Earlier text: Christ Knocking at the DoorThe Publishing Association.
By Editor
The entire debts of the seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association amounted last March to the sum of $3500. Then we proposed to issue a catalogue of share-holders, with the number of shares, donors, with the amount of their donations, whether churches or individuals; also those who have pledged, with the amount paid, and unpaid pledges. We designed to issue the catalogue about the middle of July; but as only about $1000 of the above-named amount was paid in up to the first of July, it was decided to defer the publication of the catalogue till after the second annual meeting of the Association, in the hope that by that time all pledges would be paid, many more shares would be taken, and liberal donations come in, sufficient to meet every demand against the Association. The present indebtedness of the Association is not far from $2500. With a little effort this sum can be raised before the first of October. The times have changed. Labor and the products of the farmer, command good prices. Money for a season will be plenty. Now is the time to strike. Those who do not immediately meet their obligations to the Association, probably never will meet them. We plead for promptness now, that the pages of the forthcoming catalogue may present a clean and liberal appearance, and that in that document it may be said that the Association is free from debt. To this end, 1. Let all forthwith redeem their pledges. If any who have pledged are unable to pay in consequence of losses or sickness which has reduced them to want, on reporting themselves they will be excused. All others will be reported, and we hope to report them paid. 2. Let those who have taken shares and can take more without feeling it, take more. Brethren, let your companions and children take stock in the Association. Let the whole family, as far as consistent, take a part in the work, and feel that they have an interest in the cause. We have eight shares, Mrs. W. two, and we now take one each for our three children. This matter must and will be carried through. 3. Let the thousands of brethren and sisters in the ranks who profess full faith in the great facts brought out by the third message, who have not yet taken stock in the publishing enterprise, now come forward. Some of you are poor; but most of you can raise ten dollars for a share in the Association, and many of you can raise from twenty to one hundred without feeling the want of it. Where is the brother, sister, young man, or young woman of comfortable circumstances, who does not want to be represented in the first catalogue of the Association with at least one share? 4. Let our churches, also individuals, send in their donations. Most of you have, or should have, money in your s. b. treasuries. If you have no better use for it, send it in to help pay the debts of the Association. Battle Creek church has donated $150, Monterey $100, Wright $100, and others liberally. Now is a good chance for our churches east and west, north and south, to collect in their s. b. funds, and send in the surplus till the debts of the Association be paid. Some of the old hands who have in time past done much for the cause, have had but little chance to do since systematic benevolence has brought a surplus of means into the treasury, making comparatively light drafts upon them. God has especially blessed many of these in basket and in store for their past liberality, and they are now in possession of accumulated means that they hardly know what to do with. Here is a chance, brethren, to wheel in a few hundreds, and help stop this gap in the debts of the Association. 5. Let those who are indebted to the Association for books sold, the Review or Instructor, come forward with the pay. You never can, probably, raise money so easily as this fall. Send 'United States' bills if you have them. By a new system of mailing we shall in a few weeks be able to state on the margin of every paper, from week to week, just how every subscriber's account stands. We invite all delinquents to see to it in season, that the new mailing machine may report them, on the margin of their papers, paid in advance. If the above suggestions be carefully and prayerfully considered, and reasonably acted upon, the catalogue proposed to be issued about the middle of October next, will be able to report the Association free from debt. Is it not Time
By Uriah Smith
That the winds again be held? See Rev. vii, 1-3. The sealing angel calls upon the four angels who have in charge the affairs of the nations, to hold the winds in order that the servants of God may be sealed. But there must be a work done preparatory to the sealing. A testing truth must be proclaimed which will ripen the harvest for the garner of heaven. A sealing message must go forth. And whatever interferes with this proclamation, just so far retards the work. The troubles in our own nation are beginning seriously to embarrass the proclamation of the third message. The Illinois tent is laid up for the rest of the season, according to Bro. Ingraham's note in last Review, for the reason that it is useless to pitch the tent in new fields while the war excitement lasts. Since then we have learned from brethren Waggoner and Snook that the State of Iowa is put under martial law, and they were detained awhile under military arrest till they procured a certificate from the county Judge setting forth their place of residence, their present occupation and calling. The Judge advised them to immediately repair to their homes, as they would be daily more and more liable to troubles and difficulties. And now Bro. M. E. Cornell writes from N. Y. as follows: "The war excitement was so great we had to adjourn for two nights. Our tent was used for the war meetings. I never saw such an excitement as there is here in Rochester. The streets are blocked up with the tents of recruiting officers. The stores are all closed from 3 to 6, P. M., and all are trying to induce men to enlist. War meetings every night. 'Wake up the mighty men.' The rich men fear the draft, and they offer up as high as $315 to induce men to go. Men's hearts are troubled." As the Lord's work is not yet accomplished in the earth, may we not expect that this trouble will be suddenly restrained, and held in check, till his people are made ready? 1. THE entire property connected with the Review Office is the property of the S. D. A. Publishing Association. 2. No person holding an office in, or laboring for, the Association, has any personal pecuniary interest in the Association. 3. No person laboring for the Association receives more than seven dollars a week for his services. 4. Most of those now employed by the Association labored early and late in the Review Office when the friends of the cause were few, for limited wages. And when the circulation of our publications had so far increased that receipts would pay all expenses at usual wages, and the prospect was favorable for a rapid increase of circulation which would give an excess of receipts above expenses, it was then that all connected with the Office plead for the formation of a legal Association, into whose hands the entire publishing department might be placed, while they consent to toil on for only seven dollars per week. 5. Whatever the excess of receipts above expenditures may be, after the Association's debts are paid, the amount will be sent out in publications to assist well-tried and proved missionaries in their labors, at the discretion of the Trustees. With these facts before the real friends of the cause, who have faith that God has a special work to accomplish by the third message, they have no just grounds of objection to appropriating a portion of the means which God in his providence has entrusted to them to the uses and benefits of the Association. Thus far no salaried agents have been employed to collect means, and to oversee the printing, purchasing, and building. All have been laboring men, for small wages. And it is just that we should have say of the true friends of the cause, that all that has thus far been necessary to collect means was to say that it was wanted, and the next mail has brought it post-paid. This institution has no use for men who desire to live upon fat salaries. Such would at once embarrass it, discourage its friends abroad, and shut off their liberalities. It must have laboring, ardent men, who look for the heft of their reward in the next world. And while the Association has such men in its employ, to do its work, and look after its interests, and as it is destined to be a mighty engine to move forward the stupendous work of the third message, God's stewards will open their hands wide to supply its present wants. Several brethren refer to our remarks under this caption, two weeks since, in rather a feverish style. We invite them to read the article again, and be sure they understand our position before opposing it. Hold! brethren. This is no time for Christian gentlemen to give way to feelings of prejudice, and virtually charge us with teaching Sabbath-breaking and murder. You had better all go to God with this matter, and secure to yourselves a humble, teachable spirit; then if any of you are drafted, and choose to have a clinch with Uncle Sam rather than to obey, you can try it. We shall not contend with you, lest some of you non-resistants get up a little war before you are called upon to fight for your country. Any well-written articles, calculated to shed light upon our duty as a people in reference to the present war, will receive prompt attention. Where Are We?
By Uriah Smith
ALLOWING scripture to define our position in this world's history, we are Between the 8th and 9th verses of Dan. vii, In the 9th, 10th, and 11th verses of Joel iii, In the 25th, 29th, and 30th verses of Mark xiii, In the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th verses of 2 Thess. ii, In the 36th, 37th, and 38th verses of Hebrews x, In the 2nd and 3rd chapters of 2 Peter. Between the 13th and 14th verses of Rev. vi, Between the 11th and 12th verses of Rev. xiii, By reading what follows in immediate connection with most of these scriptures which show us our present position in numerous lines of prophecy, the reader will see the solemn and startling events that are just upon us. Let the wise prepare. Let sinners tremble. Let the saints rejoice. U. S. Report from Michigan Tent.
By I. D. Van Horn
Bro. White: While the tent was in Ionia, we had almost everything in the shape of hindrances to contend with. In the first place two circuses pitched along side, and with their bewitching fooleries enticed the minds of the people from the truth. Then followed the great war cry, which excited the patriotic feelings of the populace to such a degree that they could not listen to anything on any other subject. But the worst of all hindrances was the low under-current of the clergy, who dare not show their heads in the tent, but in their sly and artful way were successful in keeping their several flocks from the tent. Thus our congregations were small, and but little interest manifested until near the close of the meeting, when the interest began to rise, and a few took a stand on the truth. Our efforts in Ionia closed up with a discussion between Bro. Hull and Uriah Clark (Spiritualist), formerly editor of the Spiritual Clarion, Auburn, N. Y. Mr. Clark challenged Bro. Hull to discuss the following resolution: Resolved, That man has a spirit which exists in a conscious state after the body is dead, and is capable of returning and communicating with the inhabitants of earth; and that the teachings derived from such a source are more reliable, and better adapted to the moral advancement of the human family, than the teachings of the Bible." Mr. Clark affirmed; Bro. Hull denied. The discussion lasted three evenings, and was attended by large and attentive audiences, numbering usually about 1000. Each disputant delivered three speeches each evening, of twenty minutes length. At the close of the first evening Mr. Clark acknowledged that he did not do anything toward proving his point, but said the next evening he would bring forward his proof for the conscious existence of man in death; but to the astonishment of all present he moved around in the same circle he did the previous evening. The third evening the people were as much disappointed as before. Even those who were instrumental in getting Mr. Clark to discuss the question, acknowledged that he did not meet their expectations. The degrading influences of Spiritualism were thoroughly exposed by Bro. Hull, and the people could all see the great delusion in its true colors. The discussion resulted in favor of the truth. It served to establish some on the side of the Lord who were halting between two opinions. We were some discouraged in the fore part of our meeting, but at the close our courage began to rise, and we can truly say that our tent-meeting in Ionia has not been in vain. We are still striving to do our duty, and the Lord is helping. Lowell, Kent Co., Mich., Aug. 18, 1862. Tent Meetings in Essex, Vt.
By A. S. Hutchins
THESE meetings closed Sunday afternoon, Aug. 10. For several reasons the meetings here were not as interesting and encouraging as those at Fletcher, yet from their commencement to their close, we had a few attentive hearers. The doctrine of the Second Advent of our Lord, has been preached much in this section, in past years; the people have rejected light, and now their hearts are filled with sour prejudice against it. They wish to hear no more on this subject. The sight of our hand bills and the tent was enough for many of them. With few exceptions, everything in religious matters here bears the stamp of old age, with marks of sure and immediate destruction. May these few be among the saved. Again, the season was quite hurrying, and the weather wet. As the preachers did not come to the tent, the Tuesday before we closed our meetings, we addressed a note to the Methodist, Baptist and Congregationalist ministers of Essex, stating that we believe man is mortal, and in death is unconscious;* that the hope of the Christian hinges on the coming of the Lord, which is near, even at the doors; and that the seventh-day Sabbath is binding on Christians, inviting them, if they believed us to be advocating false doctrines to meet us in public discussion upon the points on which we differ. All was silence from this quarter till past 10 o'clock, Sunday morning, when Eld. Marsh, a Congregationalist from Underhill, came forward for discussion. Our time for work was short as we had stated to the preachers and people that our labors would close here Sunday evening. But we were glad to hear from our note to the preachers even at this late date, Eld. Marsh having seen one of them, and urged his brother Congregationalist, to meet us who refused, not being prepared. The subject agreed upon for discussion was the Sabbath. The question read as follows, "Resolved that the Sabbath has been changed from the Seventh to the first-day of the week, by Divine authority." Elder M. was to affirm, and Bro. D. T. Bourdeau was to deny. Time of discussion, two hours or longer, to be divided into half-hour speeches. At 2 o'clock, P. M. the discussion opened, a goodly number being present to listen. Mr. Marsh led out in a speech of 25 minutes, basing his remarks upon Acts xx, 7. In the outset he remarked that he believed the Sabbath was perpetual; that the Seventh-day Sabbath was binding till the Resurrection of Christ, but from that time it was evident the first-day was the Sabbath, "Some," said he, "may wonder why the evidence of this fact is no more clearly stated in the Bible, but the Bible does not make so much of the name of a thing as of the thing itself." (The thing here was the first-day Sabbath, though not called so). He then attempted to show that the custom of the apostles was to meet for religious worship upon the first-day. This, said he, they would not have done, if it had not been the Sabbath. It could not have been the Sabbath unless it had been changed, hence the apostles had changed it by Divine authority. Here is the heart, the bulk of his proof. But his premises were shown to be false, and hence his conclusion erroneous, by Bro. Bourdeau. In the Elder's next speech he worried through four minutes and sat down. In the next he spoke two minutes and was about to seat himself again when Bro. B. told him he might use the remaining half hour if he would read the text that teaches when, where and by whom the Sabbath was changed. This he said could not be done, but he could show the "essence" of the change. Bro. B. asked if essence had not some form that rendered it visible. Said he "I can see it but I can't give you my eyes to see it with." One Adventist, Bro. Harvey Spaulding, came out strong on the Sabbath. Others are deeply convicted. May the Lord help them to obey him and live. We have just published a valuable little pamphlet entitled, The State of the Dead, by John Milton. Price 5 cents a copy, one-third discount by the quantity. The following is the preface: In matters of religion, many are, at the present time proverbially afraid of new things. Had this fear existed before new things usurped the place of the old, it had been well. As it is, we have not only the state of things spoken of by the prophet, when men shall put darkness for light and light for darkness, and bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter, but we have them also putting old things for new, and new for old, clinging to the new things as if they were the old, and crying out against the old things as if they were new. Such is emphatically the case with the doctrine discussed in the following pages. An immortal soul and consciousness in death are really the new things in this controversy. These are everywhere opposed by the writers of the Bible, and were only able to creep into the church by means of the great apostasy this side the days of the apostles. Yet men would have us believe that these are the ancient doctrines of God's word, and that the truth has stood on the side of the serpent from the days of Eve to the present. Gen. iii, 4. Hence, anything which opposes these, is branded as innovation—as some new doctrine which has come newly up. It is to remove this deception from the minds of the people that we labor. And in sending forth such teaching as this work contains, we are only calling attention to one of the "old paths," out of which the nations have been turned by the great enchantress that sits upon her seven hills on the banks of the Tiber, Rev. xvii, 1, 2; xviii, 3; and which the prophet calls upon us to seek out, and, when we have found them, to walk therein. Jer. vi, 16. To this truth there have all along been witnesses; and those with whom great names are essential to authority, will find no lack of these connected with this doctrine. The name of John Milton, author of "Paradise Lost," and who has been styled "The Christian Homer," is all that could be asked in this direction. He was born in London, Dec. 9, 1608, and stood at the head of his generation in literature and theology. With him we may mention, as holding the same views, such men as the Rt. Hon. Sir James Stephens, Regius Professor of Mod. Hist. in Cambridge College, Eng., Archbishop Whately, of Dublin, Bishop Law, author of a Call to the Unconverted, Edward White, Wm. G. Moncrieff, of Scotland, H. H. Dobney and Panton Ham, of England; eminent as ministers and authors, John Locke, the Christian philosopher, Olshausen, the German commentator, who says, "The doctrine of the immortality of the soul and the name are alike unknown to the entire Bible," John Taylor, author of a Hebrew Concordance, Tholuck, the German critic, &c., &c. A hungry man will be sure to find time for a meal, and a lively Christian will find time for devotion. Communion with God produces and cherishes godly fear. TWICE, in an hour's miscellaneous reading, to-day, we have met the expression, "go down to the grave and rest in hope;" and in either case, were the authors questioned concerning their meaning, they would betray a contradiction that they would do well to investigate till they either coin a new set of phrases, expressive of their true meaning, or consent to abide by the import of what they utter; for the world has become too shrewd not to detect such theoretical inconsistencies, and consequently no longer attach all theological errors to the Romanist. Discarding all uninspired authority as authority, and constantly striving to search deeper into the truths of the Bible, we are impressed continually by new discoveries, as well as with the great departure from primitive simplicity of faith; and in a way, too, that tends to bewilder rather than truly enlighten. For instance, when we hear the expression, "rest in hope," certainly it does not convey the idea that "death is but the stepping-stone" to an immediate life of joy, and fullness of pleasure forevermore. And here we might hint at the frequent practice of many writers and speakers, of clothing their happiest thoughts in such a cloud of metaphor, as to render them almost unintelligible; subjecting themselves to the rebuke of Paul, "Except ye speak words easy to be understood, ye do speak to the wind." Also at the growing tendency to award indiscriminately to all, this entrance upon a blessed life, forgetful that while the Bible holds out the encouragement of reward to the righteous, it none the less seeks to terrify by its denunciations to the wicked. But if the "unbound spirit" passes at once into the full blaze of eternity, no more to be separated from Jesus, what mean such scripture passages as Luke xiv, 14; 2 Tim. iv, 1, 8; Col. iii, 4; 1 Thess. iv, 13–17; Heb. ix, 28; 1 Pet. i, 5, 13; v, 4; Rev. xi, 15–18; and xxii, 12? Let none pass unnoticed (as is often done) this great array of texts, thinking they are familiar with them all, as is quite probable; for this very familiarity may be the reason that hitherto they have failed to perceive their true import. I confess this has long been the case with me, and thus am I better prepared to understand this habit of thought. With the mere speculative reasoner it were useless to waste words, but the serious inquirer after revealed truth, when he reads "that the dead in Christ shall rise first;" "when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, we shall appear with him;" "if Christ be not risen, then they which have fallen asleep in Christ are perished," cannot fail to be impressed with the Bible fact that Christ is the great Lifegiver as well as Judge at his appearing and his kingdom, according to 2 Tim. iv, 1. However determinedly and persistently many hearts are closed to the evident import of these scriptures, we are not prepared to charge such with want of honesty, but regard them herein themselves deluded, while deluding others. And though we pity the Papist when in his blinded bigotry and zeal he refuses to look or think, and therefore has no weightier argument than that he believes just what his church teaches; what shall we say when intelligent Protestants, with open Bible in their hands, virtually do the same? We feel that we might easily be tempted to sarcasm, biting and pungent, as when Elijah mocked the priests of Baal. There is, it is said, a propensity in mankind obstinately to maintain an assumed position, and ever an inclination to hush up a wrong, when it has become too conspicuous longer to close one's eyes to it. A fancied consistency lies at the foundation of this, or as Emerson has said in substance, "A foolish consistency hinders men from saying in earnest words what to-day thinks, and to-morrow saying in earnest words again what to-morrow thinks, even though it should contradict all that has been said to-day." But Pope has better expressed it by saying, "A man should never be ashamed to own he has been in the wrong; which is but saying in other words, that he is wiser to-day than he was yesterday." Many there are who pride themselves on never changing their opinions; and such will neither listen to facts or arguments, if the object be to move them one iota. But we dare affirm that whoever will not modify his opinions according to the best light he may have from day to day, will never make many advances. And if our maturer judgment has constrained us to think differently in some things, is it not in such as we had received upon human authority, without having previously bestowed on it a questioning thought? We cannot help feeling it were better, if we have traditionally received an error, to make a searching investigation, and a relentless removing of that error; for however many rights a system may contain, if there be one wrong bound up therein, that one wrong will cause disquiet. We are now seeing this exemplified politically. Shall we ere long see it religiously? Or are we already beginning to see its agitations? If so, and we have drifted with the current peacefully as long as we may, we would fain step aside and let the eddying whirl go by; but this may not be; for life is an earnest work, and the world holds each to a stern responsibility who mingles in its strife. Therefore are needed not holiday soldiers, but rather such as can endure hardness, ready to defend each honest conviction with the determination of those willing to bury themselves under its ruin. And though some scenes in the experience of another are daguerreotyped painfully forever upon our memory, yet if by his providence God is preparing us a work, and us for that work by a peculiar discipline, we would not shrink from that discipline, though it fall with crushing weight upon one who can no longer conscientiously by a discreet forbearance screen herself from the watchful eyes of those who cling so pertinaciously to long-standing theories. But is this long-standing sufficient proof of their correctness? Even the disciples made sad mistakes, yet Jesus left those mistakes for time to correct. When he rode triumphantly into Jerusalem amid the shouts of the people, were they not sadly mistaken? Yet we find no intimation that he even hinted to them that he would not yet "restore the kingdom to Israel." Indeed, as another has said (in our pulpit), "The church has ever been mistaken regarding the process or manner of God's operations concerning his cause and kingdom." But is this any argument against its truth? With equal conclusiveness it might be asked why the eyes of the immediate disciples were holden that they should not at once recognise Jesus after his resurrection; or their understandings darkened, that in bewilderment they questioned among themselves "what that rising from the dead should mean?" In God's own time it flashed upon their mental vision, intensified by the teachings of the Spirit. Possibly therefore what is so often branded as fanaticism, even though it give a visionary tinge to religion, may not be quite so preposterous after all, as those think who would have whatever has the appearance of enthusiasm in religion dispelled by sober reason. Advantages of Temperance.
SOLOMON tells us that the glutton shall come to poverty; warns us not to be among riotous eaters of flesh, and even bids us to put a knife to our throats if we be men given to appetite. Is there no less desperate remedy? Lord Byron once told a companion that if some demigod would indicate to us how much we ought to eat, it would put an end to half the miseries of the race. Jonathan Edwards we see noting in his diary: "I find that I cannot be convinced in the time of eating, that to eat more would be to exceed the bounds of temperance, though I have had two years' experience of the like, and yet three minutes after I have done, I am convinced of it. But yet again I overeat myself, thinking I should be somewhat faint if I leave off then; but when I have finished, I am convinced of excess—and so it is from time to time. I have observed the more it seems to be the truth, when it is according to my inclination, than when otherwise." Jefferson says that "no man ever repeats eating too little." Sir Isaac Newton often dined on a penny's worth of bread. Abernethy cured his indigestion and regained his flesh by "going into the country, where he could get good milk and eggs, and living upon three ounces of baked custard taken three times a day, with no drink but ginger-water. On this quantity of food he regained his flesh and uniformly got better." Marion and his men waxed strong and valiant with no food but sweet potatoes, no drink but water, and no shelter but the sky. "Besides brown bread, the Greek boatmen subsist almost solely on their native fruits, figs, grapes, and raisins. They are the most nimble, active, graceful, cheerful, and even merry people in the world." 103Grant Thorburn attributes his cheerful old age to the fact that he, “never eats enough,” and thousands of his countrymen are wearing out their bodies, not so much by the excess of business and multiplicity of cares, as by the overwork they crowd upon themselves in digesting surplus and unnecessary food.—Israelite. The Lord is My Portion.
By L. E. Millne
O Blessed Saviour! glorious King!
To thee my offering I will bring.
O Lord of hosts! thou art to me
My portion here. I love but thee. Do thou, O Lord, my heart inspire
With zeal and love and sacred fire.
I feel, my Saviour, thou art mine,
Thou causest, Lord, my face to shine. At early morn, or midnight hour,
I feel, O Lord, thy quickening power.
The witness' gained, the ransom's paid,
Thy love doth all my soul pervade. O may it be my utmost joy,
And may it all my powers employ,
To do thy will; may I resign
Home, friends, and all, forever thine. And should I feel death's cold embrace,
I'll sing, O Lord, of thy rich grace,
And shout when time with me is done,
Through Christ, my Lord, the victory won.
L. E. Millne. Protection in the Path of Duty
In the path of duty, God promises his special protection; he will keep us safe, and bless us. Was a man of great wealth, and seeing his good king driven from his home by the wretch, Absalom, his good old heart was stirred, and opening his stores he "brought beds, and basins, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse, and honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat; for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness." 2 Sam. xvii, 27, 29; xix, 31-40. But though many then, as now, arose as traitors against the government which had fostered them, yet the right prevailed; and when infatuated Absalom had met his deserts, and the great and noble David had mourned his unnatural son with many bitter tears, and was returning in triumph, then good old Barzillai would (as well he might) participate with the friends of order in escorting the king of their choice a little way, as he returned to the rescued city of Jerusalem. Then, when David had with princely generosity and gratitude invited his tried friend to make his home at Jerusalem, the true old patriot thus replies: "And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? I am this day fourscore years old; and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore should thy servant be yet a burden unto my Lord the king! Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father, and of my mother." Then, having seen his good prince safe across the river Jordan, his work of love was completed. He had seen him a fugitive from treason, had befriended him in his greatest need, had proved his truthful loyalty, and now he returns to his ancestral possessions and home, now sweetened and made acceptable by good deeds. David with loving heart kissed Barzillai, and blessed him, and returned unto his own place. One cannot help thinking that if some of the susceptibilities of Barzillai were impaired by age, his good sense and noble qualities of character had rather matured by it. Shohi is also an ally of David in this narrative. See chap. xvii, 27. J. CLARKE. “Then they that feared the Lord, spake often one to another.” BRO. WHITE : As I am about to remove from Enosburgh Falls to Middle Grove, Saratoga Co., N. Y., I desire to express through the Review my gratitude to Brn. Austin, Bourdeau, and others, for their kindness in removing me from New York to this place a year since, and all the Christian sympathy and charity they have manifested toward me and my family during past year of our residence here in the midst of so many trials and discouragements. May God reward them. I much regret that it has been in my power to accomplish but very little among the Canadian people here, and that I have been of not much, if any, use in this field of labor. But, as nothing is hid from the Lord, I can leave all in his hands. He knows it has been my great desire to do his will. I love this last message of mercy, the faithful “watchman unto the house of Israel,” and the holy union of the church, and will labor faithfully for the prosperity of Zion, as my circumstances will permit. And I hope to profit by all corrections from above, and from my kind brethren more experienced in this holy cause than myself. Pray for me, dear brethren, that I may be found worthy, with my family, to enter the happy, everlasting kingdom with you all through Jesus Christ our dear Saviour. The Doctor and His Railing Parishioner
DR. HEWITT, it is said, on being accosted once with very severe epithets by one of his parishioners, made this reply to him: 'Sir, the principles of my religion forbid me to return railing for railing, or cursing for cursing, but I will tell you an anecdote. Father Mills, once reading in the pulpit the epistle of Jude, and coming to the verse, 'Michael, when contending with the Devil about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation,' paused a moment, lifted up his spectacles to his forehead, and added, 'No wonder he durst not; because in blackguarding, the Devil would be sure to get the upper hand.' We think, however, the Dr. got the upper hand of his railing parishioner that time. Standing Firm Through Trials
Bro. B. G. Jones writes from Newport, N. H.: "As trials are thickening around us, it is necessary that we be more watchful, and I for one have made the resolution, and am trying daily to put it in practice, to do the Lord's will, and keep all his commandments. I want to live so that I can have grace and wisdom to stand every trial as they come up. I expect the Lord will suffer us to be tried; but he has promised not to suffer us to be tempted above that we are able. I hope to live so that I shall be numbered with those that are ready and waiting for God's everlasting kingdom." GOLD is the only power which receives universal homage. It is worshiped in all lands without a single temple, and by all classes without a single hypocrite; and often has it been able to boast of having armies for its priesthood, and hecatombs of human victims for its sacrifices. When war has slain its thousands, gain has slaughtered its millions; for while the former operates only with the local and fitful terrors of an earthquake, the destructive influence of the latter is universal and unceasing. Indeed, war itself—what has it often been but the art of gain practiced on the largest scale? the covetousness of a nation resolved on gain, impatient of delay, leading on its subjects to deeds of rapine and blood?—as history is the history of slavery and oppression in all ages. For centuries, Africa—one quarter of the globe—has been set apart to supply the monster with victims—thousands at a meal. And, at this moment, what a populous and gigantic empire can it boast! the mine with its unnatural drudgery; the manufactory with its swarms of squalid misery; the plantation with its imbruted gangs, and the markets and the exchange with their furrowed and careworn countenances—these are only specimens of its more menial offices and subjects. Titles and honors are among its rewards, and thrones at its disposal. Among its counselors are kings, and many of the great and mighty of the earth enrolled among its subjects. Where are the waters not plowed by its navies? What imperial elements are not yoked to its car? Philosophy itself has become a mercenary in its pay; and science a votary at its shrine—brings all its noblest discoveries as offerings to its feet. What part of the globe's surface is not rapidly yielding up its last stores of hidden treasure to the spirit of gain? or retains more than a few miles of unexplored and unvanquished territory? Scorning the childish dream of the philosopher's stone, it aspires to turn the globe itself into gold.—Sel.