"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another."
From Bro. Dorcas.
BRO. SMITH:—I realize that we are truly living in perilous times. Everything seems to be triumphing over truth. The different sects have powerful revivals of religion again; (as they call them;) so much so that some of our Sabbath-keeping friends' faith seems to be shaken. And the Devil seems to be taking a new turn in his affairs, with many, in the so-called Christian churches, who will not believe in Spiritualism! Modern Spiritualism, I mean; but who seem to be under revival influence! He is classing us, who believe in the near coming of the Lord, with Spiritualists, calling it devilism. For, with this class, as long as he can succeed in keeping the truth associated with a lie, and have them reject all together, he is as sure of his prey as if he succeeded in taking them away into that phase of false religion called Spiritual reform.
"We are troubled on every side, without are fightings, and within are fears." The Methodists are throwing in our way, in this region, a mass of stuff; to wit, Acre's Chronology, and McOwen's Book on the Christian Sabbath. The first teaches that the present First-day, or Sunday, is really the original Sabbath, the first seventh day. The other teaches that the day was changed by the apostles. I will give his own words verbatim:
"Infidels and Jews are not more forward to charge us with having made this change, than we are to admit that it did take place."
And still farther down on the same page, (54th page,) speaking of the apostles changing the day, he says, "They only transferred it from the seventh to the first day of the week; and by thus conjoining the new creation with the old, and the rest of God our maker with that of God our Saviour," &c. Notice the contradiction here; for "our Saviour" rested on the same day that our Father, and his Father, our God and his God, rested; namely, the seventh day; and how can we talk of "conjoining" a unit. Luke xxiii, 3-6. The women rested the same day that Jesus rested in the grave, which day was one day previous to the first day of the week, the resurrection day, which these say is the Lord's day.
If Acre's work is true, then truly, the Bible, as well as Methodism, must undergo a complete overhauling and revision. But this looks to me as if it savored considerably of the Pharaoh and Herod spirit. The enemies of truth lose nothing by inconsistency, for the masses go with the leaders. They only lose a few honest souls.
Yours in love.
JESSE DORCAS.
Fremont, Ohio, Aug. 28th, 1856.
The Importance of Peace
By Samuel Everett
From Bro. Everett.
DEAR BRETHREN:—We wish to say a few words to you at this time on the importance of peace—I mean the spirit of peace in opposition to the spirit of war. Some of you may be strongly solicited to aid the cause of freedom. But let us stand fast in the faith. We wait for the freedom of the sons of God, and the coming of the Prince of Peace. Let us not cast away our confidence which hath great recompense of reward. The spirit of politics and war are so exciting at this time that we need to be on our guard. We may indeed pity the suffering people in Kansas; but we cannot fight with them, nor for them. We must put away "all anger, wrath, malice and bitterness with all evil speaking." Let us then be known as peace-makers, and direct others to seek the peace of God. Said Bro. Miller, Be not deceived with the cry of "Free Soil." So now let us not be deceived with the cry of "Freedom." Things as well as men must grow worse and worse till Jesus comes. Let us heed his words: [Luke xxi, 35;] "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." May we all heed the timely warning, waiting for the glorious liberty of the sons of God.
I remain your brother in tribulation.
SAMUEL EVERETT.
Iowa City, Iowa.
Pressing On Through Trials
By Eliza A. Parmenter
From Sister Parmenter.
BRO. SMITH:—I have long felt that it would be a privilege to communicate to the brethren and sisters. I feel to double my diligence in trying to serve the Lord, and to live more devoted to his cause. I love Jesus, and my Bible. I there find precious promises to those that love God and keep his Commandments. The trials and afflictions of this life are many, but the grace of God is sufficient for us if we trust in him.
I am sometimes cast down; but I am determined by the grace of God to press my way through. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. Ps. xxxiv, 19.
Yes, 'tis a rough and thorny road
That leads us to the saint's abode;
But when our Father's house we gain,
'Twill make amend for all our pain.
Yours in hope of eternal life.
ELIZA A. PARMENTER.
Oakland Co., Mich, Aug 21st, 1856.
Encouraged to Await the Lord
By Editor
Bro. J. M. Lindsay writes from Olcott, N. Y., Aug. 24th, 1856:—"We feel encouraged to go on and patiently wait the coming of the Lord Jesus. I rejoice to know that God is preparing a people for his kingdom. May the Lord help us to keep humble, live holy, and be separate from sinners."
OBITUARY.
By A. R. Morse
DIED in Goshen Gore, our much beloved Brother Milton Southworth, in the 54th year of his age. He was well as usual and labored hard the day but one before he died, which was on the 14th. At 2 A. M., he was seized with a very violent attack of the bowel complaint, from which he never recovered. His sufferings were intense, but he bore them with Christian meekness and patience, saying that his work was done—until he sweetly fell asleep in Jesus, July 15th.
He was a firm believer in the first, second, and third Angel's Messages and lived a consistent Christian. He has left a companion and an only daughter who deeply feel the loss of a kind, faithful husband and father. The church also feels his loss, yet we sorrow not as those without hope; for the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1 Thess. iv, 16, 17. Then will the saying be fulfilled, Death is swallowed up in victory. Isa. xxv, 8.
The funeral was attended on the 17th, by Bro. H. Bingham of Morristown, and a few Brn. from Wolcott and Hardwick.
"In glory immortal, O soon shall we meet thee,
Where sickness and sorrow and parting are o'er,
With all the redeemed then with joy shall we greet thee,
With the King in his beauty to reign evermore."
A. R. MORSE.
Wolcott, Vt., Aug. 20th, 1856.
A Whole Family in Heaven.
The following eloquent passage is from the pen of Albert Barnes:—
“A whole family in heaven! Who can picture or describe the everlasting joy? No one is absent. Nor father nor mother; nor son, nor daughter, are away. In the world below, they were united in faith, and love, and peace, and joy. In the morning of the resurrection they ascended together. Before the throne they bow together in united adoration. On the banks of the river of life they walk hand in hand, and as a family they have commenced a career of glory that shall be everlasting. There is hereafter to be no separation in that family. No one is to lie down on a bed of pain. No one to wander in temptation. No one to move along in the slow procession clad in the habiliments of woe, of its members to the tomb. God grant that in His infinite mercy many families may be thus united.”
Tent Operations.
By James White
THERE are not many meeting-houses in the highways and hedges. If there were, they would probably be soon closed against the Message. And people will turn out much better to a tent meeting than to a meeting in the old place of worship. What is the Wisconsin Tent doing this Summer?
At our Conference in May, it was voted to send the Michigan tent into new fields. A Tent Committee of five was chosen. All felt that those who went out with the Tent should volunteer. A brother volunteered to move the tent from place to place for five weeks. Another brother volunteered to assist. Preachers cheerfully came forward to go with the Tent. God has wonderfully blest the arduous labors of his servants. Bro. Waggoner has returned to his family worn and unwell. Bro. Bates takes his place. Bro. Cornell is much worn, and has been from home about ten weeks. Brethren in Michigan will cheerfully sustain well directed efforts to spread the truth.
You can send means to meet Tent expenses, or for Tent horse and buggy to the Office. J. W.
APPOINTMENTS.
By John Norton Loughborough; William S. Ingraham
Providence permitting, there will be a tent-meeting in South Barre, Orleans Co., N. Y., where Brn. Smith, Paine and others shall appoint, commencing Sabbath, Sept. 13th, and hold over First-day. As this is the only meeting we intend holding in Western N. Y., it is hoped there will be a good attendance of brethren and sisters. Let those who can, bring provision to sustain themselves.
Also a tent-meeting will be held in Bath, Steuben Co., N. Y., commencing Sabbath, Sept. 20th, and hold over First-day.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
WM. S. INGRAHAM.
Ruffianism in Washington.
ONE of our exchanges places together the acts of ruffianism which have stamped disgrace on the city of Washington and the people's representatives during the last session of Congress. The following is the list, arranged in the order in which these acts of brutality occurred:—
1. Two attacks with a cane, by the Hon. Mr. Rust, of Arkansas, upon Horace Greely, editor of the N. Y. Tribune.
2. Attack of Hon. William Smith, of Virginia, upon Mr. Wallach, editor of the Washington Star.
3. The shooting of the Irish waiter, Keating, at Willard's Hotel, by Hon. Mr. Herbert of California.
4. The difficulty between Col. Lane and Senator Douglas.
5. The brutal and cowardly attack of Hon. P. S. Brooks, of South Carolina, upon the Hon. Charles Sumner, of Massachusetts. Late accounts represent Mr. Sumner as convalescent, although it is still doubtful how long he may be obliged to abstain from all mental labor. The mountain air of Cresson, in the Alleghanies, where he is at present stopping, has had a beneficial effect on his health.
6. The difficulty between Brooks and Gen. Wilson.
7. The difficulty between Brooks and Gen. Webb.
8. The Brooks and Burlingame affair, in which Mr. Brooks, after challenging Mr. Burlingame, refused to accede to his conditions for the meeting.
9. The attack in an omnibus upon Mr. Granger, of New York, by Hon. Mr. McMullen, of Virginia.
No Cross, No Crown
No Cross, No Crown.—Coleridge remarked that the temper of the present age inclines to every kind of enervating indulgence. Men appear to think the Christian armor an unnecessary encumbrance; they have no desire to engage in any combat, to undergo any trial; if religion is to be cultivated, it must be one of the fine arts, as an element of Belles Lettres; they forget or despise the saying of Bishop Patrick, that there is no passage to celestial glory but by some cross; that we must suffer with Christ as well as confess him, if we would be with him in paradise.
CHINESE PROVERBS.
In company, set a guard upon your tongue—in solitude, upon your heart.
A great talker never wants enemies—the man of sense speaks little and hears much.
Though the ways of virtue are rough and craggy, yet they reach to heaven.
Receipts.
By Editor
Wm. Harris, J. T. Ashley, G. L. Ashley, P. Collins, J. Pierce, (for R. Townsend) M. Capin, A. C. Bordeaux, Jas. Clarke, G. Matthews, M. H. Irish, R. Loveland, H. Patch, J. G. Whipple, R. Holland, M. A. Eaton, each $1. D. Drew $1,50. R. T. Payne $0,64.
Review to the Poor
By Editor
Review to the Poor.—S. J. Voorus, M. A. Eaton, each $1.
Receipts and Pledges for Relief of Office.
By Editor
Of the following sums those that have been paid are so marked. The rest are pledges to be paid before the first of September next.
M. Tyler, (pd.) $1.00; A. D. Bailey, (pd.) $1.00
R. Loveland, (pd.) 2.00
Receipts for Book Fund.
By Editor
J. M. Lindsay, Jas. Cramer, each $10. C. O. Taylor, J. G. Whipple, each $5. E. Lothrop $4. Wm. S. Gifford, H. S. Gurney, F. H. Howland, M. North, each $3. Wm. Chapman, A. Belden, each $2. C. N. Mills, J. T. Ashley, P. Collins, Wm. A. Raymond, I. C. Snow, each $1. Geo. Hunt, H. H. Bramhall, each $0.50.
Business.
By Editor
H. H. Bramhall:—We have abandoned the idea of preparing any Hymn Books in the style proposed.
Wm. Harris:—Your paper is "paid up"—even to Vol. XIV.
E. O. Meacham:—Received.
J. G. Whipple:—You are paid to Vol. XI.
Books for Sale at this Office.
By Editor
THE price set to each publication includes both the price of the book, and the postage, when sent by Mail.
Hymns for those who keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus. This Hymn Book is designed to promote not only public worship, but also social and family devotions. It is a selection of Hymns expressing the faith and hope of the Church as set forth in the Scriptures of truth, free from the popular errors of the age. The Book contains 352 Pages, 430 Hymns and 76 pieces of Music. Price, 60 cents.—In Morocco, 65 cents
Bible Tracts Bound in Two Volumes. These Volumes are of about 400 pages each, and embrace nearly all of our published Tracts. We are happy to offer to our friends the main grounds of our faith in a style so acceptable.—Price, 50 cents each.
Sabbath Tracts, Nos. 1, 2, 3 & 4. This work presents a condensed view of the entire Sabbath question.—154 pages. Price 15 cents.
The Sanctuary and Twenty-three Hundred Days, by "J. N. A." This work presents a clear exposition of Daniel viii and ix, shows what the Sanctuary is, and the nature of its cleansing. Price 12½ cents.
The Three Angels of Rev. xiv, 6-12, particularly the Third Angel's Message, and the Two-horned Beast. This work maintains the fulfillment of Prophecy in the past Advent movement, and is of great importance in these times of apostasy and peril.—148 pages.—Price 12½ cents.
Review of Crozier. This work is a faithful review of the No-Sabbath doctrine as set forth in the Advent Harbinger by O. R. L. Crozier. It should be placed in the hands of those who are exposed to that heresy.—Price 6 cents.
The Bible Class. This work contains 52 Lessons on the Law of God and the Faith of Jesus, with questions. It is peculiarly adapted to the wants of those of every age who are unacquainted with our views of those subjects, especially the young.—Bound 25 cents. Paper covers, 18 cents.
The Four Universal Monarchies of the Prophecy of Daniel, and the Kingdom of God, to which is added a condensed view of the 2300 days and the Sanctuary.—Price 8 cents.
The Sabbath. Containing valuable articles on 2 Cor. iii; Col. ii, 14-17. Who is our Lawgiver? The two tills of Matt. 18, Consistency, &c.—Price 5 cents.
The Law of God. In this excellent work the testimony of both Testaments relative to the law of God—its knowledge from Creation, its nature and perpetuity—is presented.—Price 12½ cents.
The Truth Found. A Short Argument for the Sabbath, by J. H. W. This is the best condensed work on the Sabbath extant. Price 6 cents.
Sabbath and Advent Miscellany. This work is composed of seven small tracts on the Sabbath, Second Advent, &c, and presents a choice variety for those who commence to seek for Bible truth. Price 10 cents.
The Bible Sabbath, or a careful selection from the publications of the American Sabbath Tract Society, including their History of the Sabbath. Price 10 cts.
The Atonement. This work opens a wide field of Bible truth, and will be found a valuable assistant in the study of the great theme on which it treats.—196 pp.—18 cents.
Man not Immortal: the only Shield against the Seductions of Modern Spiritualism. Without the great truth that man is not immortal, and that the dead know not anything, none are prepared to stand against wicked spirits in high places. We commend this work on the Immortality question, as an able discussion of the subject.—148 pp.—12½ cents.
An Examination of the Scripture Testimony concerning Man's present condition, and his future Reward or Punishment. By this work is shown the unconscious state of the dead, and the final destiny of the wicked. In this work we consider all objections to the mortality of man and the death of the wicked fairly and fully met. Price 18 cents.
Why Don't you Keep the Sabbath? Extracts from Catholic works.—Price 5 cents.
Signs of the Times. This work presents the historical facts concerning the signs in the Sun, Moon and Stars, points out other signs of the soon coming of Christ, and contains an exposure of Spirit Manifestations.—Price 12½ cents.
A condensed edition of 32 pp., 5 cents.
Last Work of the True Church.—Price 7 cents.
Perpetuity of the Royal Law.—Price 5 cents.
History of the Sabbath.—Price 5 cents.
The 2300 Days and Sanctuary by "U. S."—Price 5 cents.
The Celestial Railroad.—Price 5 cents.
Christian Experience and Views.—Price 6 cents.
Supplement to Experience and Views.—Price 6 cents.
POEMS.
Home Here and Home in Heaven, with other poems. This work embraces all those sweet and Scriptural poems written by Annie R. Smith, from the time she embraced the third message till she fell asleep in Jesus.—Price 25 cents. In paper covers, 20 cents.
Time and Prophecy. This work is a poetic comparison of the events of time with the sure word of Prophecy.—Price 20 cents. In paper covers, 12½ cents.
A Word for the Sabbath. This work is an exposure of the false theories in regard to the Sabbath.—Price 5 cents.
Liberal discount on these works where $5 worth is taken. The money should accompany all orders, except for the accommodation of those preachers who can better pay for Books after they have sold them.
Address URIAH SMITH, Battle Creek Mich.
Reward in this Life.
"AND Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, but he shall receive an hundred fold now in this time, houses and brethren and sisters and mothers and children, and lands, with persecutions, and in the world to come, eternal life." Mark x, 29, 30.
It will be readily admitted that all those precepts which have been given to govern the Christian's life during the gospel dispensation, will apply with tenfold more force as we draw near the close of that dispensation, when the end of all things is at hand. From the above scripture we learn that it has ever been the duty of the Christian to leave father and mother, houses and lands, for Christ's sake and the gospel's, if he could not follow him without. But those who thus sacrifice, are promised a reward of an hundred fold in this life, houses and brethren, sisters and mothers, children and lands. Are we to understand this literally? Are the persons here brought to view to become literal possessors of rich tracts of land, and proprietors of large families? None can fail to see from the text that they assume the relations there mentioned only by becoming members of Christ's great family on earth, every individual of which should love his neighbor as himself.
What then shall we think of those, who, while professing to believe the Third Angel's Message, and that scenes of destruction are just upon us, to be followed by the coming of the Son of man, and the end of all earthly things, are laboring to increase their stock of houses or lands, or children? Are they not rendering themselves liable to be accused by the world of denying their faith, and laying stumbling blocks in the way of the inquiring? We see not how it can be otherwise.
A time of trouble is approaching, more disastrous in its consequences than the calamities that occurred at the destruction of Jerusalem. [Matt. xxiv, 19.] a time when those who adhere to the requirements of truth can neither buy nor sell. Rev. xiii, 17. It will be expected, therefore, by all, that those who profess to believe this, will make their lives correspond. There is no greater cumbrance to any cause, than inconsistency on the part of its professors.
Home Here and Home in Heaven
By Editor
As the first lot of the Poem entitled, "Home Here and Home in Heaven," &c., is exhausted, we have had an additional five hundred bound, which are now received from the hands of the binder, and are ready for delivery. The long Poem from which the book takes its title has never appeared in the REVIEW. The same may be said of many of the miscellaneous pieces. As this lot, with the exception of few to be put up in paper covers, is the extent of the entire edition, those who wish to obtain the work must avail themselves of the opportunity before these are sold; as after that we shall not be able to supply their orders. It is neatly bound in muslin, and we will send it to any part of the country, and pay the postage, for 25 cts.