WHAT we know of Barnabas is found in sacred history; what we know of Zinzendorf is found in the history of the Reformation. Both were men of means; both gave their hearts and lives, as well as their substance, to the cause of Christ. Barnabas was of the first century, Zinzendorf of the eighteenth. The first mention of Barnabas we have is in Acts 4:36, 37, as follows: "And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation [or exhortation, Revised Version], a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet." It can hardly be doubted that this name "consolation" or "exhortation" was given to Barnabas to denote his excellence as a Christian teacher. See Acts 13:1, 2. It will also be noticed that the Spirit of God makes mention of his name before that of the apostle Paul on this occasion. Barnabas is described by Luke as a good man, full of the Holy Ghost and of faith.
From the allusions we have to Barnabas, we learn that he was of note among the disciples. Acts 11:19-24, 30; 9:26, 27. Tradition has it that Barnabas and Saul studied together in the school of Gamaliel, and that Barnabas had labored much for Saul's conversion, which accounts for the interest he took in him afterward. Acts 11:25, 26. He and the apostle Paul were intrusted with the affairs of the church at Antioch, and were chosen to represent it at Jerusalem. Acts 15. And notwithstanding a separation occurred between these two apostles in their labor (Acts 15:39), it is evident that Barnabas continued to labor as an apostle, supporting himself with his own hands, as did the apostle Paul. 1 Cor. 9:6.
Those whom the Saviour called to establish the gospel in the first century, were either penniless, and had nothing but their lives to give to the cause, which they cheerfully did, or became so by a consecration of that which they possessed to the work of the gospel. In either case their all was laid upon the altar of consecration, and was consumed in the work to which they gave it. This has ever been the case in every permanent reform. Christ set the example, and the more closely we follow in his steps the greater the result of our efforts.
It is said that the venerable appearance and the dignified bearing of Barnabas gave him respect wherever he labored. For this reason it is supposed that the heathen selected him to be Jupiter, the father of gods. Acts 14:11-13. The story of the apostle Barnabas is told in a few words: He consecrated his substance, his position, and his all, to the cause of Christ, supporting himself by laboring with his own hands. Tradition says that he died a martyr's death not later than the year 56 or 57 A. D.
Zinzendorf was a nobleman, having a country seat in Upper Lusatia, in Austria. He received his early education from his grandmother, a learned and pious lady. In 1710 he went to Halle, where he spent six years under the special care of Franke, the philanthropist. After this he was appointed a member of the Saxony State Council, but not liking political43life he returned to his country seat in Upper Lusatia. A man by the name of Christian David, a member of the Moravian brethren, who were the descendants of John Huss, and at this time greatly persecuted and scattered, accidentally met Count Zinzendorf. The persecution was so fierce against this people that at this time many of them were placed in dungeons, and others tortured and burnt. The remainder lived in the most secluded spots in the thickest forests, where they kindled fires by night, and around them spent the hours in watchings (fearing discovery), in reading Scriptures, in mutual exhortations, and prayer. Christian David commenced at once to converse with Zinzendorf, upon the Scriptures. He invited Zinzendorf to his house, and described the persecution to which his sect was subjected.
Zinzendorf's sympathy was aroused, and he invited these persecuted friends to settle on his estate, whereupon Christian David induced ten of his brethren from Schlen, Moravia, to settle on the estate of Count Zinzendorf. The Count was absent when they arrived, but they were welcomed by Heitz, his major-domo. Heitz led the little band to a piece of land near a mound, the Hutburg. Cleaving the first tree, Christian David exclaimed, "Here hath the sparrow found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself. . . . even thine altars, O Lord of hosts."
This was on the 17th of June, 1722. On the 17th of October, the exiles entered their own home. Heitz became converted to their faith, and wrote to the Count as follows: "May God bless the work according to his lovingkindness, and grant that your highness may build a city on the watch hill, which may not only stand under the Lord's guardianship, but where all the inhabitants may stand upon the watch of the Lord" (Herrnhut). When their first house was dedicated, Heitz, the major-domo, discoursed to them from these words: "I will set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night; ye that make mention of the Lord keep not silence, and give him no rest till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth."
Zinzendorf, accompanied by his young wife, returned and visited the domain a few months later, and seeing from the highway the new home of the exiles in the forest, descended from his carriage, and hastily entering it, fell upon his knees amid the group of grateful inmates, and, with a full heart, blessed the place. He had secured to this people a pastor of their own faith, and when he was installed, the officiating pastor uttered the following prophetic words: "God will place upon these hills a light which will illuminate the whole country; of this I am assured by a living faith."
The Count partook of the same spirit and the same faith, and made a consecration of himself, and the honors and prospects of his rank, and thenceforward devoted himself to the upbuilding of the cause which he had espoused. Soon his friend, the Baron de Watteville, and others joined him. Subsequently they took to this place young women for education, and founded the famous Economy of Girls at Herrnhut, and the forest sanctuary now became the home of hundreds, not only the remnants of the old Bohemian Protestants, but of devout men from many parts of Europe.
Inspired by the zeal and devotion of Zinzendorf, they immediately began to prepare to send out missionaries, not only throughout Germania but to foreign countries, and only twelve years from the time when they cut the first tree on the estate of the Count, they established a mission on the island of St. Thomas, one of the West Indies, fourteen brethren and four sisters giving themselves to the work. As they entered upon the mission, they expressed the resolution that they would become slaves if it were necessary, in order to accomplish the work of giving light to others. During the same year another company was sent to Greenland, and from this time the truths which they held began to spread in the most wonderful manner. Missions were established in the most remote parts of the earth. Soon after this, a company was sent to America, and established a mission near Savannah, Georgia. They met with the greatest difficulties, and endured the severest hardships, but none who left Herrnhut to go as missionaries were ever known to renounce their work, and very many of them sealed their testimony with their blood. Count Zinzendorf largely bore the expense, to the different places where this people went. In this way he consumed the vast wealth that he possessed, and became a poor man.
The Government grew jealous of this new establishment, and the Count was exiled, and became a homeless wanderer for the gospel's sake. He saved his estates, which had been consecrated to God, only by securing them to his wife. By disguising his name, and taking his real but least known title, De Freydeck, he traveled in Germany and became a servant in the family of a merchant, while he was preparing himself for ordination. Finally, in 1741, by the request of friends, King Frederick William I. of Prussia had him ordained first bishop of the Moravians. Immediately he began to preach, and journeyed as an evangelist in Sweden, Holland, Switzerland, and England. Many thousands embraced the faith in Germany; they were called Herrnhuters. Meanwhile under Zinzendorf's supervision, missionaries were passing out from Herrnhut to various parts of the world. He visited in their behalf the West Indies, New York, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. In 1742, on the 22d of February, he witnessed, in this country, the baptism of the first Indian converts to the Moravian faith.
In London he became acquainted with Wesley, and in Wesley's first trip to America there were on board a party of missionaries from Herrnhut. The devotion and tranquillity manifested by these missionaries in times of great danger, wonderfully impressed Wesley. From them he received ideas which moulded his entire course afterwards, and although they never united in their labors, Zinzendorf and his co-laborers were on the most friendly terms with Wesley and his co-laborers. Much of the discipline which now exists among the Methodists had its origin in the advice given to Wesley by Zinzendorf.
After visiting the different missions in this country and the West Indies, he returned to his Herrnhut people, but was imprisoned and rebanished, whereupon he again resumed his religious travels in various parts of Europe. Finally, at the age of sixty, he again found shelter among his devoted Herrnhuters, and amid the tears and prayers of nearly a hundred brethren and sisters who were assembled in the room and in the adjoining apartments, he said: "We are together like angels, and as if we were in Heaven. Did you suppose, in the beginning, the Saviour would do as much as we now really see in the various Moravian settlements, among the children of God in other denominations, and among the heathen? I only entreated of him a few first-fruits of the latter, but there are now thousands of them." Thus he expired.
The missionary zeal and character of the Moravians, which has not been surpassed by any reformers, was due largely to the great zeal and devotion of Zinzendorf, of whom it may be said, he was their founder in Herrnhut. He consecrated his all, became a servant and an exile that he might save souls. He sacrificed his wealth, his position, and finally gave his life, a worthy example to be followed in the nineteenth century. S. N. HASKELL.
Serving God in Love
The attempt to serve God without love, is like rowing against the tide. The angels are swift-winged in God's service, because they love him. Jacob thought seven years but little for the love he had for Rachel. Love is never weary.—Watson.
Italy, France, and Switzerland.
By D. T. Bourdeau
AFTER the effort at Bari, Italy, I went, in company with Brethren Biglia and Volpi, to Barletta, and spoke once, with a sense of the divine blessing, Brother Biglia serving as interpreter. Among my hearers were some of the veterans, who, in 1866, escaped martyrdom in this city, during the massacre of Protestants, instigated by Pope Pius IX. Here I found the same fervent affection and appreciation of truth that I had met at Bari, which greatly strengthened my attachment to the Italian people. I have never met a more friendly feeling in any country. I left Brethren Biglia and Volpi at this point to carry on the work, and went to the Waldensian Valley to obtain information, and arrange for future effort there. Brother Adémar Vuilleumier has already gone to that field to do missionary work. The Lord willing, I shall soon follow to give a course of lectures.
From the valley of ancient Sabbath-keepers, I went to Bâle, Switzerland, where I remained eleven days, laboring for the church, especially for the youth connected with our publishing work, and in helping to prepare Bible-readings. It was a great privilege to meet my brother, whom I had not seen for nearly six months, also dear Brother Whitney, who has borne heavy burdens in connection with the erection of our publishing house. God's blessing has rested upon this enterprise, and his special providence has helped to surmount obstacles which threatened to hinder the work. As I viewed this building, feelings of gratitude filled my soul, and I could not suppress the following utterances: "The best building in Bâle! The cause is indeed worthy of it, and those who have furnished means for its erection have reason for gratitude that they have had the privilege of aiding in so noble an enterprise. Praise God for such a building!"
The last Sabbath I spent in Bâle was a good day for the church in that city. A spirit of confession and true humility pervaded the congregation. Young persons who were either backslidden, or had never taken a public stand for religion, spoke in brokenness and with tears. It was affecting to see father and son meet and weep over each other, and confess to each other. The Spirit of God worked mightily. All shed tears of gratitude. A similar work is now going on in the Bienne church.
We have good news from the young churches in France. At one point an elder has baptized three persons; at another, one person has embraced the truth; at another, leading brethren report victories, even in laboring for their former pastor; at Marseilles, a friend starts the following Macedonian cry: "We keep precious recollections of your brief stay among us, and hope you will visit us in the spring, and give us a course of lectures and raise up a church." A letter of anxious inquiry after truth, comes from a colporter of the London Bible Society, living in another department.
Thus the way is opening for the spread of the truth. Even at Rome, the Sabbath question is being agitated. May we not hope to see a church of commandment-keepers raised up at the very seat of the man of sin,—the power that has so fiercely opposed God's holy law, and slain so many millions of its observers?
I am greatly encouraged by seeing the Review and Signs again, a privilege of which I am largely deprived when traveling. No intelligence is hailed with greater joy than that relating to the sending of more laborers to the Old World, and to the coming of Sister White.
D. T. BOURDEAU.
Bienne, Switzerland, Dec. 16, 1884.
The Whole Law of God
We may not carry our moistened sponge over the tablets of God's commands, and then bind ourselves only by the half legible lines that remain.—Messiah's Herald.
Shall We Hire Hands Who Smoke?
By Mrs. M. Stratton Beers
JAMES ELLISON looked sullen and glum; it was evident to all who knew him that something had gone contrary to his liking. His wife, good, patient, cheery soul, sat darning the week's stockings one by one, humming snatches of hymns at first, as was always her wont of an evening, while her husband dozed, and the children read or conned their lessons; but tonight she soon grew silent, and cast ever and anon an uneasy glance over at the "gude mon," who sat, moody and silent, gazing at the fire, never venturing a single word.
The children, finishing their lessons for the next school day, went silently out of the room without the usual good-nights being said; decidedly the state of the domestic atmosphere that evening was as unpleasant as it was unusual. Something was wrong between "father and mother;" this was evident, but what it could be not one of them knew or could guess.
At the head of the stairs the three elder children discussed the matter, but could arrive at no decision whatever; never in all their recollection had anything come up between their parents; between them there had ever appeared to be a perfect understanding, and Dora, the eldest born—the sister-mother to all those who had come trooping after—leaned her head on the stair-railing and cried.
"Pshaw!" Norman said, with all the wisdom and emphasis which usually attaches to the boy of fifteen, "Dora, you are a perfect goose to cry about it; I tell you pa's and ma's heads are tolerably level, and whatever has gone wrong they will very soon make all right between themselves. My! but wasn't I thankful I listened to you and didn't go with the Ward and Finell boys stealing Deacon Phillip's water-melons? If I'd gone, it would have taken me just one-half minute to determine, to my perfect satisfaction, what particular thing it was that clouded father's brow, and silenced mother's singing, and wouldn't I have trembled in my boots? If you did but know it, that father of ours can just raise a fellow's hair when his dander is up."
Dora, finding no great consolation in all this, sobbed on, so Norman rattled on: "Sis, you ought to be brave; surely your conscience is clear; tell you what, when I am all right in that direction, it takes a good deal to worry me. Come now, don't never cry [Norman hated grammar] unless your conscience nips you. Can't be, sis, you are at the bottom of all this? haven't been clandestinely walking or talking or riding with the new school-master or anybody, and ma sides in with you, and pa's down on you both—?"
"Hush, Norman Ellison! How can you run on so? Do hush nonsense to-night; I can't bear it."
"Well, then, I won't, but do stop crying and go to bed. I'll wager everything will be joyful in the morning;" and lifting her head with his two hands, he kissed her good-night after the fashion his mother had taught him when he first began to walk, and which he still followed when in good humor.
Down stairs, after the children went away, the mother rolled up her yarn, stuck the long slim needle into the ball, and laid socks, yarn, and needles carefully away in her stocking basket; then she moved her chair over close to the side of her husband's, and seated herself in it, laying her hand softly upon the great brown patch she had so carefully and patiently stitched into the knee of her husband's pants, only the night before, after he had gone to bed and to sleep.
Mr. Ellison let his eyes roam from the fire to the hand on his knee; it was a pretty, shapely hand still, even though the veins did stand up well, as they will do when our years begin to be numbered by the scores, and James Ellison felt a thrill of pleasure in his heart, notwithstanding he had steeled it all the evening against any and every pleasant emotion; gently now the fingers took up a little bit of the brown patch, dropped it, and picked it up again, then let it drop and rubbed it down smooth, and then they lay still. Looking at the quiet hand, Mr. Ellison conceived a desire to touch it with one of his own, and, forgetting his pettishness, he softly took it up, bent his head, and held it against his cheek a moment, then drew it to his lips and kissed it.
"Martha, Martha, old wife, I am a perfect bear or I never could have felt cross at what you said to-day. Can you forget it do you think? We have lived peaceably together too many years to quarrel now, and especially about the matter of hiring a man—but—" the good spirit withdrew at the sound of the word "but"—oh, why did he say it?
"But what, James?"
"Don't you think you were a little unreasonable in regard to Seth Sliter? There isn't a more hard-working fellow in the county than Seth—"
"Perhaps not, when he works," with a noticeable accent on the word "when."
Mr. Ellison went on as though his wife had not spoken.
"Job Downs said just this morning that he never had such an amount of work turned off in the same length of time as Seth did for him last harvest. I need somebody right away as can earn their wages. Looks now like the wheat crop will be all we can get this year, it's so dry, and the sun comes down so hot that the corn has burned already in the high places; supposing I hire Seth, mother, one month, and then if you say so, I'll let him off."
"Well, James, of course I shall not say you shall not hire Seth, but I dislike to take into our home, with our boys, even for one month a young man with so many bad habits as Seth has; he chews, he smokes, and he swears. I do wish if you can find some one without these habits you would not take Seth."
"Well, I've no time to spend running round the country after a hand; as to swearing, that no man can do on my farm; neither can he drink. I've heard he drinks, too, but Job Downs said, 'Only have it in the bargain that he must not do it, and Seth will live right up to it;' so if I hire him I'll make it in the agreement that he shall neither swear nor drink. How is that, mother?"
"Only put in the chewing and the smoking too, James; they are all filthy, sinful habits."
"I can't see the sin in these, Martha; you are too straight-laced, and smoking isn't so very filthy as I can see."
"It is dangerous anywhere, and especially so on a farm."
"Sh-h-h!" contemptuously, from James, but no more words, and his wife had no heart to say more. Into the ear of God, before she went to sleep, she whispered this petition, "Teach, oh, teach my husband how to 'cleanse himself from all filthiness of both flesh and spirit,' that he may know how to teach our boys. And give me patience and wisdom and acquiescence to thy will."
To the children, in the morning, all things seemed to have been made right; the father was cheerful, and the mother went about humming softly, "Nearer, my God, to thee, even though it be a cross." Seth Sliter was there to dinner, with his teeth all stained with tobacco, and a pipe sticking out of his vest pocket; but the weeks proved that he was, as Job Downs had said, "a staver to work," and he did his very best for Mr. Ellison, having an eye to the dull times, which, on account of the drought, threatened the country, and to the winter's job he hoped to get at such a good, easy place as was the Ellison's.
The wheat was cut, bound, stacked, and threshed, and Seth's month was almost up; he had just poured the last sack of wheat in the granary, and Mr. Ellison smiled complacently as he said, "There are one thousand seven hundred bushels of fine white winter wheat, Seth; the drought can't starve us out this year, can it, even if the corn don't amount to anything, which I guess it won't much? Hitch onto the hay rack, and you and Norman haul in that prairie hay I mowed yesterday; I've raked it up into windrows, and I will take the mower out and cut some more; at the rate the sun pours, it won't be good for anything after this week; it burns so fast, and I want to make sure of just as much as I can."
"All right, sir; and I want to ask you before I forget it—the boys want me to go with them a fishing to-night; they never fished by torchlight, and it will be fun for them, and a rest to me, if you are willing."
Now James Ellison had been very careful all the time Seth had been there, and had never allowed Norman to go anywhere of an evening with him, and had arranged so that they seldom even were left to work together alone; but to-day his mind was full of his well-stored crop of wheat, and his project of getting his hay in before any of his neighbors, and without waiting for second thought he gave his consent.
The boys were delighted; Norman, William, Joseph, and even Paul, the seven-year-old boy, were all going. Mrs. Ellison was very much worried at first, but Seth had been so steady, and the boys were all-absorbed with the idea of going a fishing by torchlight, that she had not the heart to say anything beyond numerous cautious, and to make Seth promise not to remain out later than eleven. They drove away without leaving any forebodings of evil, even in her heart. Contrary to her usual custom when any of the boys were out in the evening, she went early to bed and to sleep, a deep sleep, from which she was awakened at last by her husband, whom she found to be sitting up in bed.45"Martha, for mercy's sake, what was that?"
"I heard nothing."
"Listen, then; I think some one screamed; are the boys home?"
By this time the wife had become conscious that it was light enough to distinctly see every object in the room. Just then Mr. Ellison's olfactories took in some odor that he knew was smoke; he sprang out of bed like one wild.
"Martha, the house is on fire—wake the children."
Up the stairs flew the feet of Martha, borne by the fleetness of a mother's great love; but a glance from the window at the head of the stairs showed her it was the barn instead of the house.
Shouting to the girls that "the barn was on fire," she ran across the passage into the boy's room and found the beds empty. Like a flash it all came to the woman that, coming home later than they had promised, and disliking to disturb the family, they had all gone to sleep in the new hay in the barn.
Rushing down the stairs again, she found her husband half paralyzed with the fright and sense of his utter inability to stay the fiery fiend, which already shot out tiny forked tongues from the roof of the barn, and cracked, and hissed, and roared like the fell destroyer it was.
She shot past him, screaming, "The boys are in the barn! Run, James; our boys!" Her words fell like a death-knell to all his earthly hopes, but they gave speed to his bare feet, and he reached the barn door just as his wife pushed it aside. Both were obliged to draw back to avoid the stream of hot air and dense smoke that came pouring out; but only for an instant did they wait. One glittering gleam of light from above had pierced the darkness beneath, and shown them at one glance four prostrate forms lying on the barn floor.
How they dragged them out of the smoke and heat, away onto the cool grass, neither of them could tell, for neither knew; but there were only four.
"Paul! my little Paul! where is Paul? James, where is he?" screamed the poor mother above the roar of the flames, which had gathered strength by the draught of air caused by the opening of the door.
But, alas! poor mother; the only answer that came to her was a great crash; the roof and the upper beams had fallen in; a moment of blackness, and then the flames burst forth anew, making the air and ground so hot where they stood that for a few moments they were obliged to give their attention to drawing farther away the still inanimate forms of Seth, Norman, William, and Joe. The latter opened his eyes as his father laid him down on the porch, and said just above his breath, "Seth, is brother Paul down, too?"
Meanwhile the flames had spread to the granary and enveloped the stack of hay. The neighbors began to gather, having been awakened by the unusual light or by sounds, none knew just what, any more than they knew how to render assistance to the man who sat, helpless and speechless, while the flames sucked up his rich harvest, thinking only of the boy, Paul, whose body was burning somewhere in that great mountain of flame.
Some kind neighbors brought the doctor, and removed the almost suffocated ones to beds within. When Seth Sliter came to consciousness and was made to understand it all, he took the blame entirely upon himself. They were not late home at all, but had taken a notion to sleep in the barn; he had not been sleepy, and so concluded to take his usual smoke; had stretched himself at full length, resting upon his elbows, with his wool hat under his pipe to catch any spark that might fall, and commenced smoking. That was all he could remember; when he next knew anything, he was aroused by Norman, and asked to help get Paul down. Farther than this none of them could tell anything, not even how they came on the barn floor.
James Ellison never knew, neither did his wife guess till long after, that in all this God was answering the whispered petition of almost a month before; he was being taught to "cleanse himself of filthiness of both flesh and spirit," and she received "patience, and wisdom, and acquiescence in God's will." And yet more than this, Seth Sliter was from that time a changed man. He realized the terrible price that James Ellison had paid for the service he had rendered him for one month; and since that dread night he has used tobacco in no form; and even the bereaved mother no longer fears to have with her sons the man who meekly vows to devote the remainder of his life to serving those whom he caused to suffer so much, and who warns every one never to hire a hand who smokes.
The Home Circle.
By Susan Coolidge
THE WORLD IS A LOOKING-GLASS.
THE world is a looking-glass
Wherein we look all day,
And each one sees reflected there
His own true image, foul or fair,
Sullen, or sad, or gay;
Lit up with love or dark with hate,
Or cheered by Heaven or soured by fate.
The sweet eyes meet an answering smile,
The glad face fronts the sun;
The mourner nothing sees but shade,
And shivers, lonely and afraid;
The guilty-hearted one
Reads in the glass, without a doubt,
His sin detected and found out.
The innocent child looks gaily in
With frank and fearless gaze,
And sees a face reflected there
Bright as his own is and as fair;
The old man full of days
Peers with his tired eyes, and sees
But weariness and vanities.
The world is a looking-glass
Wherein ourselves are shown,
Kindness for kindness, cheer for cheer,
Coldness for gloom, repulse for fear,
To every soul its own;
We cannot change the world a whit,
Only ourselves which look in it.
—Susan Coolidge, in S. S. Times.
Our National Progress.
WHILE the Washington Monument has been building, we have chronicled the history of nine political administrations, witnessed the birth and death of nine political parties, and passed through a terrible civil war, four financial strains, and established the best banking system in the world. The great republic in the meantime has grown from 23,000,000 to 55,000,000 people, and in material wealth from $7,400,000,000, or $320 per inhabitant, to $57,000,000,000, or $1,000 per capita. When the National Monument was begun, Great Britain possessed five times the wealth owned by the United States, and while the wealth of the former country has only doubled within the last four decades, that of the latter has increased twelvefold. As to the constituent factors of American progress in their aggregate in the four decades they are sufficient to buy up the whole Austrian Empire several times over; or pay for the aggregate value of the "effete" monarchies of Italy, Holland, and Belgium almost three times over during that period. Our tilled acreage has increased from 50,000,000 to 170,000,000 acres; the crops have increased in the value from $415,000,000 to $2,500,000,000 and the cattle have increased in value from $380,000,000 to $1,840,000,000. Our imports have increased from $178,000,000 to $668,000,000, and our exports from $152,000,000 to $836,000,000.—N. Y. Graphic.
THE YOUTH'S INSTRUCTOR.
By Editor
AN ILLUSTRATED WEEKLY PAPER FOR YOUTH AND CHILDREN, DEVOTED TO MORAL, MENTAL, AND RELIGIOUS CULTURE.
THIS paper is not devoted to insipid stories and religious fiction, but is filled with a great variety of that kind of reading which tends to the healthful development of the youthful mind. Its pages are made bright by the choicest illustrative pictures, and its columns are always full of useful information.
As a Sabbath-school and Lesson paper, it is suited to the wants of scholars and teachers, and is calculated to increase the interest of all who read it, in thorough Bible study.
TERMS, ALWAYS IN ADVANCE.—Single copy, 75 cents a year; Five copies to one address, 60 cents each; Ten or more copies to one address, 50 cents each.
NEW PREMIUM OFFER—“GOLDEN GRAINS” SERIES.
For every new subscription, accompanied with 85 cents, we will give “Golden Grains” series, consisting of a package of ten beautiful pamphlets of 32 pages each. These comprise a choice collection of sketches, stories, poems, etc., adapted to the wants of children, and contain more reading matter than can be found in many dollar books. Remember, the whole series, 320 pages, and the INSTRUCTOR for a year, for 85 cents.
This is a full exposition of a portion of prophecy which applies to our own Government, showing the position the United States holds in prophecy, and the part it has to act in the closing scenes of time.
THE SUNDAY MOVEMENT,
By Editor
Which is now attracting such general attention, is thoroughly canvassed, and abundant testimony is given to prove that it is fast coming to be the ALL-IMPORTANT QUESTION in this country. Dealing with our own land and applying to our own time. Of surpassing interest to every American reader. New edition; revised and enlarged. Cloth, 225 pp., 75c. Paper covers, new edition, condensed, 186 pp., 25c. Address,
SIGNS OF THE TIMES., Oakland, Cal.
Or, REVIEW AND HERALD, Battle Creek, Mich.
HISTORY OF THE WALDENSES.
By J. A. Wylie, LL.D.
By J. A. Wylie, LL.D.
ILLUSTRATED BY TWENTY FULL-PAGE ENGRAVINGS.
This work describes the conflicts waged by the Waldenses, and the martyrdoms they endured in defense of their faith and their liberty. Recent events have brought the Waldenses to notice, and thrown a new light upon the grandeur of their struggle and the important issues which have flowed from it. To them are we to trace the Constitutional liberties that Italy now enjoys. In their mountain fastnesses they maintained the faith of the early Christians, and by their untiring missionary labors this faith was diffused to all the nations of Europe, thus preparing the way for the great Reformation.
212 pp. Price, 90 cts.
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
LIFE SKETCHES.
THE EARLY LIFE, CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE, AND EXTENSIVE LABORS OF
ELDER JAMES WHITE,
AND HIS WIFE,
MRS. ELLEN G. WHITE.
The production of this book was the last literary labor performed by Elder White. As nearly the whole of his active labor was performed in connection with the Seventh-day Adventist denomination, which he was largely instrumental in founding, the work is necessarily quite a complete history of that people.
The book abounds in interesting incidents, personal sketches, and religious experiences, some of which are quite remarkable, and altogether it forms a volume at once instructive and interesting.
416 pp. Price, $1.25.
Address SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
Or, REVIEW AND HERALD, Battle Creek, Mich.
SABBATH-SCHOOL HELPS.
By Editor
Bible Lessons for Little Ones, No. 1. Flexible cover.........15 cts.
Bible Lessons for Little Ones, No. 2. Flexible cloth.........20 cts.
Bible Lessons for Children, No. 3..............................25 cts.
Bible Lessons, No. 4, with map..................................25 cts.
Bible Lessons, No. 5..............................................25 cts.
Bible Lessons, No. 6..............................................25 cts.
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.;
Or, REVIEW AND HERALD, Battle Creek, Mich.
Preaching to Two Hearers
"ONE March day," said the venerable Methodist divine, Bishop Pierce, of Georgia, "I rode ten miles through drenching rain to Flatrock Chapel, only to find two persons there, a man and a boy. After waiting a few minutes I said: 'We might as well leave here, as there will be no congregation.' But the man quietly responded: 'Through five miles of pelting rain I have come to hear preaching.' I saw my duty, and replied: 'You are right. You are entitled to it.' For one hour I addressed my little congregation, and was never listened to with more attention."—Every Other Saturday.
Amusing and Instructive.
Mr. Guthrie once told a story which was as suggestive of a moral as it was amusing. A friend of his, questioning a little boy, said, "When your father and your mother forsake you, Johnny, do you know who will take you up?" "Yes, sir," said he. "And who?" said the friend. "The police," was Johnny's answer. Parents will do well to consider the truth there is in this reply. The parent who is too much occupied, or too selfish, to look after the training of his child, need not be surprised to see the child come to serious harm. Turn him into the street to find his companionship and pleasure, because it costs time and patience and money to furnish him attractions at home, and if the police do not take him up, it may be owing to official negligence. Society and the churches may also be reminded that, if the number of bad men and women is not to multiply in the future as in the past, somebody must care for the forsaken children of unchristian households. —Zion's Advocate.
Publishers' Department.
By Editor
The Signs of the Times for 1885.
TERMS.
Regular subscription, one year (48 numbers).......$2 00
To new subscribers, with premium.................. 2 25
To new subscribers, without premium............... 1 75
To new subscribers, six months, with premium.... 1 20
For six months, without premium .................. 1 00
For three months, without premium ................. 50
Per year, if paid for by friends, or given to the poor by tract societies................................ 1 50
Per year, to public libraries and free reading-rooms. 1 00
TERMS TO CLUBS.
In clubs of five or more, to one name and address..$1 50
In clubs of three to one name, for missionary use... 1 60
Less than three copies to one name and address cannot be mailed at club rates.
Copies of the paper may be transferred from one name to another, or from clubs to individuals to whom the society sends it free, for ten cents per copy. The time of such will expire with the club. Large clubs may be broken up into clubs of five or more without charge; into clubs of three to five at ten cents per copy.
PREMIUMS.
The premium for new six-months subscribers at $1.20, is "The Golden Grains," ten little books, in paper covers, containing instructive stories for children and youth. Price, 50 cents.
New subscribers for one year, at $2.25, can have their choice of either one of the following excellent works:—
"The History of the Waldenses," illustrated.
"Sketches from the Life of Paul," by Mrs. E. G. White.
"The Life of Christ," by Cunningham Geikie, D. D.
CANVASSER'S OUTFIT.
Canvasser's outfit, comprising a premium book, circulars, blank receipt book, order sheets, and suggestions on canvassing, will be furnished by mail, post-paid, for one dollar.