“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” Eph. iv, 11—14.
“And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” Cor. xii, 28.
When the design of the gifts is clearly seen, then the importance of this subject will be understood. They were given for the perfecting of the church of Christ. When the apostolic church was pure and holy, having just learned the gospel from the Great Head of the church, and having been baptized with the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost, the gifts of the Spirit were given to them, for their edification and profit. And we have no Scripture evidence that they were designed for a limited portion of the gospel age, to be taken away from the church in a few years; but the proof is abundant that they were designed to exist in the church as long as the saints in their mortal state needed the teaching of the Bible and the Holy Spirit.
It is universally admitted that a portion of the gifts exist in the church at this day, such as “the word of wisdom,” and “the word of knowledge,” and no one denies that “pastors” and “teachers” were to be in the church until its perfection. Then if a portion of the gifts were to remain in the church, why not all of them remain? Why should the professed church of Christ pick out from that catalogue of gifts, so freely bestowed by the Great Head of the church, those that suit them best, and trample the others in the dust? It is sometimes asserted, by those who oppose the operations of the Spirit of God, that the gifts were designed for the apostles alone; but if this is true, then the church of Christ has been destitute of “the word of wisdom,” “word of knowledge,” and the gift of “faith” for about 1800 years, and those who have professed to be “teachers” and “pastors” have assumed a calling which ceased to exist at the death of the apostles. It is therefore very evident that all the gifts run parallel with each other, none of them ending before the rest, and that they were to extend quite through the gospel age.
The gifts were given for “the perfecting of the saints,” and as the church is in an imperfect state they are all needed. They were to be employed for this purpose “till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” The church has never yet reached this state of unity, knowledge, fulness and perfection; therefore the gifts should not be dismissed, until the object for which they were given is gained. It is admitted that they were necessary for the infant church in the days of the apostles, in confirming the covenant with “signs and wonders,” and “gifts of the Holy Ghost.” But it be remembered that Paul’s instructions, relative to the gifts, were given full twenty-five years after the week of confirmation, and the beloved John had his visions in the isle Patmos twenty-six years later still; therefore, none should assert that the gifts of the Spirit were given merely to confirm the covenant. They were then necessary for that object; but they are tenfold more necessary now to bring together the scattered members of the body of Christ, and to perfect the church to stand in the great day of the Lord, and to be changed to immortality when Christ comes in his own, and his Father’s glory. If the apostolic church needed the gifts to enable them to stand in their peculiar trials, how much more are they needed in the perils of the last days, to prepare the church to stand firm in the time of trouble “SUCH AS NEVER WAS.”
But why have the gifts of the Spirit been no more manifest in the church? We think the principal reasons are, first, because the church has been too blind to understand them, being almost destitute of the Spirit, and too proud to acknowledge them before the world, therefore has rejected those gifts, in which the Spirit of God is most manifested; and second, because many of those who have shared these gifts have made such poor use of them. Says St. Paul, “the natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God; for they are FOOLISHNESS UNTO HIM; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” Cor. ii, 14. There was a striking example of the truth of this text on the day of pentecost, when the Holy Ghost was poured out upon the disciples. The multitude were amazed, some “mocking, said, These men are full of new wine.” But Peter shewed to them that those manifestations were a fulfillment of Prophecy, and the work of God.—Whenever the church has become worldly, proud, destitute of the Spirit and blind, they have not been able to discern the things of the Spirit, and have looked upon the operations of the Holy Spirit with suspicion. And in many cases the cry of “mesmerism” and “fanaticism” has been raised. The most heaven-daring and fatal example of this, was in calling the gracious work of the Spirit in the Midnight Cry, in 1844, mesmerism and fanaticism. Said J. V. Himes at the Albany Conference, in 1845, “The seventh month movement produced mesmerism seven feet deep.”
But it is a lamentable fact that a great portion of those who have had any of the gifts of the Spirit of God bestowed upon them, have soon become exalted, and have fallen. Such is the weakness of human nature that God has to bring his people through the furnace of affliction in order to save them. He often withholds his rich blessings from his people, lest they make a wrong use of them and perish. It was necessary that the Apostle Paul should have a “thorn in the flesh,” lest “through the abundance of the revelations” he “should be exalted.” It has too often been the case that when the Lord has bestowed any great spiritual blessing, or gift upon any of his humble children, that the church, instead of carefully watching over them to see that they still kept humble, has heaped upon them compliments and flatteries, which in most cases has exalted and ruined the brightest lights set in the church.
If the Apostle had not had such an abundance of “visions and revelations of the Lord,” he would not have needed a “thorn in the flesh.” This proves that those on whom Heaven bestows the greatest blessings are in most danger of being “exalted,” and of falling, therefore, they need to be exhorted to be humble, and watched over carefully. But how often have such been looked upon as almost infallible, and they themselves have been too apt to drink in the extremely dangerous idea that all their impressions were the direct promptings of the Spirit of the Lord. And how often has been the case that such have become self-righteous, puffed up, denunciatory, and finally gross fanatics, and the most efficient agents of the Devil to scatter wild fire, and to divide the flock of God. “Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Prov. xvi, 18.
We think it is a fact that many of the greatest fanatics in the land, have once shared largely in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but by not having good instruction, they have fallen through pride. This has had a tendency to cause the sceptical and prudent to doubt all the operations of the Spirit of God. And in this last hour of Satan’s triumph, when he calls to his aid mesmerism, mysterious knockings, &c. to deceive the people, if God manifests his power, and employs any of the gifts of the Spirit we may expect that a multitude of voices will be raised pronouncing it fanaticism, or anything save the work of the Spirit. But shall we sink in this mire of unbelief, and reject, or prize lightly the gifts of God’s Spirit because some have made a bad use of them? God forbid.70
Men in their blindness and folly have dishonored every precious truth in the Bible, yet we shall not do well to think less of the Scriptures, or any portion of them, because many have made a bad use of them.—Rather let the servants of the Lord preach the whole truth as revealed in the Word.
The gifts of the Spirit should all have their proper places. The Bible is an everlasting rock. It is our rule of faith and practice. In it the man of God is “thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” If every member of the church of Christ was holy, harmless, and separate from sinners, and searched the Holy Scriptures diligently and with much prayer for duty, with the aid of the Holy Spirit, we think, they would be able to learn their whole duty in “all good works.” Thus “the man of God may be perfect.” But as the reverse exists, and ever has existed, God in much mercy has pitied the weakness of his people, and has set the gifts in the gospel church to correct our errors, and to lead us to his Living Word. Paul says that they are for the “perfecting of the saints,” “till we all come in the unity of the faith.”—The extreme necessity of the church in its imperfect state is God’s opportunity to manifest the gifts of the Spirit.
Every Christian is therefore in duty bound to take the Bible as a perfect rule of faith and duty. He should pray fervently to be aided by the Holy Spirit in searching the Scriptures for the whole truth, and for his whole duty. He is not at liberty to turn from them to learn his duty through any of the gifts. We say that the very moment he does, he places the gifts in a wrong place, and takes an extremely dangerous position. The Word should be in front, and the eye of the church should be placed upon it, as the rule to walk by, and the fountain of wisdom, from which to learn duty in “all good works.” But if a portion of the church err from the truths of the Bible, and become weak, and sickly, and the flock become scattered, so that it seems necessary for God to employ the gifts of the Spirit to correct, revive and heal the erring, we should let him work. Yea more, we should pray for him to work and plead earnestly that he would work by the Spirit’s power, and bring the scattered sheep to his fold. Praise the Lord, he will work. Amen.
When the seventy returned, and told Jesus that the devils were subject unto them through his name, he said to them, “Rejoice not that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” See Luke x, 17—20. Jesus saw their danger, and gave them this caution to save them from exaltation. O, what an instructive lesson is contained in these few words from our Lord. By this we may learn that to possess the gifts of the gospel church is not so much a matter of rejoicing, but rather a cause of humiliation before God, and fear and trembling, lest a wrong use be made of them. But to have our names written in heaven, to know that God owns us as his, is a sufficient cause for any child of God to rejoice.
We say then, that one great reason why the gifts of the Spirit are no more manifest among us, is because the church is not humble enough to bear them. Will the Lord trust those whose affections are still attached to this world, and who have a large share of pride left, with the gifts of the Spirit? If he should it would be very likely to build them up in their errors, and ruin them. This he will not do. The latter ruin is coming, and God is waiting to be gracious. The refreshing will come from the presence of the Lord, and it should be our concern to be ready for it, so as to share it largely.
“And it shall come to pass in the LAST DAYS, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. And on my servants, and on my hand-maidens, I will pour out in those days of my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
“And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come.” Acts ii, 19—20.
There are many things of importance to us in this prophecy quoted from Joel ii, 28—32; some of them we will notice. First, its fulfillment was to be in the last days. There can be no days later than the last, therefore the last days certainly extend to the Second Advent, and we should expect the manifestations of the Spirit mentioned in this prophecy, until that event. We admit that a portion of the prophecy was partially fulfilled in the out-pouring of the Spirit on the day of pentecost; but it is not possible to show that it was all then fulfilled, therefore it is perfectly plain that the entire prophecy has a complete fulfillment in the “LAST DAYS.”
Second, the signs in the sun and moon, the “wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath,” were not seen on the day of pentecost. No one believes that they were.—But it has been the unanimous and settled faith of those who have been looking for the Lord, that they were not seen until more than 1700 years after the day of pentecost. Third, there is no evidence that any of the disciples had visions on the day of pentecost, and it is not at all likely that any of them were asleep, dreaming dreams on that very exciting occasion. They were exercised only with the gift of tongues. Fourth, it will be seen by referring to Joel that this prophecy refers especially to the “remnant.” “And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord [when the saints cry day and night, Luke xviii, 7] shall be delivered [delivered out of the time of trouble, not converted] for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the REMNANT whom the Lord shall call.” Chap. ii, 32.
Finally we see that the out-pouring of the Spirit, the gift of prophecy and dreams and visions of the Lord, are to be sufficiently remarkable to constitute signs of the Second Advent, and that they are classed with the signs in the sun and moon; with “wonders in the heavens and in the earth.” To the sceptic and worldly-wise this sentiment will probably seem heretical; but when compared with Joel ii, 28—32; Acts ii, 14—22, it will be seen to be truth. Heaven and earth will pass away, but God’s word will stand.
As God has ever distributed his spiritual blessings according to the necessities of his people, it is rational and right to conclude that the abundant manifestations of the Holy Spirit, mentioned by the Prophet Joel, and the Apostle Peter were designed for the “remnant,” just before they enter the “time of trouble such as never was,” the “great and terrible day of the Lord.” Before the world was drowned with the flood, God interposed, and Noah was instructed to prepare the Ark.—The Divine power moved upon the beasts, cattle, fowls, and creeping things, and they two by two, moved along into the Ark with Noah and his family, “and the Lord shut them in.” Just before fire and brimstone was rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah, two angels were sent to hasten Lot in his escape. God shewed signs and wonders to his people in Egypt, through Moses and Aaron. He also parted the Red sea before them. When the powers of earth and hell were arrayed against Christ and his apostles, the covenant was confirmed by signs and wonders and mighty deeds of the Holy Ghost. And can we believe that the saints are to pass the perils of the last days, the time of trouble SUCH AS NEVER WAS, unaided by the power of the Spirit? Certainly we cannot. He, whose ways are equal, and who knows our wants, will pour out of his Spirit according to the Prophet Joel, and will impart strength to the meek, to enable them to “stand in the battle in the day of the Lord.” Those who “seek meekness” and “righteousness” will be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger.
DREAMS.
Dreams may come in three ways. First, "through the multitude of business." See Eccl. v, 3. Second, those who are in darkness, tempted and deceived by the enemy, may have dreams through his influence. See Deut. xiii, 1—5; Jer. xxiii, 25—28; xxvii, 9; xxix, 8; Zech. x, 2; Jude 8. And third, God has always taught, and still teaches his people more or less by dreams, which come through the agency of angels and the Holy Spirit.
God hath said, "If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream." Num. xii, 6. Said Jacob, "The angel of the Lord spake unto me in a dream." Gen. xxxi, 2. "And God came to Laban, the Syrian, in a dream by night." Gen. xxxi, 24. Read the dreams of Joseph, [Gen. xxxvii, 5—9,] and then the interesting story of their fulfillment in Egypt. The great important image of the second chapter of Daniel was given in a dream, also the four beasts, &c. of the seventh chapter. And when Herod sought to destroy the infant Saviour, Joseph was warned in a dream to flee into Egypt. Matt. ii, 13. This testimony is sufficient proof that God sometimes teaches his servants in dreams. The Prophet Joel has also declared that there should be dreams by the Spirit in the last days. We should expect them. We shall be unwise to reject any means that the Spirit may employ to enlighten us. Those who are ashamed to talk of the Lord giving dreams, may be ashamed of the Bible. We find dreams in almost every part of it.71
But we should be careful to place them where they belong, and make a good use of them. Like the gifts of the Spirit, they may prove the overthrow of some. It is said of dreams, [Ecclesiasticus xxxiv, 6, 7,] "If they be not sent from the Most High, in the time of thy visitation, set not thine heart upon them. For dreams have deceived many, and they have failed that put their trust in them." "The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord." Jer. xxiii, 28. God's word is an everlasting rock. On that we can stand with confidence at all times. Though the Lord gives dreams, designed generally for the individuals who have them, to comfort, correct, or to instruct in extreme trials or dangers, yet to suppose that he designs to guide in general duties by dreams, is unscriptural, and very dangerous. The Word and Spirit are given to guide us. If we look to be guided by dreams we shall be likely to fall into the deceptions of Satan. We say that we expect the Lord will give dreams; but the necessity of his children will be his opportunity to thus teach them, as in all past time.
TIME TO COMMENCE THE HOLY SABBATH.
By Joseph Bates
Much has been said in relation to the time of the commencement of the Sabbath. Some say it should commence at sunset, [Mark i, 32,] while others contend that it should not commence until midnight. And still there are some who say the morning is the proper time. Let us leave all these, and see if we cannot find the true time from the Bible. "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light day, and the darkness he called night: and the evening and the morning were the first day."—Gen. i, 3—5. "And the evening and the morning were the second day." See verse 8. So also with the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth days, in which God was creating the world. These are the only Bible names ever given for the six working days in the week. The seventh day is the Sabbath.
It is very evident that when God commenced the first week of the world, every day began with the evening. Now unless it can be proved that God has given directions since that time to alter this rule, the commencing of the day must still be from the evening. It may be argued, that although we have not a thus saith the Lord for it, yet the time has been altered; for we commence our days at midnight.—Very true; but it is without foundation in the word of God, and evidently the work of Satan, purposely to prevent the true time being known for the commencing the Holy Sabbath.
It is a well known fact with astronomers, that not one moment of time has been lost or gained since this earth began to move around the sun; for her motion is perpetual. It is, therefore, clear that there has been no change since the seventh day from the creation.
God further instructs his people, thus: "From EVEN unto EVEN shall ye celebrate your Sabbath."—Lev. xxiii, 32.
Jesus shows at what hour of the day the even comes, by the parable of the laborers, viz. A man went out early in the morning [six A. M.] to hire laborers into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour [nine A. M.] Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. [Noon and three o'clock P. M.] And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others, &c. [Five P. M.] So when EVEN was come, the lord of the vineyard directed the laborers to be paid, by giving every man a penny. Those that had labored all of the day murmured because they had received no more than those who had labored but one hour. See Matt. xx, 1—12. Here is clear evidence that the EVEN was the close of the day, and the beginning of the next; and that point of time was 6 P. M. It is further clear, that the time from beginning to end, was just twelve hours; for those that came at the eleventh hour wrought but one hour; which made just twelve. We learn also that the day was divided into four equal parts, just as it is seen on the face of a clock, viz. 6, 9, 12, 3, from thence to 6 the first starting place. The same also of the twelve-hour night, both making a twenty-four-hour day. They are also called watches. 1st, 2d, 3d, and 4th watches of the day; 1st, 2d, 3d, and 4th watches of the night.—Eight watches, of three hours each, make just a whole day of twenty-four hours. Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day," &c. John xi, 9. Add to this the twelve hours of night, and the twenty-four-hour day is complete.
It is clear, therefore, from Scripture testimony that every day commences at 6 o'clock, and not at sunset, nor at midnight, as many can come, nor yet at sunrise, as some others believe. Therefore the Sabbath commences at 6 P. M. on what is called Friday. Every hour and minute of it is sanctified time, "holy to the Lord," and holy to those who keep it.
GEOGRAPHICALLY.—At the commencement of the sacred year, the sun rises at 6 A. M. and sets at 6 P. M. on the equator, or midway between the poles. There is not an inhabitant on any part of this globe that can regulate the time for the day by the sun, without admitting the polar distance into his calculation; which is ninety degrees from the equator. This shows that the only way we can calculate time, is by calculating from the equator of the earth, just as though we were placed there ourselves, making our observations.
Those who live the farthest north, have no sun for many weeks, while the sun is in her extreme south declension; say from Nov. 25 to Jan. 15. While, at the same time, those who are in the same latitude south have the sun all the time. Neither of these would keep the Sabbath right by the setting of the sun. While those on the equator could do it at the beginning of the year; because the sun would set at 6 P. M. Hence we perceive that all the inhabitants on either side of the centre, or equator, would have to begin their days at the same time. It is therefore evident and clear, from even this slight view of the geographical lines north and south of the equator, that the ending of no one day of the week, can be regulated by the setting of the sun. But every day must and does end, in perfect harmony with the above rule, which is in perfect harmony with the Scripture testimony already adduced, at 6 o'clock P. M.
LONGITUDINALLY.—Here we come into an argument that is said to be unanswerable, by those who oppose the keeping of the Sabbath of the Lord our God. They say we cannot tell where to commence or end the Sabbath-day, because those living fifteen degrees, or nine hundred miles east of us, must necessarily commence the day one hour earlier. While those living fifteen degrees west of us, would have to commence the day one hour later; and so on to the farthest extremes, east and west, so that holy time could not be kept in one twenty-four-hour day.
One thing is certain and established beyond all controversy, viz. that our blessed Lord, who is "Lord also of the Sabbath," did keep the Sabbath right. [John xv, 10; Luke iv, 16.] He kept it right, and in the right time, [Matt. xx, 1—12,] and he kept it in Jerusalem. Thank the Lord for one right spot on the globe where the seventh-day Sabbath can be kept in the right time, and day of twenty-four hours, as God would have it kept.
God also commanded his people to keep the same Sabbath in the wilderness of Arabia. See Ex. xvi, 28—30. This was many miles east of Old Jerusalem.
The proof is clear also that Paul, the great Apostle to the Gentiles, did keep seventy-eight Sabbaths in succession among the Gentiles in Corinth; yes, and this according to history was twenty-three years after all the ordinances under the law of Moses were nailed to the cross.—See Acts xviii, 1, 4, 11. This, be it understood, is more than fifteen degrees, or nine hundred miles west from Jerusalem. He also kept the Sabbath by the water-side in Philippi, the chief city of Macedonia. See Acts xvi, 12, 13. This by a view of the map of that country, will be seen to be still farther west.
Now, with these facts before us, that the seventh-day-Sabbath was strictly observed, 1. by literal Israel, 2. by Jesus, and 3. by the apostle Paul, in three different places, east and west of each other more than fifteen degrees, or nine hundred miles apart, making a difference in time of more than one hour, (and their Scripture rule was to commence the day at 6 P. M.) we may see that the Sabbath can be strictly observed, by the same rule, in any other place, even five, ten, fifteen, or twenty thousand miles, east and west of each other. We see by the above testimony that Jesus, in Jerusalem, must keep the Sabbath from 6 P. M. to 6 P. M. He must therefore have commenced to keep it some minutes after the time that God directed it to be kept in Arabia, and Paul could not commence the keeping of the Sabbath in Corinth or Philippi, until more than one hour later than it commenced in Jerusalem: because he was more than fifteen degrees to the west of Jerusalem.
Those who oppose the keeping of the Sabbath, argue that if any people commence the Sabbath west of us after the twenty-four-hour day is past with us, then their time cannot be right, neither can it be sanctified8to God; because it would make the sanctified day more than twenty-four hours long. This idea, at first, looks rather formidable; but if it be once admitted, then all calculation with respect to the beginning of any day in the week, or year, is destroyed at once. Such a view would never be presented by men of common sense, if it were not to get clear of keeping God's Holy Sabbath.
God made this globe for man to inhabit, and he scattered the inhabitants abroad upon the face of the whole earth. See Gen. xi, 8. He is the only law-giver. And he gave man one law, and requires every individual to keep it inviolate under the most severe penalties. This law positively embraces the keeping of the seventh-day Sabbath: not for a little while, but for a perpetual covenant, "made for man" as long as he is to be known, both in the mortal and immortal state. See Ex. xx, 8—11; xxxi, 12—18; Luke xxiii, 54—56. For the immortal state, see Isa. lxvi, 22, 23.
Now as God hath done all this, and also divided the sun, or imparted it, unto all the nations under the whole heaven, see Deut. iv, 19, and given it to rule the day, and also for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years, and to rule the day, see Gen. i, 14, 16, shall we not as men, obey and receive his divine instruction in this respect also, and commence every day in the week, and especially the Sabbath, in its exact TIME, as it COMES to us on the part of the earth where we are located? It must be clear to the reader that Paul kept the Sabbath with the Gentiles in Corinth, which was more than fifteen degrees, or nine hundred miles, west of Jerusalem, one hour, at least, later than it was kept at Jerusalem.
It may be argued that this would make the day twenty-five hours long. We answer, Paul did not begin the Sabbath day until it came to Corinth. That time must be one hour after it began at Jerusalem.
FOR EXAMPLE.—Take a ball, or an orange, to represent the globe, and stick twenty-four pins in it at equal distances around the middle of the orange. Then if you please, suppose that each pin were just twenty four nations, and you will readily see they are fifteen degrees in distance, or one hour in time, west and east of each other. Now let this ball turn over eastward towards the sun, as our globe does, and it will readily appear that the sun will rise one hour earlier to the nation that is east of his neighbor; and consequently set one hour later to the neighbor west. This is longitudinal distance, because it is east and west.
Now with this perfect Astronomical rule, in perfect harmony with the Scripture rule, Americans, living ninety degrees in distance, or six hours in time, west of Jerusalem, can keep the Sabbath as divinely strict in accordance with the great regulator, the rising sun, as they could were they in Jerusalem, where Jesus kept it. And so could another nation living still ninety degrees west of America. But we, and they west of us, must patiently wait until the day comes to the part of the globe on which each are located. And the day will begin and end precisely at the same time by the clock in every place. It is utterly impossible for any one in these named places, to begin the day until the time comes to commence that day, and that must be at 6 o'clock P. M.
Boston, Mass., March 23, 1851. JOSEPH BATES.
CHARLESTON, MARCH 30, 1851
By Esther Maria Barrows
[Letter from Sister E. M. Barrows.]
CHARLESTON, MARCH 30, 1851
Beloved Brother and Sister White:—I have felt for a few days past like writing to you, for the purpose of contributing a mite for the spread of the truth; have thus far neglected it, feeling my insufficiency and unworthiness to do so. You will please excuse me for the liberty I take. Never did I feel more the necessity of having my whole soul in this great and glorious truth than at the present. It seems to me that it is high time for all the children of the Lord to be awake, and alive to the cause, and to be rallying around the standard of the Lord. I am truly thankful to God that there are a few devoted, self-sacrificing brethren and sisters, who do not count even their own lives dear unto themselves, if they can be the means, in the hands of the Lord, of searching out a few precious "jewels." Oh, praise the Lord that the scattering time is past, and that God's people, that have been driven and torn by the wicked shepherds, are now being searched out. Bro. Andrews and Churchill were here with us a week ago last Friday and Sabbath. We had a sweet, refreshing season, while hearing the rich truths from the word of the Lord, which were presented in such a clear manner by Bro. Andrews, that it seemed that every honest soul must see; and I do believe that it will not be in vain that they came up hither. My dear parents and eldest sister were with us, strong in the truth; in all we were not a little comforted.
But to look around and see the darkness that has covered the earth, and gross darkness the people, is painful. And still many are saying that they are rich, and have need of nothing; and know not that they are "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." Would to God that they would buy the truth, that they might be rich. There is no pleasure, there is no real enjoyment in any thing, but in keeping the commandments of the Lord. "More to be desired are they than gold; yea, than much fine gold. Sweeter also than honey, and the honey-comb." Oh, I do want to be wholly the Lord's, and to stand in that army before whom he will utter his voice, in the great day of the Lord. I sometimes feel so strong in the Lord, and in his truth, that it seems that nothing can separate me from his love and his truth. I have no fears as to the truth at any time, but I fear I shall not be counted worthy to stand. But I do want to go through. I feel that I must go through. And the Lord being my helper, I shall go through. Yes praise his name, the way is possible.
In hope, Esther Maria Barrows.
Help for the Poor in Ohio
By Hiram S. Case
Bro. H. S. Case writes from Milan, Ohio, April 3—"I have just seen some of the Lord's poor, who want to read the publications on the present truth, but have not the means to get them. They would starve for spiritual food if it was not for those who love their neighbor as themselves.
"I thank God for that religion that will open men's hearts to the wants of the cause of Christ. The field is open wide in Ohio, and the laborers few. I have been doing what I could to spread the truth, but have not one of the works on present truth left to help those who are searching for truth. As you have said, we cannot stay long enough in any place to give the truth on all points. I want to say to all that they see to it that they do their duty, and do it in season. A few short months, and all is over.
"I shall soon be in Cleaveland, Akron, and Cincinnati. Bro. J. B. Sweet is with me. He is poor in this world's goods. I hope the stewards of the Lord will remember him. His address is Milan, Ohio."
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.
And the Lord spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice.
And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone. [Deut. iv, 12, 13.
1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath-day, and hallowed it.
5. Honor thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
6. Thou shalt not kill.
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8. Thou shalt not steal.
9. Thou shalt not hear false witness against thy neighbor.
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor's. [Ex. xx, 3—17.
Commandment Cards for Children
By Editor
We have the commandments printed upon cards, the form of the above. They are designed principally for children. Price 75 cents a hundred. The new Post Office law will be favorable in circulating them.
Request for Counsel and Prayers
By Editor
We would humbly ask the counsel of the brethren abroad relative to our present work. In this time of trial we need your prayers.
Correction of an Attribution
By Editor
Bro. Roswell F. Cottrell informs us that we made a mistake in ascribing to him the extract in No. 6, beginning "I am old." &c. He wrote it for his father, John Cottrell, who is in his 77th year, and very infirm.
Correction of Chart Credit
By Editor
The $32, credited to J. C. Bowles, of Jackson, Mich., for the Chart in No. 7, should have been credited to the Church.
Pamphlets and Commandment Cards Sent
By Editor
We sent a box of the last two pamphlets, and a few commandment cards, to Elias Goodwin, Oswego, N. Y., the 16th.
Letters Received Since April 7
By Editor
LETTERS RECEIVED SINCE APRIL 7.—Otis Nichols, 2; C. S. Hurlburt; R. S. Johnson; J. Sellers; David Arnold; S. W. Rhodes, 3; J. G. Foy; Joseph Bates; H. S. Case; A. E. Randall.
Receipts
RECEIPTS.—S. Strong, $8; H. Cushman, $5; P. D. Lawrence, L. Freetoo, J. C. Day, L. H. Priest, 2d, and J. Wager, $1 each; H. M. Barrows, $3; E. Foster, J. B. Bishop, J. Ward, H. Ricker, and R. R. York, 50 cents each; H. Childs, $2; Geo. Morse, $1.