Earlier text: A Dark PictureREVELATION XVIII—XXI.
By James White
We will briefly examine these chapters, and notice the order of events set forth in them. Chapter xviii opens with the announcement that Babylon is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, the hold of foul spirits, and the cage of every unclean and hateful bird. We believe this is being fulfilled in this age of moral darkness and spiritual deception, and that very soon the call will go forth in great power, "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." Thus Babylon's plagues (described in Chap. xvi,) are shown to be in the future. The remaining portion of Chap. xviii, is descriptive of the results produced by the pouring out of the plagues. Chapter xix, introduces the second coming of Christ. Verse 7 mentions the marriage of the Lamb, which takes place prior to his coming; for when he comes for his waiting people, it is on his return from the wedding. Luke xii, 36. The marriage of the Lamb is the reception of the throne of David, or the throne of the fifth kingdom. Dan. vii, 13, 14. Therefore when Christ comes, "he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords." Next is mentioned the great slaughter and the supper of the great God. The beast, the kings of the earth, and the false prophet, are destroyed. Certainly there could be but a remnant left. What becomes of these? "And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth; and all the fowls were filled with their flesh." Then the chapter closes with the destruction of all wicked men at the second coming of Jesus Christ. Chapter xx brings to view the two resurrections, with 1000 years between them, and the final destruction of all the resurrected wicked by the second death at the close of the 1000 years. What next? Answer:— Chapter xxi opens with the very next things in order, which are a new heaven and a new earth, which appear after the 1000 years. "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea." Some have supposed that there would be no sea in the new earth, and refer to Rev. xxi, 1, as proof. They also conclude that Christ's reign from sea to sea, must be on the old earth during the 1000 years. But Whiting's translation of this text gives, we think, the correct idea: "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and the sea was no more." The first heaven, earth and sea pass away together. And when the new heaven and earth appear, why may not a new sea also appear? Then may be fulfilled Ps. lxxii, 8. "He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth." This is on the entire new earth, when none but immortal saints inherit it. After spreading out before us the new earth, the prophecy introduces "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. "And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away." Verses 2-4. What is this city? One thing is certain, it is in the immortal state, on the new earth, where there is neither death, sorrow, tears, crying nor pain. Another thing is also certain, that if this city be the church, as some suppose, then the saints must go up to God into heaven, in order to come "down from God out of heaven." This remark is made for the benefit of our Age-to-Come friends, who assert that this city is the church, yet deny the plain and important truth that the saints go up to God into heaven at Christ's second coming. Do tell us, friends, how the saints can come down from God out of heaven, if they never go up there. Do you teach that the Jerusalem spoken of by Paul, [Gal. iv, 26.] "which is above," and the "mother of us all," is not in heaven? That it is above only in rank? You do. Then when the Holy City comes down from God out of heaven, is it only coming down in rank?!! Is the church of Jesus Christ to be abased in the immortal state?!! Impossible!! We object to making the Holy City a figure of the church for the following reasons:— 1. The description and definite dimensions of the Holy City cannot with the least degree of propriety be applied to the church, while they well apply to a literal structure, to be located upon the new earth, called the Holy City, New Jerusalem. Read the following description of the Holy City, as applying to the church; and as you read, mark well the senseless absurdities this view makes of plainly revealed literal facts. "And there came unto me one of the seven angels, which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. "And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, [the church,] descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God; and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper-stone, clear as crystal; and [the church] had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. "On the east [side of the church] three gates; on the north, three gates; on the south, three gates; and on the west, three gates. "And the wall of the city [the church] had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. "And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, [the church,] and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. "And the city [the church] lieth four square, and the length [of the church] is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city, [the church,] with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length, and the breadth, and the height of it, [of the church,] are equal. "And he measured the wall thereof, [of the church,] an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. "And the building of the wall of it [the church] was of jasper; and the city [the church] was pure gold, like unto clear glass. "And the foundations of the wall of the city, [the church,] were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. "And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl; and the street of the city [the church] was pure gold, as it were, transparent glass." Rev. xxi, 9-21. We now inquire, What man in his sober senses can read these minute descriptions of the Holy City, and believe them to be figures representing the redeemed of the Lord? Those who listen to a gospel, more of mist and moon-shine, than of eternal realities, may regard them as figures, though it be beyond their power to apply them; but we will not charge the God of the Bible with representing the redeemed saints by descriptions and measurement which can in no wise represent them. Should any man undertake to describe a vast assembly by the dimensions and minute descriptions of a building, he would be regarded at once as a shattered man. 2. Another objection to making the Holy City represent the church, is, that in Chap. xx, 9, it is called "the camp of the saints," the "beloved city." Here the City is one thing and the saints another. 3. Abraham in viewing the promised, eternal inheritance, looked for a literal City. "By faith Abraham when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out not knowing whither he went. "By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he looked for a City which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." Heb. xi, 8-10. "But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a City." Verse 16. "For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come." Chap. xiii, 14. To say that this city of foundations which God hath prepared, which is to come, and is contrasted with cities in this world, is the church, makes the Apostle's testimony unmeaning and of none effect. 4. The saints are represented in the scriptures as children, while the city is called their mother, and the bride of Christ. "For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all." Gal. iv, 25, 26. "For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; the God of the whole earth shall he be called." Isa. liv, 5. The apostle Paul, by inspiration of God, applies the prophecy of Isaiah referred to above, to the New Jerusalem. Gal. iv. He first says, "For it is written, that Abraham had two sons; the one by a bondmaid, the other by a free woman. But he who was of the bond-woman, was born after the flesh; but he of the free-woman was by promise. Which things are an allegory; for those are the two covenants; (testaments, margin;) the one from the mount Sinai which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children." Verses 22-26. An allegory is "a figurative discourse, implying more than is literally expressed." The Apostle has in this chapter applied the figures of the allegory which he introduces. Abraham's two wives represent the two Jerusalems; Agar, the bond-woman, represents Old Jerusalem, or, as Paul says, "is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children," while Sarah, the free-woman, represents the New Jerusalem above, which is free. His two sons represent the natural seed of Abraham, and the children of God. Ishmael, the son of the bond-woman, represents the children of Old Jerusalem, who are in bondage with their mother; while Isaac represents the children of the New Jerusalem, the children of promise. Paul continues: "But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, [in Isa. liv.] Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not; for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise." Verses 26-28. Here Paul applies the prophecy to the New Jerusalem.141 It will be seen that the church is represented as the children, and not the mother, or the bride, in this great family, while the New Jerusalem is called the mother. Christ is the "everlasting Father" of his people. Isa. ix, 6. When the marriage of the Lamb shall be consummated, and Jesus "returns from the wedding," [Luke xii, 36,] to the joy of the waiting ones, and raises from the dead, and changes to immortality, all the children of promise, they will follow their Lord up to the Father's house of many mansions. John xiii, 33-38; xiv, 1-3. Then the whole family of God in earth and heaven, Father, mother and children, will be gathered together in one. 5. The marriage of the Lamb takes place before his second coming and the resurrection of the just, therefore the church cannot be the Lamb's wife. "Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord, when he shall return from the wedding, that, when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching; verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to set down to meat, and will come forth and serve them." Luke xii, 35-37. This return from the wedding represents the second advent of Jesus Christ; therefore the marriage of the Lamb takes place before his coming. Then when he comes and gathers all his redeemed children home to the New Jerusalem, he "will make them to sit down to meat, [marriage supper,] and will come forth and serve them." Hence it is written, "Blessed are they which are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb." Rev. xix, 9. Therefore the children of God are not the bride, but the guests. There are two things, or events, which the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, illustrate, by the marriage covenant. They are, first, the union of the people of God in all ages with their Lord; and second, Christ's reception of the throne of David in the New Jerusalem above. There is a class of scriptures in the Old, as well as the New Testament, designed to set forth the union of God's people with their Lord, in which marriage is introduced as an illustration of that union. This union has existed for nearly 6000 years, and those texts which illustrate it by marriage, do not apply to the marriage of the Lamb at the end, any more than to Louis Napoleon ascending to the throne of France. John iii, 29. "He that hath the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. This my joy therefore is fulfilled." Here John uses the figure of the bridegroom and bride to illustrate the relation of Christ and those who came to his baptism. That Christ is here represented in his relation to his followers by a bridegroom, and his followers by a bride, is true; but that he and they are here called the bridegroom and bride, is not true. No one believes that the event called the marriage of the Lamb, took place more than 1800 years since. It is true that Paul says, [2 Cor. xi, 2.] "I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ." But we would inquire Did the "marriage of the Lamb" take place in Corinth? And could it be said in Paul's day, "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready?" Or did Paul only wish to represent by marriage the union which he had effected through the gospel between Christ and the church at Corinth? Judge ye. It is also true that Paul says, [Eph. v, 23.] "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church." But please turn to Eph. v, and read from verse 22, and it will be seen that Paul's subject is the relation and duty of man and wife to each other. This is illustrated and enforced by the relation of Christ and the church. Those who suppose that Paul is here defining who the Lamb's wife is, are greatly mistaken; for that is not his subject. He commences, "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands." Verse 22. Husbands, love your wives." Verse 25. It is indeed, an excellent subject; but has nothing to do in determining who the bride would be in the great marriage, down in connection with the end. The marriage of the Lamb is one event, to occur at one particular time, and that time is just prior to his second coming; for when he comes, he returns from the wedding. It is Christ's reception of the throne of the fifth kingdom in the New Jerusalem above. The throne of the fifth universal kingdom will be in the New Jerusalem, the capital of that kingdom; hence when Christ is united to that throne, he receives the City as the capital of that kingdom; therefore in the marriage of the Lamb, the Holy City is represented as the bride. Christ receives the title and office of King, and receives the throne and the capital of the fifth kingdom, which is called the marriage of the Lamb, before his second coming to destroy his enemies, and raise from the dead and change to immortality the subjects of the kingdom. To this agrees the word of the Lord, as we will now show. Ps. ii, 7-9. "I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." That this text refers to Christ, and the time of his reception of the throne, there can be no doubt. Mark well: Christ asks for and receives the territory of the fifth kingdom before the nations are dashed in pieces by the plagues and the second advent. Dan. vii, 13, 14. "I saw in the night visions, and behold one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." The "one like the Son of man," is understood to be the Lord Jesus Christ. The "Ancient of days," God the Father. When Christ ascended to the Father to be a priest, he was attended by angels. "A cloud received him out of their sight." When he approaches the Ancient of days to receive the kingdom, it is "with the clouds of heaven," he is attended by angels; and when he returns from the wedding, and appears the second time, he comes with the "clouds of heaven" or with "all the holy angels with him." But when does "one like the Son of man" come to the Ancient of days to receive the kingdom? Is it at Christ's second advent to earth? No, unless it can be shown that God the Father is now located on the earth? Then, was not this text fulfilled at the ascension of Christ? No, because, 1. Christ ascended to heaven, not then to receive the kingdom, but first to be clad in priestly garments, for more than 1800 years, before he should change them for royal robes. 2. The position which the text holds in the prophetic chain of Dan. vii, forbids its application to the ascension of Christ. In that chain are what we shall call six great links. 1. The lion, representing Babylon. 2. The bear, Medo-Persia. 3. The leopard, Grecia. 4. The fourth beast, Rome. 5. The fourth beast with three horns plucked up by the little horn, Papal Rome. 6. The Son of man approaching the Ancient of days to receive the kingdom. As the fifth link represents the period of Papal dominion, reaching from A. D. 538 to 1798, the scenes connected with the reception of the kingdom, represented by the sixth link of the prophetic chain, must occur some time between 1798 and the second coming of Christ. We know of no event to which we may apply Dan. vii, 13, 14, (which speaks of the Son's approaching the Father to receive the kingdom,) but to Christ's entering the Most Holy of the heavenly Sanctuary, at the termination of the 2300 days. That the marriage takes place before the second advent, is evident from Christ's admonition to the waiting ones: "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." Luke xii, 35, 36. Again, when Jesus appears the second time, with power and great glory, he has "on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." Rev. xix, 16. Therefore he is King before he comes. This is in harmony with Dan. vii, 14: "And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom," &c. With this glory which he receives of the Father, he comes to raise the dead, change the living saints, and to destroy those who are left of the plagues. This also agrees with Dan. ii, 44: "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom," &c. Christ will receive the throne and capital, and the "heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession," before the kings of the earth are dashed in pieces, hence it is said, "In the days of these kings," &c. Are those who deny the literality of the Holy City, of Rev. xxi, with all its minute descriptions and measurement, and at the same time will have it that many of the indefinite prophecies of the Old Testament teach the building up of a literal city, in what they call the future age! Isa. ix, is regarded by them as a literal description of facts, in the future age. Well, read verse 7: "All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee." Also verse 16: "Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob." We leave with such the good old rule of scripture interpretation as follows: "All scripture should be literally interpreted, unless there be good reasons why it should be tropically or figuratively understood." THE MICHIGAN TENT.
By James White
I WISH to ask the Tent Committee and the church if it is not time to take into consideration the subject of tent operations for the coming Spring. In New York they are already acting. The experience of last season teaches that early action is necessary to the efficiency of tent labor. Although our hearts are made to rejoice over the success of the tent last Summer in some places, we feel assured that prudent management in season would have been the means of saving time, as the tent was in part employed where the same work could have been effected without it. In many places little can be done to introduce the truth without it, and it becomes us to make arrangements accordingly. Much can be done now to prepare for the coming season, as well as it could be done in May or June. Shall it be done? Speak out, brethren. This is no private enterprise. We are all interested in it. Let us "be zealous," and show our interest. J. H. W. Conference in Connecticut.
By E. L. Barr
Bro. Smith: I wish to lay before the readers of the Review a brief report of the Conference in this place, which commenced Sabbath eve., Feb. 13th, and continued over First-day. This will probably prove to be the most profitable Conference to the church ever held in this State. There were not so many from a distance as probably would have been, had the traveling been good. We found the church united, and the solemn message to the Laodiceans doing a work for them that has never been done before. God's searching Spirit was with us on Sabbath morn, and presided over the meeting during the day. We had much freedom and help from the Lord in preaching from Joshua iii, 5. The church saw their deplorable condition, and the great work before them, and had a mind to work. The hard hearts were made to feel, and the stubborn wills to bow. Deep, thorough, heart-felt confessions of faults followed. Unfaithful to God, unfaithful to the church, unfaithful at home, unfaithful abroad. Parents' hearts were filled with sorrow as they were made to see the perilous and almost hopeless condition of their children, caused by their unfaithfulness. Under a powerful manifestation of the Spirit, this short testimony was given in a solemn and powerful manner, as near as I now recollect, "Parents, take your children from those Babylonish schools." Then came up the claims of the second commandment, "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing in the heavens above, or in the earth beneath," &c. But the apology has been, We do not bow down and worship them. O my dear brethren, I tremble when I think how far we have been from the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus. Turn and read Isa. ii, 12, 16. "For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up, and he shall be brought low: and upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures." Margin, pictures of desire. May the Lord help you, my dear brethren, to clear your dwellings, or I fear you will not get them insured so that no plague will come nigh them. O think of the lovers of pleasure, think of the vast amount of money paid out at the present day for pleasant pictures. In the bitterness of my soul I cry, "wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked." Dark despair would seize at once upon my poor soul, and hope die, were it not for that beacon light, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent." O Lord, give us a zeal that is according to knowledge, is my prayer. On First-day, it seemed good to us and to the Holy Ghost to give Bro. Wm. H. Graham the place vacated in the church by the death of our dear Bro. Chamberlain. After the transaction of some other church business, the great work of preparing for the latter rain was resumed, while the presence of the Lord was manifest among us at times in a solemn and awful manner. The church was much strengthened, and returned to their homes determined by the grace of God to make straight paths for their feet, realizing that it is now life or death, be faithful in all things henceforth and live, or remain in our lukewarm condition, and be cast off as detestable. Now, dear brethren and sisters, let me say in conclusion, that we have reached the point where we are spared a little while, if we bring forth fruit well; if not, we are cut off, we are lost, forever lost. Now is our last chance. Die to sin, repent of every sin, confess and forsake every fault, return to God with all your heart, consecrate your entire all to his service, live out the truth every where faithfully, and thereby become partakers of Christ's sufferings, and then when his glory is revealed, be glad with exceeding joy. Kensington, Ct., Feb. 18th, 1857. COMMUNICATIONS.
By E. R. Seaman
"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another." BRO. SMITH: I did not know but you would be interested to hear that the Lord is at work for the church in this immediate vicinity. Since the Boston conference the work has gone gradually on in the hearts of the brethren and sisters here, and since the labors of Brn. Hutchins and Sperry, an interest has been aroused in this town that is cheering. Bro. D. Daniels has been here of late and the Lord was with him in the presentation of the truth. Two have decided to stand in the gap and be called repairers of the breach, and get rid of the mark of the beast. Others are interested. If we keep humble the Lord will work. It is the last message. One of the individuals referred to had been in the first message, but knew nothing of the third. The children feel also, which indicates that prayers which have been offered have found a hearing in the heavenly Sanctuary. Our meetings are solemn and interesting. E. R. SEAMAN.
Lancaster, Mass., Feb. 17th, 1857. BRO. SMITH : The evidence that we as a people are in the Laodicean state of the church is very clear to my mind; and for one I feel heartily to repent of my lukewarm state, and indifference in the cause of the Lord. I feel that I want the white raiment that I may be clothed, and eye-salve that I can see. O that the Lord would help me truly to repent, and work a deeper work of grace in my heart. For one I feel to lay all on the altar of the Lord, myself and all I have, and serve God with my whole heart. Dear brethren and sisters, let us return to the Lord with our whole heart, and take hold of the work in good earnest: The Lord will be with us and fight our battles for us. O who would not be willing to give all for heaven! Will any of the Sabbath-keepers refuse to buy gold tried in the fire, and white raiment that he may be clothed. I fear that it will be143 the case with many, that they will refuse to make a full sacrifice, and will be spued out of the Lord's mouth. O ye lingering ones, take heed to the plain truths which are being brought out. You that have hearts that can feel for the desolation of Zion, and eyes to see and ears to hear what the Lord says to the church, awake, arise and let us go forth in the strength of the Lord of hosts to fight the battles of the Lord. O ye servants of the living God, awake and sound the alarm, blow the trumpet in Zion, and let all the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is at hand. May the Lord help you to lay the plain truths on the hearts of the people. I feel to bless God for the plain truths which are being brought out; notwithstanding they are cutting, it is just what we need at this time. Thank God for it. I love the truth, for it sanctifies us and fits us for his holy kingdom. Yours in hope of eternal life. La Porte, Feb. 17th, 1857. Mount Zion is my home,
Fair Salem's happy ground;
'Tis there my dearest Friend has gone
And thither I am bound. My journey I've begun,
And hope to reach the place,
Through dangers we march boldly on,
And run the heavenly race. With some poor pilgrims here,
Bound heavenward we march;
To Zion we are drawing near,
With melody of heart. My journey I've begun,
And tedious too, withal;
I hope ere long to join the song
Within mount Zion's wall.—Sel. SABBATH, in the Hebrew language, signifies rest, and is the seventh day of the week—in commemoration of God's resting on the seventh day, &c. Under the Christian dispensation, the Sabbath is changed from the seventh to the first day of the week, &c. Pliny bears witness of the first day of the week being kept as a festival in honor of the resurrection of Christ. It must be confessed that there is no law in the New Testament concerning the first day. However, it may be observed that it is not so much the precise time that is universally binding, as that one day out of seven is to be regarded, as it is impossible, says Dr. Doddridge, certainly to determine which is the seventh day from creation; and as in consequence of the spherical form of the earth, and the absurdity of the scheme which supposes it one great plain, the change of place will necessarily occasion some alteration, in the time of the beginning and ending of any day in question, it being always at the same time somewhere, sun-rising and sun-setting, noon and midnight. It seems very unreasonable to lay such a stress upon the particular day as some do. It seems abundantly sufficient that there be six days of labor and on one of religious rest, which there will be upon the Christian and the Jewish scheme. It is lasting as to its duration. The abolition of it would be unreasonable, unscriptural. Ex. xxxi, 13. Sunday, or the Lord's day, a solemn festival observed by Christians on the first day of every week in memory of our Saviour's resurrection. The ancient Saxons called it by this name, because upon it they worshiped the sun. But although it was in the primitive times indifferently called the Lord's day or Sunday, yet it was NEVER denominated the Sabbath; a name constantly appropriate to Saturday, or the seventh day, both by sacred and ecclesiastical writers. Buck's Theological Dictionary. We sum up this testimony as follows:- The Sabbath is the seventh day of the week.
- It is altered from the seventh to the first day of the week.
- It is then confessed that there is no law in the New Testament concerning the first day.
- It is impossible to determine which is the seventh day from creation, as the world is round.
- It was altered from the seventh to the first when no one could possibly tell whether it was the seventh or not.
- It was lasting in its duration, its abolition would be unreasonable, unscriptural.
- Sunday was a solemn festival observed on the first day in honor of the resurrection of Christ.
- It was the day the heathens worshiped the sun.
- It was NEVER denominated the Sabbath in primitive times.
- Has not much learning made some men mad, or are they drunk with the wine of Babylon?
Exchange Earthly Poverty for True Riches
By H. S. Boyd
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: Jesus calls, and although we are now poor, we can be rich, have the tried gold, the white raiment, and be made kings and priests to God, overcome and sit down with him in his throne, as he overcame and is set down with his Father in his throne. Fellow Christian, will you refuse to relinquish the pleasure and vanities of this sin-cursed earth, which are so soon to be destroyed, or will you exchange them for an enduring substance, for the tried gold, the white raiment, the palm, the crown, and all the glories that are to be found in the Paradise of God? Are not the joys that are set before us enough to arouse the dormant, to wake up the lukewarm, encourage and strengthen the weak and disheartened, and to cause all to be zealous and repent? Jesus has been gone these eighteen hundred years to prepare a place for his disciples. He will soon come again and receive them unto himself, that where he is they may be also. He now offers us salvation without money and without price; yea, more, even to hire us to open our hearts and let him in. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. We can now exchange our poverty for riches that will endure when the pleasures, the fashions, the wealth, and the glories of this world shall have passed away. For one, I desire the true riches that will not fade, while I behold them, and feel that the religion of Jesus Christ is worth striving for, worth suffering for, a religion that will sustain its possessor in the trying hour of affliction. I think that I have felt some of its influences for a few months past. Although my outward circumstances are far from enviable, yet while suffering much from ill health, I have felt to leave all with Him who doeth all things well, and trusted I should soon be where pain and sorrow will be known no more. O that the call of the true Witness may be heard and heeded in the church from center to circumference, and a deep and heart-felt reform follow. I hope to share richly in this blessing, and be cleansed from every sin and secret fault; and should I live, that the rest of my life may be faithfully spent in the service of God, is the prayer of your unworthy brother.
H. S. BOYD.
Lyme, N. H., Feb. 2d, 1857. Keeping the Heart
By J. W. West
Bro. J. W. West writes from Peterboro, N. Y.:— “Bro. Smith, I write you a few lines to inform you and the scattered flock that I am still trying to live a life that becomes those who profess to be in the patient waiting for our Lord to return from the wedding. I still receive the Review as a welcome messenger, bringing intelligence from the immortal treasury; and I pray that God may abundantly bless those who have contributed their little means to send the Review to the poor. Dear brother, I have been much interested in reading the articles published in the Review on keeping the heart, &c. Suffer me to say to you, dear brethren and sisters, from experience, that keeping the heart with all diligence is the only possible way that we can overcome.” Visits Among the Churches
By J. B. Frisbie
Bro. Smith: I have visited, in company with Bro. Lowree, Vergennes, Hastings and Bowne. We found most of the friends holding on firmly to the truth, with a desire to rise with the message. We spent the most of the time in Bowne, as there had been but little labor there, as to what there had been in the other places. The Lord is at work there. We are much in hopes that some who have been halting between two opinions will take hold of the truth in good earnest. We labored early and late for the church and people there. Most of the church made hearty confessions of faults and wrongs, which God approved by the witness of his Spirit. God works and Satan tries to hinder. But there was victory on Israel's side, and the church was much strengthened. One has fallen so far from the light, that the light has become darkness and how great that darkness. We pity the condition of the man or woman who turns from the holy commandment of the Sabbath. Better never have known the way. There are a few in Vergennes that are holding on to the truth, and seem to be firm. We tarried one day and two nights. At Hastings we stayed four nights and three days, in which it rained most of the time. The little church are trying to live. Prejudice Removed, But No Revival
By Mary F. Carpenter
BRO. SMITH: I had hoped ere this to be able to say that some at least in this place had embraced the truth. We had a tent-meeting here last Summer. The truth was faithfully presented by Brn. Buck and Hutchins, and a vast amount of prejudice was removed from some minds; but none have come out and made it manifest by their works, that they have respect unto all the commandments of God. Professed Christians here have been putting forth extra efforts, having preaching and conference meetings nearly every day or evening, or both, for weeks in succession, and prayer meetings after the same manner, but there is no revival. Some acknowledge that something is the matter, but do not seem to see that it is because that they themselves are rejecting the plain truths of God's word. Many are crying peace and safety, and I fear will continue to do so, till sudden destruction comes upon them. I have had the Review more than two years, and I am thankful to God and to my brethren for the light I have received. I have endeavored to have others read them, and the tracts, too, as I have several excellent tracts, which ought deeply to concern all in these last days of peril. I am glad to hear from those of like precious faith, and to hear that the cause of truth is progressing in some places. My prayer is that God will speed on the work till his children are all brought into the unity of the faith. I have learned what it is to be sorrowful, yet always rejoicing. I am sorrowful that so many that have tasted that the Lord is good, should shut their eyes against the plain truth of the Bible. They will not receive the truth themselves, and those that would, they hinder. But I rejoice that God has a people in the earth, and watchmen upon the walls, that are striving to know what the Master saith, and to give meat in due season. I rejoice in hope of overcoming, and with all the faithful ones to sit down in the kingdom of our God, to go no more out for ever. I need not say, pray for me, for I know the children of God pray for each other, they can no more forget each other, than the kind mother can forget her children. My daily prayer is that God would keep his people from all evil, that he would make his ministers like a flame of fire, clothe them with salvation as with a garment. Very much is depending upon their faithfulness. Many of us are like the younger members of a family: we can do little but look on, and grieve or rejoice as the case may be; but it is accepted, if there be a willing mind, according to that we have, and not according to that we have not. I am resolved so to live that Jesus may say of me, "she hath done what she could." Yours in hope of eternal life.
MARY F. CARPENTER.
Waterville, Vt.