When God made the world and set it in motion it constituted a complete system. The materials of nature had been produced by an exertion of Omnipotence, and so arranged and combined as to meet the approval of the Divine Mind. Light was separated from darkness, land from water; and order made to reign over the realm of general chaos. The principle of life had been imparted to many organic forms, and motion to the planetary orbs.
Man was at the head of the marvelous production—“the noblest work of God.” He possessed all the powers necessary to his high station. The earth itself was fitted up and adorned in a manner worthy of the end for which it had been called into being. Marriage had been instituted by the creation of woman and her gift to man. Provision had been made for the perpetuation of life in all its forms. And a divine glory and perfection were given to the whole system by the appointment of the Sabbath. Gen. 2: 1–3.
The beauty and life of the young world were in this manner linked to the throne of God and to the whole universe which revolves about that throne. Ex. 31: 16, 17.
Universal recognition was given. God pronounced it all good. The stars sang a welcome to the new orb, and all the sons of God shouted, All hail! to Adam and Eve. Thus this world, and all them therein, began its march of ages.
Who can show that the Sabbath was not an integral part,—a constituent element of “the creation,” without which the world would hardly have been a constituent in the universe; and that it was not intended to exist parallel with the world and the universe?
But a change came. Man fell. He lost his innocence and his hold on immortality. But did he lose his status as a subject of the throne of God, and as a citizen of his dominions? Was that golden chain which bound him and his world to those dominions broken? Was the Sabbath destroyed? No. That divine institution survived the fall. Man is fallen, but is not a hopeless exile from the dominion of his God. God pitied him, and gave him another chance to seize immortality and hold his place in the universe.
First, God sent the promise of a Saviour; and for four thousand years caused that promise to be often repeated and expanded. At last, he sent the Saviour himself to fulfill the promise; and it was fulfilled by him in all its parts. Luke 24: 44. His mission culminated in his death. This was the climax of all he came to accomplish.
Now, what effect did all this have on the Sabbath? It is plain to see that the promise, either when originally made or afterward enlarged, did not affect the Sabbath. The very prophets who spoke beforehand of the “sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow” were the most devoted friends of that institution; and, when they had all passed from the stage of action, it still remained. So much for the effect of the promise on the Sabbath. Did, or could, the fulfillment accomplish in this direction what the promise had not done? Not unless the fulfillment embraced more than was included in the scope of the promise. But it did not. Reason and logic, then, would lead to the conclusion that our Lord would not attempt to overthrow the Sabbath. This conclusion is amply supported by Scripture. He certainly did not abolish it by his teaching; Matt. 12: 1–12; nor by his death, Luke 23: 54–56. But what his death did not abolish has never been abolished.Eph. 2: 15, 16; Col. 2: 14; Heb. 8: 13; and 9: 16, 17. We accordingly find the Sabbath in existence all through the subsequent parts of the New Testament. Acts 18: 1–4; Rev. 1: 10. Nothing, then, that Christ did while in this world overthrew the Sabbath.
Does his work in Heaven destroy it? Can we tell? Let us see. The result of all his work on earth and in Heaven is the formation of a “new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.” But the Sabbath is to be in force in the new earth. Isa. 66: 22, 23. Thus, when the fall and curse are passed, the earth restored and man redeemed, that golden chain still binds all to the throne of God and to the universe. A second jubilee is held, Rev. 5: 13, and immortality without a cloud lies before every being in the universe.
H. WREN.
HEBREW PERSECUTION IN BOSTON.
By J. B. Benbow
[I SEND you an editorial, cut from the Cincinnati Weekly Enquirer of April 5, 1876, containing some very strong points on the Sabbath. J. B. BENBOW.]
Not a little, and a very just, indignation is felt among the Israelites of Cincinnati, consequent upon news just received from Boston. The facts are these: A certain gentleman, Mr. E. H. Dann, has for the past eight years been engaged as a clothing merchant in that city. He was an Israelite, and a religious Israelite, conversant with and diligently practicing the laws of his forefathers and the traditions of his race. Foremost among them was the injunction to remember the Sabbath-day and to keep it holy. Mr. Dann built his faith upon the Pentateuch, and founded his observances upon its precepts. He acknowledged no other sacred book than that upon the prophecies of which the Christian religion depends. He obeyed the commands which Abraham and Isaac and Jacob enjoined, which Isaiah and Jeremiah and Ezekiel and Ezra proclaimed, which in the early dawn of Christianity Peter and Paul respected, and for which, as to the hebdomadal date of the day of observance, there is no direct authority for change. Genesis, if we accept the literal meaning of the book upon which both Jew and Gentile yet happily rely, still rules and still points to the seventh day, not to the first, as the twenty-four hours during which it is forbidden to man to work.
All this Mr. Dann conscientiously believed, and he conducted himself in all his business in strict accordance with the principles he had learned from his cradle. But this, it seems, was not sufficient for the Pharisees of Boston. There is in that city a most ill-advised and, we believe, most unconstitutional ordinance, exacting, not a tax, but a license, for the managing within the city limits of any business. A week ago Mr. Dann’s license expired. He applied for a renewal. It was refused. He was told in plain terms that it never could be granted, because he had violated “our Lord’s day” by keeping his store open upon the Christian Sunday. After a short argument with the Superintendent, the gentleman whose privileges of honest labor were thus so suddenly obliterated appealed to Mr. Bigelow, the Republican President of the Board of Aldermen, in whose hands the final decision of the appeal rested. Mr. Bigelow attempted to quash all argument, but Mr. Dann was not to be put down. Mr. Bigelow asked him whether he was aware that he lived in a Christian land. Mr. Dann replied that heretofore he had been confident that he lived in a free land, but that now he doubted it. The upshot of the case was that the Hebrew defendant was refused his license.
Can there be a more convincing proof of the fatuous bigotry and intolerance of the leading party in Massachusetts than this? History yet burns with the cruelties practiced upon the Jews in Spain a few years after Ferdinand and Isabella had taken Granada. Sir Walter Scott, for the anger of the whole world, has painted in burning words the wrongs of Isaac of York and the insults of Rebecca. Even so late as 1846 the whole history of Continental Europe teems with liberal malisons upon the restrictions of the Jews in the Ghetto. But little more than four years ago the liberal press of the whole world was aflame with passion stirred up by the story of Jewish persecution in Odessa and the Danubian Principalities.
But what is the case now? Here in America—here in the virtual, if not nominal, seat of the power of the Abolitionists—the men who began the agitation for the just freedom of the colored man refuse equal liberty to the children of the Patriarchs who first rose up in armed revolt against the despotism of Eastern kings upon the banks of the Nile, of Eastern caliphs in luxurious Bagdad. And what is the race against which this Republican President of a Republican Board has so violently discriminated? They are the descendants of the men who have given us Baruch Spinoza, the father of modern philosophy, the first man who stemmed the tide of Aristotle. They are the men from whom we trace the subtile ratiocination of Maimonides and Moses Mendelssohn and the musical genius of his grandson. They are the men without whose co-operation Kant and Fichte could never have taught in Berlin. From their loins have sprung Isaac Cremieux, one of the most eloquent leaders of liberalism in France, and Benjamin Disraeli, the Premier of England. They are the men in whose history stand prominent the preachers, seers, poets and orators of antiquity, and the only nation which for ages before the advent of Jesus until now has maintained its integrity intact, its blood and generation pure.
This attack in Boston upon the Jews is another evidence of the latent bigoted hatred of the Republican party against any form of outward worship or inward sentiment repugnant to their own. If these people had their own way—could they carry out their own designs—they would be more intolerant than Calvin when he burned Servetus, or the infuriated mob who sacrificed Hypatia in Alexandria to their fierce and brutal passions.
Diligence and Industry
DILIGENCE is a fair fortune, and industry a good estate.
The Watchman on Feet-Washing
The Watchman comes out upon the question of feet-washing, and says:— “Now, if The Independent will show us that the other kind of feet-washing is a plain teaching of the New Testament, we will promise that all our churches will practice it.” Such ignorance of the Scriptures on the part of a religious journal is really alarming. Read John 13: 14, 15: “If I, then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” The duty is plain, and the Watchman boasts that “obedience to Christ is the fundamental Baptist principle.” Do the Baptists wash one another's feet?—N. Y. Independent.
SUGGESTIONS ABOUT THE CAMP-MEETINGS.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
Our camp-meetings are becoming more numerous and more important every year. They cost a large amount of hard labor and money, and they have a great influence on souls one way or the other. Hence, every reasonable precaution should be taken to insure success. We cannot afford to have one failure at a camp-meeting; nor is it necessary that we should. Perhaps I may be allowed to make some suggestions upon the subject.
1. Not only should the small family tents be well arranged and neatly kept, but the tent should also be pitched so as to set well and look well. It should be seated neatly and kept in order. In several of the tents last year, I noticed that the seats were of all lengths and widths, and were thrown together in all shapes. The pulpits were put up in the most careless manner. Then the lamps were small, feeble, and dirty. On the whole, the tent presented anything but an inviting appearance. A little taste and a little work will obviate all this; it should be done in every case.
2. The General Conference has already advised that a fit person be selected to make a full report of the meetings for the secular press. If our people are awake and alive to this matter, full reports can be published in from one-half a dozen papers at each camp-meeting. The president of each Conference should arrange beforehand with the papers to publish these reports. Daily papers in part will do it. As an inducement, we can offer to advertise and sell these papers on the ground. Doubtless many would be sold. Then these reports will be copied by other papers, and so the truth will be brought before many thousands. This important work should be promptly attended to.
3. Camp-meetings furnish the very best opportunities for missionary work. All classes of people are here and they have come out to learn our views, and become acquainted with our work. There should be on the ground a full assortment of our small tracts to be given to all who will read. Sample copies of our papers would be about the best thing to distribute. Several judicious persons can be elected and appointed to attend to this work. The president should see to this in time.
4. It is necessary that there should be a report made to the Conference from every church in the Conference. We have blanks all prepared for this purpose. It takes but a few minutes to fill out one of these and bring or send it to the State secretary. There can be no reasonable excuse why any church clerk should neglect to do this. It is a shame that any should neglect it. It makes trouble all around, and leaves our records in confusion and uncertainty.
It has been found that the best way to secure reports without fail is to have the State secretary send a blank to each clerk about a week or so before the Conference with a request that it be immediately filled out and returned.
5. The S. B. treasurer of every church should also square up his account, and send in the money he has on hand with a statement of the entire yearly pledge of his church, and how much of this is still unpaid up to the close of Conference.
6. Every minister and licentiate who has labored any during the Conference year, is expected to present to the Conference a full report of his labors, expenses, receipts, &c. These should all be written out with ink in a plain, orderly manner. In a number of cases, I have known preachers to come before the auditing committee to report without a scrap of record of any kind. They expected simply to make a verbal statement from memory. Then a great amount of precious time has to be wasted by them in trying to get at the facts. Others come in with simply a few pencil marks on some scrap of paper, without date, order, or name. Then the whole committee have to spend hours in deciphering these reports. This is an imposition on the Conference, and a shame to any minister.
A little taste and a few hours' work on the part of each preacher will obviate all this confusion. A report should state where the minister labored, when he went to a place, and how many days he was there, how many times he preached, and how many meetings he held during the year. After this should be a financial report, showing to a cent how much his expenses have been, and what they have been for; how much he has received, and the exact date when141a separate payment was made to him. This is necessary, that it may be compared with the treasurer's books to see if they agree. The best of men are liable to make mistakes—hence it is the duty of the auditing committee to look carefully to these things.
The secretary should have a written statement of what has been paid to each minister, giving the date when each payment was made to him. Then it is but a moment's work to compare this with each minister's report. Much time and confusion will thus be saved at our camp-meetings.
Proper provision should be made to make those comfortable who have to attend all the camp-meetings as laborers. Unless a person has tried it, he cannot realize how exceedingly wearing this work is. For about five consecutive months there is no rest at all, scarcely a day to stop even one day. It is incessant work seven days every week, and from five in the morning till nine at night. If the minister is not attending a meeting, he must be on some committee, or else advising with some one about something. Then the same round of business must be gone right over with again every week. As soon as one meeting is ended, they have to hurry off and travel day and night to reach the next one. This breaks up all regularity in sleeping, in meals, proper food, &c. Nothing can be more wearing than this.
Hence, I say it is reasonable that the camp-meeting committee should do all they can to make them comfortable. They need chairs to sit down in, a table to write on, a small stove to keep warm by when wet or cold, as it most always is more or less, a good bed, a wash basin, towels, a glass, &c.
So far as I went last year, with a few exceptions, none of these things were provided for, but were only obtained in a few cases by a good deal of asking and running. We would go on the camp-ground tired, hungry, and our clothes wet. Then we had to beg a chance in some body's tent as best we could, and so shift from place to place without any chance for retirement.
Knowing that our brethren do not mean to be negligent in these things, I write this to call their attention to what is needed. You are all looking for Bro. and Sr. White to attend your camp-meetings, and I hope they may; though I know it will be a terrible strain on their strength and health. Do all you can, therefore, to relieve them. I am sorry to say that I know of some little-souled, jealous-minded fault-finders who are really startled if even under these circumstances any extra provisions are made for the comfort of these overworked servants of God and of his people. These persons think that they should put up with as rough fare for five months in the year as they themselves are able to stand for about five days when they have nothing to do but to take care of themselves. Shame on such meanness.
Finally, everybody should come to the camp-meetings and bring all their friends. Hundreds were converted to the truth and to the Lord at these meetings last year, and we hope for greater success this year.
D. M. CANRIGHT.
St. Paul, Minn., April 20, 1876.
THE SANCTUARY.
Eighteenth Paper.—Points of History.
It now pleased God that the sanctuary should take a more permanent form. All necessity for a movable structure, to be temporarily located in different places, had ceased to exist. The period of Israel's journeyings had long gone by. The period of the Judges, during which the affairs of Israel were often uncertain and the times troublous, though exceeding in duration more than four times the length of the existence of our own government, was at length ended. The tribes of Israel were consolidated into a new and powerful kingdom. Under David the Hebrew scepter established its broadest sway.
At length God gave him rest from all his enemies round about. 2 Sam. 7 and 8. Then came the house of God into his mind, and to the prophet Nathan, he thus spoke: “See now I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.” This doubtless refers to the tent which he had pitched for it in the city of David, of which the words of Uriah the Hittite, 2 Sam. 11:11, may also probably be understood.
The prophet approved of what was implied in the language of David, that he purposed to prepare a suitable structure for the permanent abiding place of the ark of God, and he said, “Go, do all that is in thine heart; for God is with thee.” But the Lord the same night reversed the decision of the prophet, saying to the king that he could not build a house for him to dwell in; for he had been a man of war and had shed much blood. This was an important and a holy work. In this house the olive branch of peace was to be held out by Heaven to a rebellious world, and none but those whose lives had been passed in peace could be employed in its erection.
THE TEMPLE, LIKE THE TABERNACLE, BUILT AFTER A PATTERN.
Nevertheless to David was given by the Spirit of God, an accurate pattern of the temple, and all things pertaining thereto, just as Moses had received the pattern of the tabernacle in the wilderness of Sinai. This we find in 1 Chron. 28:11, and onward; and in verse 19, David says, “All this the Lord made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.”
Besides thus receiving the pattern, it was permitted him to make also abundant preparation for the coming building. Its erection was committed to his son Solomon, and to him and the princes, David gave the following solemn charge concerning this work: “Now set you heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the Lord God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the Lord.” 1 Chron. 22:19.
Again: 1 Chron. 28:10: “Take heed now; for the Lord hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong and do it.”
Mark, it was the sanctuary for which provision was thus carefully being made, the sanctuary, of which David had seen the pattern, for which he had made ready his material, and concerning which he gave this solemn charge.
The pattern is now furnished, and the material prepared. Where was this sanctuary located? The spot chosen was most significant. It was none other than the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, 2 Chron. 21:14–18, where the angel of the Lord appeared to David, upon Mount Moriah, 2 Chron. 3:1, which was near to Mount Zion. Upon this spot Isaac had been offered eight hundred and sixty years before, and a lamb had been provided in his place. Gen. 22:1–14.
All questions being thus decided and all preparations made, the work commences. The sacred writer thus marks this important event: “And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the Lord.” 1 Kings 6:1.
A question of chronology here demands solution. Paul in Acts 13:18–22, gives a far different reckoning of the time from the exodus to the building of the temple. He allows to the wilderness 40 years, the time given to the destruction of the seven nations of Canaan, usually computed as 6 years (see Bliss’ Sacred Chronology), to the Judges 450 years, to the reign of Saul 40 years, to that of David 40 years, and to Solomon’s fourth year, 3 years, making in all 579 years, and bringing the building of the temple in the 580th year from the exodus, instead of the 480th as in 1 Kings 6. It is not necessary to give the long and elaborate opinions of critics upon this matter. There being a difference of just one hundred years goes far to show that a mistake of just that measure of time has somewhere been made. This could not be made in the text of the Judges, nor in the discourse of Paul, where the period is drawn out in items, so easily as in 1 Kings 6, where it is expressed in a single statement. Hence it is the opinion of chronologers that the reading in Kings is not genuine; that the building of the temple was commenced in the fourth year of Solomon, as here and elsewhere stated, but that this was the 580th year from the exodus, instead of one hundred years earlier. See this question discussed at length in Barrett’s Synopsis of Criticism, ii. part 2.
CONFERENCE ADDRESS.
By James White
Progress and Wants of the Cause.
It was voted at the recent extra session of the General Conference, that an address should be prepared on the subjects introduced at that meeting. Last week a portion of that address was given, in which our mission in Europe, and the establishment of the press there, was considered. We also noticed the favorable openings in the South, and progress of the work in several of the Southern States. But we called especial attention to the present condition and wants of
THE BATTLE CREEK COLLEGE.
We are fully prepared to speak in the most unqualified terms of the advantages of this school above any other of which we have any knowledge. We have now spent several weeks at Battle Creek and have had a favorable opportunity of learning facts relative to our important institutions located here. We have enjoyed great freedom in speaking to the people on the Sabbath day. Our congregations have been large and attentive. Our commodious house and gallery are usually crowded. And the students at our College constitute a very interesting portion of the assembly. Several features of our school are worthy of especial notice.
1. The correct deportment of the students. This does not seem to be so much the result of stringent rules as of a high sense of duty on the part of the pupils, combined with mutual respect of teachers and students for each other. Under these circumstances, progress in study is secured.
2. There is a constant revival spirit in our school. Conversions are frequent. Sabbath, April 29th, eight students were baptized. And no persons in our large congregation are moved more by the word spoken than these dear young people. We are very happy to be able to make this favorable record of the moral and religious standing of our school.
3. Most of these students are conforming to hygienic rules of living, and, as a consequence, sicknesses are almost unknown among them, and they are able to make greater progress in their studies. The Boarders Club, an organization embracing nearly fifty persons, is working out a problem of great importance to our school. These have one eating house. One of their number makes all the purchases of the raw material for nutritious, healthful food, and each member pays a certain sum per week to meet the expenses of cooking and keeping the house.
As they have fully adopted the two-meal system, they assemble at the eating house only twice each day, where order and sobriety are observed as if assembling for a religious service. When they have enjoyed the healthful meal they return to their rooms in different directions not far from the College building. Several students, more or less, occupy one room according to its size. The entire expenses of meals and room are not far from $1.25 per week. Add washing, fuel, lights, and tuition, and one year's expenses to the poor young man at our College, excepting clothing and books, need not exceed $75, or $80. And this very sum he can nearly earn during vacation.
The true friends of the health reformation will be gratified to know that the experiment of the Hygienic Boarding Club of our good school is proving a perfect success. Some may be ready to cry “starvation” when we state that butter, milk, and sugar are excluded. But the writer looks back thirty-five years when thirsting for education, and grappling with poverty, he and his room-mate, now Judge Smith, lived three months on corn-meal pudding and molasses with raw apples, and flour-cakes for each Sunday morning. But these young gentlemen and ladies of the Hygienic Boarding Club of the Battle Creek College feast twice each day on the best breads, fruits, and vegetables, at a cost of less than one dollar a week. With them the keen relish of healthful appetite, secured by their restricted diet, far exceeds the gustatory enjoyment of sweetened, spiced, salted and buttered fixings of fashionable living. Thank God for health reform. It is a mighty lever to lift up the student to physical, mental, and moral improvement. The miserable shattered nervous dyspeptic who is forever whining and fretting about what he shall eat deserves but very little credit for restricting his diet to simple and healthful food.
With him it is a necessity. He must restrict his appetite in point of quantity as well as quality, or suffer worse than death. But when our youth who know nothing of enfeebled digestion and its consequences adopt unfashionable and restricted diet from principle and choice, it is then that the friends of health reform may shout victory. Appetite is the strongest power on earth. He who can control his appetite from choice and not necessity becomes a triumphant conqueror. But appetite in the ascendency enfeebles moral power as it strengthens its hold upon strong and brave men. Officers upon the field of battle who would lead on their men to the fight, to the very cannon's mouth without moving a muscle, would surrender upon their knees before a glass of whisky, a plug of tobacco, or a roasted turkey.
When young Christian gentlemen and ladies in the pursuit of education and true knowledge eat to live, rather than live to eat, it is then that appetite is an agreeable servant, and not a debasing tyrant.
The School Board will labor to the point to make it an object for our people everywhere to patronize the Battle Creek College. After laying out the grounds, and fencing, and opening a street on two sides, there remain seventeen lots of the original purchase, lying on two sides of the College ground, with a road between. The Board will immediately commence building on these lots. They design to put up neat cottages which will cost not to exceed one thousand dollars each. Including the expense of the lot, these neat and commodious homes will be offered to those who may be induced to move to Battle Creek, in order to educate their children, for about $1300. This will ever be the most valuable property in the city so long as our school may prosper, of the success of which there can be no doubt.
Teachers are united with the Board to make our school the very best in the country. And the church co-operates in maintaining a pure moral and religious influence, which is the strongest safe-guard of the youth. Our greatest embarrassment at present is the want of cash to pay the debt upon the building, and to fully support the school. The simple item of tuition, which must be put at a reasonable figure to secure large attendance, can but little more than meet the expenses of fuel, janitor, and other incidentals. Our faithful professors and teachers must be paid from funds raised from sources nearly independent of tuition.
The Supplement to last week's REVIEW sets forth the matter of means quite fully, and the plan by which the stock of our Educational Society is to be raised to $100,000. We have taken hold of the handles of the plow, and shall not look back until furrow after furrow is turned over, and the $100,000 is raised.
We do not ask the poor man to give one dollar. But we shall give the wealthy, who have a double competency, no rest upon this subject until they come up to the help of the Lord in the matter of our school with a liberal portion of that cash which they can spare without realizing any real want. We ask those who have taken stock, and who are able to take more to report without delay. We ask those who are able to pay their pledges, and have neglected to pay them, to report themselves at once at this Office. If they cannot pay them now, we wish to know when they will pay them. And we ask that not less than 3,000 Seventh-day Adventists in our country take stock in the College from one share, which is put at $10, up to one hundred shares. The means will come, and we shall keep on plowing until it does come.
Will the officers of all our churches, and Tract and Missionary Societies immediately act as canvassers for the new monthly, entitled the Battle Creek College, and send us 5,000 subscribers, at 10 cents a year? We hope to issue the first number for June. More next week relative to the progress and wants of the cause in other departments. J. W.
OUR WORK.
By R. F. Cottrell
NEVER was a more solemn and important work committed to men than that to which the Lord has called his people in these last days. The time has come for the last warning to be given to the church and to the world. On the full acceptance or rejection of this warning hangs the destiny of each individual to whom it comes. The reception of the warning is something more than a mere assent to its truth; it implies a thorough preparation, in the light of the whole truth of God, for the Judgment that is at hand. The time in which lost men can be saved will be past, forever past. In view of this the Master calls to us who believe, Go, labor in my vineyard. But who is sufficient for these things? Our sufficiency must be of God, by the gift of the Holy Spirit. If we consecrate ourselves to God and his work, he will supply all necessary help. Who will take a part in this sacred, solemn, and important work?
The prophetic commandment to all the people of God now is, “Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.” Those who engage in this work must have the law of God in their hearts. That law requires us to love our neighbor as ourselves. If we love our neighbor, we will labor for his good. We will not be called upon to quarrel with him; but with the love of the truth in our heart, and with the single desire for his salvation, we will labor to bring him to God. Labor thus put forth for the honor of God’s law and for the salvation of men will not be in vain.
The sealing message is rising like the eastern sun. The earth is fast being enlightened by the glory of this message. Who will take a part in the work? No half-hearted workers are called for. A whole consecration alone can answer the demand. Whatever the talent is which God has put in our hands, whether it be moral influence, mental ability, or worldly goods, all must be consecrated to God, all laid upon the altar, and be put to use in the cause of human salvation, the cause for which the Son of God poured out his soul unto death.
Many are hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Our efforts will be repelled with scorn by many; but nothing should discourage us in the work. Our work is of God; and he will crown our efforts with success. Jesus was rejected and reviled. All manner of indignity and abuse was heaped upon him by those whom he came to help. He was despised and rejected of men. But still his mission was a success. He shall see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied. And we, my brethren, may enter into that joy of our Lord. Our mission will as surely be successful. The fruit of our labor, put forth according to the will of God, will surely be seen, though it may not immediately appear.
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
Well may we afford to labor on in this cause, so evidently the cause of the Lord. Time and means given heartily and perseveringly in this cause will not be lost. Those to whom God has given talents or means may invest in a way in which it is impossible to lose. It may be transferred to the bank of Heaven, a bank that cannot fail, and which no thief can plunder. And those who freely give their time, without hope of reward in this life, will, by the improvement of time, gain eternity. Those who will forego earthly honors and pleasures, for the Lord’s sake and for the salvation of those for whom he died, shall receive instead heavenly honors and pleasure for ever more. Courage, brethren, courage in the Lord! The time to labor is short, the reward is near. Fear not, little flock, it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
R. F. COTTRELL.
APPEAL TO THE MO. CONFERENCE.
By W. H. Rogers
DEAR BRETHREN: The time for our annual gathering is drawing near, and we hope that all the friends of the cause will make an effort to attend this meeting, as it doubtless will be the most important camp-meeting yet held in the State. There are some of our people in this Conference who never attend our general gatherings, and they are not all of the poorer class either, but worldly cares and lack of interest have been sufficient to keep them at home.
Brethren, we need you at this meeting to help bear burdens and responsibilities, and in planning and executing the work for the salvation of souls. And you need the benefit of the meeting, to get your spiritual strength renewed, and to get a real awakening to the duties and dangers of the times. Bring your unconverted friends and children, and let us all get where the Lord can bless us, and where we can see the work go forward in our Conference. Time is short; remember our message is for the men of this generation. Time is rapidly passing on; what we do for ourselves and for others must be done soon, whether by our means which the Lord has entrusted to us, or by personal effort. See how the Lord is in his providence opening the way for this truth to go into new fields, far and near.
The Lord wants us to be more earnestly engaged in, and consecrated to, his work. It is our privilege to enjoy more of the real advent faith, and this is always obtained by a spirit of sacrifice; then as we resolutely go forth everywhere with the glory of God in view and the salvation of souls as our object, God can and will give success, and by going on to know his will, we may be prepared for the latter rain and to take part in the loud cry of the closing message.
So, brethren, one and all, let us have a general rally from all parts of the Conference.
To our Kansas brethren and sisters, we say, We would be happy to have your attendance at this camp-meeting, especially on account of past relations. Hope we shall have the labors of Bro. and Sr. White at this meeting.
As to tents, we call attention to what Bro. Ayers has said in REVIEW.
Let all be on the ground in good season, so we can appropriate all the time appointed and lose none in making preparations. Hope the delegates will be ready to organize the Conference by 5 o'clock P. M. the 24th, in order to give the several committees a chance to arrange the business as early as possible. And may the blessing of God attend us.