Dr. Wm. Tuisse, in his Morality of the Fourth Commandment, speaks of this ordinance among others, showing how it was used in the primitive church. His testimony will be of interest to the readers of the REVIEW. Special attention is due the remark that as the work of Antichrist is more fully discovered, the ordinances which his wicked hands have obscured and defaced, will be restored more and more nearly to their ancient luster. The work of the Man of Sin is now seen in its enormity as never before; and the work of rescuing Bible institutions and practices from the foul heap of Romish superstitions is very fully developed. Dr. T. says:—
“Other ordinances there are almost wholly lost, or much defaced by the prevalency of Antichrist (and as he shall be more fully discovered, so they shall come nearer to the luster of their first institutions), as the holy kiss, 1 Cor. 16: 20; 2 Cor. 13: 12, which was used by the ancient Christians, either when they met one another, to manifest to the heathen (enemies of the Christian name) the singular love they bore to their fellow-Christians, and that they durst own them in the face of enemies, or it may be in public, either before or after prayer, love feasts, Lord’s supper, as a token of perfect unity, love, conjugal affection, and singleness of heart, free from all prejudice, jealousy, and malice. In Tertullian’s time, it was used among Christians. He calls it the chain of peace,” &c.
“So anointing the sick with holy oil hath a plain institution, James 5: 14, which the pope, St. Peter’s ape, hath turned into extreme unction and a sacrament. I have heard of some godly persons who have known it practiced upon some sick, with a blessing and recovery of the party.”—Id., pp. 60, 61.
EVERLASTING.
Definition by Edward Brerewood in Treatise of the Sabbath, published in 1632, p. 19.
“Everlasting is taken either absolutely, that hath no end at all, or limitedly, that hath no certain end prefixed, or known period appointed for the continuance, although in nature or divine ordinance, it hath a determined period.”
This language published two hundred and thirty-nine years ago shows that this manner of treating the word everlasting is no invention of modern times, devised for use in the present controversy on the subject of immortality.
U. S.
Religion and Activity.
By Uriah Smith
A MAN can be religious without secluding himself from the world like the hermits of old, or shutting himself up in a monastery like the monks in the dark ages. There is no particular holiness in sloth and inactivity. Carry your religion into your business. Let it make you better in all the relations of life, and shed its hallowed light over all the paths you tread. That religion which has to be carefully guarded from contact with the outside world, and tenderly nursed in secrecy and seclusion, lacks the stamp of the genuine article. This is well illustrated by the following:
ANCIENT LEGEND.
“St. Anthony ‘lived a hermit in a wood, devoted to prayer and meditation; of which being proud, an angel appeared, bids him to go to such a town, and he should find a cobbler a far more holy man than he. Which he did, came and found the cobbler hard at his work, working and speaking sweetly of Christ, working and breathing out Heaven, such a tincture of glory upon his heart, so excellent in prayer and conference that he returned ashamed of himself, and ever after more low in his own eyes. He exercised more grace at his awl than St Anthony at his altar, and shamed his solitary pride with his poor honest trade.”—Morality of Fourth Commandment, pp. 37, 38.
U. S.
Absalom's Hair.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
THERE is a lesson in this subject worthy of thought. Absalom was a very beautiful man. There was not his like in all Israel. 2 Sam. 14: 25. It appears that one of his chief ornaments was his remarkable head of hair. He seems to have taken peculiar pride in this. When it was cut at the end of each year, he had it weighed. 2 Sam. 14: 26. But this very thing that he gloried so much in was the immediate cause of his death! While riding through the woods in the battle his head caught in the thick boughs and he was left hanging there till his enemies slew him. 2 Sam. 18: 9.
Are there not thousands of other cases similar to this where some personal attraction, in itself a desirable gift of God, finally becomes the snare by which the person is destroyed? A beautiful form, a sweet voice, musical talent, wit, &c., oftener perhaps than otherwise, fill their owners with pride, conceit, and a love of the gay world, which often brings them to sorrow and ruin. Alas! that human nature is so weak that it must pervert the best blessings of God and turn them over to the service of the enemy! Really are not misfortunes and humiliations the only things that will save us? D. M. CANRIGHT.
Predicted Warnings—the Agency by which they Are Fulfilled.
By Roswell F. Cottrell
We have numerous examples in the prophecies of messages or warnings to be given to the people, at times many years after the prophecies are given. Some of them are given in the form of a command, as though the prophet called upon the people to fulfill them by giving the timely warning and announcing to the people their fulfillment. These may be called prophetic commandments; and they are always sure to be fulfilled in their seasons. We quote a few examples: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem.” Zech. 9: 9. “Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.” Isa. 8: 16. “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain.” Joel 2: 1. These, though written by the prophets in the imperative mood are simply predictions that such things should be done at times far in the future from the time in which they were written. The first had its fulfillment when Christ rode into Jerusalem.—Matt. 21: 4–9; Mark 11: 1–10; Luke 19: 30–40; John 12: 12–16. The second has its fulfillment just before the second advent, while the nations are girding for war and preparing themselves to be broken in pieces, while the people of God are looking for the return of their Lord, and while the familiar spirits are leading unbelievers to seek to the dead, and preparing the way to gather the nations to the battle of the great day. Isa. 8: 9–19; Rev. 16: 14. The third has its fulfillment when the day of the Lord is “nigh at hand.” Joel 2: 1.
When the events described in these prophecies become due, the fulfillment infallibly appears. If God proclaims to the nations, “Prepare war,” it is because he has foreseen that they would do so. Joel 3: 9. But on the other hand when a foretold message of truth is to be given by the people of God, the same Spirit which moved the ancient prophets to predict it, will inspire the chosen individual or people at the proper time to fulfill it. The same Spirit which called upon the people to rejoice greatly and shout, when Christ should enter Jerusalem in the manner described, put the shouting, the joyful hosannas, into the hearts and lips of people. It is possible that some shouted intelligently, while others shouted only because they felt as though they could not forbear. Even the chosen disciples did not fully comprehend what they were doing till the outpouring of the Holy Spirit when Jesus came to be glorified at the right hand of God in Heaven brought it to their remembrance. John 12: 16, and 13: 26; Acts 2: 33.
Again, when a special work is to be done by the proclamation of a special message, before predicted in prophecy, to prepare the people for some great event, the same Spirit which moved the prophet to predict it inspires the chosen servants who are to fulfill it; the Spirit gives them to understand their mission, and they infallibly fulfill it by the spirit of prophecy.
John the Baptist is an example. Isaiah had described his work by the Spirit of God, seven hundred years beforehand, as “the voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord,” &c. The same Spirit gave John to understand his mission and guided him in the fulfillment. He had the testimony of Jesus, which is the spirit of prophecy. It was the same Spirit which guided the ancient prophets. Rev. 19: 10; 22: 9. Without this he could not have performed his work. And although he “did no miracle” (John 10: 41), and wrote no book of prophecies, as we have learned, yet Jesus declared that no greater prophet had risen than John the Baptist. Luke 7: 28. His message was from Heaven, and not of men. Those who heard and obeyed his teaching, “justified God” in so doing; but those who rejected his mission, “rejected the counsel of God against themselves.” His message being from Heaven, it was accompanied by the authority of Heaven. It was of no use to say to him, I am a child of Abraham; I have been a professor of religion a long time, and have had a great experience in the things of God. His reply to such was, “The ax is laid unto the root of the trees.” “Bring forth fruits” answerable to amendment of life. And how foolish it would have been for any one to come to him, saying, “I believe you are right in most things, at least nearer right than any religious sect, but I disagree with you in some things; for instance, I think you are wrong in your mode of baptism,” &c. To correct the message from Heaven would be to reject it.
As there was a prophetic message, the fulfillment of which was to prepare a people for the first advent of Christ, so there is a last message, laid down in prophecy, the fulfillment of which is to prepare a people for the most thrilling events—the close of probation and the second advent. Rev. 14: 9–12. If the time has come for its fulfillment, as we most assuredly believe that it has, then the message is being proclaimed in the world; and not only so, it is a Heaven-sent message. And as it was necessary for John to be directed in his work by the same Spirit that inspired Isaiah and Malachi to predict his mission, reason would say that it would be equally necessary, if no more, that this most transcendently solemn and important message should be specially guided, in its fulfillment, by the same Spirit which showed it in vision to the beloved disciple eighteen hundred years ago. Moreover we have the express prediction concerning the remnant of the church—the people who, in the language of the message, “keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus,”—that they “keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ,” which testimony is defined by inspiration to be “the spirit of prophecy.”
Now if God has sent this message into the world, it comes by the authority of the Holy Spirit. Why embrace it in part? If it has not been sent by the Spirit of God, why not leave us alone as a set of deluded fanatics? There is but one reasonable course to pursue: To receive it as it is, or to reject it wholly. To receive it in part is virtually to reject it as a message from Heaven. And yet men think of receiving it, all but that part which puts the seal of Heaven upon it. If they could separate from it the work of the Spirit of God, they would receive it!
When I received this message, I received it as from Heaven, and not of men. I had no other intention than to bow in submission to the authority of the Spirit by which it was sent. Twenty years have not weakened my confidence. I have witnessed several attempts to carry forward this message without the propelling power of the Spirit of God; and the experiment has proved disastrous to those who have tried it; they have made shipwreck of faith and gone into the ranks of the enemies.
What then shall we do? Receive the message as it is, as a message from Heaven. Carry out in practice the teachings of that Spirit which accompanies the message. Engage in every work of reform which God has introduced among us, and heed the solemn admonitions to consecrate ourselves entirely to the will and work of God. Boldly embark by faith all on board. Do not stand with one foot on the shore, lest you find yourself neither on board nor on the shore, but in the water. It is time that all were heeding the teachings of the Spirit in all things, who would go through to the end. Many will fall; but those who fully heed the testimonies in all things will be kept in the fearful hour of temptation and delivered out of the time of trouble.
R. F. COTTRELL.
The Iowa Camp-Meetings.
By George Ide Butler
Our camp-meetings for this year are in the past. In many respects they have been seasons of great interest and profit. Never before have so many of our people had the benefit of our annual meetings, and it has been an encouraging circumstance to the ministers, who labor in this State, to witness the readiness with which our people have availed themselves of the opportunities offered them. Our meetings have been well attended; upwards of forty family tents were in attendance at both meetings, and some five hundred of our people—and they came with a willingness to sacrifice and help in the work. It is no small gratification to the writer that, in a time when money is so hard to be obtained, four thousand dollars should be subscribed in Iowa to aid in the general interests of the cause, in the Health Institute, and Publishing Association. If a disposition to sacrifice is seen on the part of our lay brethren, who can remain at home and enjoy the society of their families, it will give those of us who go out to labor in the ministry some courage. If anything is disheartening, it is to think all our exertions to bring the people to view things in their true light in reference to sacrificing for the cause here, accomplished nothing. We are glad to say we do not feel thus, and that we have some courage to still labor on. Iowa is under great obligations to the General Conference for their watch care, and for the labor sent among us in times of great need. We ought ever to remember these obligations, and act accordingly. The Lord has blessed us by his Spirit. Many of our meetings were seasons of great interest. Forty-two were baptized. A gratifying increase of nearly two hundred members in the last year is seen in our Conference report. Surely the Lord has blessed us more than we deserve.
Our Knoxville meeting was a large and interesting one. Many of those who have lately embraced the truth were present for the first time at one of our large gatherings, and became acquainted with those of longer experience, and had the privilege of hearing the testimony of Bro. and sister White. Our great perplexity, under which we have labored, has been the want of laborers to follow up the interest in new places after the ministers are called away to other openings.
In the secretary’s recent report of the business proceedings of the Iowa Conference, will be seen the arrangement designed to partially obviate this difficulty. In that report our brethren will notice and remember the order of districts, and the churches composing them. Some of these have been holding meetings previously, as here arranged. But in the third, fourth, and fifth districts the arrangement is new, and should be particularly noticed. The third is composed of the churches of Pilot Grove, Brighton, Washington, Richland, and Sigourney; the fourth, of the churches of Monroe, Knoxville, and Sandyville; the fifth, of the churches of Woodburn, Adel, Peru, and the few friends who live at Afton. All these districts are to have meetings once in two months; and it is expected that Brn. Mitchell and Nicola, of the conference committee, will make appointments of time and place through the REVIEW, and attend these meetings.
Our secretary, in his report, inadvertently made a mistake in reference to Brn. Bartlett, Johnson, and Washburn attending these meetings. It should have been Brn. Mitchell and Nicola. We regard these as men of experience, judgment, and piety, who are fitted to give counsel to those who have lately embraced the truth, and to help them by their advice and admonitions. We trust they will be true “help” in the cause; and whether they stand before the people to give regular set discourses or not, we think a field of real usefulness will open before them, and we hope they will enter upon it with courage and interest, and thus relieve, in a measure, those who have now far more than they can attend to in laboring in word and doctrine. They will appoint meetings as soon as the press of harvest work is over, and we bespeak for those meetings a general attendance of our brethren in their several districts.
Our second meeting at La Porte City, in the northern part of the State, was a success, and very encouraging to us because of our fears that it would be otherwise on account of the withdrawal for a time of the appointment for it. We were very happy to see so many of the brethren in attendance, quite a number of whom were at the other meeting at Knoxville. They came with a disposition to work, and although there was much disappointment in the absence of Brn. Littlejohn and Canright, yet we all felt well paid for the efforts we had made in coming. A great amount of prejudice in this community was removed by the presence and labors of Bro. and sister White. On Sunday there was the greatest attendance of outsiders I have ever seen in the State, and the best of order was maintained. We trust the influence of this meeting will long be felt. Our social meetings were many of them excellent, and some for whom we have long felt an interest made a start here in the service of the Lord. Licenses were granted by the conference committee to Brn. Jacob Hare, of Mt. Pleasant, and R. H. Johnson, of Clarksville.
God will hold us accountable for the additional light we have received at these important meetings, and for the solemn impressions made upon our hearts. We go out to labor in the great harvest field for another Conference year, thankful for faithful brethren who are ready to aid in the work by sacrifices on their part, and sustained by their prayers and united interest. We promise to faithfully endeavor to do what we can to advance the interests of the precious cause of truth till we meet again in our annual gatherings.
GEO. I. BUTLER.
Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, June 30, 1871.
Burden for Souls.
By D. T. Bourdeau
By this I do not mean a rash zeal, but an earnestness in laboring for the salvation of our fellow-men, which is compatible with the worth of souls, the truth that we profess, and the times in which we live. We claim that the Lord is soon coming, that human probation will soon close, and that we have but a short time to labor for ourselves and for others. Do our actions agree with our profession? We claim that Satan is working with unwonted power to destroy souls. Do we manifest corresponding zeal in laboring to save them? I fear not. I fear that, generally speaking, our burden is in another direction to care for ourselves, to lay up treasure on earth, or to secure some worldly object. Now this is inexcusable, yea, censurable, while there are so many ways in which we can labor for others. Although we may not all be called to preach, yet we can manifest true burden for souls by sacrificing of our means to advance the cause in its various branches, by praying earnestly for preachers, by wisely scattering our publications, and by winning the affections of sinners to the truth by judiciously talking it to those who have an ear to hear.
Brethren, here is a wide door of usefulness open before us. Let us labor as we have never done before. We may be tempted to think that there is no hope for those around us, especially where they have had an opportunity to hear the truth. But let us not be too hasty here. Let us not reject souls until we know that God has closed their probation. Think how God has borne with us who have professed the truth. Call to mind cases in the past in which God has wonderfully displayed his long-suffering and mercy. Take for instance the case of Paul. He heard the powerful discourse of Stephen; “saw his face as it had been the face of an angel,” yet consented unto his death. Doubtless the poor believers standing by thought, surely the doom of this young man is fixed; he can never take hold of the truth. But in due time the scales with which Satan had surrounded him were removed, his heart was reached, and he yielded. It will be so with many around us.
Brethren and sisters, let us patiently and earnestly labor on for souls, and have at least the burden of one poor sinner upon us, often taking it to the Lord in prayer. In thus doing we shall merge out of self, forget our trials, and form characters that will stand the scrutinizing test of the Judgment. D. T. BOURDEAU.
Report of the Illinois Conference.
By R. F. Andrews; G. W. Colcord
THE first annual session of this Conference was held near Northville, Ill., June 9-12, 1871, in connection with the Illinois Camp-meeting, as appointed in REVIEW.
Conference convened in the Illinois tent, June 9, at 12 o'clock. Eld. R. F. Andrews in the chair. Prayer by Bro. B. F. Merritt. Present, Elds. R. F. Andrews and T. M. Stewart, of this Conference. Credentials of delegates were called for, presented, and examined. A delegation of ten, representing seven churches, came forward.
Voted, That Eld. Littlejohn, of the Michigan Conference, Eld. Canright, of the Iowa Conference, with all the brethren present, in good standing with their respective churches, be invited to participate with us in the discussion of business.
Five churches, situated respectively in Aledo, Green Vale, Northville, Pontiac, and Woodburn, Ill., petitioned to be admitted into this Conference. Said requests were severally granted, and their six representatives took seats with the delegates. There are now twelve churches in this Conference. The whole number of members is two hundred and forty-six, beside many scattered brethren. Whole amount of Systematic Benevolence reported, $1560.17. The reading of the minutes of the last session of the Illinois and Wisconsin Conference was omitted.
Voted, That the Chair appoint an Auditing Committee of six, to settle with the ministers. Brn. C. H. Bliss, Thomas Greer, Thomas Brown, J. W. Marsh, J. H. Bates, and John Logan, were named in the appointment.
Voted, That the Chair appoint a Nominating Committee of three to nominate officers for the ensuing year; whereupon, Brn. Thomas Brown, B. F. Merritt, and B. Berry, to act in connection with Elds. Canright and Littlejohn, were named as said committee.
Voted, That the Chair appoint a Committee of three, on Resolutions. Brn. D. M. Canright, T. M. Steward, and C. H. Bliss, were appointed as that committee.
Adjourned to the call of the President.
SECOND SESSION. 4 P. M. Prayer by Bro. Littlejohn.
Voted, To renew the credentials of Elds. R. F. Andrews and T. M. Steward.
Voted, To renew the licenses of Brn. B. F. Merritt, C. H. Bliss, and G. W. Colcord, and grant license to Bro. John Ballenger, to improve his gift in publicly teaching the people the present truth.
Calls for ministerial labor, from Pontiac, Lexington, McConnell's Grove, Aledo, and Southern Illinois, were presented and considered.
Voted, That the scattered brethren of Iroquois and Ford counties be taken under the watch-care of this Conference.
Adjourned to the call of the Chair.
THIRD SESSION. June 11, 9 A. M. Prayer by Bro. Stewart.
The report of the Nominating Committee was called for, presented, and accepted. Vote resulted in the election of nominees—officers, same as last year.
The Treasurer reported.
Amount rec'd during the year, $793.32
Paid out, 451.72
Balance on hand, June 11, 1871, 341.60
T. Colcord, Conf. Treas.
Report of Auditing Committee was accepted. Remarks were made by Eld. Canright, and others, in reference to efficient labor, offered more especially for the benefit of the licentiates.
Adjourned to the call of the Chair.
FOURTH SESSION. June 12, 5 A. M. Prayer by Bro. Littlejohn.
Committee on Resolutions reported presenting the following, which were unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That this Conference will become responsible for the collection of all money due the Publishing Association from persons within our limits, for the REVIEW, Reformer, and Instructor.
Resolved, That we donate to the General Conference the sum of $50.00.
Resolved, That we express our continued confidence in every branch of the work of the third angel's message, and those whom God is using in carrying it forward.
Resolved, That the balance of the means raised for the tent, be applied for the use of the Conference.
Resolved, That we recommend our churches to donate the whole of their Systematic Benevolence funds to the Conference.
Resolved, That, as this Conference is in great need of means to carry forward its work, we earnestly request all the friends within its limits to immediately pay up their Systematic Benevolence, and pledge all they are able to for the coming year.
Resolved, That we have a camp-meeting next year.
Resolved, That the President appoint a committee of three, to act with him, as a Camp-meeting Committee for the coming year.
Resolved, That we express our thanks to the General Conference for the efficient aid furnished us at our Conference and camp-meeting; and we earnestly desire, that, in our feeble condition, they will continue to remember us.
Resolved, That the doings of this Conference be published in the REVIEW.
Adjourned to the call of the Executive Committee.
R. F. ANDREWS, Pres.
G. W. COLCORD, Sec.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH
By John Norton Loughborough
California,
SINCE my last report was made, May 31, I have spent my time in Healdsburg, in Santa Rosa, and in San Francisco, prospecting, preparing for and commencing the tent-meeting here.
An item at Santa Rosa I will here mention: Not long since, a disciple minister formerly of Iowa, was preaching in Santa Rosa, and in trying to speak against spiritual gifts, he made reference to an affair which he says happened a few years since in Oskaloosa, Iowa; viz., That Elds. Waggoner and Shortridge were there and taught the people that they could lay their hands on sick persons and they would immediately recover; that Eld. Waggoner became very sick and that he (the disciple minister) told Eld. Shortridge it was a judgment upon them, and his brother would die because he had misrepresented the Bible to the people; and said he, “Now if you have power to lay hands on the sick, why don’t you do it?” He left the impression on the minds of the people that Eld. Waggoner died; and several of his members, when questioned as to what they supposed became of Eld. Waggoner, said, “He died, of course he did,” and they were greatly surprised to learn that he is alive. The disciple elder’s name is Carey. It would be a gratification to some in Santa Rosa to read, in the REVIEW, Bro. Waggoner’s version of this affair, if anything like it ever happened at Oskaloosa.
In Healdsburg, we had a very interesting two-days’ meeting, June 10 and 11, and after the meeting Sunday, a business meeting was held in which it was decided to immediately erect a house of worship 30x40.
We have spent several days during the former part of this month in San Francisco, preparatory to commencing our meetings here. On the trip down, I obtained one subscriber for the REVIEW after a few moments’ conversation, and on the return trip, introduced the Reformer to a stranger with whom I entered into conversation, who said immediately, “I want to take that. I was cured of fever and ague once with water.” We little know what we might do by making efforts in circulating our periodicals.
Our tent was pitched in this place, and meetings commenced on last Friday, June 16. We have already held six meetings. The tent is crowded, and there is deep interest. We have sold all the books we had on topics presented, and are anxiously waiting for the box that was shipped for us some two weeks since. Bro. Cornell arrived and was present at our second meeting. He has spoken twice with good freedom. We trust this effort in San Francisco will not be altogether in vain. Pray for us.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH
San Francisco, Cal.
FALSE FAME AND TRUE:
By Rebekah Smith
While men, our faults perceiving not, would move our
fame to raise,
How oft our natures weakly yield to flattery and praise.
Oh! what in us should e’er excite our vanity and pride?
Or cause us not in lowliness vain thoughts of self to
hide?
Let deeds of charity and love in all our life abound;
Philanthropy fails it not to go where’er a sufferer’s found,
To seek the poor, degraded low, the wicked and de-
based,
Though his own name by slander’s tongue, be ever
thus defaced.
These are the jewels he would gain, this course would
fain pursue;
That he is not like them, he asks, to whom is glory due?
Who made us thus to differ here? who gives the
strength and power
To hold the victory over self in dark temptation’s hour?
Let him who thinks he stands take heed; this is the
word to all;
The strongest may be overcome and through tempta-
tion fall.
Do we in higher circles move? are higher placed by
birth?
No such distinction will be known when moldering in
the earth.
But deeds of kind benevolence will live when we are
dead,
The poor will think how they were clothed and shared
our daily bread;
The once abandoned who’ve reformed beneath our fos-
tering care,
Will bless the day they ever lived our sympathies to
share.
Such the remembrance I would have, alive or in my
grave,
To have been the humble instrument some sinking
soul to save.
For this I turn from pleasure’s scenes to weep with
those that weep,
To strive their sufferings to assuage, their confidence
to keep.
Though on them glows the copper tint, though Afri-
can their race,
What matters these distinctions of their nation, lot, or
place?
For oh! the highest joy of earth is comfort to impart
To those who lie ’neath fortune’s frowns, with sad and
suffering heart.
Though hidden from the public view, unseen your
acts of love,
If heart and hand be clean and pure, their record
lives above.
Let me thus seek my neighbor’s good, thus helpless
sufferers raise;
Be this the glory of my fame; be deeds of love my
praise.
REBEKAH SMITH.
Wisconsin.
By David Downer
“SINCE my last report, I have delivered six lectures at Coon Slough, Vernon Co., Wis. I went from there to Victory where I met Eld. Sanborn. We remained there three days, and delivered three lectures. On first day, April 21, we established a church, and attended to the ordinances. We then went to Coon Slough, and delivered two lectures and baptized two. From there we went to Bad Axe, and preached two discourses.
We next went to Liberty Pole. There we established Systematic Benevolence, and made arrangements to take them under the watch-care of the Conference. While there, a Disciple minister of conceded talent and ability came with the determination to destroy our doctrine, and preached a discourse against the law of God. After his discourse, Bro. Sanborn questioned him. He informed us that we could come to his church and advocate our views by giving him the right of replying every alternate evening to our discourses. He being pastor of a church in the county seat of Vernon county, we thought we would like to accept his offer; but circumstances seemed to forbid. He then waxed jubilant over his frightening us from the presence. We are now confident that Providence interfered; and the elder was surprised on being informed we would commence meetings the second evening following. Eld. Sanborn spoke three evenings; Eld. Cotton reviewed. Eld. Sanborn was then compelled to leave. I informed the people that I would continue the debate, but Eld. C. utterly refused to debate farther unless Bro. Sanborn, would stay and discuss with him. His refuting arguments in the debate were very weak. Several other ministers came forward to help him; and their defeat was not because of a lack of diligence or want of talent, but because of a want of Bible proof. After the debate closed, I remained and preached several sermons.
I shall remain here a short time and then go to Conference. I never felt more confidence in God, or his truth. Dear brethren, let us go on till we stand victorious in the fight. Pray for me, that I may honor God and the cause, and finally meet the faithful in the city. DAVID DOWNER.
Viroqua, Wis., June 10.
Ohio.
By H. A. St. John
MAY 14, Bro. A. A. Hutchins and self commenced meetings in the town hall, in the village of Hartford, Licking Co., Ohio, continued three weeks, omitting three evenings in the time. Closed our meeting there last evening, June 18. The interest has been rather fluctuating. At times the hall has been filled to overflowing, and again but few came out to hear. Last night the house was well filled. There has been no open opposition. But one soul has taken a decided stand to obey the truth, yet others are convinced, some of whom we trust will yet obey.
During this time, I have spoken three times in the school-house in Appleton, and three times in the Methodist church in Bro. Francis' neighborhood, nine miles from Newark. The Lord has helped in speaking the truth, and I would not be ungrateful for his goodness. H. A. ST. JOHN. Appleton, Ohio.
Christian Forbearance
It is easy to talk of Christian forbearance among neighbors, but to practice it ourselves proves us to be Christian indeed.
The Millennium.
By E. W. Boynton
The doctrine called the temporal millennium is pleasant food to worldly-minded professors. They can enjoy a life of pleasure, follow the dictates of their own carnal hearts, and be ready to reign with Christ a thousand years here upon the earth. Where is the promise of this reign here a thousand years? Rev. 20 does say that those who have part in the first resurrection shall reign with Christ a thousand years, and that on such the second death hath no power. But the reign does not refer to this earth, for when they “reign with Christ,” they stand upon the sea of glass, Rev. 15: 2, which is before the throne. Chap. 4: 6. The Lord who looks upon sin with no degree of allowance, could not make his abode in such a sin-polluted world as this.
Matt. 13 teaches us that the children of the wicked one shall continue until the end, showing plainly that all the world will not be converted before the second advent of Christ. In Matt. 24, Luke 18, and 2 Tim. 3 and 4, we do not read that the last days will be “glorious,” that all will be love, peace, and harmony, which are the fruits of conversion, but rather “perilous” times. Thus do we see it verified each day as we look around us. Never in the history of the world have there been more murders, suicides, thefts, and iniquity of every description, committed than at the present day. A very poor preparation, truly, for the millennium!
Why do ministers preach from the pulpit the conversion of the world? Upon what are such strange theories founded? Certainly not upon the Scriptures. For we read that the days of the Son of Man shall be as the days of Noah were. Matt. 24: 37-39. He preached and worked one hundred and twenty years, and only eight persons (members of his own family) were saved in the ark. So shall it be when Christ shall come in the clouds of glory; but very few will be ready to welcome that glorious day.
The hope of the true church is not in the conversion of the world, but in the personal coming of Christ and the resurrection of the just. Acts 23: 6; 1 Thess. 4: 16. Do we who understand these things realize that the day of the Lord is just at hand, even at the doors? Are we willing to sit with folded hands and let sinners rush to destruction all around us? Let us awake to the awful condition of souls who slumber in sin, and may the day of Judgment not find our garments stained with their blood. The poor sinner knows not how to come to Jesus, clouds hang over him thick and heavy; the way is dark; shall we, by our acts, refuse him the information which will guide him to the path of glory? Let us not be weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not. E. W. BOYNTON.
Williamsburgh, N. Y.
Manners and Morals.
MANNERS easily and rapidly mature into morals. As childhood advances to manhood, the transition from bad manners to bad morals is almost imperceptible. Vulgar and obscene forms of speech keep vulgar and obscene objects before the mind, engender impure images in the imagination, and make unlawful desires prurient. From the prevalent state of the mind, actions proceed, as water rises from a fountain. Hence, what was originally only a word or phrase, becomes a thought, is meretriciously embellished by the imagination, is enflamed into a vicious desire, gains strength and boldness by being always made welcome, until at last, under some urgent temptation, it dares, for once to put on the visible form of action; it is then ventured upon again and again, more frequently and less warily, until repetition forges the chain of habit, and then language, imagination, desire, and habit, bind their victim in the prison-house of sin. In this way profane language wears away the reverence for things sacred and holy; and a child who has been allowed to follow, and mock, and hoot, at an intemperate man in the streets, is far more likely to become intemperate himself than if he had been accustomed to regard him with pity, as a fallen brother, and with sacred abhorrence, as one self-brutified or demonized. So, on the other hand, purity and chasteness of language tend to preserve purity and chasteness of thought and of taste; they repel licentious imaginings; they delight in the unsullied and untainted, and all their tendencies and aptitudes are on the side of virtue.—Sel.
Trials Reveal Character
It is not until we have passed through the furnace that we are made to know how much dross was in our composition.
Draw upon content for the deficiencies of fortune.
Shall we Heed the Warning?
By JOS. CLARKE
As I read Testimony, No. 20, I thought of Prov. 17 : 16 : “Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool, to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?”
Here are twenty pointed, thrilling Testimonies, and I fear few of us are heeding them as we should. Oh, the forbearance, the patience, and the mercy of God! There is something here for all; truths, reproofs, warnings, invitations, counsel, comfort, instruction. None may say, This is not for me; but here we find truths of general application. But alas! not all are disposed to receive the heavenly testimony. To such we say, Your loss is infinite. Does God stoop to converse with fallen man? and does poor man turn away his ear?
Much is said in this Testimony to leading brethren, who have been called of God to bear burdens. These are men, some of them, who have toiled and labored hard in the work. They are dear to us, for their works’ sake. But they are human. Let us pray much for them, as they go forth to fight in this terrible contest. Satan, who knows the weakness of man, directs his fiercest attacks at those who lead out. He counts the value of experienced officers, and, if possible, will destroy them.
Brethren, let us gird on the armor anew, and unitedly go forth, in the strength of the Lord. He will protect us amid the perils of the last days. If we heed these testimonies, with humility and devotion to the cause, with an unspotted life, and a zealous, laborious effort in the cause of God, we may overcome.
Here is a prize put into our hands to get wisdom; have we a heart to procure this great reward? A man having a capital put into his hand, for the acquisition of wealth, would certainly be foolish to let it lie idle till old age closed the scene; how much more when such an offer as this is made to us of eternal life. JOS. CLARKE.