Earlier text: THE SABBATH A SIGNCannot Come Down.
By Ellen G. White
“I AM doing a great work,” says Nehemiah, “so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease whilst I leave it, and come down to you?” God’s people, in this important time for the church, should not relax their watchfulness or vigilance for one moment. Satan is upon our track. He is determined to overcome God’s commandment-keeping people, with his temptations. If we give no place to the devil, but resist his devices steadfast in the faith, we shall have strength to depart from all iniquity. Those who keep the commandments of God will be a power in the land, if they live up to their light and their privileges. They may be patterns of piety, holy in heart and in conversation. We shall not have ease, that we may cease watchfulness and prayer. As the time draws near for Christ to be revealed in the clouds of Heaven, Satan’s temptations will be brought to bear with greater power upon those who keep God’s commandments, for he knows that his time is short. The work of Satan will be carried on through agents. Ministers who hate the law of God will employ any means to lead souls from their loyalty. Our bitterest foes will be among this class of persons. Their hearts are fully determined to make war against those who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus. This class feel that it is a virtue to talk, to write, and act out, the most bitter hatred against us. We need not look for fair dealing, or for justice, at their hands. Many of them are inspired by Satan with insane madness against those who are keeping the commandments of God. We will be maligned and misrepresented, all our motives and actions will be misjudged, and our characters will be attacked. The wrath of the dragon will be manifested in this manner. But I saw that we should not be in the least discouraged. Our strength is in Jesus, our advocate. If we, in humility and humble trust, hold fast to God, he will give us grace and heavenly wisdom to withstand all the wiles of Satan, and to come off victors. It will not increase our influence, or bring us into favor with God, to come down from our great work to their level in meeting their slanders. There are those who will resort to any species of deception and gross falsehood, to gain their object and deceive souls, and to cast stigma upon the law of God and those who love to obey his commandments. They will repeat the most inconsistent and vile falsehoods, over and over, until they make themselves believe that they are truth. These are the strongest arguments they have to use against the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. We should not allow our feelings to control us, and divert us from the work of warning the world. The case of Nehemiah is a forcible illustration. He was engaged in building the walls of Jerusalem, and the enemies of God were determined that the walls should not be built. “But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth, and conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.” In this case, a spirit of hatred and opposition to the Hebrews formed the bond of union, and created the mutual sympathy among different bodies of men, who otherwise might war against each other. This will illustrate what we frequently witness in our day in the existing union of men of different denominations to oppose the present truth, whose only bond seems to be that which is dragonic in its nature, manifesting hatred and bitterness against the remnant who keep the commandments of God. This is especially seen among those who seem to be famous in hating and slandering each other, when they can spare time from their efforts to misrepresent, slander, and in every way abuse Seventh-day Adventists. “Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.” We are in constant danger of becoming self-sufficient, relying upon our own wisdom, and not making God our strength. Nothing disturbs Satan so much as our not being ignorant of his devices. If we feel our dangers, we shall feel the need of prayer as did Nehemiah, and, like him, we shall obtain that sure defense that will give us security in peril. If we are careless and indifferent, we shall surely be overcome by Satan’s devices. We must be vigilant. While, like Nehemiah, we resort to prayer, taking all our perplexities and burdens to God, we should not feel that we have nothing to do. We are to watch as well as pray. We should watch the work of our adversaries, lest they gain advantage in deceiving souls. We should, in the wisdom of Christ, make efforts to defeat their purposes, while, at the same time, we do not suffer them to call us from our great work. Truth is stronger than error. Righteousness will prevail over wrong. The Lord’s people are seeking to heal the breach which has been made in the law of God. “And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places; thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, the restorer of paths to dwell in. If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honor him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words; then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” This disturbs the enemies of our faith, and every means is employed to hinder us in our work. And yet the broken-down wall is going steadily up. The world is being warned, and many are turning away from trampling under their feet the Sabbath of Jehovah. God is in this work, and man cannot stop it. The angels of God are working with the efforts of God’s faithful servants, and steadily the work advances. We shall meet with opposition of every description, as did the builders of the walls of Jerusalem; but if we watch and pray, and work as they did, God will fight our battles for us and give us precious victories. Nehemiah “clave unto the Lord and departed not from following him; but kept his commandments which the Lord commanded Moses, and the Lord was with him.” Messengers were sent repeatedly, soliciting a conference with Nehemiah, but he refused to meet them. Bold threats were made of what they proposed to do, and messengers were sent to harangue the people engaged in their work of building. They presented flattering inducements, and promised them a freedom from restraint, and wonderful privileges, if they would unite their interest with them, and cease their work of building the walls of Jerusalem. But the people were commanded not to engage in controversy with their enemies, and to answer them not a word, that no advantage of words might be given them. Threatenings and ridicule were resorted to. They said, “Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he will even break down their stone wall.” Sanballat “was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.” Nehemiah prays, “Hear, O our God; for we are despised; and turn their reproach upon their own head.” “And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you? Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner. Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand.” We shall receive the most fierce opposition from that class who oppose the law of God. But, like the builders of the walls of Jerusalem, we should not be diverted and hindered from our work by reports, by messengers desiring discussion or controversy, or by intimidating threats, the publication of falsehoods, or any of the devices Satan may instigate. Our answer should be, We are engaged in a great work, and we cannot come down. We shall sometimes be perplexed to know what course we should pursue, to preserve the honor of the cause of God, and to vindicate his truth. The course of Nehemiah should have a strong bearing upon our minds, as to the manner of meeting this kind of opponents. We should take all these things to the Lord in prayer, as Nehemiah made his supplication to God while his own spirit was humbled. He clung to God with unwavering faith. This is the course we should pursue. Time is too precious for the servants of God to devote to vindicating their character blackened by those who hate the Sabbath of the Lord. We should move forward with unwavering confidence, believing that God will give to his truth great and precious victories. In humility, meekness, and purity of life, relying upon Jesus, we shall carry a convincing power with us that we have the truth. We do not understand the faith and confidence we may have in God, the great blessings which faith will give us, as is our privilege. An important work is before us. We are to obtain a moral fitness for Heaven. Our words and our example are to tell upon the world. Angels of God are actively engaged in ministering to the children of God. Precious promises are upon record on condition of our obedience to God’s requirements. Heaven is full of the richest of blessings, all waiting to be communicated to us. If we feel our need, and come to God in sincerity and in earnest faith, we shall be brought into close connection with Heaven, and shall be channels of light to the world. The warning needs to be often sounded, “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” Deserve Friends and You Will Have Them
DESERVE friends, and you will have them. The world is teeming with kind-hearted people, and you have only to carry a kind, sympathetic heart in your own bosom to call out goodness and friendship from others. Honest and Courageous People Need No Boasting
HONEST and courageous people have very little to say about their courage or their honesty. The sun has no need to boast of his brightness, nor the moon of her effulgence. Strength of the Sunday Sentiment.
An attempt has recently been made by the post-master in N. Y. city to deliver letters in that city by carriers on Sunday. A storm of indignation at once arose against the innovation. The carriers were forbidden by large numbers to leave their letters, and “even a Roman Catholic priest,” says the report, “refused to receive his letters, and told the carrier that of all the recent attempts which the devil had made to overturn Christianity, this would be received with the least favor, and would react with tremendous force against the infidelity and irreligion which he was seeking to establish in its stead.” An indignation meeting was about to be called, when the post-master, seeing the state of feeling, revoked his order, and stopped the delivery of mail matter on Sunday. On this the Christian Statesman of Jan. 16, 1875, has an article from which we make the following extract, to the closing statement of which we call the reader’s attention:— We hail with joy this evidence of regard for the Sabbath, and of the existence of a conscience among the inhabitants of our great and corrupt city. We see in the sudden reversal of this iniquitous order, an immediate answer to the united prayers of the Christian church. We recognize, too, the irresistible power of Christian public sentiment, when brought to bear with united energy upon the officers of the Government. There is in this result a demonstration that if the Christian people of the United States were to agree in the demand for the ceasing of the transportation and distribution of mails upon the Sabbath, instant compliance would follow. For New York city has probably a larger proportion of the foreign and anti-Christian element which is making war upon the Sabbath and other Christian features of our national life than any other part of the land. It is just as evident, also, that if our Christian citizens were to-day convinced of the importance of our Christian Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, and would with one voice say, “It must and shall be adopted,” it would be carried in Congress, and in the Legislatures of the States with an enthusiasm such as characterized the adoption of the 15th Amendment. Lotteries and the Louisville Public Library Scheme
By J. H. W.
THE Advance, Chicago, a Congregational paper, contains the following:— “The sudden death of ex-Governor Bramlette, who has furnished a figure-head sort of respectability to the Public Library Lottery in Louisville, lets in a little light upon that great rascality. The lion’s share of receipts from previous drawings have gone into the pockets of the managers, and what little money was put into the library went in under a cunning provision of the charter that permitted the stockholders to close it up and divide the assets whenever they chose. More than that, there has been systematic lying about the number of tickets already sold for the next drawing,—which has been so many times postponed, and the money received from those that have been sold,—over a million dollars,—instead of being in bank, as represented, has been loaned out to speculators in pork! It is safe to conclude that a man who gets up a lottery is a knave. His patrons are certainly fools.” The Kentucky Lottery was a semi-charitable educational affair, by which it was proposed to give to the State University, we think, a valuable library. Those who bought the tickets, of course, cared for their own gains, and not at all for the State or the library. And now it comes to view that the managers were of the same mind! And who could not have told them so? Who ever knew a lottery that was conducted by honest and honorable men of good motives? This greed of gain is undermining the morality of the age. But the Advance should bear in mind that the lottery is almost a “peculiar institution” of the churches of the age. Games of chance, and devices whereby to obtain “something for nothing,” are the special means of raising money to support worship in almost every denomination. If all who get up lotteries are knaves, and all their patrons are fools, there is a large percentage of the membership of American churches in these questionable classes. “Ye are the light of the world,” is turned to a mockery by them. But the day of account is fast coming, and they who have served self and Satan in the “livery of Heaven” will be put to shame. May the warning call soon bring all the honest from such associations. Rev. 18: 1–5. J. H. W. The Benefits of Knowing the Times.
By C. A. Osgood
The farmer who raises grain or other produce for profit, understands well when the proper time comes to plow his fields, when to sow his grain, when to hoe his potatoes and when to gather in the fruits of the earth. Thus he attends to the proper kind of labor at the right time, and meets with success in so doing. And all the children of this world who act wisely, are close observers of times and seasons. They adapt their labors to the wants of the times. They who have been wise as the servants of God in ages past, have had some knowledge of the peculiarities of their own times, and have turned their knowledge to good account. It was well for Noah that it was revealed to him that God had purposed to withdraw his Spirit from the world and send a deluge upon it which should destroy all the wicked. He listened to the word of God; he believed that it was true; he “prepared an ark for the saving of his household.” They outlived the flood. But how was it with the unbelieving multitudes? “They knew not till the flood came and took them all away.” Sad indeed were the consequences of their unbelief and ignorance. So it was well for Lot, that he believed the testimony of the angels, and left Sodom before the fire of God burned up the city and its guilty inhabitants. But how dreadful was the fate of these. They were not expecting the awful catastrophe. They kept about their ordinary business till the time came. “They did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded. But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from Heaven and destroyed them all.” Well was it for the people of Egypt and Canaan that God had a prophet in those days, Joseph by name, to whom he made known his design to send upon those lands seven years of famine; so that during the years of plenty they could lay up corn to supply the want of coming years. The Saviour, in discoursing to his disciples about the coming destruction of Jerusalem, said, “When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.” “Then,” adds he, “let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let them that are in the midst of it depart out: and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.” When the fearful time arrived, the disciples remembered his words; they believed them, they obeyed, fled to the mountains, and were safe. What the Saviour told them was of great advantage to them. But how was it with the unbelieving multitudes of the Jews? He told them with deep emotion what their fate would be. Said he, “If thou hadst known, even thou, in this thy day the things that belong to thy peace; but now they are hidden from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee.” Luke 19:42-44. The distress and wrath, the carnage and bondage, which our Lord foretold came upon that people. Why was this? Because they “knew not the time of their visitation.” How precious to that people were the few years of the Saviour’s ministry; but they were not aware that they were of more importance than other years; so they let them pass unimproved and met their awful fate. Although in the above-mentioned instances and others, attention to the prophecies has been a light, a safeguard to those who have heeded them, and the frown of God has come upon those who have not heeded them, yet there are many now who think that we who are so much further advanced in the history of the world have but little use for the light of prophecy; that there is no need of our discerning the signs of the times. Is this so? If it was important that God should reveal to men his purpose to drown the world, and if it was necessary for people to understand it, can we expect that the greatest of all events, the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, to save his people, and to destroy the ungodly, will break upon the world without any warning? Is this like the dealings of God with men in the past? When the disciples asked our Lord, “What shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world?” he did not tell them that there should be no sign; but he kindly answered them by telling them that there should be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth, and what kind of signs they would be. The darkening of the sun and moon, the falling of the stars, the roaring of the sea and waves, have been fulfilled. Our Lord further said, “When these things are fulfilled, then know that he is near, even at the door.” If the Saviour thus definitely pointed out the signs of his coming, it is our imperative duty to take particular notice of them. The last days were to be days of great peril. Then Christians need to know when these times are and what these perils are, that they may avoid them. “Iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” This we see. The influence of the world is more corrupting than ever. The love of the world has greatly increased. Luxury, extravagance, and pride, greatly abound. A corrupt church points the wrong way to Heaven. Satan is commencing to work “with all power, and signs, and lying wonders,” so that “if possible he would deceive the very elect.” At such a time as this, while the multitudes are asleep in the midst of awful danger, it becomes important that we be not ignorant of the times, nor of the devices of Satan, but to be wide awake, and that we make a speedy and thorough preparation for the glorious advent of the Son of God. Sayings of Christ.
By A. S. Hutchins
Whatever claims may be presented for the change or abrogation of the law of God, or for the introduction of a Sabbath into the gospel dispensation other than that taught by the fourth commandment of the decalogue, it is certain that Christ’s sermon on the mount sanctions no such a view. Neither does he pass in silence the subject of the law, the commandments, and righteousness. “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” Matt. 5: 17, 18. If, as Greek scholars here admit, “till all be fulfilled,” signifies till every prediction of God’s word should be accomplished, how very natural and easy the conclusion of the 19th verse, “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of Heaven; but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of Heaven.” “Whosoever” covers all persons and all time. If the scriptures above quoted do not teach the perpetuity and the immutability of the commandments, the law of God, it would be difficult to use language that would so teach. Again, he says, “Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of Heaven.” Righteousness qualifies us to participate in the joy of Heaven—to forever dwell in that holy, happy abode. “Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.” *Doing and teaching the commandments secures37 a passport to the heavenly mansions.* “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” To be righteous is to be in harmony with divine law. This is clearly taught by inspiration. Speaking of the commandments of God, Moses says, “And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us.” Deut. 6: 25. This is in harmony with the sermon of the great Teacher on the mount. He teaches nothing contrary to his Father’s holy law, but magnifies and makes it honorable as he applies its sanctifying principles to the heart. He abrogates no moral precepts; he institutes none. “Whosoever heareth and doeth these sayings” stands justified by him as a wise man who builds his house upon a rock. His righteousness is approved. His hope will stand the terrible storm, the raging gale, the swelling flood, which will sweep away every sandy foundation. It stands But not so with that man who knows neither reverence for, nor obedience to, the law of God. His righteousness will soon be weighed in the balances and found wanting. His house is built upon the sand; it will assuredly fall, and great will be its fall. In view of the purity of heart and life requisite to properly represent the religion of Jesus Christ and to stand before the Judge of all the earth, the language of my soul is, “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” “Nothing but truth before His throne
With honor can appear;
The painted hypocrites are known
Through the disguise they wear.” The Work in Europe.
By John Nevins Andrews
THE friends of the cause in America are no doubt deeply interested in the prosperity of the work in Europe. Our friends here are by no means indifferent to its advancement. In coming to Europe I have tried to prepare my heart to work for God by seeking his help and by solemnly covenanting with him to be faithful in his service. I have endeavored to review my past life, and to mark every error that if possible I may here labor for God to his entire acceptance. I feel strong assurance that he will enable me to do it. My first important work here is to become master of the French language so as to speak it correctly and to write it grammatically. It is not a light task to accomplish this. I have toiled early and late, and have made some progress. I feel certain of success with God’s help. It is now the great desire of my heart to preach Christ in the French language with freedom, and to see sinners converted to him. When I began to think seriously of this mission one of the first things which suggested itself to my mind was to advertise in the most widely circulated papers of Europe. While laboring to master French I have with the approval of our friends here begun this work. The Journal de Geneve is the leading French paper of Suisse. In this journal I have advertised the nature of my mission, and have invited the correspondence of any who hallow the Bible Sabbath or who are willing to investigate its obligation. My advertisement will be inserted every other day during sixty days. For this I pay 75 francs, or $15. I have received letters from a professor of languages at Geneva, and from the proprietor of one of the largest watch manufactories in that city. I have answered these as wisely as I could, and have sent them Sabbath publications. I hope to find some seventh-day Christians by means of this journal. But if I find none now observing it, I shall at least make known the fact and object of my mission, and shall probably find some persons who may have an interest to examine the claims of God’s holy law. I wish also to advertise in the leading German paper of Suisse, for the German language is as extensively spoken in this country as is the French. I have heard that there are seventh-day Christians in Holland, and I mean as soon as possible to advertise in one of the principal papers of that country. And so with respect to Russia. As to Prussia, something further must be done immediately. I have mentioned the fact that there is a company numbering forty who have within a short time embraced the Sabbath. These persons call earnestly for help. Nothing has held me back from visiting them except the difficulty of finding some suitable German helper to go with me. I think that within a few days this help will in some way be supplied. They are situated about two hundred and fifty miles north of this place. I should prefer to let German alone till I have mastered French; but circumstances seem to compel a different course. The difficulties in the way of the work here cannot be fully realized in America. If each State of the American Union spoke a different language, things there would so far correspond with things in Europe. In America, the power of custom and of forms is comparatively weak. In Europe, custom and tradition are all-powerful. But here are multitudes in perishing need of the bread of life. They must have it. I cannot doubt that there is as great moral honesty with the people here as in America. They only need to understand their duty in order to obey it. I have an intense desire to witness their salvation. There can be no more precious thought suggested to my mind than that by God’s help I may be the means of saving some. Our Lord is coming. I pray that he may find me faithful to the work which he has committed to my charge. If this may be my record in the coming day it will be enough. J. N. ANDREWS. Neuchatel, Suisse, Jan. 1, 1875. Sunday Observance in Canada.
THE Conference of the Methodist church of Canada requested all their ministers to preach on Sabbath (Sunday) observance, on Sunday Jan. 17, 1875. There is, it appears, an organization in Kingston, Ont., called the Kingston Sabbath Reformation Society. The secretary of this Society, Dr. Mair, under date of Dec. 23, 1874, addressed the following letter to the N. Y. Witness, which will explain itself:— MY DEAR SIR: I am afraid, from what I see in an article in the Montreal Witness of the 20th ult., headed “Sabbath Observance,” that there is danger of your losing your Sabbaths in New York, if things go on as at present. Operas, theaters, military bands in full blast, low buffoonery, etc., with a spice of so-called sacred concerts; what a strange jumble! Yet this seems to be the order, or rather disorder, of the day of sacred rest in that great city! Can nothing be done to counteract this appalling state of Sabbath desecration? Let me solicit your attention to the annexed notice, trusting that you may deem it right to recommend preaching on “Sabbath Observance” by ministers of the United States on the day chosen by the Conference of the Methodist Church of Canada, viz.: the 17th of January, 1875. The preaching of ministers of different denominations, with the prayers of thousands of Christians on that day, could not fail to draw down rich blessings from “the Lord of the Sabbath” upon both countries. I remain, with esteem and respect, my dear sir, yours faithfully. JOHN MAIR. [We have already inserted Dr. Mair’s notice, and have the pleasure of assuring him that the Sunday theaters here are being closed up.—Ed. Wit.] [Our Progress Department having gone to press when the following encouraging reports from Lapeer, Mich., and Monroe, Wis., were received, we give them in this place.] Commenced meetings here Jan. 13. Our congregations were small at first, but have been steadily increasing, until now, Sunday night, our house of worship is well filled, and those present listen with the deepest interest. The Spirit of God is with us in a wonderful manner. It is not uncommon to see a large part of the congregation in tears. Several of the young have taken their stand with us already, and many others seem under deep conviction. Some outside have arisen for prayers. Last evening in conference meeting nearly thirty testimonies were borne in about fifteen minutes, and largely from those not in faith with us. I never attended a meeting where there seemed to be more Christian union from those not identified with us than here. We hope for much good. We especially invite brethren living near here to attend and help us as often as possible. We expect to continue some time. After attending the Biblical Institute, I returned to Monroe, Wis., and commenced a protracted meeting in a new field, five miles south-west of Monroe, on Sunday, Jan. 10, 1875. I had given nine discourses, when the Methodist minister threw in appointments for a protracted meeting, and cut me off from using the house, till after he gets through. I then commenced meetings in Monroe, on Thursday evening, the 21st, and continued through the quarterly meeting which closed Sunday evening, the 24th. Quite a number came in from other churches. The heart-searching truth of this last message was presented. Eld. Downer, on his way to Grant Co., reached the place in time to preach to us twice on Sunday. The power of God attended all the preaching and was in social meetings. And as the result thirteen were baptized, and fifteen were received into the church. Last evening three more came forward for prayers, and promised to commence the work of preparation to meet the Lord in peace. Others were deeply convicted of sin; and the church were much encouraged. This week, the Lord willing, I expect to commence a course of lectures, or a protracted meeting, eight miles west of Monroe, in a new field. And when I get through there, the Lord willing, I will follow up the interest in the neighborhood where the Methodist minister crowded me out. Pray for me, that success and the power of God may attend all my efforts to spread this holy truth. I solemnly dedicate myself, my means, and all there is of me, to this most holy work. Monroe, Wis., Jan. 25, 1875. “Believest Thou the Prophets?”
By A. M. Lindsley
At the close of his bold and able defense before King Agrippa, the apostle Paul put this question to him. Having seen something in him that indicated that his judgment was convinced, Paul confidently answered the question himself, “I know that thou believest.” Then said Agrippa, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” But like many of our day he probably deferred his decision in favor of the religion of Jesus of Nazareth, from sinister motives. It required some independence of character, as well as a good degree of humility to embrace it. The rulers of that province seemed to regard the good will of the Jews as of some moment to them, and they wanted to conciliate them, and did so, as far as possible. For the seeming safety of themselves and their territory they must do this. In their blind zeal of persecuting the believers in Christ, the Jews had become so blood-thirsty that they would revolt, and perhaps cause them to lose their thrones even, so all care must be taken to keep them quiet. The convictions of Felix as well as Agrippa were stifled for the sake of secular interests. Oh! how many like Esau prefer to sell their birthright for that which is of no more value than a morsel of meat. The Jews thought that they believed the prophets. Every Sabbath Moses and the prophets were read in their synagogues. There they read of one that should come as a king, and deliver Israel. While the same prophecies told of the humiliation of his birth, life, and death, these were entirely overlooked; and thus they were led by this sad mistake to reject him to their own destruction. As the prophet Isaiah had written, Christ became a stumbling-stone to them as a people. In their blind party zeal they put him to death, and persecuted all who believed on him. Where was now their claim to be the peculiar people of God? They clung so tenaciously to the commandments contained in ordinances, as to let slip from them those virtues which were the weightier matters of the law of God. As they backslid in heart from God, they were left to make obedience to the letter of the law their only dependence, thereby making works their salvation. Self-deceived, they went to ruin over the very means that God sent for their help. Poor, blinded, deluded human nature, how oft hast thou fallen! The prophecies were given as a light in a dark place, to guide mankind through the labyrinths of the six thousand years of time that must elapse before the consummation of the great plan of redemption. Overlooking these, and putting them back in the shade, millions of earth’s inhabitants are groping their way without the aid of that which would prove as sure a light to them as did the visible cloud by day and pillar of fire by night to the Israelites in their flight from the land of Egypt. By as wonderful a power of self-deception they are shutting out the only light that would pilot them through the perils of the last days. The Jews had their minds on a king who should come in triumph and glory, and establish with them an everlasting kingdom and place them at the head of the nations of earth. They could see nothing else. Their views did not embrace the full scope of the plan of salvation. The sacrificial offerings that were instituted to be a constant reminder to them of the one great offering of the life of the Son of God became darkness to them. Did God will it to be thus? Nay! Did he not with the wisdom becoming his character shadow forth his great plan so plainly that a wayfaring man, though a fool, need not err therein? It was through pride and hardness of heart and the deception of the devil that they were led to stumble. It would seem that their example would be a sufficient warning to us to be very careful that we do not by the same process, work our own ruin. But what says the prophet? Does it not read in the eighth chapter of Isaiah that Christ should be for a stone of stumbling and rock of offense to both the houses of Israel? As the Hebrew people were the first house of Israel, and stumbled over the prophecies concerning the first advent of Christ, so the Gentile churches which were grafted in, must be the second house of Israel; and they are to stumble at the prophecies relating to the second advent. The fulfillment of this scripture must have its application this side of their time; consequently, we may look for it now, when the messages of Rev. 14, are being given as foretold by the angel of Jesus Christ. The various prophecies extending into the future which speak of his coming in power and glory to establish his kingdom on the earth, should be rightly understood, and they will be at the proper time; for Daniel the prophet said, “The wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.” Here must be where the stumbling of the second house of Israel has its location. The time and place where Daniel bore this testimony was at the close of his prophecy. Having taken up the history of the earthly kingdoms in advance (for prophecy is history in advance), and by different symbols representing these kingdoms and their acts, he carries us forward to the standing up of Michael, the time of trouble, and the resurrection of the dead. That, then, of which he says the wicked shall not understand, but the wise shall understand, must be the subject which he has written out—shown to him in vision, and by the direct teaching of the angel Gabriel, concerning the duration of these earthly kingdoms; and the time when the stone cut out of the mountain without hands, which symbolizes the fifth universal, or God’s everlasting, kingdom, should be established under the whole heavens, or fill the whole earth. These prophecies which were so important for us to understand as to be necessary for the God of Heaven to send one of the chief angels from Heaven to the man “greatly beloved,” must certainly be of vital importance to us; and we shall be far more inexcusable than the Jews, if we refuse to search and dig deep to get the correct understanding of them. As it is light on the very point over which the second house of Israel is to stumble, should we not give all diligence, and with earnest, humble prayers seek divine aid for a perfect understanding of this subject? God wills that his people shall not be in darkness on this momentous question, and has taken care to set up one waymark after another so that there need be no mistake made by us while traversing the last sands of probationary time. With infinite love he has sent messenger after messenger from the courts of Heaven to enlighten his prophets, and they have written out what has been shown them for our learning upon whom the ends of the world are come. Then let us with childlike humility investigate these things, that we may stand in the counsel of the Almighty, and receive the never-ending blessing pronounced on the obedient when Christ shall appear the second time. Reader, let me ask in the words of Paul, at the head of this article, Believest thou the prophets?