DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: I am trying in weakness to keep all the commandments of God ; but I feel the need of a deeper work of grace in order to gain the victory over the temptations that are ever crossing my path, and to bear cheerfully the trials that meet me in the way.
I am thankful that I have found at last what I believe to be the true church. I used to wish within myself to know which was the right way ; for each one of the different sects or denominations professed to be right, while all the rest were wrong. It never looked right to me for people professing to be followers of the meek and lowly Lamb, and having one object in view, namely, to gain heaven, to be divided into so many classes, and all at variance with each other. But thanks to our Physician, I have had a few applications of the eye-salve, and begin to see that I am to search the Scriptures for counsel, instead of the traditions of men.
The Review is all the preacher I have ; but I feel very thankful to get as much as that, for it has been a great help to me. May the Lord bless the messengers that are trying to get the truth before the people.
Yours hoping for eternal life.
SARAH S. M'LAIN
Benton, Mich., Jan., 1859.
OBITUARY.
By M. Hull
It is with a trembling hand and heavy heart that I take my pen to record the death of my mother, after an illness of two years. She has fallen asleep iu Jesus, and waits the voice of the archangel to wake the dead. We mourn her loss, but believe that though death has now the victory, a stronger than he will soon come, bind the strong man armed, and take the spoil.
We rejoice that he who has the keys of death will soon destroy him that hath the power of death, that is the devil. Infinite wisdom and mercy have devised a plan of redemption, and God who is able of stones to raise up children unto Abraham, can raise the dead and quicken whom he will.
We fain would have kept our mother with us; but she is gone, and we are led to exclaim, The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.
Although her afflictions were severe beyond description, she was never heard to complain, but bore all with patience aud christian fortitude. When told that she was dying, she called our father and all her children around her bed, and taking each one by the hand, bade us farewell, exhorting us not to grieve for her, but prepare to meet her where death can never come.
Her disease was dropsy. She was not willing to die without having the tumor taken from her that caused it. This was done on the 28th inst., three days before her death. It weighed seven pounds.
My mother embraced the Third Angel's Message as soon as she had an opportunity of hearing it. The Lord has doubtless laid her away to save her from the time of trouble.
M. HULL.
Russiaville, Ind , Jan, 31st, 1859.
In Memory of Cordelia N. Arnold
By T. T. Brown
Our beloved sister, Cordelia N. Arnold, fell asleep in Jesus the 18th of January, 1859, aged 27 years, leaving a husband and three children, and a large circle of friends to mourn her loss.
Sister Arnold embraced present truth six years ago this winter, and has stood firm to the cause which she so much loved. Her sickness of several months' duration was borne with uncommon patience, and she left a bright evidence of her preparation to meet the last enemy, death. We have heard her in exhortation point forward to the redemption of the saints, the earth made new, the glory of the Eden state; but the scene is now changed. We hear her voice no more. She sleeps in death till the resurrection morn.
T. T. Brown.
Locke, Jan., 1859.
A Testimony of Conversion
By J. W. Lane
From Bro. Lane.
Bro. Smith: It will be two years next April since I escaped from the gates of the tottering city of Babylon, and found refuge in the camp of the saints. I thank the Lord that he enlightened my mind so as to behold the signs of the times in season to leave the polluted place.
My companion embraced the present truth some months before I did, and I felt much opposition to her new views, believing them to be nothing but a delusion, kindred to Mormonism, Spiritualism, &c., until the Lord mercifully opened my eyes to see that I was fighting against the truth. I can say truly, since the Lord hath made me free, I have had no desire to turn again to the weak and beggarly elements of the world, but am determined, God being my strength, to keep my eyes steadily fixed on the mark of the prize, and press forward until I reach the city having foundations, whose maker and builder is God.
Brethren and sisters, let us endeavor to live so that the impenitent shall have no cause to bring a reproach against the cause we love.
The most common excuse of the sinner for not embracing Christianity is, that the lives of those who profess religion do not correspond with their profession. I fear they often have too much cause for making this assertion. We often hear the non-professor say, that the professing part of community show more greediness of gain, more of a disposition to overreach in their bargains with others, than those who make no profession at all. I fear they have too much ground for these charges; but does this disprove the reality of religion? No, indeed. A quart of wheat may be mixed with twenty bushels of chess, but that does not make the whole pile chess. Every kernel of wheat is genuine, and just as good as though it were unmixed with chess. So one, two, or three, or any other number of real christians, may be surrounded with twenty times their own number, of hypocrites, and yet each one will be a real disciple of the Lord. I believe we may find ample directions in the word of God to enable us to live so that unbelievers shall be constrained to acknowledge that christianity is real. But in order so to live, we must really possess the Spirit of our divine Master. We must pray daily for grace to overcome every besetting sin. We must search diligently the written word, and endeavor, by every means, to ascertain what is that good and righteous will of the Lord concerning us.
We expect, brethren and sisters, soon to be discharged from this warfare, when Jesus, whose right it is to reign, shall come. Then let us be faithful unto the end, that we may at last be counted worthy to enter through the gates into the city, and so be forever with the Lord.
We feel very anxious to have some of the preaching brethren come and dispense to us, and others in this vicinity, the word of life. We live four miles north of the village of Portland. Sister Hodges lives two miles south of here. Sister Hodges and myself and companion are the only ones in this town who keep the Sabbath. We are poor; but should any of the brethren feel it to be duty to come and feed the little flock in this place, we will entertain them to the best of our ability. Pray for us, brethren, that our faith fail not, but that we may have our lamps trimmed and burning, ready to meet the Lord at his coming.
Yours in hope of immortality.
J. W. Lane.
Portland, Mich., Jan., 1859.
Shall I Be One of Them
By Dr. Watts
SHALL I BE ONE OF THEM!—How divinely full of glory and pleasure shall that hour be, when all the millions of mankind that have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God shall meet together and stand around him, with every tongue and every heart full of joy and praise! How astonishing will be the glory and the joy of that day, when all the saints shall join together in one common song of gratitude, love, and of everlasting thankfulness to their Redeemer! With what unknown delight and inexpressible satisfaction shall all that are saved from the ruins of sin and hell address the Lamb that was slain and rejoice in his presence?—Dr. Watts.
Receipts.
Annexed to each receipt in the following list, is the Volum s and Numbe of the ' Review and Herald ' to which the money receipted pays. If money for the paper is not in due time acknowledged, immediate notice of the omission should then be given.
FOR REVIEW AND HERALD.
Jas. Cornell 1,00,xiii,1. A. R. Justus 1,00,xiv,1. A. Byington 3,00xvi,1. T. Penoyer 4,00,xv,1. W. H. Hilton 2,00,xiii,1. M. Lathrop 1,00,xiii,6. D. T. Shireman 0,50,xiv,1. Geo. Stults 1,00,xiii,13. S. Morrill 1,00,xii 18. G. Hoxsey 1,00,xv,1. N. H. Schooley (for A. Scott) 0,48,xiv,1. N. H. Schooley 2,00,xiv,1. Wm. S. Foote, 1,00,xiii,21. H. Benham 2,00,xv,14. H. Irish 2,00,xv,14. J. Barrows 1,00,xiv,1. C. Bigelow 2,00,xvi,1. L. Beach (for W. W. Beach) 1,00 xv,20. Thos. Lane 1,00,xiv,14. D. Robinson 0 25,xiv,1. H. Harrington 0,25,xiii,18. H. W. Gordon 1,00,xiii,20. C. Dunning 1,00,xv,1. F. Wines 0,25, E. Elmer 1,00,xiv,1. S Beckett 1,00,xiii,23. J. B. Benson 1,00,xiii,14. A. Nellis 2,00,x,1. E. Degarmo 1,00,xv,14. B. R. Walworth 1,00,xiii,1. J. Hendershotts 1,00,xiv,14.
Letter from Bro. Czechowski.
By Michael B. Czechowski
DEAR BRO. WHITE: I offer as an apology for not answering your letter of Dec. 27th before, that at the time I received it, I was about starting in company with Bro. Taylor to visit Franklin and St. Lawrence counties. We were from home two weeks.
I take this public manner of expressing my gratitude to those dear brethren who assisted me in taking up my note to you. My prayer is that our common heavenly Father will reward them. Our visit with the Church at Buck's Bridge, Norfolk, and Bangor was one of interest. Their christian friendship and sympathy was very great. I did feel that I was with my Father's family. The Lord remembered his promise, and poured his Spirit upon us, causing our hearts to be one in the Lord.
Their donations to me were very liberal; more than I expected; more than I deserve. But this is the cause of my rejoicing, that I can now enlarge my mission, in proclaiming the saving truths of these days; and while I am thus laboring to enlighten the minds of my poor French friends, I can feel contented about my family, and know that they are not suffering for want of food and raiment. I can never reward those dear brethren for their kindness, but my fervent prayer is, that theirs may be the gift of eternal life, when for all their favors they will be repaid. I thank my heavenly Father for all his mercies to me through his Church. I desire to prove worthy of the confidence of this people, and of their God, till we shall finish our labors on earth, and be called to our reward at the coming of our dear Saviour.
The coming week I shall visit Plattsburg, twenty miles south; shall hold meetings as the way opens. Shall return to Franklin Co. in about three weeks, where the last week I preached six times to the French people in Bangor. They gave me the best of attention, listening from two to four hours at a time, with the deepest interest, while I endeavored to explain the prophecies of Daniel and John, with other portions of the word of God. They thought my Bible was not like theirs. They never heard such preaching before; so much Bible brought forward. May the Lord give them his Spirit to lead them into his truth.
I remain your brother in the Lord, with love to all the Church.
MICHAEL B. CZECHOWSKI.
Mooers, Jan. 30th, 1859.
Books for Sale
The Following Works Published by H. L. Hastings, are for sale at this Office. We will send them by mail, post-paid, at the Publisher's prices:
The Voice of the Church on the Coming and Kingdom of the Redeemer, or a history of the Reign of Christ on Earth, by D. T. Taylor, edited with a preface by H. L. Hastings. 1 vol. 12 mo. pp. 420, price $1, postage 18 cents.
The Great Controversy between God and Man. Its origin, progress and termination, by H. L. Hastings. 1 vol. pp. 167, neatly bound in cloth, price 60 cents, postage 10 cents.
The Fate of Infidelity: or the Dealings of Providence with Modern Infidels; together with an appendix, containing a brief account of the special judgments visited upon the early opposers of Christianity, by a converted Infidel. 1 vol. 18 mo. pp. 175, cloth gilt, 25 cents.
Future Punishment: an Argument in two parts, from Reason and Scripture, by H. H. Dobney, Baptist minister of England; with an appendix on the State of the Dead, by John Milton. This work is one of patient thought, and calm and christian argument. 1 vol. 12 mo. pp. 312, price 75 cents, postage 16 cents.
Pauline Theology: or the Christian Doctrine of Future Punishment as taught by Paul. A convincing argument, deduced from a careful examination of every passage on the subject of Future Punishment in Paul's fourteen epistles. 12 mo. pp. 84, 15 cents, postage 1 cent.
Tracts of 24 pages. Price 5 cents single copy; postage 1 cent each, or half a cent per ounce if ordered to the amount of eight ounces or upward.
Church not in Darkness; The Three Worlds; The Last Days; Plain Truths; New Heavens and Earth; Ancient Landmarks, &c.
Systematic Benevolence
By James White
Is necessary, that our churches may be in readiness to help those preachers who labor with them, and also to meet the other wants of the cause.
One of our most acceptable preachers, not long since, visited four of our largest churches in a circle of 200 miles, and in three weeks preached about fourteen times. A brother let him have the use of his team to perform the journey, worth $10,00, and putting the labors of such a man at $6,00 per week, (an amount necessary to meet his expenses,) with other traveling expenses, the whole amount needed to give the minister a chance to live, is $30,00 for such a tour.
It is proper here to state that a few persons had shown liberality to this brother in past time, and are ready to help him again when they are prepared. But that all may see the need of a system by which all may help a little, and the church always be ready to sustain those who labor with them, we would say that from the hands of the scores, and we may say hundreds who listened with extreme interest to his sermons, he received in all $4,00!! The brother came home happy in God and the truth, and cheerfully engages in labor with his hands, preaching Sabbaths and First-days. Now remember, Nobody is blamed in all this. But is it not time that such evils were remedied among us? I think I hear the good brethren all say, Y ES. J. W.
Iowa,
By James White
WE stated a few weeks since that the brethren in Iowa were able to raise a Tent, and sustain it the coming Summer. They seem to think so, too. It would cost only about $500,00. Bro. A. G. Hart sends us a list of pledges from Lisbon, Iowa, amounting to $95,00; and Bro. D. T. Shireman of Western, Iowa, says: "We will raise $15,00 for the Tent in this place." We hope to hear from others soon.
JAMES WHITE.
Meeting at Convis, Mich.
By John Norton Loughborough
Bro. Smith: Sabbath and First-day, Feb. 5th and 6th, we spent with the church in Convis. Found the interest still good to hear on the present truth. About nine had already come out on the truth previous to this meeting. Others partially convinced wished to hear more. Two decided to obey the truth while we were there. Others are halting between two opinions, almost persuaded to obey the Lord's precepts. The Lord guide them into the truth, is my prayer.
J. N. Loughborough.
The French Mission.
By James White
We are happy to give in this column so good news from our French Mission in Northern New York. It will be read with interest, especially by those who have known Bro. Czechowski's past sufferings and poverty, and have witnessed his humility, zeal, love for the truth, gratitude and tears when he has received assistance. We are happy to say that Brn. Taylor and Whipple, who are not far from Bro. C., take great interest in this Mission, and can give Bro. C. the counsel he may often need.
This is all the burden these brethren should have. The church at large, of their abundance will esteem it a pleasure to sustain all such missions as long as they are conducted with heavenly wisdom. While it is our duty to move in such matters with extreme caution, God grant that we may never become unfeeling towards those who have suffered, and still are willing to suffer without a murmur, for Christ's sake. The Churches at Allegan and Monterey have recently been caused to bleed in consequence of the course of Elder John Fisher, for whom they have cheerfully done much, hoping for something from him in return better than ingratitude and rebellion. God grant that we may all with a cautious, yet persevering step and liberal hand, press forward in the path of duty.
JAMES WHITE.
Letter from Bro. Taylor.
By Chas. O. Taylor
BRO. WHITE: In company with Bro. Czechowski, I have just returned from a very interesting visit with the churches at Buck's Bridge, Norfolk and Bangor. My mission was partly one of charity, that is, to collect donations for Bro. C. The brethren received him very kindly, looked at the object of my visit in its true light, and gave freely and liberally. We received from the church at Buck's Bridge $75,00; from Norfolk $7,00; Bangor $2,00; from Bro. Day's $2,00. It consisted of provisions, clothing, and cash. It will help Bro. C. very much, and I trust those generous hearts that gave will never want.
The donation amounted in all to about $86,00; and should we count the keeping of the team and its use anything, it is a trip that cost some one near $100,00, making in all that the church has helped this worthy brother since he thought of coming to this field of labor some $300,00 in about seven months. The above is a low estimate. Those that have thus given, and have helped him in his time of need, may be assured that they live in his memory, and they have his fervent prayers, that the blessing of heaven may rest upon them. He often prays for you all, quite frequently calling by name Bro. and Sr. White, Bro. Uriah Smith, Bro. Cornell, the church at Gilboa, Finley, &c., &c. And while he is satisfied that the church at large seeks to be right before God, he would be in harmony with them. And while the brethren have done so nobly in giving, they will remember that he will still need a little money from time to time. He has a horse and cow to winter, and will want in the family a little every week, such as money alone will buy.
Your brother. CHAS. O. TAYLOR.
Rouse's Point, N. Y., Feb. 1st, 1859.
LIFE.
'Tis not for man to trifle; life is brief,
And sin is here.
Our age is but the falling of a leaf,
A dropping tear.
We have no time to sport away the hours;
All must be earnest in a world like ours.
Not many lives, but only one have we;
One, only one—
How sacred should that one life ever be—
That narrow span!
Day after day filled up with blessed toil,
Hour after hour still bringing in new spoil.
Difficulties
Difficulties.—I tried to make crooked things strait, till I have made those knuckles sore, and now I must leave it to the Lord.—John Newton.
The Right Use of the Eyes
The Right Use of the Eyes.—An Italian bishop who had endured much persecution with a calm, unruffled temper, was asked how he attained such a mastery over himself. "By making a right use of my eyes," said he, "I first look up to heaven, as the place whither I am going to live forever. I next look down upon the earth, and consider how small a space of it will soon be all that I can occupy or want. I then look around me, and think how many are far more wretched than I am."
APPOINTMENTS.
By John Norton Loughborough
Providence permitting I will speak at the Junction school-house, Convis, Sabbath, Feb. 19th, at 1 P. M., in the evening at early candle light, also on First-day at 1 P. M., and in the evening.
Also, I will meet with the Church in Lapeer, Feb. 26th, and 27th. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
On my way to Lapeer I will meet with the brethren as follows: At Windsor, as Brn. Carman and Newman may appoint, Monday evening, Feb. 21st. Locke, Tuesday evening, Feb. 22d. Tyrone, Wednesday evening, Feb. 23d. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
Business Department.
By Editor
Business Notes.
G. S. Ray: We have no tracts entitled Gospel Vindicator, but send you $5 worth of our publications.
D. T. Shireman: You did not give us the P. O. Address of Isaac Cox.
W. Phelps: Thos. Bickle has paid nothing on the RE-VIEW since Vol. vi. When his paper was stopped we cannot tell.
M. Hull: O. W. Coffman, Osceola, What State?
A. B. Benson: We credit J. B. Benson with $1 in this number.
E. Degarmo: M. Fritts' paper was paid to xiii, 6, and stopped.
Letters.
Under this head will be found a full list of those from whom letters are received from week to week. If any do not find their letters thus acknowledged, they may know they have not come to hand.
I. G. Soule, A. M. A. Cornell, M. Hull, Wm. Foote, C. Coburn, M. D. Hilton, L. M. Castle, A. S. Hutchins, H. Benham, S. K. Lathrop P. M., J. Hiestand, E. Green, N. H. Schooley, G. S. Ray, E. Baker, A. Byington, A. R. Justus, Wm. W. Miller, D. T. Shireman, J. H. Waggoner, H. W. Lawrence, "an honest Adventist," J. Naramore, J. B. Frisbie, W. Phelps, E. M. Emerson, G. Hoxsey, C. Bigelow, V. V. Wheeler, Wm. Lawton, E. R. Whitcomb, P. McDowell, H. W. L., M. S. Newbury, L. Beach, J. Stillman, J. D. Merriam, A. B. Benson, J. Tabor, E. L. Barr, A. Nellis, A. W. Wooden, S. Elmer, I. C. Vaughan, C. B. Preston, B. Graham, B. R. Walworth, E. Degarmo.