DEAR REVIEW: Though far off, and a stranger, perhaps a few lines will be of interest. I have been troubled on the Sabbath question for the past five years, and have not been satisfied with the commonly-received orthodox opinions on many other questions. I had heard of Seventh-day Adventists, but knew very little about them.
I came to this State from Washington Territory, in July last, and did not expect to be troubled any more about the Sabbath. I traveled about three months in search of a place to settle, but could find none but this. About the time I was fairly settled Eld's. Loughborough and Bourdeau commenced meetings. I was prejudiced some, and did not go to hear them till Sunday came around, when I attended, and the Sabbath question was taken up. I supposed it made no difference what day we observed, but was open to conviction, and listened carefully. I discovered that for every position taken, a thus saith the Lord was read from the Bible to sustain it. I concluded to adopt that rule, and lay aside all preconceived opinions, and commence studying for truth. I soon found it, and also found the Bible to be a perfectly harmonious, and entirely different book from what I had ever supposed it to be. I soon after commenced observing the Sabbath of the Lord, and all doubts have fled, I trust forever.
The work has steadily progressed, notwithstanding it has been opposed on every side, by many professed ministers and people of Christ, till last sixth-day the tent was erected, nearly all the Sabbath-keepers in the State came together, more than sixty in number, and all but three or four, have come out since August. Service commenced Sabbath evening and continued till first-day evening. A better meeting I never attended. All united in sentiment, perfect harmony of feeling, satisfied to accept the whole Bible just as it is, and by the grace of God, determined to live up to its truths. The Lord was with, and blessed us. It was a precious season. On first-day hundreds filled the tent. Previous to the morning service fifteen went down into the water and were baptized, several of them old, and gray-haired. It was a beautiful, yet a solemn, scene.
Many are convicted, and are studying these things. In the evening we had a melting time. We talked, and prayed. Several rose up, confessed their sins with tears, and resolved to live for Jesus. Others will be baptized soon. In the afternoon we organized into a State meeting in order that the work might move forward more effectually, and without hindrance.
Many grateful hearts there are here now, who send their love, their gratitude, their thanks, to the kind friends East, for the efforts made to send the present truth to this coast; and we will do all we can to spread it. The field is large, calls are coming for help from many places. May God bless you and us, and speedily send the truth to all willing hearts, and then take us home to the New Jerusalem, is our prayer.
Respectfully yours,J. F. Wood.Sonoma Co., Cal.
Standing Firm for Bible Truth
By PHŒBE A. MINER
From Sr. Miner.
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: How often are we pained to hear the wicked by whom we are surrounded on every hand, and even many, very many of the professed followers of the “meek and lowly Jesus,” scoff and sneer and heap contumely upon some of the plainest doctrines of the Bible, such as the holy law of God, Bible baptism, &c., merely because those Bible truths do not suit the depraved minds of this “wicked and adulterous generation.” They claim to have grown so much “weaker and wiser” since the Bible was given to man that they assume the right to discard any portion of it they please, and substitute in its place some man-made traditions.
Sometimes it does seem too hard for the true disciple of Christ to stand and hear the truths that are nearest and dearest to his heart ridiculed in such a manner. But how cheering to his heart to look within that old and widely-controverted book, and read the cheering promises left on record. It does seem sometimes as though there were passages spoken directly to us who live in this eventful era, when the great drama of time is drawing to a close, and God’s people are “repairing the breach,” and “restoring paths to dwell in.” Take for instance the following: “Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings; for the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool; but my righteousness shall be forever, and my salvation from generation to generation.”
Yes, dear brethren and sisters, the sinner’s day is coming. Now they may chant their siren songs, and utter the peace-and-safety cry, and scoff at God’s law, and his coming to judge the world in righteousness, and dream not that their characters are passing the grand review in the court of Heaven, and their feet stand upon the brink of destruction. And if you caution them to repent and get ready to meet the Lord, they will ridicule the louder, and cry, “On with the dance, let joy be unconfined.” And so they sail along to the vortex of destruction, unmindful of their danger, until, alas, they will wake to the full sense of the dread reality of their awful condition. But then, not till then will their scoffing and laughter cease. But then, in its place, will arise, amid the tumult and confusion of that day of anger and wrath, prayers mingled with tears and cries and wailings and groanings; but all in vain; the golden hour of mercy is past, forever past, and God’s ear is no longer open to their cries, and in dread, unutterable despair, they flee to rocks and mountains to hide them from the face of him who sitteth upon the throne. I pray that when that “day of days” dawns upon us, the writer and the reader of this may be found “without spot or wrinkle or any such thing,” and may share in the immortal glories of Heaven, and reign with Christ forever. PHŒBE A. MINER.
C. LAWTON
By C. Lawton
From Sister Lawton.
BRO. SMITH: While reading Bro. Cottrell's remarks on the fall of Babylon, and Bro. Bourdeau's report, I felt my heart stirred anew to the great work just before us. When I look back and see how gently God has led his people in a way they knew not, and how plainly their way in the future is marked out, even so that we can see clear through to the haven of eternal rest, the thought that that rest is so near, sends a thrill of joy to my heart, while I feel to exclaim with David, “Oh! that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men.” But while I rejoice in the clear light which is shining over present truth, I rejoice with trembling; for it seems to me that the present time is fraught with the greatest dangers to the church ever known. The state the church would be in just before the loud cry, we find clearly pointed out in Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 1, the time of shaking; and who can doubt we are living in this very time? Our salvation depends on the work we have to do. No doubt if we see ourselves in the light as we should, we shall look on the work as a great work, which will take some time to accomplish; therefore the importance of not delaying the work. And then if we are not thorough, but rest satisfied with a surface work, what will it avail us? Why, nothing, only condemnation. Oh! then how dangerous to neglect this little space of time left for the church to prepare for the latter rain. We shall be without excuse if found wanting. Satan knows very well the great work which is to be done to fit God's people for the loud cry. He knows, also, that his time is short, therefore his great vigilance in exerting his power to hinder this work as long as he can, that he may win souls. He is an arch deceiver. It requires a deep experience in spiritual things to understand his devices, and strong faith in God to resist his influence. Many will lose eternal life for the want of this experience, which must be obtained through consecration to God, dying to the world and self, maintaining watchfulness and much secret prayer. Satan knows that as long as he can keep the mind absorbed in world and self, his object is gained. He has no warfare with such. It is with those who are struggling for the victory that he contends. Oh! the power of the enemy, how strong. All are in great danger, but more especially the youth. The world holds out attractions for them, which it does not for those more mature in life and experience.
Remember, dear youth, you are on enchanted ground. The enemy will lead you captive. He will draw the veil of deception over your eyes. He will bring over you a spirit of lethargy and lukewarmness, so you cannot sense your danger; wrap you all up in the cloak of self-security, and you will go on self-deceived, until aroused by the wrath of God, which will be poured out without mixture of mercy, in the seven last plagues. But this need not be your case, if you will arouse yourselves, and struggle mightily for the victory, by overcoming the world, the flesh, and Satan, and give yourselves wholly to God in a covenant never to be broken. Angels will come to your help. Oh! do not sell eternal life but get so filled with the love of Christ, that there will be no room for any intruder. Get your eye fixed by faith, on the eternal inheritance, that your heart may become ravished with the glories of the upper world, and this will lose its attraction. Lord, help the youth, is my prayer, and hasten on the work of preparation for the latter rain, that we may receive of the refreshing, and finally with the redeemed enter through the gates into the city.
C. LAWTON
Adams Center, N. Y.
A Testimony of Faith and Resolve
SR. M. E. S. writes from Brighton, Iowa: I am thankful that I ever heard the third angel's message and had a heart to receive it. I love the truth. The Sabbath of the Lord is a delight to me. I feel determined to keep all of God's commandments and the faith of the Saviour. By the grace of God I mean to follow on to know the Lord. We have had much light. We surely have had much given us and there will be much required of us. The servants of God have labored long and hard in this place. We have had some plain, cutting testimony, by which I hope to profit. I mean to try to treasure up the truth that I have heard, and live it out in my every-day life. I have many things to overcome, but the Lord is just as willing to help as he ever was. He has helped me to overcome some of my sins. I will trust in his promises. I feel a great desire to watch and pray, and strive to get near the Lord. I want to love him more and serve him better. Let us take new courage. Though the journey is rough it cannot be long.
HOW MERCHANTS ARE DEMORALIZED.
By Henry Ward Beecher
These merchants, these men that sell goods—how many pretenses they weave! What poor articles, with what a good face, do they palm off on their customers! How they suppress the truth! How they indulge in over praising or under valuing, as the case may be! How much there is of systematic commercial deceit, and wrong-doing through it.
But do not slander the merchant. I think it is the front part of the counter that corrupts the back part. Now and then, in the mercantile business, just as in any other relation, there are men who incline to fraud, to guile; but, ordinarily, men that sell are perverted by the men that buy. You go forth hunting for a merchant out of whom you can get a “bargain.” What is a bargain? A true bargain is that transacted in which you render an equivalent for what you get—in which you give that which is worth as much as that which you receive. But what you call a bargain, is going out and finding some one with whom you can trade so that you can come home conscious that you have got five times as much as you have given. And strange as it may seem, men take pride in this thing! It is part purpose and part excitement.
For instance, you go into the store of a man who keeps musical instruments for sale. He has an old violin. It is cracked, and has been mended. You take it and go to the light, and looking down through the opening, you see “Amati, 1695.” You say to the man, “How much is this?” He says, “Twenty dollars.” You buy it. Only twenty dollars. You go home with your “Amati,” and say, “This violin is worth five hundred dollars, and I would not take two hundred in gold for it!” “How much did it cost you?” “Guess.” And you sit expectant, like one waiting for his crown! At last you say, “I only gave twenty dollars for it.” “No, you don’t mean that?” “It is a fact; that is all it cost me.” And how happy you are! And you show the violin all the rest of your life, congratulating yourself that it is worth four or five hundred dollars, and that you got it for twenty. That is to say, you stole all the difference between what you gave for it and what it is worth; and God will judge you so!—Henry Ward Beecher.
When Religion Doesn’t Agree
S. C. HALL related the following anecdote at the dinner-table of a distinguished poet in London: ‘A worldling was once visited, in his illness, by a well-meaning but dolorous clergyman, who disfigured his countenance and wore a face of perpetual mourning. As his sad visage appeared in the doorway, the sick man started up and exclaimed: ‘Why! what’s the matter? You look as if your religion didn’t agree with you!’”
Thoughts on the Sabbath
The book entitled, “Thoughts suggested by the perusal of Gilfillan, and other authors on the Sabbath,” from which Bro. Andrews presents some extracts in this week's paper, can be had at this Office. Price, postpaid, 75c.
Deny Self.
By John Matteson
The following is the substance of a conversation between a Methodist class-leader, and an Adventist brother who formerly belonged to that church.
Methodist. Why do you not come to our meetings and enjoy religion with us? We enjoy the love of God to overflowing.
Adventist. I am trying to keep the commandments of God, that I may have right to the tree of life, and may obtain immortality when Jesus appears.
M. Then you have got to give up your tobacco. That must be very hard for an old man like you, who has used it from a child.
A. Yes, it is hard to overcome evil habits after our nature has become so perverted. But true religion will cleanse us from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. And by the grace of God I mean to perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord.
M. Pshaw! that is all nonsense. I can smoke and chew my tobacco, and serve God just as well. And now if you will come back to our church, I will promise to furnish you with tobacco as long as you live, and warrant you a place in Heaven as soon as you die.
A. Thank you, brother, for your kindness, but I can not accept of your offer. My Saviour has taught me, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow me.” Matt. xvi, 24. I prefer to follow Jesus.
Did Christ ever gratify any useless or hurtful indulgences? Never!
Can his followers indulge in any kind of useless or hurtful desire and follow Christ? Certainly not. Just so far as they do, so far they depart from the way of life.
Who will deny himself and follow Christ?
JOHN MATTESON.
Meetings in Falmouth and Westbrook, Me.
By J. B. Goodrich
By the advice of Bro. J. H. Waggoner, I left home March 19, to join him in Monthly Meeting with the church in Falmouth, Me. The weather was unfavorable and the gathering was small, but we had a very good meeting. Bro. W. gave us three excellent discourses at this meeting, which made a good impression on the minds of the people, and I felt very thankful for the privilege of listening to the good instruction of this tried servant of God. Tuesday, 23, I parted with Bro. W. in Portland. He left for Boston, and by his advice I returned to Falmouth to continue meetings there. The snow was going off and the roads were very bad, so but few could get out to meeting at first. I held the most of the meetings at Allen's Corner, Westbrook, and as the roads began to grow better, the congregation began to increase, and I continued meetings until April 25. I hope to see some of those that are convinced that we have the truth come out and obey it; for it will do no good to say that we believe the truth, unless we obey it. The law of God demands obedience; “for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.” I hope the Lord will bless those that say they believe they heard the truth, to receive the love of it in their hearts and be found keeping all the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and a have shield in the day of wrath. Administered baptism, April 25, and three united with the church. I was glad to find those that came out last fall, holding on to the truth. May the Lord bless them all, is my prayer. May 1 and 2, met with the church, at Canaan Me., in company with Brn. Stratton and Barnes.
J. B. GOODRICH.
Hartland, May 4, 1869.
New Edition.
THE readers of the REVIEW will recollect the excellent tracts, “The Truth Found,” and “Nature and Obligation of the Sabbath,” by Bro. Waggoner, which for some time have been out of print. The two have now been revised and improved and published together in a 64-page pamphlet. This is among the best of reading matter that can be found on the Sabbath question. Let your neighbors and friends see it. Price 10c, postage 2c.
Rev. T. K. Beecher on Dancing.
By Editor
I WISH some Christian families would club together this winter, regardless of church lines and denominational fences, and carry through a series of select assemblies, at which the cost will be small, the hours seasonable, the fare plain, the company select, the dance decent, the floor-masters deacons, the musicians choir members, the managers clergymen, and the net results health, happiness, society, unity, intelligence, charity, plenty and peace.—Charlotte Repub.
We had supposed that happiness society, unity, intelligence, charity, &c., were to be secured through the exercise of legitimate Christian privileges, not by a resort to private dances. But it seems that the reverend gentleman, having, in his unconsecrated use of the Lord's weapons, failed to secure those blessings, now advocates a resort to the Devil's implements, with an expectation of gaining them through these. This is exactly like Saul's seeking for light to the witch of Endor, after the Lord had left him, and answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
The Tithing System.
By John Nevins Andrews
No one disputes that the payment of a tithe of the increase of everything, year by year, was demanded under the Levitical priesthood. But because that priesthood is no longer in existence, it is generally believed that the system of paying to the cause of God a tithe of the increase, is no longer obligatory. That we are not under the Levitical priesthood, but under that of Melchisedek, I own indeed. But the Melchisedek priesthood is older than that of Aaron. Melchisedek, the first priest of this order, lived in the days of Abraham. Abraham paid him tithes of all. Gen. xiv. Jacob vowed to pay a tenth of all to God. Gen. xxviii, 22.
So it appears that the tithing system did not originate with the Levitical priesthood, but with that of Melchisedek, under which we now are. We are therefore under obligation to do as much as this, as Christians; and if any wish to give as much as the poor widow, they will not lose their reward.
J. N. A.
Every Man Shall be Rewarded According to his Works.
By John Nevins Andrews
This declaration is many times made by the sacred writers. Our conduct, therefore, is all noticed by the God of Heaven. Our acts are none of them hidden from his searching gaze. The character of our acts is never misunderstood by him. Whether we do good or do evil, it is all observed by him, and noted in his book. Out of that book we shall be judged. When this Judgment is passed on us, then we shall be rewarded for all our acts. Not one will be forgotten. Not one will be overlooked. Not one will be misunderstood. Then it will be seen that those who have borne the cross of Christ have not borne it in vain. It will then appear that the recording angel noted every act of self-denial and humble devotion to the work of God. Those who have borne heavy burdens in the cause, which others have shunned, shall find that they have not labored in vain. And those who have sought their own convenience, and studied how to escape the burdens that rest on the people of God, will find that they have made a serious and perhaps fatal mistake. Oh! if we could remember that every act is weighed, estimated and recorded by the angel of God, and that we must meet it all again, how careful should we be to do right every time. How anxious to know that our acts are all right in the sight of God. How careful to know that we are never seeking to shun any thing required at our hands.
The Judgment lies before us. Every act of our lives is then to be examined, and whether good or evil, is to meet its own reward. Let us never for a moment forget these things.
J. N. A.
Watchfulness and Prayer.
By J. A. SMITH
“How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the Lord had shut them up?” Deut. xxxii, 30.
One could chase a thousand, but what a vast amount more could two do when together! One could chase a thousand, but let him have the help of one more and they could put ten times as many to flight!
Just so with prayer and watchfulness. Prayer is good, watchfulness is good, but one without the other would not be of much avail. But let both go together and what victories, what conquests, the Christian can gain! With them both, he can vanquish all his foes. Watchfulness would be of some avail alone, perhaps; but let it be accompanied with prayer and the Christian will stand ten times as good a chance to overcome. They must go together. “But the end of all things is at hand; be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.” 1 Pet. iv, 7. “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” Eph. vi, 18.
J. A. SMITH.
Harrison Co., Iowa.
True Humility
To hope boldly in God, is the only true humility: to be afraid and distrustful, flows from the pride of self-righteousness.
Appointments.
And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
The next Monthly Meeting, for Western N. Y., will be holden with the church at Parma, the second Sabbath and first-day, in June. HARMON LINDSAY.
The next Monthly Meetings of the Greenwood and Pine Island churches, will be held at Greenwood, Minn., June 5, Pine Island, July 3. H. F. PHELPS.
The next Monthly Meeting for Allegany Co. N. Y. will be held at Wellsville, the first Sabbath and first-day, in June. Opportunity for baptism on that occasion. N. FULLER.
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