there is little or no christianity among you, &c., &c., are a contagion in a church and spread desolation and death wheresoever they go. It is far better to say in such cases, “Ye have lost ground, but you have not lost all your ground. Ye might have been much farther advanced, but through mercy, ye are still on the way. The Spirit of God is grieved by you, but it is evident he has not forsaken you. Ye have not walked in the light as ye should, but your candlestick is not yet removed, and still the light shines. Ye have not much zeal, but ye have a little. In short, God still strives with you, still loves you, still waits to be gracious to you; take courage, set out afresh, come to God through Christ; believe love, obey, and you will soon find days more blessed than you have ever yet experienced.”
Exhortations and encouragements of this kind are sure to produce the most blessed effects; and under such, the work of God infallibly revives.—A. Clarke.
Duty, Strength, and Temptation
Beware how you trifle with duty on the ground of inability; he who bids you do, promises you strength; he invites you to receive, therefore "have grace," that you "may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear."
Few things look worse than to see a young Christian sauntering in the street; it is courting temptation, and inviting Satan to lead you astray; hasten home to your calling, your closet, or your Bible.
Prize the Privilege of Learning
Prize the privilege of learning God's word; and hear with meekness, prayer, and attention.
You have cause to tremble, if the Bible appears a common-place book.
LETTERS.
By Elvira L. Bascom
"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another."
From Sister Bascom.
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: Though I am a stranger to most of you, yet the love I feel in my heart for God and his people, leads me to claim you as brethren and sisters. I feel that I am one that has come in at the eleventh hour, as it is but a few weeks, since I found I was violating God's holy law. O the goodness of God, in showing me the error I was in. A kind brother while passing through the place scattered a few tracts, and some came within my reach. As he handed me one, he said he thought we had not been keeping the right day for the Sabbath. Not keeping the right day for the Sabbath! can it be possible, thought I, that any one would dare to change God's holy Sabbath without a command from Jesus or the apostles to do so? I did not read the books through, before I went to searching the Scriptures for myself. I and my family, besides several others, saw our error nearly at the same time, and commenced to keep a Sabbath to the Lord. I need not tell you the difference in my feelings in keeping the true Sabbath, as you all probably know the difference. I can truly say the Sabbath is my delight.
Soon as I embraced this light I felt anxious to see, and hear from others of like faith, and I felt an anxiety for others to see the light. How fervently I prayed that God would send us help; and he has heard and answered our feeble prayers. Brother Frisbie is now laboring in this place and the Lord seems to move upon the minds of the people. Some that we thought nothing would move, weep like children. Some who stood out against the truth, have now embraced it, for which we would praise our heavenly Father. O the goodness of God, not only in giving his Son to die for us, but his long-suffering with us when we were violating his holy day. Other errors I find that I had also been in, but I pray the Lord to search my heart as with a lighted candle, and by his grace assisting me I will give up every error. It is over eighteen years since God for Christ's sake forgave my sins; and how little have I known of God, and of the way of eternal life. How dark have been some things, and how hard it was for me to teach my children; but now I know the reason. I was blind myself, and when the blind lead the blind they both fall into the ditch. But now light has come I find my children can understand; and a man though a fool need not err therein. I find with this light comes love. I love my Bible better I love Jesus better, and I love his children better. It refreshes my soul to hear from the brethren and sisters through the Review. I anticipate a happy meeting with them when Jesus comes, for which may I be fitted and kept by the grace of God through Christ my Redeemer. ELVIRA L. BASCOM. Caledonia, Mich., June 25th, 1857.
BETSEY A. PORTER
By Betsey A. Porter
From Sister Porter.
Bro. Smith: I have felt for a long time as though it was a duty as well as a privilege to communicate to the dear saints that are scattered abroad. When I read their cheering epistles which seem to flow from love and good will, it revives my feelings, and I take courage and press my way onward in this good way. It rejoices my heart, and I feel to bless God that he has spared my life and granted me the privilege of hearing this last message of mercy; and I mean to profit by it, and by the assisting grace of God to have on the wedding garment and to have oil in my lamp, and have it trimmed and burning. I would say to the brethren and sisters, be faithful a little while and our Lord will come to take us home where we shall see his face and enjoy his love forever. I am thankful to the brethren for sending me the Review. I hail its weekly return, and I wish it was in my power to help the cause. As to the things of earth, I am poor and much oppressed, but I am trying to keep the Sabbath of the Lord, in a weak way, and mean to strive to be faithful and do the best I can. I desire an interest in the prayers of the brethren and sisters that I may be able to overcome, and at last be permitted to enter the pearly gates and join the blood washed throng in singing the song of Moses and the Lamb.
In hope of eternal life.
BETSEY A. PORTER
Oshtemo, Mich., July 6th, 1857.
Encouragement for the Scattered Saints
By E. O. Meacham
From Bro. Meacham.
BRO. SMITH: I feel anxious to contribute my mite for the encouragement of the lonely scattered ones. And as we are often edified and encouraged by reading the various epistles from the dear saints, we would not be silent upon the theme of salvation that interests us all alike. Although we live alone without mingling our prayers and songs with the dear people of God in the social circle, we have not forgotten them, for there seems to be a congeniality of soul subsisting between us to promote the glory of God and the welfare and interests of each other.
Last Sabbath I enjoyed a very interesting time with the brethren at Green Vale. Our hearts beat together in unison while the Holy Spirit shed its benign influence over us, and we took fresh courage resolving in the strength of grace to live according to the light we had and seek for further truth.
We are striving to attain to, and seeking for that truth that makes us free and hope that the time will soon come when error like mist before the noonday sun, will flee away and be forever eclipsed by the light and truth that will dawn upon our world.
Press on brethren, for soon the toils of life will be o'er, the victory achieved, the battle won, and we shall be forever at rest in the kingdom of eternal day.
Yours striving for truth.
E. O. MEACHAM.
Savanna, Ills., July 3d, 1857.
Extracts from Letters.
Bro. P. E. Ferrin writes from Freeport Ills., June 28th, 1857. "We deeply feel the realities or effects of being pilgrims and strangers in a strange land. We have no continuing city here, but our eyes are fixed on one that is to come. We are poor, and it is needless to say that we are despised, for we are striving to live so that at the last great day we may be found heirs of that inheritance which is incorruptible, undefiled and that fadeth not away. 'Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.' Titus ii, 13. As much as in us is, we are striving to live christians even in the midst of wicked, God-denying people."
SELECTIONS.
The Smoking Christian.
I could not find any account of him in that very valuable and ancient work that says so much about Christians, and from which most of the accounts are taken. I tumbled over lots of leaves about patriarchs and prophets, and apostles, but mine eyes failed me to find anything about smoking Christians. I saw things looked smoky about Sodom about the time Lot left it; and there was a smoke in the valley of Achor which Achan knew something about; and Dathan and Abiram knew something about smoke in the incense affair they were concerned with. And there must have been some smoke when the incendiary foxes did so much mischief in Samson's time. And there was smoke when the idolators made their children pass through the fire in sacrifice to Moloch. And there must have been smoke when the fiery furnace was kindled in Babylon by the enemies of Dan-87iel. And a plenty of smoke, too, when the converts at Ephesus burned those books worth "fifty thousand pieces of silver."
So the Scripture is not silent in regard to smoke, but it does not apply the term in any way to Christians. The two things did not seem to be found together. And I do think that if there was any particular beauty or fragrance in their being together, Paul would have known it, and would have put them together accordingly, among some of the many things which he says about Christians. But in my search I drove through everything he ever said about them, and came out perfectly empty-handed in this matter. It cannot certainly therefore be essential to religion that one should be a smoking Christian, else Paul's catalogue of Christian virtues would not have been as deficient in this thing as we now find it.
Since I could not find any direct mention made of smoking Christians, I thought I would see if there could be found anything which, being fairly interpreted, would be likely to exert any quenchable influence upon the fire that such people carry about them. And I had not been long at work before up came a passage which ought to smash every pipe in Christendom, and pitch every cigar into the sea, and send all the snuff-boxes to float away in their company. Without saying a word directly against smoking disciples, it utters a rebuke which ought to penetrate every cloud which these puffing people gather about them. Just put your eye upon the following: "Finally, my brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, &c., think on these things." Why here is a whole platoon firing at once, each missile reaching its mark. Certainly it is true that if every shot out of that text hit somebody besides the smoker, the last did not miss him. "Whatsoever things are lovely!"—Smoker! you are wounded by the apostolic archer. Why, if a man is to put into his character and habits only such things as are lovely, would he, could he put into his mouth such an antagonism as tobacco in any of its forms?
But besides being unlovely per se, it is also relatively so, for the smoking disciple smokes everything about him. He smokes his house, his clothes, his Bible even. He smokes his wife, children and friends. He smokes the atmosphere that other people breathe. There is not a person or object that he has anything to do with that is not in danger of getting smoked. Now, if there be anything lovely in all this, who but a desperate smoker can discern it?
More. If there were anything particularly lovely in the matter of smoking, how comes it that, travel where you may, blazing capitals meet your eye. See the warning in the Railroad Depot. "No smoking here!" The emphatic rebuke next meets you in the cars. The hotels utter their voice—only that there is a smoking house somewhere about the premises, where smokers can herd together. And the steamboats send all smokers forward among the cattle, sheep and asses, if they will have their beloved indulgence.
Therefore a Christian cannot be a smoker without placards everywhere shall announce how little he adds, in this way, to the sweet savor of his character.
It would seem, therefore, that the disciples had better hasten and take their last puff. Perhaps they would do better to stop this side of another.—Evangelist.
TRUST IN GOD.
Aye! trust as does the loving, trustful child
On those whom God has given,
To shield him from the ills of life,
And lead him home to Heaven.
Trust when the world is dark around,
When earth-born lights are dim,
When those we love look coldly on;
Oh! trust thou then on Him.
Whoever watches o'er thee,
And whose Divine command
Can bid the angry waves be still,
Who holds them in his hand.
Though pain and sickness lay thee low—
Though earthly blessings fail—
Though slander, with envenomed dart,
Thy clearest hopes assail.
Though poverty, with iron grasp,
Holds thee in close embrace;
And want, with visage wan and pale,
Shall stare thee in the face.
He hears the hungry ravens cry;
He clothes the lily fair,
And are not ye much more than they,
The objects of His care?
The weary pathway here on earth,
Wherein no flowrets spring;
May, to celestial courts in Heaven,
Thy ransomed spirit bring.
What, though thy harp be all unstrung,
Each tender chord be riven,
Its melody, though crushed on earth,
May sound again in Heaven.
Thy spirit, sad and weary here,
May smile on that bright morn;
Each tear-drop prove a shining pearl;
Thy diadem to form.
A crown of life, to deck thy brow,
When freed from earth-born care;
A crown of Wisdom, Faith and Love,
Such as the angels wear.—Sel.
A Call for Laborers in Bristol
Sister Lucinda Sims writes from Bristol, Wis., June 26th, 1857. "Myself and daughter are the only Sabbath-keepers I know of in this region. It is a hard place, but the work is the Lord's and I hope he will search this place through and see if he has any jewels here. O that the Lord would send some of his children here to proclaim the truth. There are a number here that have once felt the Lord to be precious, and known the joys of pardoned sin, but have seemingly buried their religion under their forties and eightieths and qr. sections, and appear to be slumbering over the idea that there is time enough yet. The Methodists often preach here; they like to go to meeting, do well by the preachers, but no interest seems to be felt, and so they may preach on as Noah before the flood, and unless the Lord bless the word there will be no interest,
"We want the truth here, and the whole truth made plain and set before the people. Will the Lord send laborers into the harvest. My heart beats in unison with all the dear saints of like precious faith who keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus. I have not the privilege of conversing with any of the dear brethren. My heart would rejoice if I could add anything to the encouragement of the dear scattered ones of the flock, who have waded as it were through seas of opposition, discouragement and affliction in the cause of their blessed Master. When disheartened and sad and alone, by having the privilege of reading the communications from the brethren and sisters in the Review, I have been cheered, encouraged, and strengthened. And I am not above being benefitted by even the lambs of the flock, although I have been on my pilgrimage over forty years and am nearly sixty years of age, still I am needy; I have to say 'Here are temptations and trials severe,' yet glory to God there is rest for the faithful believer in Jesus.
By the word of truth we are assured that the coming of the Lord is near. Have not the signs predicted by the Saviour passed before this generation as never before? I believe the sealing time has come, and soon will angels shout the harvest home. Yes soon the dear lonely scattered pilgrims that stand the test of the Third Angel's Message, will sing the new song on the fair banks of deliverance. I am determined by God's grace assisting, to overcome all my foes and persevere, that I may help swell the strain of glory to God and the Lamb who giveth us the victory. Amen."