Review and Herald, Vol. 52, No. 17.
SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF S. D. ADVENTISTSPage 1
Earlier text: CONVULSIONS OF NATUREA CONGREGATIONALIST MINISTER UPON THE SABBATH QUESTION.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
Mr. ——, a very candid, able, and popular Congregationalist minister of Niagara Falls, has read Eld. Andrews' History of the Sabbath, and some of our other works. He lately preached upon the subject. The following is reported by one of his hearers:— “It was my privilege to listen to Mr. —— last Sunday morning in his own church at Niagara Falls, upon the subject of the Sabbath. His object was to impress his hearers with the importance of a stricter Sunday observance, but his discourse was a just vindication of the true Sabbath. He took for his text: ‘Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.’ After giving the ‘evidence supplied by reason and experience in behalf of this sacred institution,’ he gave what he termed its ‘best support and best defense’ from the Sacred Scriptures, as follows:— “‘The Sabbath was instituted primarily as a memorial of the creative wisdom and power of God. Its original design was to turn the thoughts of men toward the supreme architect of the universe, and to remind them of the beneficent “Author of lights, with whom there is no variableness neither shadow of turning.” It was not designed for a country, but for the world; not for a nation, but for the race; not for an era or limited period, but for all time. The Sabbath did not originate in the mount, when the decalogue was written by the finger of God on the two tables of stone. Its observance did not begin then; but the command for its perpetual observance was then formulated and placed among the imperishable records of God’s word. It constituted no part of the peculiar Mosaic economy; it was in no sense typical and shadowy; it was of the very substance of immutable truth. The Sabbath was not a distinctive Jewish ordinance, local in its application, and temporary in its nature and purpose. It was designed to teach all men the important truth that God created the heavens and the earth, and that their first duty is to honor and obey him. “‘When the old dispensation passed away, the moral law remained unchanged. Each command of the decalogue is in full force to-day. Each, from its very nature, must of necessity endure. They all stand or fall together. If the command, “Thou shalt not steal” or “Thou shalt not kill” is still clothed with the authority of Heaven, so is the command, “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” Its nature and design, as revealed in the holy word, involves the idea of its perpetual obligation. “‘It was appointed as creation’s memorial; and to the end of time, with their self-sufficient pride, men will need to be frequently reminded of the infinite power of God. It was appointed for the preservation of the knowledge of the true God. Its loss would be a lapse into idolatry and superstition. It was appointed to induce, at stated times, a change in the current of human thought by the interposition of spiritual aspirations and heavenly hopes. It was appointed that God might be honored and men blessed in the special service of a pure, spiritual worship. It was appointed as a peaceful day of rest, in which man might recuperate his weary powers of body, mind, and soul. The necessities in which the Sabbath originated are co-eval with mankind, and while these necessities exist, the Sabbath will endure. “‘No, my brethren, the law of the Sabbath is not a dead letter on the statute book of God. It survived the catastrophe of Eden. It was not lost in the captivity of Babylon. It was not destroyed in the destruction of the Jewish nation. It lives to-day in the bosom of Christianity. As a divine example it has come to us from the very beginning; as a divine precept it has come to us in the imperishable records of Sinai. And its immortal spirit, freed from the bondage of the letter, has come to us from the open grave of our risen Lord. “‘The Sabbath is a kindly thought of God toward men. It is a token of our Father’s love. It is a heavenly inheritance. It is a holy resting-place along the highway of human life. It involves the dearest interests of Christian hearts, and conserves the welfare of universal man. It is the enacting clause in the law of Christian ethics, and its spirit is the motive power which moves the noiseless machinery of the church of God. The Sabbath exerts its salutary influence in behalf of health, happiness, usefulness, and Heaven. It is the friend of prosperity, morality, and religion. Its observance is the crowning glory of the best civilization. These facts, which are clearly taught by reason and experience, are rendered a thousand-fold more emphatic by the plain teaching of the Old Testament and the New.’” “The foregoing is an extract from the middle of the discourse. To its close it in no way opposed the keeping of the seventh day, nor did it present one argument in favor of the change of days.” Evidently Mr. —— is convinced that the seventh day is really binding now, and that there is no Bible authority for first-day observance. We are glad he has the courage to teach the truth. We hope in the near future he may see his way clear to take his stand definitely upon it. To Correspondents.
By Editor
R. G. COWLES: The action of the late Conference will answer your query in regard to giving church letters. W. DOUGHERTY: We agree with you that ministers should preach on the ordinances, and set all points of order before the churches which they organize. We have now an excellent tract on feet-washing, which sets forth unanswerable arguments in favor of that ordinance. J. W. WOOD: For answer to your query on Rev. 19, see article in this number. An Explanation.
By C. E. Barnes
Editor Review and Herald,—In your issue of the 17th inst., you call my name to the attention of your readers by criticising a statement of mine with reference to the size of the A. C. Publication Society of Boston. Will you permit me to say through your paper, as an act of justice to your society and to myself, that I admit the propriety of your correction of my statement, for which I ought to, and hereby do, apologize. I desire also to add, with your permission, that the sentence criticised by you was only incidental, not being a material part of my letter to the Boston Traveler, and was not intended to belittle your society. The letter I wrote hastily, and when I made the statement as to the size of this society, I had in my mind the many factions into which the Adventist body is unhappily divided, that part at least not agreeing with your Sabbath views, and had not your society in my thought at all. You may say I should have considered it. I admit it; but can only say that through sheer inadvertance I failed to do so. I make no excuse other than that, and hence, as above, accept your correction and tender my apology. Your intimation that my statement was made because I think this society “is about all there is of this world” is quite far removed from the truth, as is also your other suggestion that I do “not recognize the Seventh-day Adventists as belonging to the Adventist body.” My recognition of any body is not of much consequence; but I would say that I do recognize the Seventh-day Adventists as an active, zealous, and intelligent part of the Adventist body, whose work, I believe, in more ways than one, is worthy of high commendation. My fault which you criticise did not grow out of the mean circumstances which you intimate, but simply through inadvertence. I have no complaint to make of your criticism, if you will accept this as a suitable apology, and will relieve me from the unworthy motives suggested by you. With fellowship for all good works, and charity in all honest differences of opinion, I remain Respectfully yours, C. E. BARNES. NOTE.—The criticism to which Eld. Barnes refers in the foregoing was not designed to call out an apology from him or any other one; but as he has written the frank statement that he has, he is entitled to be heard. We are happy to state that on one point he entirely misapprehends the intent and spirit of our remarks. What we said about “the Hub” and “running into the feeling so prevalent in that vicinity that that is about all there is of this world,” had no reference to Eld. B. personally, nor to the Crisis office in particular, but was written in allusion to the pleasantries so freely indulged in throughout the country in regard to the estimate which Boston society in general puts upon itself. And we can assure him that no statement of the article was set down with any unfriendliness of feeling.—Ed. Correction Regarding Nebraska Camp-Meeting Report
By E. W. Farnsworth
CORRECTION.—In my report of the Nebraska camp-meeting, I stated that twenty-six were baptized; I should have said twelve. I also said the Conference had three hundred and fifty members; it should be two hundred and fifty. E. W. FARNSWORTH. ITEMS OF GOOD CHEER.
By Mrs. Wm. H. Brown
We would render unto the Lord thanksgiving and praise, that we can bear some humble part in the closing work of the third angel’s message. “’Tis sweet to work for Jesus;” and the more we engage in this kind of work because we love it, and because we desire to see souls saved in the kingdom of God, the greater blessings shall we receive. The following extracts from letters received by our society have encouraged our hearts, and perhaps they will prove interesting to others. One who has been low in the degradation of sin, but who is now striving to live the life of a Christian, says:— “Yesterday I received some reading matter for which I thank you. You are doing a grand and noble work, and God will reward you. Send me all the reading matter you choose. I love to read of God, and to know of his people. I let my friends have all the papers to read, when I get through with them. Let me understand the doctrines you hold.” “I am still receiving the SIGNS, and the more I read the paper the better I like it. One lady now living in Missouri, who formerly lived here, and to whom I lent the SIGNS, feels anxious to read it still further. I will send you her address if you like. I feel too selfish to give my papers away, as I wish to re-read them.” One in North Carolina writes:— “I am yet receiving and reading some of the Adventist papers and tracts; and I fully agree with you on some points of doctrine, while there are some that I have not fully decided upon. I will send you a donation for the paper soon.” Another residing in the same place says: “I have perused the reading matter135 you sent me, and am pleased with the most of it.” Both of these persons have sent us several addresses, thus showing they have an interest in that direction. A lonely Sabbath-keeper writes as follows:— “When I see the precious cause advancing so rapidly, influential men being raised up at places so distant from each other, I can say with you, This is the Lord’s work, and it will triumph. I am thankful that one so unworthy as I has been permitted to see these truths, and to bear some humble part in the work of spreading them.” A physician in Georgia, who is also a Methodist minister, says:— “I thank you for the SIGNS OF THE TIMES and the tracts. I have read several excellent things in the SIGNS. The paper speaks God’s truth boldly, and in a style I cannot find elsewhere; so does the little tract, Without Excuse, which I have just finished reading, and inclosed in a letter to a friend in North Carolina. I sent to Battle Creek and procured several tracts on the coming of the Lord, and have distributed them, also the SIGNS; so you see I am not only reading myself, but am scattering the leaves from the tree of life. I believe God is placing them in my hands, and I propose to work faithfully with them. Shall be happy to receive all your Christian kindness may prompt you to send me.” ENCOURAGING WORDS.
By Mrs. L. W. Crandall
During the second quarter of the present year, the V. M. society at Serena, Ill., has sent out 441 copies of the SIGNS, written 92 letters and cards, and received 38 communications. Most of the letters received have been quite favorable. The following is from a lady living in New Orleans:— “Your papers are received. I find them very interesting. I supposed they came from an uncle in Georgia, a minister. I am the more at loss to know who you are as I found a paper [THE YOUTH'S INSTRUCTOR] inclosed to my little son, my only child.” The following is from Darlington, S. C.: “I thank you for your kind favor in sending me such excellent papers and interesting tracts, and I would like to have the paper continued. You request names of any who would be interested in it. Were I to send you the names of all who would like it, I fear you would think me imposing upon your kind offer. I will send a few names of some who will read it gladly.” Kathleen A. Moore, the oldest, best, and best-known light-house keeper on the Atlantic coast, writes as follows:— “I have received the papers you sent. They are read, appreciated, and placed on file. I thank you for your interest in my behalf, and should be pleased to receive a letter from you at any time.” A gentleman in Wisconsin says: “I am glad to receive and read these papers. With me it is, ‘Come, let us reason together.’” A lady writes: “Many thanks for your kindness in sending the papers, also the good tracts, in all of which I am much interested.” A First-day Adventist lady eighty-five years of age, so infirm that she has not been able to cross her threshold in over four years, writes:— “I think the papers full of rich Bible truths. I have not examined the Sabbath question much, but feel no opposition to any of the views held by any of my Master's family.” Another writes: “If it can be proved that the Sabbath was changed by the Roman Catholics, it will be enough to convince me that Sunday is not the Sabbath.” A county superintendent says: Accept thanks for the papers sent and your kind offer to send more. Should you see fit to do so, I will read, and send to acquaintances who may be interested.” From another gentleman: “To say that I like the papers, does not half express my opinion of them. I think they are the best religious papers I ever read. I distribute them among my neighbors, some of whom are becoming interested.” A lady says: “I have been a church member twelve years, and thought I was a Christian; but I have fully made up my mind to keep all of God's commandments, and to do all the good I can.” A lady who, with her husband and two young sons, has lately embraced the Sabbath, writes:— “Our names have been dropped from the Baptist church book. They charge us with holding false doctrines; but these things do not move us. We feel stronger and God seems nearer to us than ever before. We would not give up this truth for a home in any of the orthodox churches.” Many other equally interesting extracts might be given. We all feel greatly encouraged, and very thankful to God for a corner in which to work. We are anxious to do all we can to spread the blessed truth, that all honest ones may see the light and be prepared for the coming of our dear Saviour. We are much crippled in our work for want of papers, as they are nearly gone, and many of the most interested ones are not receiving them; but we pray God to open the way for us to obtain more soon, that we may help forward this great work. NEW YORK AND PENNSYLVANIA.
Pulaski.—With our director, Wm. H. Brown, I attended the quarterly meeting of the Pulaski church, Oct. 5 and 6. The meeting was well attended, and some matters over which there had been some feeling, through misunderstanding, were amicably adjusted, and our business meetings passed off harmoniously. It was unanimously voted that the Sabbath meeting should be held one-half the time at Pulaski and one-half at Pineville, in order to better accommodate the members of the church. Two were added to the church, and two delegates were chosen to our State Conference. Pineville.—I held two meetings at this place. On Thursday the Pulaski church met at Pineville. Bro. A. H. Hall was present. Three were baptized, two united with the church, and the ordinances were celebrated. The Lord came very near to his people, and we enjoyed a precious season. Goodenough District.—Held three meetings with the friends here. They are meeting strong opposition, and some have the tobacco habit to contend with; but all except three remain firm, and others are receiving the truth. We leave them in good spirits. Mannsville, Oct. 14.—In company with our director and Bro. Wilcox, I attended the quarterly meeting here. Three individuals applied for membership in the church. A delegate was chosen to represent the church at the State Conference. The quarterly report of the tract society was in some respects quite encouraging. Our religious exercises were solemn, and much of God's blessing was bestowed. Held two meetings with the friends at the Haight school-house. There is a gathering influence here. Cowanesque Valley, Pa., Oct. 14. For nearly four weeks, I have been holding meetings two miles from Cowanesque Valley, at the Clark school-house, in the township of Brookfield. The meetings have been well attended, and the interest is rising. Six are keeping the Sabbath. We have had some strong opposition from first-day Adventists, but the truth is fast gaining ground. I must now leave for a time, but expect to return soon. Tent No. 2, Clay Banks, Sept. 12.
The Lord is still blessing his work here. A number have taken hold since our last report. Over thirty have now commenced to observe the Sabbath. My brother and his wife joined me Sept. 27. We are now holding meetings in school-houses, and much of our time is spent in holding prayer-meetings in which a few families come together. The Lord blesses much in these meetings, and we find them a great help for the people to take hold in prayer and practical work. Only two of those who have embraced the truth were previously making a profession of religion. The meeting-house is now well under way. Size, 26x36; 14-foot posts; it will be pushed to a speedy completion. Tent No. 5, Avalanche, Oct. 10.
We held meetings here in both the Norwegian and the English language, from Aug. 9 to Oct. 7. We have also held a few meetings in a mill near Avalanche. Eighteen have decided to keep the Sabbath; six of these are Norwegians. Many more are deeply interested, and we hope that a number of them will embrace the truth. THEY COMFORT ME.
By Annie Teague
LORD, thou didst tell me not the half,
But bade me rise and follow thee:
Yet midst the thorns thy rod and staff
Did comfort me. I tread the pathway thou didst trace,
Through wounds and scoffs thy foes I see;
Yet promise of sufficient grace
Doth comfort me. When storms of doubt and fear assail,
Nor star of hope to light there be,
Thy perfect word can never fail
To comfort me. Through pain, and grief, and tempting sin,
To thee, my refuge, Lord, I flee;
Knowing thy welcome “enter in”
Will comfort me. DENMARK
By John G. Matteson
In company with Bro. Andrew Brorsen, I came to this place last week. The brethren and sisters are all firm in the truth. They have increased in love since I last met with them. They seem truly to rejoice in meeting together, and it has been encouraging for us to meet with them. On the Sabbath, we felt that the Lord was near to bless us. After due consideration, a church was organized. Ten brethren and sisters entered into church fellowship. The rest were not yet ready to join us. Bro. K. Sørensen was chosen and ordained elder. Bro. Brorsen united with them, and was also ordained elder. It seems necessary that he should be enabled to baptize and administer the ordinances in my absence. When, at some future time, the Conference shall think best to set apart this brother for the gospel ministry, perhaps he may be ordained an evangelist by the help of other ministering brethren in Europe. VALSØMAGLE, SEPT. 30.—We have had very interesting meetings this week. The Spirit of God is moving upon hearts. Two more have embraced the commandments of God, and others are near to us. On the Sabbath we administered the ordinances, in which all took part. Two more united with us. There are now seventeen Sabbath keepers here who rejoice in one faith, one baptism, and one hope. I have never been with a company of believers who have shown more brotherly love and earnestness in their Christian conduct. Systematic benevolence was organized and a deacon chosen. One hundred crowns was pledged for the coming year, and more will be added if all goes well; 26 crowns was donated to help circulate the ADVENT TIDENDE. I am to-day on my way to Uthe. Bro. A. Brorsen remains here to carry on the work. HELD a T. and M. meeting with the brethren at Palmyra the 8th inst., and at Syracuse the day following. Ten united with the church. The sum of $20 was raised, and two subscribers were obtained for our periodicals. These two companies, though young in the truth, seem to be growing in grace, and to be anxious to assist in every branch of the work. May God bless them. Church Quarterly Meeting and Field Reports at Pulaski
Pulaski.—With our director, Wm. H. Brown, I attended the quarterly meeting of the Pulaski church, Oct. 5 and 6. The meeting was well attended, and some matters over which there had been some feeling, through misunderstanding, were amicably adjusted, and our business meetings passed off harmoniously. It was unanimously voted that the Sabbath meeting should be held one-half the time at Pulaski and one-half at Pineville, in order to better accommodate the members of the church. Two were added to the church, and two delegates were chosen to our State Conference. Pineville.—I held two meetings at this place. On Thursday the Pulaski church met at Pineville. Bro. A. H. Hall was present. Three were baptized, two united with the church, and the ordinances were celebrated. The Lord came very near to his people, and we enjoyed a precious season. Goodenough District.—Held three meetings with the friends here. They are meeting strong opposition, and some have the tobacco habit to contend with; but all except three remain firm, and others are receiving the truth. We leave them in good spirits. Mannsville, Oct. 14.—In company with our director and Bro. Wilcox, I at- Weston, Jamaica, and Rawsonville.
SINCE camp-meeting we have been following up the interest arising from the tent-meeting at Weston. Bro. Howe has fitted up a convenient place to hold meetings in, and we left this company of good courage in the Lord, feeling confident ourselves that the truth will win to its standard other firm friends. Five were baptized at the close of our meetings. Some were almost persuaded to obey the Lord. THE quarterly meeting at Jamaica, just closed, was a profitable occasion. Twelve were added to the church; nine were baptized. There were in attendance quite a number of first-day Adventists from Manchester, who expressed themselves much pleased with the meetings, and desired to hear more of our views. Hold meetings at Rawsonville this week. Next Sunday evening we commence a series of meetings in the town hall at South Londonderry. Pray that the Lord may bless the word, and gather the honest. I. SANBORN. (Abridged from the SIGNS OF THE TIMES.) The interest here is increasing. The attendance is good, the tent being well filled each evening. The arguments of Bro. Healey and Rice are convincing scores of the truthfulness of our positions. Placerville and Vacaville.
Eld. B. A. Stephens met with the church at Placerville Sept. 21 and 22. Systematic benevolence was pledged to the amount of $70; had all been present, the pledge would have been considerably larger. The question books were adopted by the Sabbath-school. At Woodhull, where Eld. S. spoke twice, there was a good outside interest. Sabbath, Sept. 28, profitable meetings were held with the Vacaville church. They have had trials, but the Lord has strengthened them as they have pressed together. At this place, Bro. J. L. Wood is holding meetings; the interest and attendance are good. At our quarterly meeting held Oct. 5, we were greatly encouraged by the presence of Srs. Cook and Dalton, from Washington, D. C. They remained to attend the T. and M. meeting Sunday. These sisters have been laboring in the missionary work in Washington for some time, and have faithfully warned that city of the near approach of the day of God. Sr. Dalton has been suffering for some time past from bodily infirmity. She asked the prayers of the church in her behalf, expressing her belief that God would hear the prayer of faith. We joined her in beseeching the Father, in the name of Jesus, that she might be released from her infirmities. God answered prayer, and she was healed. The manifestation of the presence of the Holy Spirit will never be forgotten by those who participated in the meeting. Thus closed the best meeting ever held in this church. J. F. JONES. We closed our labors here Sunday evening, Sept. 29. Thirty have signed the covenant; nine of these, however, were endeavoring to love and obey the truth before we came. Systematic benevolence was organized, amounting to $317.20 yearly, and a leader was chosen to take charge of their meetings. We also organized a promising Sabbath-school of over thirty members. Obtained seventeen new subscribers for the REVIEW, and two for the SIGNS. There is a good outside interest. We have strong hopes that others will yield to the influence of the truth, if those who have already embraced it will be faithful. May the Lord help them. INDIANA
By Wm. Covert; J. M. Rees
Tent No. 2, Frankton, Oct. 14. We have been here four weeks. We have taken down our tent, and our meetings are now held in the academy. We know of fourteen adults who have decided to keep the commandments. Nine have signed the covenant. Two were baptized yesterday. Others will follow soon. Will the friends in Indiana remember us at the throne of grace? Wm. Covert. J. M. Rees. SYSTEMATIC BENEVOLENCE.
By C. M. Shepard
I HAVE often felt that it would be a great blessing to some of my poor brethren and sisters, if they would profit by my experience in paying systematic benevolence. Ever since I embraced the third angel’s message (eighteen years ago), I have been most a believer in the tithing system for the support of the cause of God; and when I had a regular income from teaching school, I cheerfully gave to God what I considered to be his. But when this means of support failed, and all that I could earn for my dependent children and myself was with my needle, I felt miserably poor; and that I had nothing to give only as I gave a dollar once or twice a year, when I went to quarterly meeting. This was about as often as we could attend meeting, on account of the distance, and want of means of conveyance. Three or four years ago, the subject of systematic benevolence was taken up by Sr. White, and made more clear to my mind than ever before by some articles in the REVIEW. I was helped to see that even I could pay a tenth of what little I had, and then the Lord would bless the remainder, and make it go as far as the whole would have gone, and even farther. It was clearly proved from the Bible, and joyfully I accepted the light, and commenced immediately to act upon it; and I have found it perfectly easy to do so. I have had more money to use since that time, and have not felt pinching want. Indeed, I have not known want, but have believed, and trusted implicitly in my Father, who will withhold no good thing from them that walk uprightly. Now, brethren and sisters, if any of you feel too poor to pay your systematic benevolence, I exhort you to “have faith in God.” Have a living faith (made perfect by works), and you will be blessed in your basket and in your store. Our Father is indeed very rich; and if we are faithful and obedient, he will give us all that is for our good in this life, and in the bright world to come, we shall share his wealth and his glory forever and ever. C. M. SHEPARD. THE following instructive extract is from a volume of sermons by N. Adams, D. D., of Boston, recently published by D. Lothrop & Co.:— “In a voyage of a hundred and eleven days to San Francisco, and thence to the Sandwich Islands, China, the East Indies, and New York, there was a man at the wheel every moment, day and night, in storm and sunshine. Every man, except the officers, was, in his turn, two hours at a time during the whole voyage, the man at the wheel. Not till the word of command was given inside the Golden Gate, ‘Let go the anchor,’ was the wheel deserted. Every two hours the man at the wheel was relieved by some shipmate who knew when it came his turn. The man at the wheel would say what point of the compass must be kept in mind; the man taking his place would repeat his words. ‘Southwest by south, half south,’ says the man who seizes the wheel to take his place. “Going on deck at midnight, there is the man at the wheel. Coming up to watch the sunrise, you salute the man at the wheel. During a gale, if you venture on deck, curious to see the swelling ocean, you find the man at the wheel. In a dead calm, the ship motionless, there stands the man at the wheel. The sea runs high, the wave looks down upon you as though it would swallow you up. ‘Meet her!’ cries the mate; the man at the wheel swings the bowsprit in the teeth of the billow; you go up to the heavens, then down again into the deep. “You always feel on shipboard that there is one man doing something for you. During divine service on Sabbath morning, two men at least, are always absent; one, the officer of the deck, the other, the man at the wheel. If you start in your sleep, you instantly think: There is at least one who is awake, the man at the wheel. I never passed him, day or night, without giving and receiving a salutation. You feel that he is your personal friend. The compass lies directly in front of the wheel; the binnacle lamp shines all night upon the compass, which points the way the ship is headed, and the man at the wheel is told to keep her so. If the wind sets her off her course, the endeavor is to get as near to it as the wind will allow, keeping the sails ‘full and by’ the wind, the steersman using his discretion how to do so. “One cannot see himself thus continually kept on his course through the deep without being reminded that if he is a child of God, he has Jesus Christ as the man at the wheel to his soul as truly as at every moment of a voyage, however long, he has a man at the wheel of his ship. Without the presumption, but with the utmost confidence, with full assurance of faith, every one who loves God may say to the Saviour, ‘Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.’ He may be as confident of the incessant guidance of his soul by Christ as the passenger is of the perpetual service of a man at the wheel. “It used to occur to me: Suppose that instead of having twenty-eight men taking turn, each of them two hours at a time, to steer me across the globe, the service were done by a single man who, day and night, should be my steersman, standing every moment at the wheel, buffeted by the gale, pelted by the rain, scorched by the sun, straining every sense in the dark nights to guard against collisions, till finally I should see the anchor dropped in the desired haven, without any casualty, delay, loss, damage, from the beginning to the end of the voyage; I could not part with that man without emotions unutterable. Yet here I am on the voyage of life with one at the wheel who has been there from my infancy to the present hour, to whom I may with joyful confidence repeat these words, ‘Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.’” We often talk about the plague of insects. They are often great plagues, but we must not forget that we owe insects a great debt of gratitude. Only a very small portion of the insect world are noxious; the others are engaged in good works for us. Some are engaged in warring against the same insect foes that we war against, and others in clearing away dead and injurious matters. On this last head an English scientific paper well says: “Insects are useful in destroying dead vegetable substances, which are even more pernicious to man than animals in the same condition; and not only the soft and succulent portions, but even the solid wood is destroyed by them. In the immense forests of the tropics, the ground would be covered, and new shoots choked up, by the ruins of trees which had fallen by accident or age, and which it would require ages to disperse without the aid of insects. But no sooner is a tree fallen than one tribe of animals cuts its bark to pieces; another bores holes in it in all directions so that the moisture from dew or rain may stand, decompose, and soften; others come in to eat off the portions that are softened, and so on, until it is entirely broken up and scattered; and this is done with such expedition that they will, in a few weeks, destroy and carry away the trunks of large trees, without leaving a particle behind; and in places where, two or three years before, there was a populous town, if the inhabitants, as is frequently the case, have chosen to abandon it, there will be a very thick wood, and not a vestige of post to be seen.” Let bygones be bygones: if bygones were clouded
By aught that occasioned a pang of regret.
Oh, let them in darkest oblivion be shrouded;
'Tis wise and 'tis kind to forgive and forget. Let bygones be bygones and good be extracted
From ill over which it is folly to fret;
The wisest of mortals have foolishly acted,
The kindest are those who forgive and forget. Let bygones be bygones; oh, cherish no longer
The thought that the sun of affection has set;
Eclipsed for a moment, its rays will be stronger,
If you, like a Christian, forgive and forget. Let bygones be bygones; your heart will be lighter,
When kindness of yours with reception has met;
The flame of your love will be purer and brighter,
If, Godlike, you strive to forgive and forget. Let bygones be bygones; oh, purge out the leaven
Of malice, and try an example to set
To others who, craving the mercy of Heaven,
Are sadly too slow to forgive and forget. Let bygones be bygones; remember how deeply
To Heaven's forbearance we all are in debt;
They value God's infinite goodness too cheaply
Who heed not the precept, “Forgive and forget.” SOWING AND REAPING.
By Hattie M. Rose
“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” Ps. 126: 5, 6. As I read this text not long ago, the thought came into my mind, How disproportioned is the sowing to the reaping; a few baskets of seed are sown, and many wagons groan beneath the rich sheaves of the harvest. This may be a type of the disproportion between life’s sorrowful sowing and Heaven’s joyful reaping-time; yet while sorrows are comparatively light, they may seem to be very heavy. We call the seed basket light compared with the harvest burden; yet it may have been a wearisome load to the man who carried it. The glory of our Bible is, that while it tells truths relating to eternity which should take away much of the bitterness of time’s sorrows, it owns tenderly and fully how bitter these sorrows are. It calls them not joyous, but grievous; it contains prayer for the oppressed, the overwhelmed; it tells of One who is afflicted in all our afflictions. Surely the Bible meets every want of our hearts. He whose Spirit dictated it knows us. We need not fear to trust him; for he promises that those who love him and keep his commandments shall receive eternal life. MR. SPURGEON once went to preach in a church a little outside of London. The day was wet and muddy, and Mr. Spurgeon's pants were plentifully covered with dirt. A good deacon in the vestry said: “Bro. Spurgeon, let me get a brush and take off some of that mud; you can't go into the pulpit in that state.” “Don't be foolish, deacon!” said Mr. Spurgeon, in his usual good-humored way; “don't you see the mud is wet, and if you try to brush it off now, you will rub the stain into the cloth? Let it dry, and then it will come off easy enough, and leave no mark.” There is an admirable hint here for every one. When evil-spoken against, as we may be for the sake of truth, and men throw mud at you, don't be in a hurry about brushing it off. Too great eagerness in this respect is apt to rub the stain into the cloth. Let it dry, and then, by-and-by, if need be, it can be removed by a little effort. If there is a little trouble in the church, don't foster it by haste, and hurry in doing something. Let it alone, let it dry, and it will be more easily settled than you think now. Time has a wonderful power in such matters, and it is surprising how many things in this world would be far better arranged, and how many difficulties easily got over, by judiciously letting them dry.—Ex. VOLTAIRE'S SNEER AT SIR ISAAC NEWTON.
SIR ISAAC NEWTON wrote a work upon the prophecy of Daniel, and another upon the book of Revelation, in one of which he said that, in order to fulfill certain prophecies before a certain date was terminated, namely, 1260 years; there would be a mode of traveling of which the men of his time had no conception; nay, that the knowledge of mankind would be so increased that they would be able to travel at the rate of fifty miles an hour. Voltaire, who did not believe in the inspiration of the Scriptures, got hold of this, and said: “Now look at Newton, that man of mighty mind, who discovered gravity, and told us such marvels for us all to admire. When he became an old man, and got into his dotage, he began to study the book called the Bible; and it seems that in order to credit its fabulous nonsense, we must believe that the knowledge of mankind will be so increased that we shall be able to travel at the rate of fifty miles an hour. The poor dotard!” exclaimed Voltaire, in the self-complacency of his philosophy. But who is the dotard now?—Sel.