Sr. H. J. WESCOTT writes from N. Y.: I am led this morning to rejoice that, although separated from all of like precious faith, Jesus is near me. I have just been giving Bro. Loughborough's farewell sermon a second reading, and it has caused tears to flow freely. May God bless the laborers of the California Mission, so that it may prove a blessing to the honest in heart. And asking God to bless is not all we have to do, but we must ourselves try to overcome, and set an example of honesty and uprightness before the world. What can give the man of God greater pleasure than for us to live so that we shall not bring reproach upon the cause of Christ, which he is trying with all his energies to build up?
I fear I am not clear in this matter. May the Lord help me to be more faithful in the future, and may we all be willing to use our substance, which he has lent us, to his glory, and prove faithful stewards, that when the Master comes, he can receive his own with usury. He will not withhold any good thing from those who walk uprightly. How encouraging! No good thing! We often desire things that are not for our good. We may not always see it, but if we ever bear in mind that all things shall work together for our good, that not even a hair of our head falls to the ground without our Father's notice, and be content with our lot, ever striving to do right, we shall, in the end, see that what looked to us to be greatly against us, will prove a great blessing. “Stand still, and see the salvation of God.” He can divide a Red Sea, and bring water out of the flinty rock.
Working for the Salvation of Others
By Sr. L. M. Bartlett
SR. L. M. BARTLETT writes from Connecticut: I wish I could say that any had embraced the Sabbath in my neighborhood, but, alas! “Who hath believed our report?” and, “Who can understand his errors?” “It is time, Lord, for thee to work; for men make void thy law.” And we desire to be co-workers with him in the salvation of our fellow-men. Bro. and Sr. Haskell, from Massachusetts, visited here last summer. I trust the Lord will send the right man, or men, in due time, to preach the word here, but especially send his Holy Spirit to lead into all truth. I rejoice that he has faithful servants, though I flatter none, for we are but earthen vessels, easily spilled, or broken, or sullied, if without careful use. Let us realize that we are doing a great work, and have a great Overseer who will help us, if we continually look to him, to “work out our own salvation,” and that of others, “with fear and trembling.”
Walking in the Straight and Narrow Way
By Sr. C. Ordway
Sr. C. Ordway writes from Ohio: My heart rejoices in the truths of the third angel's message, though I oftentimes find a spirit of unbelief creeping into my heart at the thought that so many learned men, whom we esteem as wise and good, can reject the truths that look so precious to us. But I dare not doubt them. My desire is to live in obedience to God's holy law; but how often do I fail, and am led to exclaim in the language of Paul, When I would do good, evil is present with me. I want to be a whole-hearted Christian. Let us keep in the straight and narrow way; for “blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”
Pressing On in the Lord
By Bro. E. M. Haskell; Sr. E. M. Haskell
BRO. AND SR. E. M. HASKELL write from Lucas Co., Ohio: We are trying to press our way on in the Lord. We have some trouble, but we trust in the Lord to bring us through. We love the cause. It cheers our hearts to hear from California. May the Lord bless and strengthen his people. Pray for us that we may overcome, and at last meet you all on Mount Zion.
Life and Hope in the Truth
Bro. O. F. Tripp writes from Ohio: I have received the books you sent me, and also two copies of the Review. I must confess that I never knew what life and hope were until I met with the Advent people, and saw the truth as it is. Why, the Bible truths are as plain as the noonday sun. To those that love them, they are light indeed.
A Faithful Servant in the Vineyard
By E. W. Bliven
BRO. E. W. BLIVEN writes from Westerly, R. I.: I am glad that I enlisted in the army of the Lord. I often regret that my eyes were so long closed against the present truth, which is a balm to the weary and oppressed. Let us all be faithful in obeying the truth. Time is short. Let us improve every moment while it lasts, lest the Lord come, and find us sleeping. My daily prayer is, Let me be a faithful servant in the vineyard of the Lord, that when he comes, he may say, Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joys of thy Lord.
Meeting Our Dear Ones Again
By E. H. Bliven
SR. E. H. BLIVEN writes from Westerly, R. I.: I praise the name of the Lord that he showed me the truth of the third angel's message, and gave me courage to walk therein. I would that there were more that loved the precious truth.
I love to meet with God's people, a privilege which I have once a month, and hear them speak of his goodness. It gives me new courage; for I am but young in the cause, compared with some of the rest of you. I have felt sometimes that I must give up; but with the prayers and encouraging words of a dear companion, I am still striving for a land where there will be no sickness, sorrow, pain, nor death. There I expect to meet four dear children that lie sleeping beneath the sod, awaiting the last trump, when they will come forth in immortal beauty to meet with those they loved. O parents, if you have tasted the bitter cup, do you not want to meet your dear ones? Be faithful; for the day will surely come when we shall meet them again.
An Important Duty
AN IMPORTANT DUTY.—Many duties are important but scarcely one is attended with such blessings to the soul as the faithful performance of the duty of secret prayer. It is a duty, for our Lord has commanded it. In places of secret prayer the heart is true and sincere. It is earnest in its pleadings with God. It holds converse with Heaven, and communion with the blessed Saviour. Salvation, strength and victory are obtained. Young Christian, cultivate the habit of drawing near to God in this way. And you who have been long in the service, do not neglect it.
BELIEVING IN ONE'S OWN FAITH
A friend of mine has been very long been in a dark and troubled state of soul. He has been, for some twenty or thirty years, trying to believe—in what, think you? In his own faith! Yes; he is trying to believe in his own faith, instead of believing in Jesus. Alas! what will this do for him? Does our faith contain our peace? Was faith crucified for us?
Deliverance From Worldliness
By Gilson G. Dunham
From ’Bro. Dunham.
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: It has been a long time since I have spoken to you through the REVIEW; but it is not because I have given up any of our precious present truth. Oh! no; but a spirit of worldliness had gradually crept over me, so that I was attending more to the things of the world than the things of God, forgetting almost entirely the injunction to seek first the kingdom of Heaven and its righteousness. But, oh! how thankful I feel to-day that the spirit of worldliness is broken in my heart. I feel to give up all to Jesus. How precious the Saviour is! How good the loving kindness and mercy of God! Oh! how much more I feel like watching and praying! How much more tender my heart is toward my neighbors and friends! How I want to warn them of the coming doom more than I have done! I cannot bear to see them go down into eternal death when the plan of salvation is so broad, and God is not willing that any should perish.
If there are any of you who have a spirit of worldliness about you, give it up at once, and see what peace and joy will pervade your hearts. See how the sunshine of God’s love will enter into your life. I feel joyful to-day. God, Jesus, and eternal life, are before me. What more can I ask? Bless the Lord, O my soul! I am determined to strive more earnestly. I am determined to be more watchful. I am determined to set a better example before the world, so that I may at last have an abundant entrance administered unto me into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Jackson Co., Mich. GILSON G. DUNHAM,
The Autobiography
By James White
Of Elder Joseph Bates, embracing a long life on shipboard, with sketches of voyages in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the Baltic and Mediterranean Seas; also impressment and service on board British warships, long confinement in Dartmoor prison, early experience in Reformatory Movements, travels in various parts of the world, and a brief account of the Great Advent Movement of 1840–1844.
This is the title of one of the most interesting books in our country. It was prepared for the press by our venerable and much-beloved Bro. Bates, after he had reached the good old age of seventy-five years. A few years earlier he wrote much of the book from memory, without the help of any sort of memorandum.
The work shows the author to have possessed a strong and clear memory, an independent mind, a noble and courageous soul, and a heart imbued with love to God, and to his fellow-man. The book is rich in historical sketches of different countries, and of men and things. It spreads open the life of a temperate man, a praying man, a philanthropic man, a man of God whose hopes take strong hold of the world to come, inspiring in him the prayer, “Thy kingdom come.” No wonder that he is an Adventist. Having been a rigid vegetarian for more than twenty years, he lives to bless the world at his advanced age with a book showing the mental vigor of youth. It is one of the best books in the world. It is especially adapted to the youth.
It should be in every family. The old friends of Father Bates should all take a special interest in this book. We have all been blest with the labors of this good man. Let none be too stingy to purchase a copy of his good book. When the printer and binder are paid, what remains from the sale of the book will go for the benefit of this pioneer of the cause, whom we all love. For sale at the Review Office, Price, $1.00. Postage, 12 cents. Send for the book. Turn out some of those worthless books from the library, and let good ones take their places. Read good books, and let the youth and children have the benefit of them.
JAMES WHITE.
Berlin, Conn., Nov. 12, 1868.
N. Y. Churches.
THE NEW-YORK correspondent of Zion's Herald holds rather an unfavorable opinion of some of the fashionable churches of New York. He writes: “The namby-pamby churches will never save this city. They do not even save the richly-clothed sinners that sit in their pews, much less do they amount to anything in a hand-to-hand fight with the multitudes that crowd the lower circles. There are a large number of churches in New York that have no more effect upon the religious character of the city than if they were heathen pagodas. They are simply rallying places for worldliness and fashion, and the broadest possible burlesque on the self-denying religion of the blessed Saviour. I judge that the apostle Paul would make scattering work with some of our New York churches, if happening here on a fine Sunday, he should make the sweep of Broadway and the Fifth Avenue, and I am perfectly sure that the rugged old innovator would be regarded as a nuisance, and that the church officials would set the metropolitan police upon him; and if it might not be regarded as too severe, I wonder how many of even the New York Methodists would be willing to go bail for the arrested apostle? The revival that is to save New York, that is to shut up her theaters and dance-houses and concert-saloons and rum-holes, the revival that is to reform her municipal officers, and convert her Catholics and Jews and infidels, must be begun in her churches. We must get rid of our sham religion, and go back to the simplicity and truthfulness and power of the New-Testament times.”
The Household
“The Household” is the title of a large 16 page, neatly-executed, monthly sheet, published at Brattleborough, Vt., “devoted to the interests of the American housewife.” It occupies a field of its own, and will doubtless contain many things of interest to every family. Terms $1.00 per year.
Sabbath Terminology in Leviticus
By George Ide Butler
G. I. BUTLER: The word rendered Sabbath, in Lev. xxiii, 24, 32, is the word that is rendered Sabbath in Ex. xx, 8, and which in nearly every other instance of its use, refers to the weekly Sabbath. The word rendered Sabbath in verse 39, is Shabbaththohn, which occurs in the O. T. eleven times, and is translated “rest,” eight of those times. It is the word translated “rest” in Ex. xvi, 23; xxxi, 15; xxxv, 2; and Lev. xxiii, 3.
The Last Days.
It has been a query with many how it could be said at the commencement of this dispensation, that the kingdom of Heaven was at hand, the last days had come, the end of all things was near, &c., when nearly nineteen hundred years were to elapse before the final consummation. A passage from a sermon by Samuel Minton, M. A., London, sets forth, we think, the true light on this point. He says:
“Such words as ‘short,’ ‘nigh,’ and ‘at hand,’ are relative terms, the meaning of which varies according to the standard of reference; the moon would be said to be very near the earth, while Calcutta would be called a long way off from London. The mistake in question arises from supposing these expressions to have been used with reference to the earthly lifetime of any individual Christian, instead of with reference to the dispensational life of the church; it is the fact of her having entered the last dispensation of grace before entering into her glory, that the Holy Ghost declared the Lord to be at hand, and the end drawing near, in accordance with the Old Testament language so often quoted in the New, which calls the whole of this dispensation ‘the latter days,’ the ‘last days,’ or the ‘last time.’ On the same principle the expression used by Paul (1 Thess. iv, 17; 1 Cor. xv, 32), are to be interpreted, ‘we,’ having reference to the church which will be alive at the Lord’s coming, in contrast to ‘they,’ those members of it who will then be in their graves.”
HERE AND THERE.
By C. E. Chipman
Here, we in a world of sin,
Strive eternal life to win;
There, with eye of faith behold
Floods of righteousness untold.
Here, we seek the narrow road
Which will lead us on to God;
There, we'll tread those streets so bright,
Clothed in robes of spotless white.
Here, we shed the scalding tear,
O'er the grave, and on the bier;
There, we meet, our sorrowings o'er,
Those we part with nevermore.
Here, we combat Satan's wiles,
Which each earthly thought beguiles;
There, we triumph over guilt,
Through the blood on Calvary spilt.
Here, sojourners poor we roam,
And have no continuing home;
There, a heritage we claim
Through the Lamb for sinners slain.
Here we hunger, here we thirst,
In a world by misery cursed;
There, supplied in every want,
By life's healing tree and fount.
Here, our feeble songs we raise,
To our great Redeemer's praise;
There, in anthems loud we'll sing,
Hallelujahs to our King.
C. E. CHIPMAN.
The Use of Honey.
By John Nevins Andrews
SOLOMON does not absolutely forbid the use of honey. He says, Prov. xxv, 16, “Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.” But how much honey may we eat without danger of nausea? He gives us a proper rule in verse 27, “It is not good to eat much honey; so for men to search their own glory is not glory.” Eat honey as sparingly as you may properly speak in your own praise. If you regard this rule you will not suffer nausea from the use of honey, nor cause others to suffer it from the vanity of your language.
J. N. A.
Humbugs.
By JOS. CLARKE.
A PEDDLER called to sell me a Fountain Pen, and Ink Eraser. He magnified the virtues of his wares. I told him to try his Ink Eraser upon some paper, upon which was some old writing; he commenced erasing. I took my penknife and went to work on another piece of paper; I could erase better, smoother, and faster than he. I tried his pen; it would not compare with Gillett's nor Spencer's. His comrade next offered a picture of Christ, done in flaming style. I pronounced it sensuous, and wholly unlike such a face as I believed Jesus possessed, and not at all worthy of the name.
I propose to test such articles in the light of reason and common sense; and if a man offers me a valuable commodity, I will not condemn it; but will do all in my power to discourage humbugs.
JOS. CLARKE.
Appointments.
By James White; Ellen G. White
And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
In consequence of a letter containing our latest decision as to appointments not reaching the REVIEW in season to be inserted in No. 19, our appointments have got into confusion. As matters now stand we are compelled to make the following arrangements. South Norridgewock, Me., Nov. 13-16, Portland, Me., Nov. 20-23, Curtis Corners, R. I., Nov. 27-30, South Lancaster, Mass., Dec. 4-7.
These meetings will be large, and it will be necessary for brethren to come with provisions and bed-clothing to care for themselves as far as possible.
JAMES WHITE,
ELLEN G. WHITE.
Monthly Meeting at Anamosa
By S. T. Chamberlain
THE next Monthly Meeting of the Lisbon and Marion churches will meet at Anamosa, Iowa, Dec. 5. Come, brethren, praying that we may have the presence of the Lord. We extend an invitation to all the scattered brethren. Let us have a free time. S. T. CHAMBERLAIN.
Monthly Meeting at Olcott
By R. F. Cottrell
MONTHLY Meeting at Olcott, N. Y., the second Sabbath in December. R. F. Cottrell.
Annexed to each receipt in the following list, is the Volume and Number of the Review & Herald. The money received pays,—which should correspond with the Numbers on the Papers. If money for the paper is not in due time acknowledged immediate notice of the omission should then be given.
$1.00 each. J M Porter 33-17, S T Chamberlain for J P Chamberlain 34-20, C O Barker 33-17, G F Poulson 33-18, G W States 33-8, Mary A Dickens 33-20, W Hill 33-20, L W Carr 33-17.
$2.00 each. W T Hutchinson 34-21, J Seeley 34-1, A D Rust 32-9, W Ernst 34-1, A Wright 34-1, R Ralph 34-20, M Hackworth 34-21, S J Loomis 34-1, B McCormick 34-13, C S Clark 33-18, B Salisbury 34-11, H S Gurney 33-21, W G Buckland 34-20, A F Kellogg 34-1, O T Raymond 34-21, J I Sweet 32-21, M Davids 34-20, D A Wetmore 34-10, M A Brigham 34-16.
Miscellaneous. Mrs Geo Veder $3.00 35-20, C Van Gieson 3.00 34-1, A Glasson 2.20 34-1, Amos Johnson 1.50 34-2, S Clark 5.00 34-2, A Green 3.00 33-8, J R Lewis 5.00 33-1, F Fisher 1.50 34-20, J G Davis 4.00 34-9.
Books Sent by Mail.
A Weeks $1.27, D B Welch 40c, D Dodman 1.22, E Hutchins 3.20, H L Cross 75c, A C Hudson 30c, Mrs Geo Veder 87c, W H Littlejohn 1.00, Lydia Van Gieson 25c, L J Shaw 2.50, J Sheidmaier 1.00, S M Abbott 25c, S T Chamberlain 25c, M Duckworth 15c, Mrs L W Jones 25c, Mrs G S Mott 15c, A Rasmussen 50c, F Starr 50c, C J Doty 3.00, Isaac Reames 2.25, F Sawyer 1.50, S J Twigg 15c, John Atkinson 2.25, H N McColenathan 15c, L D Chaffee 45c, W Herald 1.00, H J Wescott 15c, E Colby 1.00, L W Carr 2.00, M A Brigham 1.31.
Cash Received on Account.
D M Canright $27.11.
Books Sent by Express.
Alexander Paton, Madison, Wis., $18.00.
Books Sent as Freight.
Asa B Atwood, Skowhegan, Me., $239.08.
Michigan Conference Fund.
Church at Bushnell, $8.20, West Windsor, $8.54.
Received on Book and Tract Fund.
Mrs Geo Veder $1.00.
Receipts for Benevolent Fund.
Anton Korb $1.00, B Salisbury 10.00.
For California Mission.
W J Hardy for Church at Gaines, $20.00, Anton Korb 10.00, G W Newman 10.00.