Bro. Smith: I have just returned from visiting the friends in Townsend. Found them all well, and striving to arise, and with a becoming zeal repent of former negligence and inactivity. O that the Lord would help us all now to arise and take hold of the strong arm of our God. I do thank the Lord for the faith I have this morning that his cause will soon rise here, and everywhere, with a majesty and a glory that will cheer every believer, and speedily call out of fallen Babylon all the honest in heart, who are honest in their profession of faith in God, and his living word.
Permit me to say still further, that the Lord verified his promise to us in a special manner, in our prayer and conference meeting on the holy Sabbath, so that we were made to know the meaning of the Saviour's words, "there I am in the midst of them." O let us cheer up! The morning light begins to dawn. Listen what the Lord says: "If ye will inquire, inquire ye; return, come." O what an invitation this! how full of mercy!
O that our brethren in the different fallen churches would but "inquire" into the "signs of the times," as it is their privilege and duty. They would not long listen to the syren song of "peace and safety." See Isa. xxi, 9-12, compared with Rev. xiv, 8, and xviii, 1-4.
O that the Lord would give his people in the different sections of Babylon a spirit of strong inquiry, that cannot be suppressed by their slumber-loving prophets. See Isa. lvi, 9, 10, and onward. "Spare thy people," Lord, is the burden of my soul.
J. Dorcas.
Fremont, Ohio, Dec. 28th, 1857.
OBITUARY.
By I. B. Woodin
FELL asleep on the 7th of Oct. last, Ira Burr, son of Ira B. and Lucy Woodin, Sylvan, Mich., aged seven years and six months. He was attacked with dysentery, and lived only about one week. He suffered patiently during his illness, and on being asked a few minutes before he died, he expressed a love for the Lord, the Sabbath and the brethren. He expired without a struggle. We deeply mourn his loss, but sorrow not as those who have no hope.
I. B. WOODIN.
LINES ON THE ABOVE.
By A. M. A. C.
Ye mourn, dear parents, that your boy
Is torn away from your embrace;
That he who was your pride and joy,
Can fill no more his wonted place.
That cherished form now in the tomb,
Fast mouldering back to mother dust,
Will in immortal beauty bloom,
When the dark grave shall yield its trust.
Then let hope cheer you 'mid your grief,
And fill your lonely hearts with joy.
Death's dread dominion will be brief,
Jesus will soon his power destroy.
Soon will his lovely voice be heard,
Saying, "Awake! awake! arise!
Ye saints, come forth to your reward,
You've sought and won the glorious prize."
A. M. A. C.
E. L. BARR
By E. L. Barr
DIED in Sutton Vt., Dec. 15th 1857, Sister Hannah Tilton, wife of Bro. Jonathan Tilton, in the fiftieth year of her age, leaving a large circle of friends to mourn her loss. Her sickness was short and distressing. Her last moments were calm and peaceful, and she fell asleep in Jesus, in full faith of the present truth, and the blessed hope of a part in the first resurrection.
E. L. BARR
Stowe, Vt., Dec. 24th, 1857.
Death of Mary Loveland
By Albert Stone
It becomes our painful duty to announce the death of another daughter of brother and sister Loveland, of Johnson Vt. Yes, Mary too has gone. She died Sabbath morning, Dec. 12th, aged seventeen years and fifteen days.
Consumption had marked her for its victim, and since last Spring she had been declining. She continued about eight weeks after being reduced to great weakness, during which her sufferings were extreme. Her intervals of rest were few and short. She would sometimes ask her mother to pray for her that she might have a little rest, and would herself engage in vocal prayer for a few moments' rest. She longed even for the rest of the grave. She was greatly sustained during her protracted and painful illness, by the hope of the gospel, and said to her friends, that she would not willingly exchange conditions with them. She died in full expectation of having part in the first resurrection.
This is the third time within about two years that brother and sister Loveland have been called to lay a beloved daughter in the grave; but they are comforted with the hope that their children shall come again from the land of the enemy, and return to their own border.
Funeral services were attended by the writer, and a discourse founded on Jer. xxxi, 15-17, was presented to a crowded audience on the occasion, in which was set forth the hope of the church concerning the righteous dead. Albert Stone.
Eden, Vt, Dec, 18th, 1857.
Seven Desire Baptism in Weaversville
By T. L. Waters
Bro. T. L. Waters writes from Weaversville, Mich.: "Like the servants of God in olden time, we find ourselves pilgrims and strangers here, having no continuing city, but seeking one to come. God's word to us is as the manna in the wilderness to ancient Israel; while the Review brings us news from those messengers who have set forward to spy out the land."
"Dear brethren, while I see the fields already white for the harvest and the laborers so few, I pray the Lord to send more into the field. I have been trying to present the present truth to the people in this neighborhood. Some are thinking, and others remind me of the seed which fell by the way-side: the evil one comes and snatches it away out of their hearts. Some think that to include the professed churches in the great city of Babylon is too bad; but still they cannot deny that the description given of her is a fair representation of the churches in these last days."
"We are desirous that some of the messengers should come this way. There are seven here who wish to be baptized and walk in the ordinances of the Lord's house."
A Call for Help.
By Editor
BRO. E. R. Davis writes from Tirade P. O., Linn, Walworth Co., Wis., Dec. 21st, 1857 :
"Myself and family have been here about two years, a part of which time we have been privileged with the reading of the Advent Review and Sabbath Herald. We were brought up to keep the seventh day as the Sabbath of the Lord, and until within a few years have been connected with a Seventh-day Baptist church in the State of N. Y. Circumstances find us here at present, in the vicinity of an S. D. B. church; yet nevertheless, pretty much alone as to a community of views, except on the subject of the Sabbath.
"Last Spring Bro. Raymond, an Adventist, moved into the neighborhood, and a part of the time, when the walking was good, we have had family prayer-meetings. We are surrounded by Seventh-day Baptists, First-day Baptists, Methodists, Universalists, Freewill Baptists, &c., many of whom think us very odd in our opinions, and express a desire to learn the position which we take. I do not feel myself competent to set the truth clearly before them, nor to successfully meet the opposition of theological and traditionary opinions. Oh! that it were consistent and proper that some messenger of the cross, of the Advent band, would come this way and set plainly before us the Bible position of the remnant. We promise them a hearty welcome to such as we have, (poor though it be,) and I am quite confident that some at least will be glad to hear the reasons of our hope."
NOTE.—It is not the publishers' wish that any should be deprived of the Review who consider it a privilege to receive it. We therefore send again the paper to Bro. D., and hope that some of the messengers in the western field will attend to the above call.—Ed.
Are the Seven Last Plagues in the Future?
By Editor
We learn that some of our brethren are adopting the view that six of the seven last plagues are already poured out, and that the seventh alone is future. If this view is in any degree obtaining among believers in the Third Message, we think it must be because its bearing upon the main pillars of the present truth, has not been considered.
By Rev. xvi, 2, we learn that the very first plague is poured out upon those who receive the mark of the beast, and who worship his image. Now if our views of the Two-horned beast be correct, that it is a symbol of these United States, which we think has been plainly proved, the image to the beast has not yet been formed; for the United States have not yet performed such a work as the erection of an image to the Papal beast. There are not yet therefore any worshipers of the image; but the plagues cannot commence until such a class is developed; for they are the ones upon whom they first take effect.
If therefore six of the plagues are in the past, it follows that the Two-horned beast must have existed, and the image been formed and worshiped far back in ages gone; and if this be so, the Third Angel's Message, which is a warning against this very beast and image worship, must have gone forth long ago; and hence the first and second angels' messages, which go forth prior to the third, have been fulfilled in ages past; and if this be so, the great Advent movement of late years, 1840-4, was a false movement; and if we take this ground, we must admit that the calculation of the prophetic periods which gave rise to that move, was incorrect, that they have not ended and that consequently the closing work of our great High Priest in the heavenly Sanctuary is not now going forward; and we must then acknowledge that the move which has aroused us, and called us out to our present position is all false, a tissue of fanaticism and delusion.
This is a conclusion which we do not believe any of our brethren would be willing to adopt upon any slight ground: but to such a conclusion we are inevitably driven, if we take the single position, which may at first sight in itself, seem harmless and simple enough, that six of the seven last plagues are already past.
The present truth is harmonious in all its parts; its links are all connected; the bearings of all its portions upon each other are like clock-work; but break out one cog, and the work is stopped; break one link, and the chain is broken; let down one stitch and we may unravel the whole. Let us therefore move with care, critically compare all positions with the word of God, and consider well their bearing, and the harmony or discrepancy that exists between them and other portions of the Word before we step out upon them.
The Sudden Event.
By R. F. C.
WHAT is the sudden event, when one shall be taken and another left, or as Campbell renders it, "one shall be seized and the other shall escape?" Is that event the coming of the Lord to gather his saints, or the commencement of the day of wrath, when the seven vials begin to be poured out? Some have argued that the coming of Jesus will be unexpected by the saints, finding them in the common employments of life. But I am inclined to think that the "brethren" will not be in darkness, but will be waiting for that event when it comes. But when they, the wicked, shall say peace and safety, sudden destruction will come upon them. I think that the wicked will be seized and fall by the seven last plagues, while the righteous, though beholding it, will escape; and that the saints will be gathered in close connection with the seventh vial. R. F. C.
GO YE AND DO.
YE who have scorned each other,
Or injured friend or brother,
In this fast fading world;
Ye who by word or deed
Have made a kind heart bleed,
Come gather hither!
Let sinned against and sinning
Forget their strife's beginning
And join in friendship true;
Be links no longer broken,
Be sweet forgiveness spoken,
Now while this Year is New!—Sel.
J. W
By James White
We wish to say to those of like precious faith, hopes, discouragements, sorrows and joys, that the last few months has been a time of peculiar sadness and gloom. But, thank the Lord, the clouds are parting. Our meetings are becoming seasons of freedom, and the church is rising. We enjoyed more than usual freedom speaking to them last Sabbath. We think the brethren will lay aside their old testimonies in regard to their unworthiness and leanness of soul, and come to meeting to praise the Lord, and talk of his goodness. A brother remarked that self-examination was necessary, but that this should be attended to at home, perhaps in the closet, so that when the saints assemble they might be all ready to talk of the goodness of God, and speak forth his praises. These words seemed to us like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
J. W
Business Items.
By Editor
C. M. You owe nothing for books: you have paid for REVIEW up to Vol. XIII 1, and for INSTRUCTOR up to Vol. VII. We send books, and receipt $1,00 for REVIEW to the poor.
N. Guider. The $1,00 was received and placed to your account, reaching to XIII, 1.
BOOKS SENT SINCE DEC. 20th, 1857. O. M. Patten, Mass., L. Morris, Wis., A. Hafer, Mich., F. F. Lamoreaux, Mich., L. Hasselback, Ohio. E. Sanford, M. T., I. N. Pike, Vt., H. Evans, Vt., S. Warner, R. I., L. B. Cottrell, N. Y., T. W. Potter, N. Y., C. Castle, N. Y., M. Johnson, Ohio. Jno. Young, N Y., W. E. Landan, Ct, Wm. McAndrew, Mich., E. Prior, N. Y., O. T. Williams, Pa , A. A. Marks, Mich,. B. F. Brockway, Vt., J. Chaffee. N. Y., N. Guider, Ohio. Jno. M. Warren, Pa., A. Ross, N. Y.
Receipts.
By Editor
Annexed to each receipt in the following list, is the Volume and Number of the 'Review and Herald' to which the money receipted pays. If money for the paper is not in due time acknowledged, immediate notice of the omission should then be given.
FOR REVIEW AND HERALD.
J. G. Smith 2.00,xiv,1. J. Cook 0.50,xii,1. P. Payne 0.50,xii,6. M. B. Pierce (for Jno. Sawell) 1.00,xi,14. D. B. Webber 1.00,xi,19. Jno. Cooper 2.00,xii,1. M. Phillips 1.00,xi,21. L. Griswold 1.00,xii,1. A. Stone 1.00,xiii,1. B. Marks 1.00,xii,1. A. Marks (for P. Allen) 0.50,xii,1. A. A. Marks 1.00,xii,1. A. A. Marks (0.50, each for A. J. Allen, R. Baker, E. Clark, L. Johnson, L. Marks, C. D. Morse and A. G. Allen) 3.50, each to xii,1. J. L Sam 1.00,xi,14. S. A. Halbeck 2.00,xiii,1. L. A. Hacket 1.00,xii,1. J. L. Baker 1.00,xi,1. S. W. Chase 1.00,xii,8. M. Borden 2.00,xii,14. R. Town 2.00,xii,1. S. H. Peck 1.00,xiii,1. L. S. Townsend 1.00,xii,9. A. T. Barns 1.00,xii,9. A. E. Blood 0.25,xi,22. D. H. Dean 0.50,xii,9. M. Lippman 0.25,xi,22. Z. Pitts 0.25,xi,22. Wm. Cobh 0.25,xi,22. C. Chambers 0.25,xi,22. J. C. Whitmore 0.25,xi,22. B. Landon 1.00,xii,1. B. Landon (for G. Landon) 0.50,xii,1. H. Lyon 1.00,xii,1. F. Strong 1.00,xii,14. B. F. Brockway 1.00,x,23. Chas. W. Rowley 1.15,xi,8. P. Paro 1.00,xi,1. Geo. Pennfield 1.00,xii,1. M. Labounty 1.00,xii,9. R. R. Cochran 1.60,xii,16. R. M. A. 2.00,xii,1. Jno. M. Warren 1.00,xii,9.
FOR REVIEW TO POOR. C M., $1.00. J Chaffee 0.27.
FOR POWER PRESS. Wm. Treadwell $10.00. R. B. Abbey $5.00. L. M. Abbey $2.00.
Questions.
By Timothy Wheeler
1. Do you believe that salvation is the gift of God, that works in no sense can merit it?
2. Should I write and send to you an article upon the "original condition of man," would you publish it? It would probably cover twenty-five or thirty pages of letter paper.
Respectfully yours, TIMOTHY WHEELER.
Answers to Questions
By Editor
ANSWER.—To the first question we reply: Rom. vi, 23. "For the wages of sin [transgression of the law, 1 John iii, 4] is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
To the second question concerning the publication of the article, we answer that we can tell better when we see it.
The Third Angel's Message.
By J. Clarke
WHEN I first commenced keeping the true Sabbath, I had never seen a person who kept the seventh day, nor any work advocating the true Sabbath, but the Bible. With this alone as my guide, I laid aside my infant baptism, and Papal Sunday, and was baptized by immersion, and adopted the true Sabbath at the same time. This was in 1852 I think. I had a varied experience of discouragements and backslidings for a year or more, when I got from a passing lecturer, a copy of the Review.
I was rejoiced and strengthened because the Sabbath was advocated so ably and zealously by it; but I could not see the sense of the Sanctuary and Third Angel's Message at all; it was all blind to me, or I was blind to it. Even last Spring I told Bro. Dorcas that I could not give up the idea of the conversion of the world, at the second coming of Christ. A brother remarked, "Such a view takes off the edge of the message." Still I was blind. My early draughts of Babylonish wine, still benumbed my faculties.
I told Bro. Holt, I could not see the force of the cleansing of the Sanctuary; but the moment he began to open the matter, the scales began to fall from my eyes. Since then, I have gained clearer and clearer ideas upon these subjects.
'Tis a thrilling thought, that we are now in the time of the end; that prophetic time is closed; but the idea that the 144000 are now getting ready, that Christ is now almost through with the priestly office; that the seven last plagues are just impending; that Satan is now tempting mankind in new and novel ways, thus fulfilling Scripture, and filling up the measure of iniquity; these are thoughts that take possession of the mind. These times, these truths, now proclaimed, the signs now taking place, the quick succession of great events, and fulfillments of prophecy, seen by the eye of faith and compared with God's word, are indeed startling.
I think I can see the force, consistency and beauty of the cleansing of the Sanctuary at the end of the 2300 days, connected with the three messages and two-horned beast; I praise God, the view quickens my spirit. I see more clearly we must cut loose from the world, must make clean work for eternity. What is to be done, must be done quickly.
Thank God for the Third Angel's Message! Let us each one, so far as God has granted ability, help to sound this message, by our prayers, our substance, our conversation, our example, our efforts, and by every wise and good means which is placed within our reach. J. CLARKE.
Note from Bro. Ingraham.
By William S. Ingraham
BRO. SMITH: I rejoice in what the Lord is doing for his people in this place. The church in Ulysses were never prospering better than now. Three have been baptized and added to the church of late. Seven miles from this place, two more have shown themselves lovers of the commandments by turning away their feet from the Sabbath. Last week I visited the town of Union. The Lord blessed the word spoken. Five expressed their determination to keep the Sabbath. Others are very much interested, and will soon, I hope, decide in favor of the truth. I have been in Penn. about three years, and I have never seen so much interest manifest to hear the truth as at the present time. I have calls from every quarter. Cannot Bro. R. F. Cottrell spend a few weeks with us?
Yours in hope. WM. S. INGRAHAM. Ulysses, Pa., Dec. 16th, 1857.