p. 136 | Review and Herald, Vol. 8, No. 17. (8/28/1856)

Earlier text: HISTORY OF THE WORLDLY SANCTUARY

The Final Event.

By Editor

OVER the signature of "Zeta," the Christian Chronicle has the following article under the above head. It is good orthodox doctrine.

"Depend upon it, dear reader, we live in eventful times. Prophecy is now in a state of fulfillment, that the future history of the world, should it long continue, must be uninspired. The last page of Revelation is now open before us, and we wait with an assured confidence yet with the most intense anxiety, for the accomplishment of what is there written—for the final event of time—for the great and terrible day of the Lord.

"In the language of Bonar, 'we are living in an age of the world when every hill is passed up which the church had to climb ere it came in full sight of the plain, along which shall come the Son of man in his chariot of glory.' Standing upon our watch-tower, we are looking out amid the darkness of the night for the first streaks of morn; with ears intent we are waiting to catch the first blast of the trumpet; with eyes uplifted, we are gazing upon the gathering brightness; and with impatient longing, our hearts cry out, 'Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly.'

"Every circumstance in the providential government of God indicates the near approach of some great event. The signs of the times are significant and portentous. Who knows but the present convulsions among the nations, the casting down of the thrones, the overthrow which Popery has had, where, for centuries, it has been dominant—the fulfillment of prophecy in relation to the coming of scoffers—and the sad falling away in the piety and moral power of the church—who knows but these are the fearful forerunners, the dreadful harbingers, of that glorious day that is to witness the perfect redemption of God's people, and the purification of a sin-cursed earth?

"But whether these be the Lord's appointed signs or not, resting upon the sure word of prophecy, and animated by the blessed hope of the gospel, we still look for the day of his coming.

"In the events of that day we are individually and deeply interested. Our eternal destiny hangs upon its decisions. May we all be ready to welcome its dawn!

"O, that each, in the day of His coming, may say, I have fought my way through; I have finished the work thou didst give me to do. O, that each from his Lord, may receive the glad word, Well and faithfully done; Enter into my joy, and set down on my throne."

H O P E.

Ho! all ye weary souls that grope Along this vale of tears, Your minds ne'er filled with buoyant hope, But with forboding fears: Look upward, upward as ye go; Cease, then, this dull repining; There's ne'er a cloud, howe'er so dark; But hath a silver lining.

Ho! all ye weary, mourning ones, Who wander broken-hearted, Dissevered long from native homes, From cherished friends long parted: Look upward, and these words ye'll see, In golden letters shining: There's ne'er a cloud, howe'er so dark, But hath a silver lining.

And should misfortune's clouds arise, And dim the light of day, Or adverse winds blow cold around Your tenement of clay, Look upward, where seraphic Hope Her heavenly wreath is twining— There's ne'er a cloud, howe'er so dark, But hath a silver lining.

RESISTANCE TO RIDICULE.

By Sidney Smith

Learn from the earliest days to insure your principles against the peril of ridicule. You can no more exercise your reason if you live in the constant dread of laughter, than you can enjoy your life if you are in the constant terror of death.

If you think it right to differ from the times, to make a point of morals, do it, however rustic, however pedantic it may appear; do it, not for insolence, but seriously and grandly—as a man who wore a soul of his own in his bosom, and did not wait till it was breathed into him by the breath of fashion.—Sidney Smith.

The Bible.

ALL arguments against the word of God are fallacies; all conceits against the word are delusions; all derisions against the word is folly; all opposition against the word is madness.

The Bible is open to all; but each should receive it as if addressed to himself alone; let it speak to each in the words of Nathan to David, "Thou art the man."

This one book is worth all the books in the world beside. He who reads this book with attention, humility, prayer, and self-application, can never be ignorant of that which it chiefly concerns him to know.

"Therein are contained the words of eternal life. It has God for its Author, salvation for its object, and truth without mixture of error, for its matter."

"Holy Bible! Book divine! Precious treasure! thou art mine!"

Happiness and Wisdom

"THERE is this difference," says Colton, "between happiness and wisdom: he that thinks himself the happiest man really is so; but he that thinks himself the wisest is generally the greatest fool."

Mischief Makers.

"The mischief makers; Nor do they trust their tongues alone, But speak a language of their own; Can read a nod, a shrug or look, Far better than a printed book; Convey a libel in a frown, Or wink a reputation down."

Severe, But True

SEVERE, BUT TRUE.—The pungent Mr. Ryle, in one of his tracts, gives these sentences:

"The plain truth is, that many believers in the present day seem so dreadfully afraid of doing harm that they hardly ever dare to do any good. There are many who are fruitful in objections, but barren in actions; rich in wet blankets, but poor in anything like Christian fire. They are like the Dutch deputies, who would never allow Marlborough to venture anything, and by their excessive caution prevented many a victory from being won. Truly, in looking round the Church of Christ, a man might think that God's kingdom had come and God's will was being done on earth, so small is the zeal that some believers show. It is vain to deny it."

Watch Against Pride and Hypocrisy

Watch against the motions of pride and hypocrisy, in the presence of any person, whose favor and opinion thou most esteemest. What is man that thou shouldest wish to be judged by man's judgment, or seek applause from men.

The Two-Horned Beast, and How He Has "Come Up."

Under such a heading it may be necessary that we first state explicitly that we regard the Two-horned Beast of Rev. xiii, 11, as a symbol of these United States. Having said this, our meaning will be understood, and the force of the following facts appreciated. John saw this beast "coming up" at the time the other beast (Papacy) received a deadly wound by a sword, which was accomplished by Buonaparte in A. D. 1798. How rapidly it has since been coming up the following "Facts about our Country," from the Boston Transcript, will illustrate:

"The territorial limits of the United States include somewhat more than one third of the area of the continent of North America. The superficial area of the Union amounts to two millions nine hundred and thirty-six thousand one hundred and sixty-six square miles. At the close of the Revolutionary war in 1783, the limits of the United States did not exceed 820,680 square miles. Louisiana, purchased in 1803, had an extent of 899,579 square miles, or more territory than was included in the original States. By the addition of Florida, Texas and New Mexico, more territory was secured than the whole original extent of the United States, so that since the peace of 1783 the country has increased in size more than three fold. The American Republic has a territorial extent nearly ten times as large as that of Great Britain and France combined. It is one sixth less only than the area covered by the fifty-nine empires, states and republics of Europe. Over two-fifths of the national territory is drained by the Mississippi River and its tributaries. The frontier line of the United States on the British possessions is 3803 miles. This is about the distance between Liverpool and Albany. Massachusetts constitutes one three hundred and eightieth part of the national area. The Territories are larger in extent than the States of the Union, the difference in favor of the former being 7946 square miles. The ten largest States have an area that exceeds by 250,000 square miles, the extent of the other twenty-one States. Seventy per cent of the whole territory of the Union is west of the Mississippi River! The slaveholding States have 851,508 square miles, and the non-slaveholding States, 612,597 square miles. Eight of the largest States have an area as large as the remaining twenty-three States. The New England States have about one-fortieth of the territory included in the Union."

The Ten Commands.

I am the Lord thy God, serve only me;
Before no idols bow thy impious knee;
Use not my name in trifles or in jest;
Dare not profane my sacred day of rest;
Ever to parents due obedience pay;
Thy fellow creature man thou shalt not slay;
In no adulterous commerce bear a part;
From stealing keep with care thy hand and heart;
All false reports against thy neighbors hate;
And ne'er indulge a wish for his estate.

FAITH.

By Editor

As we have seen from time to time, of late years, the opposition that has been manifested by some to the operations of the Spirit of God,—an opposition which is equivalent to robbing that Holy Spirit of its office, and denying its effect upon the hearts of men; we were struck with a passage from Dr. Clarke as expressing the true cause of such a state of feeling. In his closing remarks on 2 Sam. v, which treats of some of God's manifestations to David, he says:—

"How is it that such supernatural directions and assistances are not communicated now? Because they are not asked for; and they are not asked for, because they are not expected; and they are not expected because men have not faith; and they have not faith because they are under a refined spirit of atheism, and have no spiritual intercourse with their Maker! Who believes that God sees all things and is everywhere? Who supposes that he concerns himself with the affairs of his creatures? Who acknowledges him in all his ways? Who puts not his own wisdom, prudence and strength, in the place of God Almighty? Reader, hast thou faith in God? Then exercise it, cultivate it, and thou mayest remove mountains."

Spiritualism in Geneva

SPIRITUALISM IN GENEVA.—From Geneva we learn that a set of table turners have constituted themselves into a religious society; they meet regularly in a chapel erected in a spot indicated by the sacred table. There are included in this society (strange as it may appear) wealthy merchants, capitalists, Calvinistic preachers, and a professor of mathematics. It is now two years in existence, and though still small, is gradually and steadily increasing. The first number of a periodical dictated by the table, in very pure and good French, has just appeared, entitled, "Rome, Geneva and the Church of Christ."

Business.

By Editor

W. Holcomb:—Your present remittance pays to Vol. X.

M. S. Prior:—Your letter of Apr. 11th. was safely received with its contents. It was placed to your credit on the book, but accidentally omitted in REVIEW. We receipt in this number.

M. E. Cornell:—Both the papers you name are regularly mailed to their respective addresses. There must be a leak in the Post Office.

The P. O. address of Eld. Joseph Bates is Battle Creek, Mich., care of ADVENT REVIEW. He labors for the present with the Mich. Tent.

Letters.

K. H. Elliot, Wm. C. Peck.

Receipts.

By Editor

Mary Armstrong, E. Merritt, M. Edson, E. Mugford, J. J. Perkins, D. Chase, E. Walworth, Geo. Nichols, Geo. Stone, M. P. Cook, A. J. Wygant, J. Place, E. Shattuck, J. Chase, Chas. Salmon, each $1.

W. Holcomb, C. Cartwright, each $2. M. S. Prior $0.54. I. Brown $0.50. B. Laberteaut $0.25.

REVIEW TO THE POOR.—Jas. E. Titus, Wm. J. Knox, each $1.

Receipts and Pledges for Relief of Office.

By Editor

Of the following sums those that have been paid are so marked. The rest are pledges to be paid before the first of September next.

Jas. E. Titus (pd.) $1. E. Mugford (pd.) $5.

C. G. Cramer (pd.) 5.

FOR MICH. TENT.—Church in Waverly, $2,50.

Receipts for Book Fund.

By Editor

E. P. Below, C. G. Cramer, each $10. E. M. L. Cory, J. K. Belnap, each $5. M. Edson, $4 A. Fenner $3.

Books for Sale at this Office.

By Editor

THE price set to each publication includes both the price of the book, and the postage, when sent by Mail.

HYMNS, for those who keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus This Hymn Book is designed to promote not only public worship, but also social and family devotions. It is a selection of Hymns expressing the faith and hope of the Church as set forth in the Scriptures of truth, free from the popular errors of the age. The Book contains 352 Pages, 430 Hymns and 76 pieces of Music. Price, 60 cents.—In Morocco, 65 cents.

Bible Tracts Bound in Two Volumes. These Volumes are of about 400 pages each, and embrace nearly all of our published Tracts. We are happy to offer to our friends the main grounds of our faith in a style so acceptable.—Price, 50 cents each.

Sabbath Tracts, Nos. 1, 2, 3 & 4. This work presents a condensed view of the entire Sabbath question.—184 pages. Price 15 cents.

The Sanctuary and Twenty-three Hundred Days, by "J. N. A." This work presents a clear exposition of Daniel viii and ix, shows what the Sanctuary is, and the nature of its cleansing. Price 12 1/2 cents.

The Three Angels of Rev. xiv, 6-12, particularly the Third Angel's Message, and the Two-horned Beast. This work maintains the fulfillment of Prophecy in the past Advent movement, and is of great importance in these times of apostasy and peril.—148 pages.—Price 12 1/2 cents.

Review of Crozier. This work is a faithful review of the No-Sabbath doctrine as set forth in the Advent Harbinger by O. R. L. Crozier. It should be placed in the hands of those who are exposed to that heresy.—Price 6 cents.

The Bible Class. This work contains 52 Lessons on the Law of God and the Faith of Jesus, with questions. It is peculiarly adapted to the wants of those of every age who are unacquainted with our views of these subjects, especially the young.—Bound 25 cents. Paper covers, 15 cents.

The Four Universal Monarchies of the Prophecy of Daniel, and the Kingdom of God, to which is added a condensed view of the 2300 days and the Sanctuary.—Price 8 cents.

The Sabbath. Containing valuable articles on 2 Cor. iii; Col. ii, 14-17, Who is our Lawgiver? The two tills of Matt. v, 18, Consistency, &c.—Price 5 cents.

The Law of God In this excellent work the testimony of both Testaments relative to the law of God—its knowledge from Creation, its nature and perpetuity—is presented.—Price 12 1/2 cents.

The Truth Found. A Short Argument for the Sabbath, by J. H. W. This is the best condensed work on the Sabbath extant. Price 6 cents.

Sabbath and Advent Miscellany This work is composed of seven small tracts on the Sabbath, Second Advent, &c., and presents a choice variety for those who commence to seek for Bible truth. Price 10 cents.

The Bible-Sabbath, or a careful selection from the publications of the American Sabbath Tract Society, including their History of the Sabbath. Price 10 cts.

The Atonement. This work opens a wide field of Bible truth, and will be found a valuable assistant in the study of the great theme on which it treats.—196 pp.—18 cents.

Man not Immortal: the only Shield against the Seductions of Modern Spiritualism. Without the great truth that man is not immortal, and that the dead know not anything, none are prepared to stand against wicked spirits in high places. We recommend this work on the immortality question, as an able discussion of the subject.—148 pp.—12 1/2 cents.

An Examination of the Scripture Testimony concerning Man's present condition, and his future Reward or Punishment. By this work is shown the unconscious state of the dead, and the final destiny of the wicked. In this work we consider all objections to the mortality of man and the death of the wicked fairly and fully met. Price 15 cents.

Why Don't you Keep the Sabbath? Extracts from Catholic works.—Price 5 cents.

Signs of the Times. This work presents the historical facts concerning the signs in the Sun, Moon and Stars, points out other signs of the soon coming of Christ, and contains an exposure of Spirit Manifestations.—Price 12 1/2 cents.

A condensed edition of 32 pp., 5 cents.

Last Work of the True Church.—Price 7 cents.

Perpetuity of the Royal Law.—Price 5 cents.

History of the Sabbath.—Price 5 cents.

The 2300 Days and Sanctuary by "U. S."—Price 5 cents.

The Celestial Railroad.—Price 5 cents.

Christian Experience and Views.—Price 6 cents.

Supplement to Experience and Views.—Price 6 cents.

POEMS.

Home Here and Home in Heaven, with other poems. This work embraces all those sweet and Scriptural poems written by Annie R. Smith, from the time she embraced the third message till she fell asleep in Jesus.—Price 25 cents. In paper covers, 20 cents.

Time and Prophecy. This work is a poetic comparison of the events of time with the sure word of Prophecy.—Price 20 cents. In paper covers, 12 1/2 cents.

A Word for the Sabbath. This work is an exposure of the false theories in regard to the Sabbath.—Price 5 cents.

Liberal discount on these works where $5 worth is taken.

The money should accompany all orders, except for the accommodation of those preachers who can better pay for Books after they have sold them.

Address URIAH SMITH, Battle Creek Mich.

Thanks for Returned Review Copies

By Editor

Our friends who have so promptly responded to our call for a few copies of REVIEW No. 13, will accept our thanks. Enough have been received to meet our wants.

Home Here and Home in Heaven

By Editor

As the first lot of the Poem entitled, "Home Here and Home in Heaven," &c., is exhausted, we have had an additional five hundred bound, which are now received from the hands of the binder, and are ready for delivery. The long Poem from which the book takes its title has never appeared in the REVIEW. The same may be said of many of the miscellaneous pieces. As this lot, with the exception of few to be put up in paper covers, is the extent of the entire edition, those who wish to obtain the work must avail themselves of the opportunity before these are sold; as after that we shall not be able to supply their orders. It is neatly bound in muslin, and we will send it to any part of the country, and pay the postage, for 25 cts.

APPOINTMENTS.

By John Norton Loughborough; William S. Ingraham

PROVIDENCE permitting, there will be a tent-meeting in South Barre, Orleans Co., N. Y., where Brn. Smith, Paine and others shall appoint, commencing Sabbath Sept. 13th, and hold over First-day. As this is the only meeting we intend holding in Western N. Y., it is hoped there will be a good attendance of brethren and sisters. Let those who can, bring provision to sustain themselves.

Also a tent-meeting will be held in Bath, Steuben Co., N. Y., commencing Sabbath, Sept. 20th, and hold over First-day.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH. WM. S. INGRAHAM.

Tent Meeting at Princeton

By E. L. Barb.; A. S. Hutchins

PROVIDENCE permitting, there will be a Tent Meeting at Princeton, Mass., commencing Sept. 5th, at 2 o'clock, P. M., and continuing as long as duty requires.

As this is probably the only general meeting for the Church that can be held this season in connection with the Tent, we hope to see a goodly number of the brethren and sisters present. And for the relief of the few Brn. here, we hope the brethren and sisters will come prepared to supply themselves with provision and bedding as far as convenient. Come, brethren and sisters, prepared to labor for the Lord. E. L. BARB. A. S. HUTCHINS.