VERSE 1. And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God; 2. For true and righteous are his judgments; for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. 3. And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.
Continuing the subject of chap. xviii, the apostle here introduces the song of triumph which the redeemed saints strike up on victor harps, when they behold the complete destruction of that great system of opposition to God and his true worship, comprehended in great Babylon. This destruction takes place and this song is sung in connection with the second coming of Christ at the commencement of the thousand years. There can but one query arise on this scripture, and that is, how it can be said that her smoke rose up for ever and ever. Does not this language imply eternity of suffering? Let it be remembered that this is borrowed language, and to gain an understanding of it, we shall do well to go back to its first introduction and consider its import as there used. In Isa. xxxiv, if we mistake not, will be found the language from which such expressions as these are borrowed. Under the figure of Idumea a certain destruction is brought to view, and it is said of that land that its streams should be turned into pitch, its dust into brimstone, that it should become burning pitch and not be quenched night nor day, but that its smoke should go up for ever. Now this language is spoken, as all must concede, of one of two things: either of some particular country called Idumea, or of the whole earth under that name. In either case we shall see that the language must be limited. We think the whole earth is meant, from the fact that the chapter opens with an address to the earth and all that is therein, the world and all that come forth of it; and the indignation of the Lord is declared to be upon all nations. Now whether this refers to the depopulation and desolation of the earth at the second advent, or to the purifying fires that shall purge it of the effects of the curse at the end of the thousand years, the language must still be limited; for after all this, a renovated earth is to come forth, and be the abode of the nations of the saved, throughout eternity. Three times this expression of smoke going up forever is used in the Bible: once here in Isa. xxxiv, of the land of Idumea as a figure of the earth, again in Rev. xiv, of the worshippers of the beast and image, and again in the chapter of Revelation we are now considering, spoken of the destruction of great Babylon; and all of them we understand, apply to the very same time and the very same scenes, namely, the destruction visited upon this earth, the worshippers of the beast, and all the pomp of great Babylon at the second advent of our Lord and Saviour.
Verse 4. And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshiped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. 5. And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God all ye his servants, and ye that fear him both small and great. 6. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia; the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 7. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
The Lord God omnipotent, the Father, reigneth, is the language of this song. He reigns at the present time, and has ever reigned, in reality; but sentence against an evil work has not been executed speedily, and now he reigns by open manifestations of his power in the reduction of all his foes.
"Rejoice . . . for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready." Who is the "bride the Lamb's wife," and what is the marriage? A vast field for thought is here opened, and material furnished for a more lengthy exposition than time or space will permit us here to give. Suffice it to say that our position here is briefly this: That the Lamb's wife is the New Jerusalem which is above. This will be noticed more fully in Thoughts on chap. xxi. That the marriage of the Lamb is his reception of this city. When he receives this city, he receives it as the ornament and metropolis of his kingdom; hence he receives with it, his kingdom and the throne of his father David. This we understand to be the event designated by the marriage of the Lamb. That the marriage relation is often taken to illustrate the union between Christ and his people, is granted, but the marriage of the Lamb here spoken of, is a definite event to take place at a definite time; and if the declaration that Christ is the head of the church as the husband is head of the wife, Eph. v, 23, proves that the church is now the Lamb's wife, then the marriage of the Lamb took place away in the past; but that cannot be according to this scripture which locates it in the future. Paul told his Corinthian converts that he had espoused them to one husband even Christ. This is true of all converts. But while this figure is used to denote the relation that they then assumed to Christ, was it a fact that the marriage of the Lamb took place in Corinth in Paul's day, and that it has been going on for the past eighteen hundred years? Further remarks on this point are deferred to a consideration of chap. xxi.
But if the city is the bride, it may be asked how it can be said that she hath made herself ready? Answer. By the figure of personification, which attributes life and action to inanimate objects. See a notable instance in Ps. cxiv. Again, a query may arise on verse 8, how a city can be arrayed in the righteousness of the saints. But if we consider that a city without inhabitants would be but a dreary and cheerless place, we see at once how this is. Reference is had to the countless number of its glorified inhabitants in their shining apparel. This raiment was granted to her. What is granted to her? Isa. liv, and Gal. iv, 21-31, will explain. To the new-covenant city are granted many more children than to the old. These are her glory and rejoicing. The goodly apparel of this city, so to speak, consists of the hosts of the redeemed and immortal ones, who walk the golden streets.
Verse 9. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage-supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. 10. And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus; worship God; for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Many are the allusions to this marriage-supper in the New Testament. It is referred to in the parable of the marriage of the king's son, Matt. xxii, 1-14, again in Luke xiv, 16-24. It is the time when we shall eat bread in the kingdom of God, when we are recompensed at the resurrection of the just. Luke xiv, 12-15. It is the time when we shall drink the fruit of the vine new with our Redeemer in his heavenly kingdom. Matt. xxvi, 29; Mark xiv, 25; Luke xxii, 18. It is the time when we shall sit at his table in the kingdom, Luke xxii, 30, and he will gird himself and come forth and serve us. Luke xii, 37. Blessed indeed are they who have the privilege of partaking of this glorious feast.
A word on verse 10, to take it out of the hands of those who think they find here an argument for consciousness in death. The mistake which such persons make on this scripture is in supposing the angel declares to John that he is one of the old prophets, come back to communicate with him. The person employed in giving the Revelation to John is called an angel, and angels are not the departed spirits of the dead. Whoever takes the position that they are, is to all intents a Spiritualist; for this is the very key-stone of their infamous theory. But the angel says no such thing. He simply says that he is the fellow-servant of John, as he had been the fellow-servant of his brethren the prophets. The term fellow-servant implies that they were all on a common footing as servants of the great God; hence he was not a proper object for John to worship.
Verse 11. And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of kings, and Lord of lords. 17. And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 18. That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. 19. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 20. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
With verse 11, a new scene is introduced. We are here carried back to the second coming of Christ, this time under the symbol of a warrior riding forth to battle. Why is he represented thus? Because he is going forth to war—to meet "the kings of the earth and their armies," and this would be the only proper character in which to represent him on such an occasion. His vesture is dipped in blood. See a description of the same scene in Isa. lxiii, 1-4. The armies of heaven, the angels of God, follow him. Verse 15 shows how he rules the nations with a rod of iron, when they are given him for an inheritance, as recorded in the second psalm, which popular theology interprets to mean the conversion of the world. But would not such expressions as treading the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God, be a very singular description of a work of grace upon the hearts of the heathen for their conversion?
Christ has at this time closed his mediatorial work, and laid off his priestly robes for kingly attire; for he has on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. This is in harmony with the character in which he here appears; for it was the custom of warriors anciently to have some kind of a title inscribed upon their vesture.
Verse 17. What shall we understand by the angel standing in the sun? In chap. xvi, 17, we read of the seventh vial being poured out into the air; from which it was inferred that, as the air is a universal element, that plague would be universal. May we not apply the same principle of interpretation here, and conclude that the angel standing in the sun and issuing his call from thence to the fowls of heaven to come to the supper of the great God, denotes that his proclamation will go wherever the sun's rays reach upon this earth? And the fowls will be obedient to the call, and fill themselves with the flesh of kings, captains, mighty men, and horses. Thus while the saints are partaking of the marriage-supper of the Lamb, the wicked are themselves food for the fowls of heaven.
The beast and the false prophet are taken. The false prophet is the one that works miracles before the beast. This proves him to be identical with the two-horned beast of chap. xiii, to whom the same work, for the very same purpose is there attributed. The fact that these are cast alive into the lake of fire, shows that these powers will not pass away and be succeeded by others, but be living powers at the second advent of Christ.
It appears from verse 21, that there is a remnant not numbered with the beast or false prophet. These are slain by the sword of him that sits upon the horse, which sword proceeds out of his mouth. This sword is doubtless what is spoken of elsewhere as the spirit of his mouth, and breath of his lips, with which the Lord shall slay the wicked at his appearing and kingdom. Isa. xi, 4; 2 Thess. ii, 8.
Questions and Answers.
By James White
QUESTION. BRO. WHITE: Will you please to enlighten my mind on the following: What proportion of the world have received a knowledge of the Bible? or in other words, have heard the gospel preached? A minister of the M. E. church in opposing our position in regard to the soon coming of the Saviour, says we err, and quotes Matt. xxiv, 14, and then states that five-sixths of the inhabitants of the globe still remain in darkness.
ANSWER. Matt. xxiv, 14, is used by many as proof that the gospel is yet to be preached to all nations, that every individual of every nation is to hear it, believe it, and be made holy by it, and, what then? The end? No: a thousand years of universal holiness in this mortal state. Our Lord makes no such declaration. Read Matt. xxiv, 14, again with care. "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come." There is not a word in the text in reference to the influence of this gospel upon any person's mind. It was to be preached as a witness.
Paul could say in his day that the hope of the gospel "was preached to every creature which is under heaven," Col. i, 23, and that "their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world," yet he nowhere tells us that it made all men holy. God has never proposed to do more with the gospel than to take out of the nations a people for his name. Acts xv, 14. The gospel, like the bright orb of day, arose in the East, is now setting in the West. Nations who once had the gospel have forgotten God. Says David, "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." Ps. ix, 17. See Brief Exposition of Matt. xxiv.
QUESTIONS. Are all infants saved? or only those of believing parents? Is there any evidence that adult children will be saved through the faith of their parents?
ANSWER. If it were very important that we should know whether all infants would, or would not, be saved, we think the Bible would have been very plain on the point. We have no settled faith on this point; but if we had, we should sin in taking time and space to give our views, to occupy the minds of the readers of the Review with a subject which is in no ways connected with the salvation of those who are accountable. We would rather call the attention of those who are accountable, to the inquiry, "What shall we do" to be saved?
Faith without works is dead anywhere. We believe it possible for holy parents to so train their children in faith, that when they are grown up they will not depart from the Lord.
QUESTIONS. Is it in harmony with the fourth commandment for Sabbath-keepers to go to the post-office on the Sabbath to get the Review, and especially to take out letters and political papers? If they allow their children under their control to do so, will they be free?
ANSWER. Ex. xx, 8-10. "Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates.
We are fully responsible for the conduct of son, daughter, or hired help, or visitors, who are with us on the Sabbath. We never take our mail from the post-office on the Sabbath. We think there might be some extreme case where it would not be wrong.
QUESTIONS. BRO. WHITE: Is it right and consistent for us who believe with all our hearts in the immediate coming of the Lord, to seek to give our children an education? If so, should we send them to a district or town school, where they learn twice as much evil as good?
ANSWER. The fact that Christ is very soon coming is no reason why the mind should not be improved. A well-disciplined and informed mind can best receive and cherish the sublime truths of the Second Advent.
Again, if children's minds are not elevated and occupied with harmless studies, they may be with things which lead downward to vice. To take children from school, where they would receive some sort of discipline, and let them run in the streets, as some have done, to get a corrupt street education, is but little less than insanity.
The corrupting influences to which children are exposed, when not under the direct influence and proper discipline of godly parents, are deplorable. But children must have discipline or they will go to ruin. If they do not receive discipline at home, they should go where they can receive it, even if they be exposed to the common evils of our schools. Disciplined young minds may resist common evils, while the undisciplined are certain to run to ruin.
No general rule can apply to all children. We must take into the account a variety of circumstances; viz., the character of the schools, embracing both teachers and students, the dispositions of our children, the instructions and government they receive at home, &c., &c. Mothers, if they are what they should be, are the best teachers of small children. But many cruelly send them to school to get them out of the way.
We have not sent our children to public school till the eldest was fifteen. Considering all the circumstances we fully believe we have acted wisely in keeping them from schools which lacked discipline, and then in sending them when a school was established in our part of the city of the highest order of discipline to be found in common schools.
Report from Bro. Loughborough.
By John Norton Loughborough
BRO. WHITE: I presume many of the brethren and sisters have wondered what I am doing, as they have seen no report from me since the Conference. At this late date I shall only attempt to give a brief sketch of meetings since that time.
Sabbath, Oct. 11, the first Sabbath after the conference, I spent with Bro. Byington at Newton. While there we organized a church of twelve members.
Sabbath Oct. 18, I spent with the brethren at Convis. In the evening I attended to ordaining the elder of the church, and other business, and on Sunday gave one public lecture; but there being two funerals in the neighborhood, I could have no more meetings.
Tuesday, Oct. 21, attended the funeral of a friend in Penfield: had a very interesting time preaching on the occasion.
Sabbath and first-day, Oct. 25 & 26, I spent at Charlotte with Bro. Byington. Gave four discourses which were listened to with deep interest. The evening after the Sabbath we organized a church of seventeen members, who adopted the plan of Systematic Benevolence, amounting to over $80 per year. Sunday morning three were baptized by Bro. Byington.
Monday, Oct. 27, we organized a church of eight members at West Windsor.
Sabbath and first-day, Nov. 1 & 2, in company with Bro. Byington, visited the brethren at Parkville. Organized a church there of seventeen members. Two were baptized during this meeting. Good attention was given to the word spoken.
Sunday evening, Nov. 2, took some steps toward organizing a church of eight members in Vicksburgh.
Sabbath, Nov. 8, I spent at Assyria. Gave two public lectures. Found a few there trying to keep the commandments.
Sunday, Nov. 9, I gave two discourses at Penfield, which were listened to with marked attention.
Thursday, Nov. 13, in company with Bro. Byington, organized a church of twelve members at Bowne. Had a very interesting time.
Sabbath and first-day, Nov. 15 and 16, we spent at Lowell. Gave two public lectures, but as the appointment was not very thoroughly circulated, but few came in. Had quite an interesting time with the brethren and sisters. Organized a church of seventeen members who have adopted systematic benevolence, amounting to about $100 per year.
Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 17 and 18, we spent with the brethren and sisters at Caledonia. After spending some fourteen hours in consultation and preaching, we succeeded in organizing a church of thirty-four members, who also adopted systematic benevolence, amounting to over $105 per year.
Nov. 22-24, we were at the Quarterly meeting at Greenville, with Brn. White and Hull. Preached once, and assisted in organizing West Plains church, of ten members.
Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 25, we had meeting at North Plains, at the house of sister Brigham. Organized the North Plains church, of nine members.
Wednesday Nov. 26th drove twenty-six miles and had meeting in the evening with a few Brn. and sisters who came together and expressed themselves as much encouraged.
Thursday Nov. 27th we drove twenty-three miles to Bro. Reuben Griggs' to Owasso. Had meeting in the evening at the house of Bro. Griggs who called in the Brn. and sisters and some of his neighbors to hear a discourse on present truth and present duty. While striving to instruct others our own souls were watered.
Friday, Nov. 28, drove twenty-six miles over very bad road to St. Charles, to attend the quarterly meeting appointed there. Something like forty brethren and sisters attended this meeting, which was a season of refreshing and profit. The Spirit of the Lord was present to unite hearts, and all declared their determination to press together, and be more in earnest in the work of the Lord. Sunday morning Bro. Byington baptized four brethren and sisters from Chesaning. We gave several public lectures here, but only a few came in, as word had been circulated by some one that our meetings were private, and we did not want any one present but Sabbath-keepers.
Tuesday, Dec. 2, we drove to East Thetford by way of Saginaw City, a distance of forty-one miles, and sixteen miles of it the worst road in the country. Had meeting Wednesday evening and Thursday afternoon and evening, with the Sabbath-keepers of Thetford. Gave one public discourse, and spent the rest of the time in considering the subject of church order and systematic benevolence. Enrolled the names of thirteen, and appointed a leader over them for the present. Organized systematic benevolence. Appointed a treasurer and church clerk.
We spent from Friday evening, Dec. 5, to Monday evening, Dec. 8, in Quarterly meeting at Lapeer. The house of worship was well filled with brethren and sisters from Oakland, Milford, Thetford, North Branch, &c. Our minds seemed especially drawn out to make an effort for the children and young among Sabbath-keepers. At our first invitation nine came forward desiring the prayers of the church. Monday afternoon five more joined them, making in all fourteen that expressed their desires to make a start for the kingdom. After meeting on Monday, eight were baptized, six of them members of the Sabbath school and Bible class, who had just made a start to serve the Lord. We left the brethren with a spirit of labor upon them, and with determinations to strive to carry on the good work that has been begun there. May the Lord bless them. We have meeting here to-day to organize a church.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
Oakland, Mich., Dec. 10, 1862.
The Energy of Infidels and the Progress of Error.
By B. F. Snook
Satan is now doing a great work and is preparing to do a greater and more astonishing work than he has ever done. He is moving and leading the great masses of the human family. In order to carry on his work successfully, he employs every agent within his reach. He is old, cunning, and well posted, and is using his powers to his best advantage. He is preparing all under his control for destruction. It is truly an astonishing sign of the times to see and realize the extent of his work, and the success with which he is carrying it on.
There is the press, which all admit is the mightiest engine for the dissemination of religious light; and that more good is now being effected through its use than through any other means. Satan, well aware of its power, seizes it, and wields in an opposite direction, to the effecting of ten-fold more evil than all the good that results from its use. The sentiments of infidelity, atheism, skepticism, Spiritualism, Mormanism, immortal-soulism, and a host of other isms, all of which are at deadly hostility with the word of God, are being30published in all popular periodicals of the day, and are read and believed by the millions, while, on the other hand, the true doctrine of the Bible is rejected as heresy, and its believers as unworthy heretics.
Satan controls the greater part of the presses of the whole world, and is editor-in-chief of all the publications which continually teem from them. The Edinburg Review says:
"The total annual issue of immoral publications has been stated at 29,000,000; being more than the total issues of the Society for promoting Christian knowledge, the Religious Tract Society, the British and Foreign Bible Society, the Trinitarian Bible Society, the Scottish Bible Society, and some seventy religious Magazines."
It affirms that in the year A. D. 1851 the purely infidel press in London issued publications to the amount of more than twelve millions. The issues of avowed atheism during the same period exceeded six hundred and forty thousand; and in addition to these were issued upward of seventeen millions and a half of a negative or corrupting character. All this is exclusive of what are properly called newspapers.
With such a torrent of corruption as the above, and with millions of souls thirsting for it, what an immense amount of wickedness Satan can effect! Truly he has "come down with great wrath, knowing that his time is short." He is stirring up the nations to anger, and is fanning the blaze that will envelop the wicked in the conflagration of the last day. All, save the elect or chosen of God, will fall a prey to his deceptions and fury.
While the great enemy is thus busily engaged, let the people of God awake.
"''Tis time we all awake
'Tis surely death to sleep."
We must arouse and gird us for the conflict. Let us gird on the armor. Hold up the banner—The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, embracing the testimony of Jesus, which is the spirit of prophecy. Let this be our covering, and we need not fear the attacks of the enemy. But if he can but influence some poor, trembling, faint-hearted soul to doubt the testimony or spirit of prophecy, he feels to rejoice that his prey is sure.
Dear brethren, to the tempter's voice, close heart, and eye, and ear. He will persuade you to disbelieve the commandments if he can. But if he fails in this, he will try to terrify you to reject the visions. He will say that you can keep the commandments and be saved without the visions. But do not listen. Resist him with the word of the Lord—"Despise not prophesyings," &c., and he will flee every time. He hates the visions, and those who believe and love them; but he loves them who disbelieve and reject them. He loves to smell their tobacco smoke, their polluted breath, and is delighted to see their large hoops, &c. He is much pleased with their meetings, their dry, formal prayers, and powerless testimonies. He rejoices over these, because he knows they are an abomination to the Lord. In short, he loves such a people. They are his people.
But the people of God must prepare for war. It is coming. The dragon is angry, and has sworn in his wrath that he will overthrow the remnant if he can. We must hedge up his way, close up his inroads, shut out his doubts; for if he can make you entertain his doubts, you will soon give heed to an evil heart of unbelief, and you will next depart from the living God.
The truths of the third angel's message have been tested and tried. Let us therefore believe with all the heart, and do with all our might, and we will be strengthened to stand against all the enemy's power. May the Lord be with us, and help us to be faithful to the end.
B. F. SNOOK.
The War.
By J. M. Aldrich
PERHAPS a word is due from me on the war-question, since I was invited, with others, to write on the subject, and also from the fact that I was among the first to dissent from Bro. White's views, as expressed in the article entitled, "The Nation." I have to say that I have been very much interested, and I trust benefited, from the discussion of the question by the different brethren who have expressed themselves through the Review. And now, though I do not feel qualified to enter into a Bible argument on the subject, and much less produce a "well-written" article thereon, yet I will frankly say that with my limited understanding of the matter, I am still inclined to stand on the no-fight side of the question. But in taking such a position, I desire to say that I would wish to be divested of all fanaticism, and would not, in my relations with the world, exercise undue zeal in the matter. I would not from any inconsiderate word or act, recklessly expose myself to the contempt of my fellow-men, or thus render myself obnoxious to the laws of the land. I would desire to show, from my daily intercourse with the world, that though claiming in a religious sense to be but a sojourner here, seeking another country, yet I was not unmindful of the country that protected me during such sojourn, and that I was not without deep sympathy for the same, in view of the terrible struggle she is now passing through.
Let us avoid the "extremes" that Brn. White and Cornell have spoken of, and I doubt not our position as a people in relation to the use of carnal weapons will be such as God will approve. Notwithstanding all that has been said, pro and con, about resisting a draft, I am inclined to think that our discrepancy of views is more apparent than real. I think the discrepancy is more in the use of terms, than in the question itself. We speak of resisting a draft. What do we mean by resistance? I have made some use of the term of late, among some of our brethren, in advocating the no-fight doctrine; but I never thought of associating therewith the idea of a riotous proceeding, such as already has occurred in some localities. I am not that kind of non-resistant, or "fervent advocate of peace," mentioned by Bro. White, that would, at all hazards, "have peace if he had to fight for it."
Bro. Cornell, in speaking of Daniel and the three worthies, says, "They did not attempt to resist the authorities." It is true they made no ugly threats, flourished no weapons, and shed no blood; but, boldly they stood up before the king, contrary to his command, and said, "We will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." Doubtless they meant just what they said, yet had no intention of getting up a riot, or of making any forcible resistance. Now if it may be said of them that "they did not attempt to resist the authorities," I think I can join heartily with Bro. White and say that it would be "madness to resist a military draft;" for certainly I would not think of taking any stronger position than they took; and indeed, I am rather inclined to think that in case of a military draft, I should modify somewhat their language, and say cannot, instead of will not.
Much perplexity is frequently prevented by rightly understanding the definite use made of certain terms. I confess I was considerably startled at the position taken, or rather supposed to be taken, by Bro. White in his article on The Nation, and my faith, like Bro. Carver's, "was terribly shaken." But from subsequent articles written by Bro. White on the same subject, I became convinced that I did not rightly understand his position. I am now satisfied that there is not half, nor indeed the smallest fraction, of fight in Bro. White that I at first supposed he sanctioned.
O let us trust, that by and by,
We shall see plainly, eye to eye.
To conclude my article, and for the purpose of rebutting an idea that has been frequently advanced, I will remark that in my opinion whatsoever reasons, if any, may have existed in years or centuries gone by, for God's people to fight, such reasons, in the light of present truth, and in view of our faith in the soon coming of our Saviour—the establishment of his kingdom, and the consequent downfall of all earthly kingdoms—do not now exist. Formerly the Sabbath was trodden under foot; and doubtless many of God's chosen ones that were in the continual violation of his holy day before the light of present truth dawned upon the world, were held guiltless for the same. But another period has arrived, and the case is quite different now. The Lord has reserved special light for his people, to be revealed in these last days. The law of God, or ten commandments, is the standard which the Spirit of the Lord has already lifted up preparatory to the coming of the Redeemer to Zion. Isa. lix, 19, 20.
And while we have been enabled by the aid and light of this standard to be placed right in regard to the Sabbath, or fourth commandment, it seems to me that if we still cling to the standard, and receive the light specially designed for these last days, we shall be able to take a right position in regard to that other commandment which says, "Thou shalt not kill." The Lord help us all so to do.
"Come To Prayer."
"O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker."
Come to the place of prayer!
Parents and children, come and kneel before
Your God, and with united hearts adore
Him whose alone your life and being are.
Come to the place of prayer!
Ye band of loving hearts; O come and raise,
With one consent, the grateful song of praise,
To him who blessed you with a lot so fair!
Come in the morning hour!
Who, who hath raised you from the dream of night?
Whose hand hath poured around the cheering light?
Come and adore that kind and heavenly power.
Come at the close of day!
Ere wearied nature sinks in gentle rest;
Come, and let all your sins be here confessed;
Come, and for his protecting mercy pray.
Has sorrow's withering blight
Your dearest hopes in desolation laid,
And the once cheerful home in gloom arrayed?
Yet pray, for He can turn the gloom to light.
Has sickness entered in
Your peaceful mansion? then let prayer ascend,
On wings of faith, to that all-gracious Friend,
Who came to heal the bitter pains of sin.
Come to the place of prayer!
At morn, at night, in gladness or in grief—
Surround the throne of grace; there seek relief,
Or pay your free and grateful homage there.
So in the world above
Parents and children all may meet at last,
When this life's weary pilgrimage is past,
To mingle their rejoicing notes of love.
Long Cherished Views.
By M. W. H.
Conversing, not long since with a young lady of more than ordinary intelligence, our conversation turned upon the various phases of Christian belief; and among other things, we spoke of the pertinacity with which most cling to established ideas, even in the face of direct scripture to the contrary. I then referred to the popular expectation based on Isa. ii, from verse 17 to close of the chapter. When she had read it, I inquired, "Which, do you understand are to go into the clefts of the rocks?" "Why," she replied, "just which it says, the people." "Just so," I answered "and how any one with a common understanding of English grammar can think otherwise, I cannot see; and yet, we heard our minister pray this afternoon, 'that the idols might be cast to the moles and the bats, to go into the clefts of the rocks.'" "What fear of the Lord," was the suggestion of another, "could the idols have? Yet inspiration says they were thus abandoned, 'for fear of the Lord and the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth!'" And replied I, with this consistent view, how perfectly in harmony is Rev. vi, 15, 16, and 17; and how clearly is shown that mankind will cling to their various idols, till compelled to drop them, as themselves flee in their vain attempts, to escape from "the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; because the great day of his wrath is come!"
M. W. H.
Malone, N. Y.
The Evil Tongue Begins in the Heart
By Leighton
The cure of an evil tongue must be done at the heart. The weight and wheels are there, and the clock strikes according to their motion. A guileful heart makes a guileful tongue and lips. It is the workhouse where is the forge of deceits and slanders; and the tongue is only the outer shop where they are vended, and the door of it. Such ware as is made within, such, and no other can come out.—Leighton.
HARRIET HICKS
By Harriet Hicks
From Sister Hicks.
Bro. WHITE: United in one faith I cannot feel as an entire stranger to one who takes a stand in setting forth the truths of the Bible as they are. I firmly believe that the doctrines the Seventh-day Adventists teach are plainly the doctrines of the Bible. I was a Spiritualist, Universalist, and infidel, united, as a person could hardly be one without the other. A year ago last September I heard Eld. Cornell deliver one discourse on the prophecies in Waterloo, Iowa, afterwards we obtained all the leading books that make up the substance of the Adventist faith. My eyes were opened to my position. I saw myself a sinner and began to cry to God for mercy. The few that came out on the side of Bible truth in Waterloo formed themselves into an association and had their meetings on the Sabbath. I attended these meetings all through the winter, still crying to God for mercy. I would at times feel that my prayers were answered and my sins were pardoned and that I could live in the light of the divine countenance reconciled; but the clouds would return again. Thus the winter wore on, Bro. Snook came and preached for us. I felt free from sin under his preaching, and yet I had not performed all the duties that were required of me. My husband was much opposed to immersion and as I had been sprinkled when an infant, I held back. We all held back, I think from doing our whole duty and we did not organize.
Since then we have removed to our old home in Indiana. I did not know how dear our Sabbath meetings had become until I have had to do without them. My husband is not a professor, yet he believes the seventh day is the Sabbath, and nominally observes it.
I believe there are some honest-hearted ones here, who if they could hear the truth as the Adventists set it forth would be convinced. How I long to meet with some of a like faith. The people here had never heard of Saturday keeping, excepting the Seventh-day Baptists. Some say we are Jews, others say Monday is the first day of the week. O how I hope that there is a remnant of God's Israel here and that they will be brought out. I want to live in such a manner that I may not be a reproach to the cause I love.