Earlier text: BRO. SHEARS' COMMUNICATIONTHE FAITH OF JESUS.
By Editor
"Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Rev. xiv, 12. In our last, we noticed the distinction between the commandments of God, [the Father,] and the faith of Jesus, [the Son.] Also, that the language of the text shows that the faith of Jesus is that which must be kept, as much as the commandments of God, and that it embraces all the teachings of Christ and his apostles, peculiar to the gospel dispensation. We made a few remarks upon Christ's Sermon on the Mount; that none ever preached closer than our Lord; and that every lover of truth and holiness should protest against lowering the standard raised by the Son of God. Here we will quote the words of truth that fell from his lips. "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye; if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.—But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." Matt. vi, 19—24 "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils! and in thy name done many wonderful works? and then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me ye that work iniquity. Therefore, whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock; and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it." Matt. vii, 21—27. The storm of wrath, illustrated by our Lord at the close of his Sermon on the Mount, is coming, and will soon burst upon the world. Those only who hear and do his sayings will be like the man who built his house upon a rock. They will stand unmoved in the day of the Lord's anger. But those who hear Christ's sayings and do them not, will be like the foolish man, who built his house on the sand. Such will not abide the day of his coming, or stand when he appeareth. Let the above quotations from our Lord's Sermon be carefully considered. If he meant just what he said, (and if he did not, who can tell what he did mean?) then it is a fact that while the mass of professing Christians are merely saying, Lord, Lord, and are laying up treasures upon earth, but very few are building on the rock. But few are doing these sayings of Christ. Many, who even profess to be looking for the immediate coming of Christ, are buried up in the cares and spirit of the world, and are laying up treasures on earth. They are reaching out after riches, and are slaves to mammon, while they profess to serve God, and also profess to believe that the Advent is very near. "Ye cannot serve God and mammon." The truth is, that they have no real faith; for a man's works will show all the real faith that he possesses. Their faith is dead, for their works deny it. Such are living in direct violation of the sayings of Jesus, and if they continue on, will find, when the storm of God's wrath comes down upon this world, that they have a sandy foundation, and great will be their fall. "Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." It will be readily admitted, that to keep the commandments of God is to obey just what God has commanded in the ten precepts of his holy law. Then, by the same rule, the only way to keep the faith of Jesus is to obey all that Christ has in person, and by his inspired apostles commanded us to do. God, in giving his law, meant just what he has said, and it is our duty to obey.—Jesus, and his inspired apostles, in pointing out our duty have spoken plainly, and we must obey or perish with the ungodly. It is a lamentable fact that but very few are doing all the sayings of Christ. And it is also true that many who profess to believe that the message of the third angel is now being given, who rejoice that they are keeping all the commandments of God, come far short of obeying all the testimony of Christ and his apostles. We do not wish to grieve any; but God forbid that we should shun to declare the truth. We see those who profess to believe that the last message of mercy to man is now being given, who are worldly, lukewarm, and almost entirely inactive in the cause of present truth. They have so many cares, and so much to occupy their time at home, that they can seldom spare time to leave, and meet with their brethren at a distance. They deprive themselves of the means of grace, remain in almost a lifeless condition, yet toiling to lay up treasures here, or at least to keep good what they have. Such are merely saying, "Lord, Lord," are not laying up "treasure in heaven," but are accumulating treasures here, or are holding together what they have, to be destroyed in the day of wrath. And while they profess to be the servants of God they are slaves to mammon.—With feelings of tender love and pity, we say to such, wake up! For your own soul's sake, for Christ's sake, and for the sake of his suffering cause, arise, and break the cords that bind you to earth. We are aware that many are unpleasantly situated. Some are occupying farms, houses, &c., for which they had paid only a part, when they embraced the present truth. They are now in debt, and have to make great exertions to meet their payments. They would be glad to help sustain the cause of truth, but they cannot see how they can spare any means. They would be glad to spend more time in studying the scriptures, and attending meetings, but they see no other way to meet their payments, but to toil hard, early and late, six days in the week. We say the condition of such is very unpleasant. But are they not laying up treasures on earth? Certainly they are. It may not be convenient for all such to make an immediate change of their property, so as to be free from debt, and have means to help sustain the cause; but it certainly is their duty to make strong efforts, and God will open the way for them to keep his word. "They that say such things, declare plainly that they seek a country." Those who profess to believe that the last message of mercy is now being given, should declare plainly by their works, that their treasure is not in this world, and that they seek a heavenly country. Those who say such things in the presence of God, angels and many witnesses, should show plainly, not only by their words, but by their hands, and by everything around them, that they expect soon to change this state of woe, for a priceless treasure in the kingdom of God. What if one should talk much of moving thousands of miles to enjoy the benefits of a better country in this world, yet not make the least effort to settle up his business, in order to make a change of possessions? No one would believe him. But if he should close up his business, and make preparations for moving, then he would declare plainly by his works, that he really intended to move. Many who profess to believe in the immediate coming of Christ to restore all things, and give them an inheritance in the New Earth, instead of closing up their business here, and laying up their treasure in heaven, are extending their business, multiplying their cares, and are servants to mammon, which they are laying up in this world. Such declare plainly by their works, that their heart and treasure are in this world, and that here they intend to remain. And unless they change their course, and keep the saying of Christ, they must remain here and perish with their mammon, their own chosen master which they serve. "No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." The sealing angel is to seal the servants of God, and not the servants of mammon. Dear brethren, we are about to move. Are we getting ready? The angel proclaiming the everlasting gospel, [Rev. xiv,] has accomplished his great work, and as the thrilling tones of his message died away, the world grew sleepy, and now seems wrapt in deep slumber. The second angel also fulfilled his mission, which brought us to the great disappointment at the end of the 2,300 days, where the period of the patience of the saints commenced. And we are now in the period of the solemn and cutting message of the third angel. Is this a time to sleep, while the threatened storm of the wrath of God hangs over the world?—O, may God awake us to a sense of the period we occupy, and to our duty to him, and perishing souls around us. The next event before us, after the last call of mercy contained in the third message shall be given, is the final decision: "He that is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still." Rev. xxii, 11. The next link in the prophetic chain of Rev. xiv, is the Son of man on the "white cloud," with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand, ready to reap the harvest of the earth.— The treasure of earth will then perish, and the real servants of God will move from this poor wreck of a world, that is waxing old like a garment, to the City of God to share the treasure laid up in heaven.—While those who love the world and the things that are in it, and are the servants of mammon, will perish with those who are trodden in the winepress of the wrath of God. "Ye cannot serve God and mammon." Our Lord has definitely pointed out the duty of the little flock; in the time of the patience of the saints, while waiting for their Lord to return. "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms, provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord, when he will return from the wedding, that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately." We need not say that this scripture has a special application to that period, called the patience of the saints, the period of the third angel's message, for this is very evident from the fact, that it is when we are to wait for our Lord. As the little flock are pursuing their onward course, amid the perils of the last days, and are about to enter the time of trouble, this language of the Great Shepherd is applicable: "Fear not little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Their Lord is about to come, and the kingdom is soon to be given. The treasures of earth are about to be swept away, and61 here is an opportunity for the little flock to manage what earthly treasure they have, so as to obtain "bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not." Is their heart really set on the treasure in the heavens, to be given to the little flock? If it is, they will obey this saying of Jesus, and lay up their treasure there. "For where your heart is, there will be your treasure also," says our Lord. But how shall we lay up treasure in heaven? Our Lord has said, "Sell that ye have and give alms, provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens." Here is a change of treasure from earth to heaven. And how reasonable for those who profess what we, as a people profess, to make such a change. Those who talk of the world's conversion, may heap up treasures here; but those who expect that the wrath of Almighty God is soon to be poured out on the earth, may with great propriety use this world's good, so as to secure a treasure in heaven, that will not fade away. How unwise for those who profess to be the servants of God, to toil on here to obtain mammon, until sudden destruction, like a thief, comes upon the world, and destroys their treasures, and they find out too late, that they have no treasure in heaven. "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me, and of my words, in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father, with the holy angels." Mark viii, 36—38. We dare not keep back any portion of the faith of Jesus. It is unpopular to teach all the commandments of God, and he who dares to do it, makes himself a prey. But it is no less unpopular, and shameful in the eyes of proud, worldly professors, to teach all the faith of Jesus. But he that is ashamed of the words of Christ, of him will the Son be ashamed.—Our only safe course is, as Paul exhorted Timothy, to "preach the word," and reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. "For the time will [has] come, when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." But very few who have riches can endure the plain testimony of Christ, relative to their duty. God has chosen the poor of this world to be heirs of the kingdom, because they will serve him. He would choose the rich, if they would obey his word; but the "cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word," and they "become unfruitful." But it may be asked, What shall our brethren do with their earthly treasures? This is an important question, and one that should claim the special attention of those who have several thousands; for it is evident that they have but a short time to make a judicious use of it. They should not give of their property to support any one in idleness; for this the word of God forbids. Hear what Paul says: "And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us; for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labor and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you; not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busy-bodies. Now them that are such, we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work and eat their own bread. But ye, brethren, be not weary in well-doing. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed." 2 Thess. iii, 5—14. Neither should those who have means bountifully bestow it upon every one who may profess to be called of God to preach. They should remember that they are God's stewards, and must soon give an account of their stewardship. They should first be satisfied that they are called of God to teach, before they give them means to travel. Men and women, void of judgment in spiritual things, are frequently fond of traveling from one State to another to attend meetings, and are sometimes very active in pointing out the duty of others, when they are perfectly deceived as to their own duty. Their influence is to distract the brethren and weaken the cause. Such had better remain at home, and quietly work and eat their own bread, and have something to give those who are called of God to travel.—We say that the stewards of the Lord should not give their means to such. But there are men of God, called to the work of the ministry, who feel the weight of the cause and worth of souls, for God has laid it upon them, that must go with the last message of mercy, to mankind. They must have means of conveyance, and if they have families, they must be supported at home. All that any true minister of Christ can ask is suitable food and clothing for himself and family, if he has one, and this he must have or remain at home. He leaves his family to be from home weeks and months, labors as hard as he dares to, in preaching to many whose hearts are hard as steel, and wears himself out; and how his heart must bleed to know that his family is suffering at home for the comforts of life. What a load would be raised from his spirits to know that they were well provided for. How much more free and spirited he could preach, and how much more good he could do. But says a wealthy brother, "He should go out trusting in the Lord." So he should, and if he is embarrassed for want of some of the means you are laying up to "eat your flesh as it were fire," he should not murmur, but go on trusting in God, and doing all in his power. And if he is hindered in his work for want of means, and souls perish for want of the bread of life, God will not lay it to his account, but to the account of those who have means, but withhold it. It certainly is the duty of those called of God to teach his word, to trust in him who has called them. And it is the duty of the church to hold up their hands, by their prayers and with their means. The church should inquire, and find out the wants of the minister of Christ, and also of his family, if he has one; and the minister should be free to tell his needs. Extra exertions must be put forth now to advance the cause of truth, and the surplus, after each supplies his own wants, and the wants of his family will not be sufficient to carry it forward. God calls upon the church to make extra efforts to advance his truth, and the surplus, after each has supplied the wants of his family, is by no means sufficient. Those who profess to have laid all upon the altar, should remember that a sacrifice consumes, and that God calls on them to use a portion of what they have laid on his altar, in his cause. Here, hundreds are greatly deceived. They think they have laid all on the altar; but when the bleeding cause of truth calls for a few dollars, they draw back, and plainly show, that instead of all being on the Lord's altar, they have it grasped in their own hands. It is a fact that the wants of most those who have gone out to teach the present truth, have been generally supplied. But it is also a fact that there are those among us, who are capable of teaching the word, who are men of piety, calculated to set a good example, and produce a good influence on the cause, who give good evidence of being called to the work, who are detained at home much of their time to labor with their hands to support their families. And if they could leave home for a few days to feed perishing souls with "meat in due season," they have no horse and carriage to go with. The Macedonian cry, "Come over and help us," is being heard from all quarters, and the way is fast opening before us to spread the truth before sincere inquirers. Now brethren, shall these men stay at home, when you have the means to send them out? Or, shall they go out into the wide harvest? "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." Ps. cxxvi, 6. Let them go, brethren, in the name of the Lord. See that they have suitable conveyance, and also that their families are comfortable at home. Let them have publications to put into the hands of those who inquire for the reasons of our hope, and as these servants of Christ go, bear them in the arms of your faith, to the throne of God. Never forget to pray for them. This is the greatest object we have to set before those who have treasures here, to induce them to obey the command of Christ, "Sell that ye have and give alms." And if this object is not of sufficient importance to lead them to obey this portion of the faith of Jesus, we think that nothing will move them. But we are satisfied that those who really love God, and desire to do his will, and see that the faith of Jesus mentioned by the third angel, as well as the commandments of God, must be kept, will be moved to lay hold of the work before them. The Review and Herald.
By Editor
We have four or five hundred copies of all the back numbers of the present volume of the REVIEW AND HERALD. Our list is increasing, and the back numbers are called for; but the present increase is not sufficient to use up the back numbers by the time this volume is completed. We feel very anxious that the Paper should have a wider circulation, and we think that with a little effort on the part of its friends, it can have. We do not wish to send the REVIEW AND HERALD where there is no prospect of its accomplishing good; but all those who wish to read it, with a sincere desire to learn the truth, should have it. Now we suggest that all its friends act as agents. Go to those you hope to benefit, with the paper in your hand, even to those who may have prejudice against our views, and talk with them, and read to them. Remove their prejudice and they will listen to the truth. And if they wish to receive the paper, forward their names and address. If they wish to help sustain it, give them an opportunity. But if they do not, let them have it the same. If they receive the truth, and share the sanctifying blessings it brings to the soul, then they will gladly help to send it to others. We hope to receive the names of a few hundred who wish the paper, immediately. The expense of the REVIEW AND HERALD, including our family expenses, is about $1500 a year, or about $58 for each number. Those who wish to know how we prosper as to means, can compare this with the receipts. They are sometimes considerable more, and sometimes less. This is the cost of 2000 copies. The type being set, the third thousand would cost only for paper, press-work, folding &c., which would not exceed $10 a number, or one cent a copy. This, on a volume of 13 numbers, would be only 13 cents.—With $2000 we could send out 4000 copies of the REVIEW AND HERALD semi-monthly. Or, with $3000, we could send out 4000 copies weekly. We make this statement that the friends may understand the advantages of a large list of names which we hope will stimulate some to do what they can to extend our circulation. We can send three Hymn Books, and pay postage for 500 miles, for $1. Those who wish them will please send in their orders soon, if convenient. THE TONGUE.
By S. W. Rhodes
"But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison." James iii, 8. If man cannot tame the tongue, the Lord can, for the tongue, with all the other members of the body, must be tamed and be yielded instruments of righteousness and holiness, to serve the living God. Rom. vi, 13, 19. It is evident from the amount there is said in the word of the Lord, about our words, and the use of our tongues, that it is no small attainment in the Christian to have gained, by prayer and discipline, the victory over the tongue, and to always speak discreetly, having every word seasoned with salt, communicating something of consequence to the hearer. If we are in any way given to idle words, or useless conversation, let us seek to God for help and strength to mortify and crucify the unruly member. Much importance is attached, by the prophets and apostles, to a right use of the tongue. Solomon hath said; "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." Jesus hath said; "For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." The apostle James hath said: "If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body." As the Bible is a perfect guide and director in all matters of faith and duty, we will quote a few passages which show the exercises and thoughts of the hearts of holy men of old, touching the use of the tongue. "An ungodly man diggeth up evil, and in his lips there is a burning fire; and a whisperer separateth chief friends." Prov. xvi, 27, 28. "The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity; so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire of hell." James iii, 6. "The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things." Ps. xii, 3. "Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people." Lev. xix, 16. "A talebearer revealeth secrets." Prov. xi, 13. "What shall be given unto thee or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue?" David prayed, "deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and a deceitful tongue." Ps. cxx, 2, 3. How liable we are to be deceived by a false tongue, in suffering ourselves to speak things which we know not, judging a matter before we hear it, making up our minds prematurely, and speaking accordingly, not knowing whereof we affirm. My brethren, in so doing we walk contrary to God's word, grieve his Holy Spirit, wound our own souls and bring ourselves under darkness, and often wound some of the members of Christ's body. [The church.] O let us have the mind of David, who said, "I will take heed to my ways that I sin not with my tongue." Ps. xxxix, 1. O let us pray as did David, "set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips." God hateth six things; yea seven * and the seventh is, he that soweth discord among brethren.—"In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin; but he that refraineth his lips is wise." Prov. x, 19. I am sure if we give heed to the word of the Lord we shall find enough to put us on our watch over the tongue. May the Lord apply, by his Spirit, as many of the above texts of scripture to our hearts, individually, as will be necessary to sanctify our tongue. I have learned from some years of experience, and particular observation, that the cause of most of the trials among my dearly beloved brethren (who are now in the patient, waiting time receiving the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus) have been, and can be, traced back to some imprudent remark, or word dropped inadvertently, when at the time no evil was intended, or harm imagined, by the brother or sister so caught in the snare of the wicked one, by speaking out in words, the suggestions of the enemy, or thoughts of the heart. My brethren, let us be wise and consider well before we speak, whether we shall edify him that heareth, and glorify God in what we shall say; for it is written: "Whatsoever ye do in word, or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus." Col. iii, 17. When James said: "If any man among you seems to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain," he does not mean that we should not speak or converse on all proper occasions, when we can speak to the comfort, or edification of each other in the Spirit and name of Christ, with an eye single to the glory of God. "He that keepeth his mouth, keepeth his life," Prov. xiii, 3. "Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soul from troubles." Prov. xxi, 23. May God help us to feel the force of these truths. "For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips, that they speak no guile." 1 Pet. iii, 10. "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." Prov. xxv, 11. My object is, to turn your attention to the study of these scriptures, with many others of a similar character, which are needful for us that we may have our tongues sanctified to God. Your brother in Christ, S. W. RHODES. LETTERS.
By John A. Loughhead
DEAR BRO. WHITE :—It has pleased the Lord to spare my life, and to give me a portion among the living who can praise his holy name; and I feel thankful for the blessings which I am permitted to enjoy. The little band in Elmira are strong in the truth, and are striving to grow in grace. May the Lord aid us that we may know the truth, and be sanctified by obeying it. I do wish that some good brother, that is instructed in the things of the Lord, would locate in this region of country. I believe there are some honest souls about here that would receive the truth if it was presented to them. Here is a large tract of country through which the Second Advent and the truths connected with it, have never been proclaimed. And it seems to me that the people must have an opportunity to hear, whether they will believe or not. And I do pray that the Lord may send some one to these parts that is able to present the present truth in a manner that will glorify his name, and souls be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ. J. C. Bywater, C. F. Sweet have been holding a tent-meeting in this place of late. They were here almost three weeks, and labored hard to make converts. But as to the good they have done remains to be told. My heart was grieved while conversing with one who had been the means, under God, of opening my eyes to see the truth of the near Advent of Jesus Christ; that now denies past experience, and rejects the Sabbath of the Lord our God. While conversing with him on the Sabbath, he stated that it was abolished, and said he thought I could see that it was, by reading the third chapter of Galatians, and urged me to keep one point in my mind, viz: that the added law spoken of in verse nineteen, was the ten commandments, and that they were added to the Abrahamic Covenant, because the people had transgressed it. Now I cannot say but that any one must come to the conclusion that the commandments are done away if they reason in this manner: but is this a proper course to determine what law is here spoken of, without the aid of the scriptures? How is it possible that the people could transgress the Abrahamic Covenant, when the covenant was between Abraham and God? And Abraham kept the conditions, for God says he did. Gen. xxvi, 5. As the people could not transgress that covenant, (for as far as they were concerned that covenant was unconditional with them,) then what did they transgress? I answer, the law of God, or the moral principles by which God governs the world. It is admitted that these moral principles were binding upon men before they were given in a statute form from Sinai, so it cannot be these that were added. But we read that the Lord said unto Moses, "So I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. Ex. xix, 9.—And in Chap. xxxii, 1—5 we learn that as Moses was63 up in the Mount, and the people got tired of waiting for him to come down out of the Mount, that they gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and required him to make them gods to go before them. And that Aaron did make a golden calf and they (the people) said: "these be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt." And the people offered burnt-offerings, and brought peace-offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play. We have the fact stated here, that in less than forty days from the time God gave his law in a statute form, and it would seem before the sound of the voice of the Lord had hardly died away, that the people disobeyed the Lord. From verse seven to the fourteenth we read that the Lord communicated the fact of the people's disobedience to Moses, and commanded him to go down to the people, and threatens to destroy the congregation of the children of Israel, and to make of Moses a great nation. But Moses pleads for the people, and God hears his supplication. From verse fifteen, to the twenty-sixth, we learn that Moses came down from the Mount, saw the people dancing, and the golden calf, and his anger waxed hot, he casts the tables out of his hands and breaks them, goes into the camp and calls all that are on the Lord's side to come to him, and he sets them to slaying the rest. And there fell about three thousand men. In verses thirty to the thirty-third, we read that Moses said unto the people, ye have sinned a great sin, and now I will go up unto the Lord, peradventure, I shall make an atonement for your sin. And Moses returned unto the Lord and said: "Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, [here let it be remembered, that sin is the transgression of the law. 1 John iii, 4,] and have made them gods of gold, yet now if thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. And the Lord said unto Moses, whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book. We have now shown that the people did transgress the law of God, and now for the added law. Eze. xx, 10—12. Verse 11. And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them. We here learn that God gave the people a law by which they should live, if they obeyed it. The people did not obey this law, and in consequence of their disobedience [verses 13—24] God gave them another law by which they should not live. For we read in verse 25 as follows: "Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live." Who is so blind that he cannot see two laws here, and that one is given because the people transgressed the other?—Nehemiah testifies to the same in Chap. ix, 13, 14.—"Thou camest down also upon Mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes, and commandments, and madest known unto them thy holy Sabbath, and commandest them precepts statutes and laws by the hand of Moses thy servant." I claim that two laws are brought to view in this scripture. God himself makes known his holy and just law to the people, while the other is made known to the people by the hand of Moses. I now ask, Are not two laws plainly brought to view in this scripture? The law of God was written on tables of stone. This fact none will deny. And God calls it his covenant. Ex. xix, 5; Deut. iv, 12, 13. But the added law was written in a book, [Ex. xxiv, 4, 7,] and was to point the people to Jesus, by its types and shadows, who takes away the sin of the world. The added law also points out the temporal punishment in case of a transgression of the law of God. Ex. xxii, 20; Deut. xiii, 6—10; Lev. xxiv, 15, 16; xx, 10; Ex. xxxi, 14, 15; xxi, 12, 16, 17; xxii, 1; John viii, 3—5. This law was the ministration of death. It knew no mercy, but now is done away, is abolished. This law is now abolished or done away, to give place to the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. Glory to God in the highest. We can go to God and ask the forgiveness of trespasses by a new and living way. O, praise his holy name all ye his saints, for we have an High Priest over the house of God that can be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, whom God in mercy hath appointed to make atonement for the transgressions of his holy law. And he is faithful, and will do it, if we confess our transgressions, and forsake them. God bless the remnant, and enable us to depart from all evil, and keep all the commandments. Though the world, Catholics, Protestants, and nominal Adventists oppose and persecute, let us hold on to the truth, and obey God, for soon Jesus will leave the Sanctuary in heaven. Then the atonement will be made, and all those who have not sought his favor, must take up the lamentation, the harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. I have been much edified in reading Bro. J. N. Andrews' Letters to O. R. L. Crozier, and I praise God that he has raised up one that so ably contends for the Sabbath of the Lord our God. May God still give him, and all the dear saints, wisdom and understanding to meet the enemies of truth, and repel them by the sword of the Spirit. Amen. Yours for the truth, JOHN A. LOUGHHEAD.