Earlier text: HOLINESS TO THE LORD"My Spirit shall not always strive with man," was the declaration of God as he beheld the corruption of the earth in the days of Noah. This declaration can be no less true when applied to the present generation, between which and the days of Noah our Saviour himself has instituted a comparison: "As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man." Why will not God's Spirit always strive? It is not that God will arbitrarily take it away from us, and leave us to ourselves, without provocation on our part: he does not thus deal with fallen humanity. It is only when men persistently put it from them, refuse to listen to its gentle whisperings, or yield to its influence, or follow its leadings, that God lets his grieved Spirit return to himself, and abandons men to the promptings of their own evil imaginations. If people wish to put themselves beyond the pale of God's love, and have the Holy One cease from before them [Isa. xxx, 11], there is no compulsion to be used either for good or bad: they can have their wish. But how fearful a condition to be thus left! To be separated wholly from good and given up wholly to evil! Imagine, if you can, the world with every emotion of love, mercy and humanity forever gone, and all the dwellers thereon transformed to demons in human shape, and you have then before you a world with which God's Spirit has ceased to strive; for whatever there is of good on earth, whatever there is to alleviate the woes of our fallen state, of hope to lighten the burden of our present condition, of sunshine to penetrate the darkness of the way, of joy to offset against our sorrow, comes from the Spirit of God, sent abroad in all the earth, the effects of which have not yet ceased to be seen and felt. But it will not always strive. The limits of its strivings will be marked by that time when all who will yield, shall have yielded, and turned their feet into the way of truth, and laid hold on the covenant of God. So long it strove in the days of Noah; and so long will it now. This Spirit is the life-principle of the church of God; and the degree in which that Spirit is possessed by the church, marks the exact ratio of her acceptance with him, and the strength of that life which she lives "by the faith of the Son of God." This is shown by God's dealing with his people in times past. Read the history of Israel during the first years of their settlement in the promised land. The record runs something on this wise: "And Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord delivered them into the hands of their enemies." They did evil; they rejected the counsel of God's Spirit, and grieved it away; and he chastised them. And then what was the first token of returning victory, and a restoration to God's favor? Answer: some manifestation of this same Spirit. See Judges xiii. 1. "And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord delivered them into the hands of the Philistines forty years." Forty years long had they been in bondage. Year after year rolled away, and still the hand of the enemy was upon them. Children had been born and grown to the vigor of manhood, since their servitude commenced, and yet it continued; and probably no ray of hope appeared to that suffering people to penetrate the deep and settled gloom of their captivity. But God had thoughts of mercy; and to a family more advanced perhaps than their brethren in heartfelt piety, and more susceptible of the influence of his Holy Spirit, God chose to manifest himself. He sent his angel to the wife of Manoah, with promise of a deliverer. She and her husband communed with him. Manoah prepared his sacrifice, and in the flame of it the angel ascended to heaven. Here was a manifestation calculated to make the sluggish pulse of Israel beat quick with hope. How they looked upon it, we know not. Perhaps they thought that if God designed to bring them deliverance, he would have made some great and public manifestation to the people, instead of a private one to a single family. Perhaps they looked upon it as altogether small and insignificant, as human nature is wont, at the present day, to regard the manifestations of the power of God. But however humble might be the circumstances attending it, the event itself was no less significant. It showed them that God had not utterly cast them off; that he was still mindful of them; and that deliverance was at hand. In due time Samson arose to exert his unparalleled strength in behalf of his people. The manifestation of the Spirit of God is a great thing. It is a sure ground of hope. It tells us that God has not left us, and that we can yet hope in his mercy. It matters not how humble the circumstances under which the manifestation may be made, or in what part of the broad field: if God is there, it is enough; for the body—the church—is a sympathetic body, and when one member rejoices, all the other members rejoice with it. Therefore we are equally cheered when we hear of God's graciously manifesting himself to his children by his Holy Spirit, though it be in Maine or Minnesota, as though it was here in Michigan, and in our very midst. The children of God throughout the length and breadth of the land, are all interested in each other's prosperity in spiritual things. Let us strive to give this Spirit freer course in our midst, that its manifestations may be of greater frequency and more power. Reader, can you conceive of a more dark and chilly theory, and one better calculated to lie like an iceberg on the heart of the church, than the view which some hold, that there is no Holy Spirit? Be it our lot ever to be free from this unhallowed sentiment, and those who hold it. "Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God," says the Apostle, "whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." Eph. iv, 30. If we would be living members of the body of Christ, if we would prosper in spiritual things, if we would be fruitful branches of the great vine, if we would be fit for our Master's use here, and fit for his kingdom hereafter, we must have his Holy Spirit, maintain it in our hearts, and show forth its fruit in our lives. So far as we enjoy this, so far we have a pledge and earnest of our future inheritance; for it is by the Spirit that dwells in us, that our mortal bodies are to be quickened. Rom. viii, 11. Without it, brethren, we shall utterly fail in the great mission in which we are engaged. May it then rest upon us more and more. LETTER TO BRO. WAGGONER.
By A. C. Lewis
Bro. Waggoner: After listening to your arguments in proof of the Ten Commandments being the Law of God, (on Thursday eve, Oct. 19th.) I think some of your points of argument do not harmonize with the true intent of the Bible; therefore I take the liberty to give them, with my objections, in this form, to you, for your consideration, and requesting you to answer them in this manner, if convenient. This is not strictly private, but if brought before the public, I do not claim infallibility. With due respect, and hoping to create no personal feelings or animosity, I respectfully submit this for the truth's sake. First, in speaking of types, you say "the antitype must be determined before the type is given, and Christ the antitype, the great sacrifice, was ordained before the sacrificial offerings; (true;) and Christ died for sin, and sin is the transgression of the law." True; but what law? the ten commandments? No! the transgression for which Christ died was the first law given to man, and no part of the "ten," namely, "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; (penalty;) for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die," (or dying, &c.) Gen. ii, 17. Proof. Rom. v, 12, 16–19; 1 Cor. xv, 21, 22. Secondly, you say, "Find me the man that has always kept the law, and I will vouch for his salvation without faith in Christ or baptism." You might, but I would not risk so great a gift on your responsibility; but for example. Matt. xix, 16, and Luke xviii, 18. And a certain ruler asked him, What shall I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus said, Keep the commandments. Which? 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 5th, and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. (Law of Moses.) The young man saith unto him, All these have I kept from my youth up; WHAT LACK I YET? What did Jesus say? You are mistaken? No! You have not kept the 4th commandment? No. 3d? No. 2d? No. 1st? No. 10th? No. But admitting that he had kept all the commandments, Jesus said, "Yet lackest thou one thing." Luke xviii, 22. What is that? No failure in keeping ALL the commandments. "Go sell all that thou hast and give to the poor (no part of the law) and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come and follow me." And lastly, The dilemma you seem to be in on account of there not being any law at the day of Pentecost, and yet Peter calls upon them to repent. I think is easily explained; let us see. "But Peter standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice and said unto them," &c. Acts ii, 14. (Jews, devout men out of every nation unto heaven.) In reading the connection we find that Peter quoted prophecy, and showed its fulfillment, then turns directly to them and accuses them—of what? Not of murder, or breaking the 6th commandment, but—"Ye have crucified and slain." "God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have crucified both Lord and Christ." Verse 36. Why were they "pricked in their hearts?" Because, that same Jesus whom they had crucified was made both Lord and Christ, or because they had slain their King and Saviour. No wonder they asked what they should do. If it had been for breaking the 6th commandment, they would not have asked, What shall we do? The law was plain: "He that sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed." Gen. ix, 6; Ex. xxi, 12. There was no avoiding the penalty. But they had slain their King; he whom they had hoped would have redeemed Israel; and now they were convinced of it. Now says Peter, "repent." Why? because they had murdered? No. But they had sinned? Yes. And sin is the transgression of the law? Yes; but they had not transgressed the law. Jesus had been tried by the law and condemned to death, (yet innocent.) But if they had not repented they would have killed Jesus again when they could get him. (We agree on the word repent, reform, or change of purpose.) Therefore repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, &c. (Law of Christ.) He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. Mark xvi, 16; Matt. xxviii, 20. They already believed he was the one spoken of by all the holy prophets. All this is respectfully submitted, for, and in the name of, Truth, in all kindness and respect. Tekonsha, Mich., Oct., 1858. REMARKS ON THE ABOVE.
By John Harvey Waggoner
The above objections and remarks are gladly received, and no "animosity" will be created by such a course in yourself or any other, and no "feelings" will arise, except those of respect and kindness for any one who, with such frankness, avows his own belief, and his difference from ours. And my hope and prayer is that the same spirit of candor and frankness will lead you to see and renounce the errors into which you have fallen. Permit me to use equal plainness of speech in reviewing your objections.101 On your first, I would ask, Are you sure that the transgression of any of the ten commandments was not involved in the action of Adam? I consider the law a unit, as expressed by James, and no man can transgress one without doing violence to all. Please examine again the action of Adam in connection with the first, fifth, eighth, and tenth commandments. If you deny any such connection it will show that your position is what it appears to be from your language; namely, that Christ died only because Adam ate of a certain fruit, and that other actions, though of a similar nature, bear no relation to it. Your reference to Rom. v for proof seems inconsiderate. The “many offences” of verse 16 will not bear you out in your construction of this passage. And we are obliged to believe that, in our representative, Adam, we are “made sinners” actually or by imputation. If only by imputation, and not in reality, then the conclusion from your premise would be that our personal sins were not to be brought into the account. Compare verse 1, with chap. viii, 7. But if actually, (as I believe, the scripture teaches,) then to sustain your position, our actual sins must be precisely the same as Adam’s; that is, we have all actually and personally eaten of the same fruit of the same tree, for, for this act alone Christ died. I trust you will not be slow to abandon such a position. Second, you say you would not risk the gift of salvation on my responsibility. I should hope not. But I never offered it on my responsibility; and were I authorized to offer it, you could not obtain it on that consideration, for the law already condemns you as a transgressor. But so far from offering anything on my own responsibility, I gave the direct testimony of the word of God; and I hazard no more in the case than I do in offering salvation to the believer in Christ. I am warranted in offering it on the responsibility of God’s promise. Am I at liberty to believe less than God says? When I read that “the doers of the law shall be justified,” shall I say, No! men would be cursed of God whether obedient or disobedient? The idea is as repugnant to my reason as to my reverence. God forbid that I should ever so far lose sight of the justice of God or the holiness of his law as to say that the obedient and the transgressor are alike in his eyes. But the Apostle further declares that “all have sinned,” and “THEREFORE by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified.” After transgression, condemnation is by the law, and justification by faith, but the nature, completeness, and perfection of the law, is not changed by our voluntarily and sinfully changing our relation to it. I am surprised that you should quote Luke xviii. or any other scripture to prove that any man has kept all the commandments, much more that you say Jesus admitted that the ruler had kept them. Such an admission is neither expressed nor implied in the context while the opposite is plainly shown in the Scriptures. The conclusion of the ruler’s case you do not give. He went away sorrowful for he was very rich. Now read Matt. xxii, 37–40. “On these two”—love to God and our fellow-man—“hang all the law.” Read carefully the first four commandments in Ex. xx. Can any one, destitute of love to God, keep them? Some say that a man may keep all the commandments, and not love God; but an examination of the first two will show the contrary. Hatred and the working of iniquity are on one side; on the other, love and keeping the commandments; and thus keeping the commandments is the opposite of working iniquity. But love and breaking the commandments are never coupled together, for obedience is the only test of love. Hence, love is the fulfilling (not transgressing) of the law. See Rom. ii, 25, 27. With this point established, read 1 John ii, 15: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” Matt. vi, 24. “Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” I know of no other service acceptable to God than obedience to him or to his law. Without this all forms of worship are but vain pretence, as it is written: “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.” Prov. xxviii, 9; Matt. xv, 6–9. But the ruler was a slave to mammon, therefore not a servant of God; and his own declaration that he had kept the commandments is worth no more than that of others in the following cases. Matt. vii, 21–23; Titus i, 16. Again, a covetous or avaricious disposition, [synonymous, according to Webster,] is also idolatrous, according to Paul. And the spirituality and comprehensiveness of the commandments are shown by our Saviour in Matt. v. With all this evidence before us, let us try the ruler’s case by 1 John iii, 17: “But whoso hath this world’s goods and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” It does not seem to me possible that you can examine and compare this testimony with the ruler’s case and then say that he had kept all the commandments. On the text parallel to the one in question, I cannot do better than to quote from Bro. J. N. Andrews’ pamphlet on the “Perpetuity of the Royal Law.” “There can be but one of two positions taken with respect to this text: 1. When the Saviour said, ‘If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments,’ he named all the commandments which the young man should keep; or 2. When the Saviour said, ‘Keep the commandments,’ he enjoined obedience to them all, and then in answer to the young man’s inquiry, pointed him to the precepts of the second table, namely, his duty to his fellow-men, as that in which he was most deficient. If the first position be correct, it follows that the young man could enter into life in the character of an idolater, a blasphemer, a Sabbath-breaker, and with an heart full of covetousness; for our Lord omitted to specify any of those precepts which define our duty to God, and he also omitted the tenth commandment, ‘Thou shalt not covet.’ This position needs no refutation, and we turn from it to the other. That the second position is correct, namely, that Christ enjoined obedience to all the commandments, and then in answer to the young man’s request, pointed him to the second table, and to the second of the two great commandments—his duty to his fellow-man—the following facts plainly evince: 1. This is exactly what is recorded in the text. 2. The view that Christ specified all the precepts which the young man should observe has been shown to be false and unreasonable. 3. When the young man insisted that he was blameless in regard to his duty to his fellow-men, our Lord applied a test to him which undeceived him at once. 4. When Christ said, ‘If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments,’ he spoke in harmony with his own words in Matt. v, 17–19. There he had declared that not even the minutest particle should pass from the commandments till the heavens and the earth should flee away, and that whosoever should violate one of the least of them, should be of no esteem in the reign of heaven. Then, our Lord being allowed to explain his own words, it follows that to keep the commandments, is to observe every one of them; and that the willful violator of the least one, shall have no part in the kingdom of God. And the apostle James, as we shall hereafter see, establishes in the clearest manner the fact that whoever understandingly violates one of the ten commandments is guilty of breaking them all. What will those say to this who affirm that the young man could keep the commandments, and yet violate every one that defines our duty to God the great Law-giver?”—Pages 13–15. And lastly, you speak of my dilemma concerning the absence of law at the day of Pentecost, and in the interval from the crucifixion. In this you err—it is your dilemma, and your remarks do not relieve you. This is a point not often touched by our opponents, and I am thankful that you have afforded me an opportunity of examining it. And I will say, that you are the second person I ever knew that attempted to argue himself out of this dilemma, and the other took the same position. I think we may safely judge it is the best that can be done for your side. And 1. You err in stating that they were not accused of murdering, or breaking the sixth commandment. See Acts vii, 52. “Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One, of whom ye have now been the betrayers and murderers.” 2. You say they would not have asked the question if they had murdered, or broken the 6th commandment. “There was no avoiding the penalty.” 1st. This is contradicted by the above quotation from Stephen’s sermon. 2d. Your declaration involves the conclusion that there was no penalty for murder beyond that executed by man. On this see Eccl. xii, 14. “God shall bring every work into judgment.” Read and consider Heb. ix, 15. 3. You say they had sinned but not transgressed the law, because Jesus was tried by the law and condemned, yet innocent. 1st. This is a double contradiction of terms. 2d. They had transgressed the law for they were murderers. 3d. Jesus was not tried by the law and condemned. Did the law condemn an innocent man? See Ps. xcv, 16–21. Prov. xvii, 15. On the condemnation of Jesus note the following points: 1st. The Jews accused him of blasphemy, but could not prove it, and received the testimony of false witnesses. 2d. When they took him to Pilate for judgment they had not sufficient confidence in their testimony to present it before Pilate, but when he asked concerning the accusation they evaded it by saying, “If he were not a malefactor we would not have delivered him up unto thee.” John xviii, 30. 3d. He was not even condemned by the Roman law, for Pilate found no fault in him, but they induced him to deliver him to be crucified by appealing to his selfish feelings, intimating that he would lose the favor of Cæsar. 4th. If he was condemned by the law, he was a blasphemer, for this was the accusation on which he was condemned. And 5th. If he was condemned by the law there was no guilt in putting him to death, though he was a King, for the law made no exception in favor of sinful kings. “He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.” 2 Sam. xxiii, 3. 4. You affirm that they were not accused of murder, but were pricked in their hearts because Jesus was made Lord and Christ, or their King and Saviour. This involves the most singular position that if he had not been exalted as Lord and Christ there would have been no wrong in killing him! Is not this yielding all that I claimed, namely, that according to the positions of our opponents, there was no law against murder between the crucifixion and the day of Pentecost? Again, by what law did God condemn people for killing a king? Had he ever proclaimed such a law? Could not they have answered as our no-Sabbath friends do, [and with equal propriety,] “If it is wrong to kill a king that fact should be plainly stated?” As God is not a respecter of persons, it is just to infer that the same law that could condemn a man for killing a king would condemn him for killing a beggar. If there is any method of relieving your position of this dilemma—so fearful in its consequences—I would be much pleased to see it. Having examined carefully many times, I fear there is no such method. And now, dear brother, I hope you will examine these points again. Consider them in all their bearings, and see if you are not on the wrong track. This is a great and important subject, fraught with important consequences, and, I am pleased that you are disposed to examine it. My prayer is that your examination will lead you to embrace the truth more fully, and that your experience may yet be that of the apostle Paul after his conversion, even to “delight in the law of God after the inward man.” J. H. W. MEETINGS IN MICH.
By Joseph Bates
Dec. 24th and 25th, I held three meetings in Parma. Quite a number came to hear at the last meeting. One family decided to keep the Sabbath. Dec. 26th, commenced a series of meetings in Onondaga, Ingham Co., which closed Jan. 10th. Dark nights, and much stormy weather, prevented some from attending who lived at a distance; nevertheless we had an interesting congregation, who came to the school-house every evening, and on First-days, to hear our position. The last Sabbath several families came to our place of meeting, after which arrangements were made to meet together to keep the Sabbath of the Lord.102 Sister Nichols, a lone Sabbath-keeper who had lived in the neighborhood a few years, had interested her neighbors by loaning them her Review, and Sabbath tracts. Jan. 12th, commenced another series of meetings eight miles north of Onondaga, and five miles north of the village of Eaton Rapids, in Eaton Co., which closed the 24th. Here a deep interest was manifested by an attentive congregation to the close of our meetings. The last Sabbath a number came together for public worship, after which they appointed the place for their future Sabbath meetings. Bro. J. Gibson, a professed Sabbath-keeper, had been living in this place some eighteen months, and had tried to interest his neighbors to keep the Sabbath of the Lord. One sister had decided in its favor, and a few others had become interested to hear, before we came to the place by his invitation. Our position had never been presented in this place, nor in Onondaga, before. There are now in both places more than thirty professed Sabbath-keepers, besides some fifteen others who acknowledge the seventh day to be the Sabbath, but have not yet decided to keep it. We could not attend to other calls for meetings until a little rest to renew our strength.
JOSEPH BATES. Onondaga, Jan. 27th, 1859 P. S. Sabbath, Jan. 29th, met with the church in Jackson. The Lord gave courage and strength. Every member present spoke of their desire and fixed determination to move forward in the cause of God. Jan. 30th, arrived at Battle Creek and met with the brethren and sisters in their evening prayer-meeting. The season was a blessed good one, for the Lord by his Spirit manifested himself to his faithful children. Praise his holy name!
J. B. A New Year’s Exhortation
By C. Monroe
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: May the new year which we have recently entered upon be a happy one to you all. Not as the world wish, wish I you this blessedness. No, my views extend beyond this dusky scene of things—the loaves and fishes so much prized by the men of the world, who have "pitched their tents on this side Jordan," and have their portion in this life. I ask for you greater, better, more substantial things. I wish you to stand firm and complete in all the will of God, at this time especially; and this implies felicity, such as the world can neither give nor take away; for in keeping his commandments we find the great reward; we gain the position required, a perfectness of all that is attainable here. For, Be ye therefore perfect, says Jesus, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. This is it; this is a character in which no flaws can be found; the likeness of God, loveliness itself, for God is love. O what a being! No tongue can tell! With anything short of this, no child of God can be satisfied, completely so. Hence the perpetual internal warfare. Satan pressing for preferment, and God within, like a refining fire which will go on to the expulsion of the enemy, and with him, the least and last remains of sin and guilt. Hail, sweet victorious hour! for thee we sigh and languish! but come it has, or will have come. Glory to God in the highest! God, who hath greatly purposed the overthrow of the powers of hell, and the peaceful, permanent establishment of his new and everlasting kingdom. The wish aforesaid, therefore, does not imply simply to "love God more and serve him better;" this would be neither saying or doing much, in view of a poor, slender service now; but to love him supremely, and like Caleb and Joshua, "follow him wholly." This would bring a year of felicity before unknown, a year that seems quite too long delayed. Why then not the present, brethren, be that sweet, jubilitant year? God grant it. This miserable, lukewarm way of living to self, or to the halves, is no way to live at any time, especially so near the close—the issues of life and death! It is time, long since, I need not say, for the remnant to heed, as they have never heeded, the voice of the true Witness. Rev. iii, 18. Blessed be God! there is a shaking among the dry bones, with unwonted signs of life; and we hope soon to see a "squadron of troops equipped for the skies." Come then, brethren, let us thank God and take courage. The prize is in view. The remnant should simultaneously rise; rise together; rise, and run like Lot, run for life! How rise? Plainly, lay aside every weight, every sin, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, the pride of life, and a lawless use of the tongue. As no man can do a miracle in Christ's name, and lightly speak evil of him, so no one can rise or run with any of these clogs about him. Small leaks that sink a ship, with all on board, are as fatal as large ones; so small sins, so-called, if known and cherished, will as certainly sink us in the deep of death as large ones. Let us beware. The terms of salvation are strict and severe; but none too much so. Terms less cutting, less severe, would be weak and powerless. They would fail to reach our desperate case. Desperate diseases require desperate remedies. They would fail to cut us loose from all sin; fail to lift us from our deep, dismal state of ruin; fail to remove right-hand and right-eye sins, darling sins, which the formalist or hypocrite will never renounce; but God's people, made willing in the day of his power, cheerfully give up; choose the humble, self-denying way of the cross, and glory in their choice. Thus the religion of Christ makes a clean sweep of all that offends, and prepares his church to be presented faultless before the Father's throne, with exceeding joy. Such are the pure in heart who shall see God, and live forever. Such are his children who have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts, and have purified their hearts by obeying the truth; have received the present truth in all its power and purity, and in the love of it, and are rejoicing in hope of the glory of God. Now then, brethren, to secure a happy immortality beyond the grave, let us heed the voice of the Third Angel's Message, and of the true Witness, and show by our daily walk and conversation, as we have never shown, that we have taken our leave of this world, its maxims, fashions and follies, and are beyond controversy the children of the living God, bound to Canaan's new, fair, and happy land, where our possessions lie. Such are the prospects of the righteous, bright and glorious beyond compare; and such are my best wishes for you all to-day, dear brethren and sisters; not for the ensuing year merely, or a handful of years, that pass away in haste, but for a new and endless year of joy in the kingdom of God, where pains and groans, and griefs and fears, and death itself shall die. There, there I am bound to meet you, and the dear Saviour, with songs and joys as yet unknown. A. LANPHEAR
By A. Lanphear
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS : In reviewing the transactions and labor of the past, it may be well for us to examine closely and see what we have accomplished in the cause of our blessed Redeemer. The question first should be, Have I done all that I could for the advancement of the truth? Have I been faithful in the discharge of all the duties of religion? Have I been often at the throne of grace? Have I agonized in prayer for the salvation of sinners? Have I day by day endeavored to increase in holiness, and grow in grace and the knowledge of the truth? Have my aspirations been to exemplify the character of the Lord Jesus in my own? Have I followed his example in going about doing good? Have I fed the poor, and clothed the naked? Has my deportment before the world been such as to admonish them of sin, of righteousness, and of a judgment to come? Have I studied the word of God faithfully and prayerfully, to know what he would have me do? Have I carefully examined the predictions of Christ, concerning his coming and kingdom? Have I in any manner paid homage to the beast or his image? O, my brethren and sisters, I tremble in view of my own short comings; of my unfaithfulness and guiltiness. Were it not that our God is a God of mercy, and tender compassion, and willing to forgive those that repent, all my hopes would perish. If I am saved, it will be by the grace of God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And may we all have that living faith, that will bring forth works of righteousness; that faith that works by love and purifies the heart. If we have this faith, it will shield us from the wrath of God, that will shortly be poured out upon the wicked. There are a few in this vicinity looking for that blessed hope, the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. We hope to be of that number that shall be redeemed from all iniquity, and be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. Let us comfort one another with these soul-cheering words, and patiently wait and pray, Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, as in heaven so in earth. We were blessed with the labors of Bro. R. F. Cottrell for a few days last month, who preached to us the words of eternal life. We humbly trust his labors were not in vain. Some have believed the truth, and confessed faith in the soon coming of the holy One. Others are investigating and searching the Scriptures to see whether these things are so. My earnest prayer is that God would raise up a people here. ASA KIMBALL
By Asa Kimball
BRO. SMITH: The Advent faith and truth are still precious to me, and to those with whom I am connected in this vicinity. I do rejoice that I ever heard the first message to "Fear God and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come." I am glad also that I ever obeyed the second message, "Come out of her my people." While waiting in this position for new light to move, (for I believe God will always give us light if we honestly seek for or desire to obtain it,) I had an opportunity of hearing the Third Angel's Message proclaimed by some of God's servants, just in season to set my face again Zionward. How thankful I am that God has in his vineyard wise and faithful stewards who are found giving meat to the household in due season. There seems to be a great degree of meaning and importance attached to these words of our Saviour. The light given, and truth presented, at such time as to save one from the power of the adversary. A blessing also is promised to such. Blessed is that servant, &c. Matt. xxiv, 46. There are various ways appointed to give this light that is so much needed. It can be done by conversing freely with those who have an ear to hear, if done in the spirit of the meek and lowly Jesus. The most effectual preaching is to live out our faith. I well remember the effect of living out our faith in the first message in 1844, when we left our crops standing in the field. The conversation of our neighbors was, That man believes the Lord is coming. If our faith was so strong in 1844, what ought it to be now, when we have a thousand times more proof that the Saviour is soon to appear the second time. The spirits of devils working miracles had not then been so fully developed as now; we had not seen the fulfillment of the second message as we do now; neither did we dream of a company rising up who would keep all the commandments, and so fulfill the clause in Rev. xiv, 12. But thanks to God for the victory thus far. Some of our brethren and sisters attended the conference at Clinton, Mass., and were much strengthened and comforted to hear Brn. White and Loughborough when on their Eastern tour; and some have been benefited by the strait testimony of sister White. Truly judgment has begun at the house of God. 1 Pet. iv, 17. If it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?103 I would say in conclusion, that while the modern revival of the nominal churches seems to be drying up in this region, the Third Angel's Message and the remnant church are rising in strength and power. I should like to give you a sketch of some of our meetings, the opposition we meet from our opponents, and also the right hand of fellowship that we receive from those who are deciding in favor of the truth; but my time is limited. To God belongs all the glory. Hampton, Ct., Jan., 1859. Conversion to Present Truth
By N. Fuller
Bro. Smith : It is about twenty months since I decided to obey God, rather than man, being brought to see the light of present truth, under the labors of Brr. Loughborough and Ingraham. I was at that time a member of the M. E. Church, and was wrapt in a shell of prejudice, which took many hard blows of truth to break. But I heard the voice of the second angel, "Come out of her my people," and obeyed. I could truly say, "Wherein I was blind, now I see." Yes, I see that the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul, and I can also say with David, All thy commandments are righteousness. Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments. The cause is onward in this country; the Lord is working for his people. Twenty miles from here, in Tioga Co., some eight or ten have lately embraced the present truth. The Review is a welcome visitor to all the lambs of the flock in that place. How could the remnant do without this herald of truth, to cheer them in their lonely hours, and through which to exhort each other, and so much the more as we see the day approaching? We had a profitable season the first Sabbath in January, when we met to commemorate the broken body, and split blood of our Lord. There were the most Sabbath-keepers present that I ever saw together. The Lord poured out his Spirit upon us, and it was a time long to be remembered. "Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also." Job i, 6. The evening after the Sabbath, we met for prayer, and our meeting was carried on in the Spirit. About nine o'clock a mob commenced to shower the house with stones, led on by the dragon that was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the Commandments of God and have the Testimony of Jesus Christ. Rev. xii, 17. The stones came upon the house, and the Spirit of the Lord upon those within. The form of the fourth was in our midst. And though the report of fire-arms was heard at the door, and a stone crashed through one window, the little flock remembered the words of Jesus, Fear not. Well, the final destiny of those who fight against the truth of God and against his people is to be left without the city wherein God's people will be assembled to worship and praise the Lord forever and ever. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. Rev. xxii, 15. Every other weapon has been used to impede the progress of the truth in this place; but it has gained the victory and is still onward. We heard the testimony of one new witness last Sabbath. Brethren and sisters, the waters will soon divide, and we shall pass over dry shod. Soon there will be such a time of trouble as never was since there was a nation. Soon the mighty earthquake will rend the great city. Soon we shall see the sign of the Son of man in heaven. Soon the sleeping saints will awake, and come to everlasting life. Soon the living saints will be changed from mortal to immortality. The lonely ones will be brought in. O, what a time that will be, when the saints of all ages in harmony meet. I can say, "I long to be there, and the thought that 'tis near.
Makes me almost impatient for Christ to appear."
Yours in hope of eternal life.
N. FULLER.
Ulysses, Pa., Jan., 1859.