p. 8 | Review and Herald, Vol. 8, No. 1. (4/10/1856)

Extracts from Letters.

By Editor

A brother writes from Monterey, Mich., March 25th, 1856:—"Dear brethren and sisters, hold on to the truth, the Third Angel's Message. Keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus. O how it cheers my heart to know that we have the truth. God is revealing these things to the remnant. I am glad that God sent one of his messengers this way to open our eyes that we might see these things, and know where we are in this world's history.

"We have a little band here of about forty. We are trying to keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus, and there is a delight in keeping the Sabbath. God manifests himself to us, the one altogether lovely, and the chief among ten thousand. We have meetings at ten o'clock on the Sabbath, and Bible class and Sabbath-school in the afternoon."

Bro. J. Dorcas writes from Freemont, Ohio, March 23rd, 1856:—"That we are in the time of the Third Angel's Message of Rev. xiv, I have no manner of doubt. And the longer I look through the Bible telescope, held up by Brn. White and Waggoner, over into the 1000 years period, yet before us, and belonging to this present mysterious work of our heavenly Father, I am the better satisfied that they have it right.

"Be encouraged, dear brethren, press on the work. I can see through this section that the time has come for a mighty effort to save the people of God in the different sects, Babylon, or they must soon all go down together. I feel as though I could part with all I have for the promotion of this cause. Actions speak louder than words, is a true saying, and I trust the time of decided action has come, for the Third Angel's work."

Sister E. A. Pratt, writes from Kane Co., Ill., "It rejoices my soul to hear through the Review that the truth is still spreading, and that precious souls are making their calling and election sure, before mercy is forever past; for the prayers of sinners will be of no avail then. When I look forward to that day which is not far distant, I feel to inquire, am I prepared for that event? Shall I be found without fault before the throne of God? There is no time to be lost in getting ready. Although I have many trials to surmount, I feel like taking new courage to come off more than conqueror through him that loved us."

Bro. E. O. Meacham writes from Savannah, Ill.:—"I feel glad that the church is coming up to the help of the Lord against the mighty. There are many snares set for the care-worn pilgrim, into which some professing to believe in the near coming of the Saviour have fallen. May the remnant be delivered from the strong delusion and gross darkness which cover the ungodly. Signs portend the near coming of Him who judges the world in righteousness; and are we ready? Some of the dear people with whom I united when I first espoused the truth, have gone astray and fallen into fatal errors. Brethren, be on the alert! 'Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation.' Join yourselves in mighty phalanx against the enemy, that ye may withstand his wiles.

"We still are alone here keeping the Sabbath, while many are convinced of the truth, but do not obey because there is a cross over which they stumble to destruction.

"Illinois is a large field for labor, and there are many who would gladly hear the truth if some of the preaching brethren would pass this way and preach to them. Brethren, 'come over and help us!'"

Bro. D. Chase, writes from Columbia Co., Wis.:—"I think the few about here interested in the Third Angel's Message, are rising in spirit with the swellings of the same."

Bro. J. Whitenack writes from Steuben Co., N. Y.:—"The paper is the only preacher I have that preaches what I can believe. I cannot well do without it. There is preaching enough such as it is all around me. There are two protracted meetings being held, one each side of me, and my neighbors think me unchristian because I do not feel interested with them.

"When I read the paper and see the names of those whose voices I have listened to in proclaiming the Word, I indulge in reflections like these: Why are not the names of others there, that I heard proclaim the fall of Babylon? Where are they? Do they not acknowledge the law holy, and the commandment holy and just and good?"

Perseverance in the Narrow Way

By M. L. Priest

From Sister Priest.

BRO. SMITH:—I esteem it a privilege to pen a few lines to those of like precious faith. I have been very much comforted and encouraged by reading the communications from brethren and sisters in the Review. I often find my own experience in them. I believe there is much good accomplished in this silent manner.

It is five years since my companion and myself first saw the light on the Third Angel's Message. We were constrained to believe it was truth; for it gave us light upon the past, the present, and future. We firmly believe that by keeping the commandments of God, and having the Faith of Jesus, we may have an abundant entrance through the gates into the city.

At times we feel disheartened, seeing so much distraction among the little flock, and feel to cry out in the bitterness of our souls, Who shall be saved? The way is straight and narrow, and we are such short-sighted, erring creatures, that we are in great danger, having foes without and within, but it is our privilege to overcome, and if we struggle on, we shall finally come off victorious. I think I desire a home in glory, more than every thing else. The dear Saviour will be there; the patriarchs and prophets will be there; and some loved ones who sleep in Jesus will come forth and be there. There is much to encourage us to persevere; but we must be tried, and the solemn thought comes home, Who will abide the day of his coming, and stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's soap.

We are living in perilous times. Never was the Enemy more busy. We need to gird on the whole armor. If we feel our weakness and unworthiness, and draw nigh to God he will draw nigh to us, and if the Lord be for us, who can be against us. Although of ourselves we are nothing, yet it is our privilege to be strong and of good courage. O that the church had more of that other spirit, like Caleb and Joshua, to believe that we are abundantly able to go up and possess the goodly land.

Dear brethren and sisters, we have not followed cunningly devised fables. No! no! but it is the plain word of the Lord; and that same Jesus which the disciples saw taken up into heaven, will soon come again.

Yes, the Lord is coming. O let us be diligent. It is our privilege to be all ready and waiting for his return. But it is not every one that saith Lord, Lord, that will be accepted, but they that do his will, by obeying all his commandments. To love God with all the heart, and our neighbor as ourselves, requires deadness to self and the world. O for grace, humility and patience, to enable us to do the will of God that we may be accepted of him, is the prayer of your unworthy sister. M. L. PRIEST.

Worcester Co., Mass.

STEPNEY, C. H. M. (Peculiar.)

By Uriah Smith

Words on the Death of WM. M. SMITH.

But there's a bright, a glorious hope, That scatters death's dark gloom; It cheers the saddened spirits up, It gilds the Christian's tomb, It brings the resurrection near, When those we love shall re-appear.

Then mourn we not as those whose hopes, With fleeting life, depart; For we have heard a voice from heaven, To every stricken heart: Blest are the dead, forever blest, Who from henceforth in Jesus rest.

With kind regard the Lord beholds His saints, when called to die; And precious in his holy sight Their sacred dust shall lie, Till all these storms of life are o'er, And they shall rise to die no more.

A few more days and we shall meet The loved, whose toil is o'er, And plant with joy our bounding feet On Canaan's radiant shore; Where, free from all earth's cares and fears, We'll part no more through endless years. U. S.

The Birth of the Spirit

By Editor

REPLY. That the birth of the Spirit is our change from mortality to immortality, we think is plainly taught in the Scriptures. But,

1. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God.” How? By having been born of the Spirit? or in the sense that we shall be when born of the Spirit? No; but by the Spirit of adoption whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Rom. viii, 15. But the Spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba, Father, is not the adoption. Paul tells us what this is in verse 23. “Waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.”

2. “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin.” Instead of this being an objection to the position here taken, we consider it a strong text in its favor. “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin.” We will “read on.” “For his seed remaineth in him, and he CANNOT SIN, because he is born of God.” Now unless we take the position that it is impossible for a person to sin, after conversion, we cannot apply the birth of the Spirit to that event.

3. “Every one that loveth is born (gegennetai, is begotten, see criticism on this word in REVIEW, No. 25, Vol. VII) of God.”

4. “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born (gegennetai, begotten) of God.”

5. “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.” How? by an actual birth into his kingdom? No; but by FAITH in Jesus Christ.” Gal. iii, 26.

6. Gal. iv, 6, 7, is reasonably explained the same as 1 John iii, 2.

There is then a sense in which we are called the children of God even here in our present state; but such scriptures as Rom. viii, 15; Gal. iii, 26, &c., fully explain what that sense is. That the new birth is not conversion, appears very evident from the fact that a person after conversion, does not fulfill the characteristics of one who has been born of the Spirit. He is not as the wind, unseen in his movements; [John iii, 8:] nor is it impossible for him to sin: [1 John iii, 9; v, 18:] he has only received that Spirit into his heart which will, if he cherishes it, quicken his mortal body at the last day.” Rom. viii, 11.

We do not deem it necessary to prolong our remarks, as this portion of the subject, the birth of the Spirit, is more fully discussed in REVIEW, No. 25, Vol. VII, above referred to, in the conclusion of the article, “Ye must be born again.”

Communication from Bro. Bates.

By Joseph Bates

BRO. SMITH:—After closing my labors at El Dorado, Fond du Lac Co., Wis., March 4th, I took a stage route to Baraboo. After a cold and uncomfortable ride of 80 miles we were landed in Portage City. While waiting here over night for the regular line of stages to proceed on to B., a way was opened to explain the Third Angel's Message. Two families, formerly residents in the State of New York, became much interested, and took books to investigate, and pressed me to call again if I came that way. One of the friends (Mr. Foster) inquired of a person standing by, if he did not wish to furnish himself with an Advent Hymn Book, and other publications on that subject. He replied that he should like to have some for his children, but he did not believe in religion himself. He took about ten shillings' worth. I have

since thought if believing parents would do as this man, how fast the present truth would circulate.

March 8th and 9th, held meetings at Bro. C. W. Stanley's, in Delona, ten miles north from Baraboo. This meeting closed with a sweet refreshing from the presence of the Lord. The brethren present manifested a strong desire for a deeper work of consecration in this last work for the world.

March 11th, came to Westport, about ten miles north of Madison. Here we held meetings in the school-house six successive evenings, and also on the Sabbath. Brn. Stewart and Phelps were with us the most of the time, and preached from Dan. vii, and Rev. xiv. We hope and trust that the brethren in Westport will clearly see that mercy ceases with the Third Angel's Message, and no longer be troubled about the Age to Come theory. A considerable number that were not interested in the Sabbath question were in attendance during our series of meetings, and gave good attention to the word.

March 17th, Bro. Stewart took me on, in his carriage, as far as Madison. This is the Capital of the State of Wisconsin. We held two meetings here on the evenings of the 17th and 18th, the last one by invitation at the house of two families recently from Northampton, Mass., believers in the second appearing of the Lord. They with some others in the city are seeking to understand the present truth. We trust they will not seek in vain.

From Madison we came to Fulton and Albion. From thence to Koskonong, Jefferson Co. We met with the church here on the Sabbath, and continued our labors with them in their vicinity, from the 20th to the 25th, March. From thence to Janesville and Beloit, which last mentioned place we left the 28th, and came here to labor for the present. On the 30th inst. we commenced a course of lectures here to continue several days.

In taking our leave of Wisconsin for the present, we wish to acknowledge our indebtedness to the Lord for opening the way before us, and leading us in the way of warm-hearted brethren and sisters who have so kindly welcomed us to their dwellings, to share in their hospitalities, during our Winter tour, to spread before them the last message of mercy, and also added to our means in aiding us on our way, and when public conveyance failed, have taken their own to carry us forward. So far as we have been in the way of duty, these dear brethren and sisters, if they continue faithful, will in no wise lose their reward. Matt. xxv, 35, 37, 40. While with much pleasure we speak of these kind acts of our dear brethren, we were sorry to learn that the theory of an Age to Come is cherished in their midst. Our prayer is, Lord continue to let the light shine through searching, writing and teaching on the present truth, until all false theories are dispelled from among the remnant. My P. O. address for the present is Green Vale, Jo Daviess Co., Ill. JOSEPH BATES.

THE REVIEW AND HERALD.

By Editor

BATTLE CREEK, MICH., APRIL 10, 1856.

"YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN."

By E. S. Maltby

Bro. Smith:—In reading an article in the Review on the New Birth, I feel inclined to ask an explanation on a few passages of scripture.

Will some one harmonize the following scriptures with the piece headed, "Ye must be born again," in No. 24, Vol. VII: 1 John iii, 1, 2, 9. "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God. Beloved, now are we the sons of God."

"Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin." Will the objector say that we do sin in this world? Please read on. "In this are the children of God manifest and the children of the Devil." Are they manifest in this life?

Chap. iv, 7. "Every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God."

Chap. v, 1. "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God."

Rom. viii, 16. "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God."

Gal. iii, 26. "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus."

Gal. iv, 6, 7. "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son."

Can we be called sons before we are born? Can we not love God and believe on his Son before the resurrection? We are to be sanctified through the truth. May the Lord deliver us from the wisdom of man.

E. S. MALTBY.

Hartford Co., Ct.

Business.

By Editor

J. Robinson:—What State? There are but two Schuyler Counties in the United States, and these are in the States of Illinois and Missouri, but there is no town by the name of Beaver Dam in either of those counties. Is not the address. Beaver Dams, Chemung Co. N. Y.?

P. Collins:—All right on book.

A. S. Hutchins:—Received.

John Dorcas:—We cannot command the time necessary for a definite reply to your communication, but we send you a couple of pamphlets on the subject, to which we invite your careful attention.

E. M. Jackman:—Your remittance will reach to No. 18, Vol. ix.

Receipts.

A H Lewis, P Barrows, E O Meacham, D Richmond, S Brigham, P Barrows, A Woodruff, C Rice, S Eastman, J Barrows, (for D Litchfield,) J M Avery, I D Perry, A Avery, Emily Day, A Shepard, S B McLaughlin, A A Marks, B Marks, A Chase, (for A Perry,) S E Pettibone, Wm Bryant, T Bryant, Jr., W Grant, Mrs E Parker, M C Trembly, S B Warren, E Stephenson, Jno Martin, S D Hall, J P Munsell, R M Nevins, L H Priest, L Priest, N A Whitford, L Paine, J Whitenack, Jno Palmiter, J S Wager, S Foster, J Cramer, D F Moore, Sr McClellan, H P Gould, A E Gridley, E Scoville, J Lunger, S C Perry, J E Titus, L C Paine, S H Brown, B Ingalls, Jane White, E S Maltby, F F Lamoreaux, Lydia E Knight, A Abbey, Wm Steese, Mrs H Smiley, A M Babcock, D R Palmer, J K Belnap, B E Place, S Allen, D C Elmer, E Richmond, N L Brooks, C E Hutchinson, J Breed, Dea J White, S Dunten, S W., C Northrup, L Griswold, each $1.

E Payne, C S Glover, Mrs J Edmonston, each $2. I Abbey $3. E M Jackman $1,64. S A Bragg, A Fenner, ($0,50 for H Inman,) A G Phelps, each $1,50. W Morse, P B Barrows, a Friend in Ct., each $0,50.

ON VOL. VII.—Church in Dartmouth, Mass., $8. Wm Steese, R H Peck, H Bowers, N L Brooks, S A Bragg, H Tyler, O Rider, each $1. D R Palmer $4. S D Hall $1,64. J P Munsell (for Mrs L Avery) $0,25.

TO SEND REVIEW TO THE POOR.—J P Kellogg, S W Rhodes, each $3. S Gove, a Friend of Truth, each $1. A Woodruff $0,50.