The hand-writing of ordinances, which Christ blotted out, is the decalogue, or it is not. If it is the decalogue, then I inquire, how could Paul speak of meats, drinks, new moons, holy days, [literally festival, Macknight,] and sabbaths, [plural,] as there is nothing of the kind in it? But if you say that it does not refer to the decalogue, but to those carnal ordinances which regulate all those matters, then you yield all argument from this text.
But you may take still another position and say, (notwithstanding no one of the things here mentioned as abolished is to be found in the decalogue,) that the hand-writing of ordinances included the decalogue. Let us test it. If it did include the decalogue, then the blood of Jesus "blotted out" the precepts which forbid idolatry, blasphemy, disobedience to parents, murder, adultery, theft, false-witness, and covetousness! And that which the blood of Christ blotted out has never been re-written!! Is not such a doctrine most shameful, inasmuch as it not only delivers men from the sentence of God's law, whether they repent or not, but it makes the great salvation of the gospel to consist, not in deliverance from sin, but in deliverance from every principle of morality that God ever laid down!! But if the ten commandments were not among the ordinances that Christ blotted out, then you fall of any proof, whatever, from this text!
Whatever was contained in the hand-writing of ordinances was "abolished abstractly," and entirely, and not left in existence, as the abolition of the decalogue left nine of the commandments, according to yourself!
But if you say that the hand-writing of ordinances included only a part of the ten commandments, (in order to avoid the absurdity that the whole ten are utterly destroyed by the blood of Christ,) then I ask you to show your authority! If you say, because that the term "holy-day" occurs, I answer, that Wesley, Macknight, and the Doway version render it feast day, festival, festival day; and that they render it rightly is evident from the fact that it is the same word that is thus rendered in Luke ii, 21; xxii, 1; John xiii, 1; Matt. xxvi, 5; xxvii, 15, &c. If you say that it is because the word sabbaths, [plural,] is used, I answer, that is slender proof, inasmuch as the hand-writing of ordinances included at least four annual sabbaths. Lev. xviii, 24, 32, 39.
But when God uses figures, does he not use reasonable ones? And what idea can you get of blotting out words engraven in stone? And what a figure to speak of nailing tables of stone to a cross!
Your "direct testimony," therefore, that the Sabbath of Jehovah, embodied in the fourth commandment, is abolished, is obtained, like your other proofs on the same point, by wrestling the scriptures, and particularly the words of Paul.—You speak again:
"3. 'TESTIMONY OF JAMES.' If ye fulfill the royal law, according to the Scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well:
"But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
"For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
"So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty."
What 'direct testimony' is there here for the Sabbath? Not a particle; there is no allusion to the subject. If it is claimed that the Sabbath is 'one point' in the 'law' to which James refers, we reply: This is only an inference, and we demand proof that such is the fact. The law here in James is 'the law of Christ,' and not 'the law of Moses.' So in Rom. iii. 31; vii, 7—25; viii, 1—7, and Eph. vi. 2, 3—texts quoted by the Review to show what is not abolished—'the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus' gives freedom; but this is not the law of Moses."
It is an important fact that James quotes, not from a new edition of the law of God, called by yourself "the law of Christ," but from the "Scripture"—the Old Testament—and from that law [see margin] which was composed of the commandments.
Having heretofore pointed out the defects in your argument from this text, a few words are all that is now needed. He that shall "offend in one point, [precept, Macknight] he is guilty of all."
The "ALL" here referred to, means one of two things: (1.) It means only those precepts which James has quoted, which makes "the whole law" to consist of the three precepts here cited, and leaves us at liberty, not only to violate the fourth commandment, but also the first, second, third, fifth, eighth, ninth, and tenth, and even the first of the two great ones:—Strange liberty! And you have not offended in a single point!!
(2.) Or the "ALL," to which James points, includes the ten precepts from which he quotes, and he that violates one has transgressed them all!
The second is the position of the Review; the first is left for those who break the commandments, and teach men so!
But Paul in Rom. iii, 31, refers to "the law of Christ" does he? This is a virtual admission that the law there referred to is not abolished. We inquire, then, whether Paul refers to the original, unabolished law of Jehovah, or to some other law. Verse 19 shows the whole world condemned and guilty before God in the sight of this law. Verse 23 gives the reason. Verses 24—26 shows that by faith in the atonement, the shedding of the blood of the Son of God, guilty man may be pardoned.—And verse 31 shows that salvation through the great propitiation, does not make void the law, but establishes it!
These facts point us to a law in existence before the first Advent of the Messiah, and not to one enacted by him after his coming. To the law which made an atonement necessary, viz: "the ten words" shut up in the Ark, on the top of which was the mercy-seat where the blood of atonement was sprinkled. The Ark is in the true tabernacle where Christ is. Its top is the mercy-seat from which we receive pardon; the testament within it is the holy, unabolished constitution of the Father.
You also attempt to set aside the law in Rom. vii, 7—25, as "the law of Christ." For it is manifest that the law there noticed is an unabolished law. But this is a failure, for several reasons. (1.) The words purport to come from the law, an expression never used with reference to the words of Christ. (2.) The words in verse 7 are a literal quotation from the decalogue; but as Christ never used the expression, and never quoted the tenth commandment, they are not a quotation from what you call "the law of Christ." (3.) But there is direct proof in verses 22 and 25 that Paul refers to "the law of God." Hence Paul did quote from the decalogue in the year 60, and recognized it as unabolished.
And as we read forward in chapter viii, we find that the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, delivered him, (not from the law of God, as some vainly imagine, but) from that other law of sin, which in chapter vii, 7—25, he represents as baffling all his efforts to keep the law of God. In the third verse he offers praise to God for the atonement; (just as in chapter iii;) and in the fourth verse he testifies that the righteousness [precept, Whiting,] of the law can now be fulfilled in us. For he is delivered from the carnal mind, which is enmity against God, and which is not subject to his law; (the same that now leads men to fight the commandments of God.)
Now, we inquire, from what law does Paul quote in Eph. vi, 2, 3. You think that he quotes the commandment from the law of Christ, and not from the law of Moses, a term which you delight to apply to the commandments of God. Let us test this also. It is a fact, that though Christ has quoted this commandment, he has never appended a promise to it; much less has he added the one here quoted by Paul. But it is also a fact that this commandment does stand in the decalogue, not only as its first commandment with promise, but with the very promise in question annexed! Hence it is a fact that Paul quotes from the decalogue, which you say is abolished; and not from the law of Christ, which, according to yourself, Christ established by amending his Father's commandments! Hence it is a fact that the decalogue is not abolished! You continue, and conclude as follows:
"TESTIMONY OF JOHN. 'And every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself even as he is pure.
"'Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law; for sin is the transgression of the law.
"'And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.' John iii, 3—5.
"'And the dragon 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.' Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus! Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.'—Rev. xii, 17; xiv, 12; xxii, 14.
"What 'direct testimony' is there in these passages in favor of the Sabbath, or of the law of Moses, or of the decalogue?—There is none at all.
"'We cover the whole ground of these passages when we acknowledge ourselves to be 'under the law to Christ,' (1 Cor. ix, 21,) without acknowledging the present authority of the law of Moses; and by 'doing the commandments' of the New Testament. If we thus continue faithful to the end, 'under the law to Christ,' and 'doing his commandments,' we cannot be convicted of sin, nor excluded from the tree of life.'"
Before calling attention to the defects in your argument from these texts, I notice one or two facts.
(1.) You have not succeeded in establishing a new constitution, or in modifying the original. (2.) You have not succeeded in establishing a new law, in place of the holy and just law of God. Hence the commandments of God remain unamended and unabolished. Let us examine the scriptures quoted.
1. John shows that the law still exists.
2. Sin is the transgression of it.
3. Christ was manifested not to take away the law, but to take away sin, the transgression of it. Hence this is the original law of God, one that existed before the Advent of Jesus, and one that rendered his death necessary, as shown in Rom. iii. It still exists, and whosoever breaks the commandments of God is convicted by it, as a sinner. The blood of Jesus did not blot it out. But say you, "Love is the fulfilling of the law." So it is, but what is love? John answers: "This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments." 1 John v, 3. Such love does indeed fulfill the law of God, and any thing less, no matter what the profession, is not the love of God!
The book of Revelation speaks on the commandments of God. At the very end of time John saw the dragon and the last fragment of the church contending: Listen: "And the dragon 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." What is the feature by which the remnant are distinguished? The keeping of the commandments of God! What was done to them? The dragon made war with them, for he was wroth. Will the powers of this earth make war on the remnant for not worshiping other gods, not bowing down to idols, not blaspheming? No, they recognize them as right thus far. Will they be offended with those who do not dishonor their parents, or murder, or commit adultery, steal, or bear false witness, or covet? No, they imprison those who do thus. But those are only nine of the commandments of God. The fourth commandment is the precept that brings out the ire of the dragon.—When the remnant take hold of this precept, which the dragon has with such care been laboring to change, the wrath of worldlings, Catholics, Protestants, and even of Adventists, is roused to crush them, and to check the work, "that it proceed no further!" What is the trouble? O, they are keeping the commandments as God gave them, and they condemn us!—Will the enemies of God succeed in destroying the remnant? No!
"The remnant in these latter days
Will triumph sure; give God the praise!
They, of the beast refuse the mark,
They keep God's law—they have the Ark."
The wrath of the dragon, already beginning to be stirred, will doubtless increase until that "time of trouble such as never was." And some perhaps with whom the remnant have taken sweet counsel, will be left to think that in killing them they are doing God's service.
But John sees them again. "Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." But when is it that John sees the commandment-keepers this time? In the patience of the saints, (waiting with hope long-deferred,) and under the message of the Third Angel. Then those who live in the period referred to, will have much to say about the commandments of God. And those who oppose will doubtless attempt to prove that they are abolished, or that they have been superseded by the testimony of Jesus Christ. But the saints of God, not heeding this folly, will keep both. But does not John see them again? Yes. He sees the commandment-keepers enter the holy city, while those who love and make a lie, are left without. Christ had said, "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments;" John sees such enter into it!
This is direct testimony that the commandments of God are not abolished. It is direct testimony that they have not been superseded by the testimony of Jesus Christ.
You may attempt to set aside the commandments of God, as the law of Moses, or to teach that they have been superseded by the testimony of Jesus, but this will not avail. Those who are "under the law to Christ" will do as he has directed, viz: "Keep the commandments." The commandments of Jesus have not taken the place of the commandments of God, as you try to give the idea. They stand together—they are inseparable. How long wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
J. N. ANDREWS.
Port Byron, Cayuga Co. N. Y., July, 1852.
THE SABBATH.
By Harriet N. Stevens
BY HARRIET N. STEVENS.
WELCOME, the Sabbath hour,
The holy and the blest!
With sweet, subduing power,
It calms the soul to rest;
And hope and love spring up anew,
To cheer us on, our journey through.
Our only care and aim
Throughout this hallow'd day,
To glorify thy name,
And grateful honors pay;
Advance the glory of thy cause,
And vindicate thy righteous laws.
Descend, Celestial Dove,
E'en while we wait and sing!
Come from the throne of love,
With healing on thy wing!
With ardent zeal each heart inspire,
The saints baptize with holy fire.
LETTERS
By Editor
The interest and usefulness of the REVIEW AND HERALD greatly depends upon the communications from the scattered brethren. A good brother suggests that the portion of its columns devoted to letters, should be something like a conference-meeting, where all have a chance to speak.
Let those not accustomed to writing much, write in a natural, humble style. It is a good time to write, after holding sweet communion with God in prayer, when imbued with the Holy Spirit.
But there are brethren and sisters who have written considerable, but neglect to furnish matter for the REVIEW AND HERALD. A variety of matter from their pens would add much to its usefulness.
Those who have shared the blessings of the present truth, should testify the same to others. A sketch of the experience of such, would doubtless cheer many lonely brethren and sisters who are separated from those of like precious faith.46Brethren and sisters, speak out, and let others know what the Lord has done for you, and let God be glorified for his abundant mercy.
LETTERS.
From Bro. Holt.
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—I reached home last evening, much fatigued in body, but strong in faith. Bro. Edson will probably reach home to-day. We have had some very interesting meetings since I wrote you from Irasburgh, Vt. We held meetings in Chateaugay, Sabbath and First-day, June 26th and 27th, which resulted in much good. Brn. Hollis and Ingraham were with us. An appointment was sent on for the meeting, but was not received in time to notify the brethren before we reached there on Friday.
There were two school-houses in the place where public meetings were held, but they were both taken up, one by an Advent preacher who had two meetings on Sabbath afternoon, and three on First-day. A portion of the brethren were desirous to hear on the subject of the Sabbath, and requested the preacher to give way for this subject to be presented or discussed. This he did not feel disposed to do. He and his associates were then asked, if we might unite with them, and improve part of the time? This they would not do, but chose a separate meeting. When this was decided, the Baptist preacher being present, arose and withdrew his appointment, and freely offered us the other house. We accepted the offer, and spoke to a crowded house, on First-day, that listened attentively to the subject of present truth. The result was, that several decided to keep the Sabbath of the Lord, and public notice was given for meetings on the next seventh day. We had interesting meetings with the brethren in Bangor and Norfolk. They are growing stronger, and the Lord is adding to their numbers.
Sabbath and First-day, July 3d and 4th, we held a conference at Bro. John Byington's in Potsdam. The brethren from different places met there. We had a time of refreshing, and we were much strengthened and encouraged.
Bro. and Sr. Byington and two others were baptized. Three had formerly been sprinkled. The other was a young convert. We passed through Lorain and Sandy Creek, and found the brethren in good spirits, united, and strong in the truth of God.
Oswego, N. Y., July 8th, 1852. G. W. HOLT.
Keeping the Law and Resisting Wickedness
"They that forsake the law, praise the wicked; but such as keep the law contend with them." Prov. xxviii, 4.
"For to be carnally minded is death, . . . because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Rom. viii, 6, 7.
THE PATIENCE OF THE SAINTS.
"Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." Rev. xiv, 12. This verse closes the message of the third angel.—The time having come when the truths contained in this message are present truths, it becomes us to study them well.
Much is being said relative to the commandments of God mentioned by the third angel, but comparatively little is said upon the patience of the saints, and the faith of Jesus. These subjects we intend to present, but shall give only a few thoughts at this time upon the patience of the saints.
But where shall we apply this text that speaks of the patience of the saints? In the future age? Nonsense! to talk of a period when immortal saints will be so immersed in perplexing trials as to make it necessary to exercise great patience! This text can be applied to no other period only when they are groaning beneath the infirmities of mortality, and subject to the temptations, and fiery darts of Satan and his children.
Such a period the Apostle points out in a clear manner in Heb. x, 35—39, "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise; for yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry." What is the subject of Paul's remarks? Answer, the coming of the Lord; and they can apply to no other period than that when Christ's coming is to be in "a little while." Then the exhortation, "Cast not away, therefore, your confidence," &c., refers to those who have had great confidence in Christ's coming, but have been disappointed. Such are told that they would need patience after they had done the will of God.
"Here is the patience of the saints," says the third angel. Their position is one of peculiar trials. In publishing the first and second messages, they did the will of God. While fulfilling the Word they received divine approbation. But a period of trial of faith, the waiting, watching time must also come to fulfill the Word. These fulfillments are all perfectly plain.—The first message, based on time, has been given. The second, separating the Advent people from the churches, is also in the past. And it is equally as clear that the period of the patience of the saints has been since the great disappointment in 1844.
But the Apostle continues: "Now the just shall live by faith." This, by no means, is a period of reformation and religious excitement, when thousands who have but little or no real faith, may be borne onward by a strong current of salvation setting heavenward, as in days past; but is a period of apostasy and death-like stupidity, when there are a thousand influences calculated to drag the soul down to perdition. Therefore, those who live to God at all, must live by naked faith.—Faith in the fulfillment of prophecy in the Advent movement in the past, and that "He that is to come will come" in a "little while," and faith that conveys present saving power to the soul.
"But if any man draw back my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back to perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul." Mark this: the only thing introduced here by the Apostle, from which there is danger of drawing back, is the "confidence" once enjoyed in the hope of the coming of Christ. This being the subject of his remarks, it follows that we are exhorted not to cast away our confidence, which has been pleasing to God, while doing his will in giving the former messages. And it is evident, also, that this period of the patience of the saints is in consequence of their disappointment relative to Christ's coming, and the trials of their waiting, watching position. These being the facts in the case, it is perilous to doubt, it is perdition to draw back, and fully deny and trample upon the advanced position once occupied by the whole Advent body.
ALEXANDER ROSS
By Alexander Ross
From Bro. Ross.
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—Knowing that you, as well as others, feel a deep and an abiding interest in the welfare of Zion, I feel it a great privilege, as well as duty, to let you know how it is with us. Since I wrote you last, we have had a very interesting season, for the Lord has been manifesting himself in these parts in a wonderful manner, by writing his holy law upon the fleshly tables of the heart of his people, so that they may keep his holy commandments in spirit, and in truth too, and follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. The jewels are being manifest, and are purifying themselves by obeying the truth.
A conference was held at Coughdenoy, July 3d and 4th. Bro. S. W. Rhodes, the servant of the Most High, was with us in the fullness of the gospel of the third angel's message, as far as it is unfolded to the chosen few that are appointed heirs of salvation. Praise ye the Lord all ye his saints. The Lord met with us, as well as the dear brethren. Some from Oswego, New Haven, Volney, Albion, Sterling, and Syracuse were there. Yes, from Syracuse. The standard is raised there, and the Lord is bringing souls out of that place, and he is doing a great work here. Eighteen dear, precious souls, followed our Great Pattern in the holy ordinance of baptism on First-day.—It surely was a time of rejoicing. I heard it remarked by a number that it was the best conference they ever attended, and I think I never attended where there was so few trials as at that meeting. Although Satan accused our brethren, and his host raged and blasphemed against the Holy Ghost, yet God's people that confided in him, were secure. There is a coming up of the standard, at this time, of God's peculiar people, and full purpose of soul to do all that the Lord would have them to do. Three of the precious jewels have come into the liberty this morning, and are praying in the Holy Spirit to God for strength and wisdom to keep the commandments, who are my nearest neighbors.
ALEXANDER ROSS
Coughdenoy, July 6th, 1852.
The Saints Rising in the West
By Hiram S. Case
From Bro. Case.
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—I wish to say to the dear brethren scattered abroad, that God is at work in the West, and the saints are rising. They have dug deep through the rubbish, dust, and shavings, and have found rock bottom, the commandments of God, and are trying to build on that foundation that standeth sure, which no man can tear up, though they, like the Sodomites, work until they weary themselves. The bulwarks of Almighty God can never be battled down by all the forces that the puny arm of man can rally against them, though Goliath-like they may defy the armies of Israel and their King, and boast of "unanswerable arguments." We will trust in the God of David, and as our weapons of war are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds, we are determined to gird on the whole armor, and take the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, and go boldly without the camp and cry, the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, until the scattered remnant are established on the commandments of God.
We should now each one stand at our post, for the enemy has come in like a flood, and the standard must be raised against him. This, God has promised, should be done. See Isa. lix, 19. God works by means, and through his people he has accomplished many wonders, and will more, and it behooves us to be ready, and stand where God can use us to his glory. His work will go forward, and he that reapeth receiveth wages, and that reward is glorious. See Dan. xii, 3.
I feel to rejoice that the truth is gaining ground, and that God is visiting his humble truth-seeking people in this State. He has been pleased to send our dear Bro. J. Bates to us, and he has come richly laden with the truth, and our hungry souls have been fed.
Yours in hope,
H. S. CASE.
Anarbor, Mich., July 8th, 1852.
The Third Angel’s Message Advances
By H. Flower
From Bro. Flower.
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—The Lord is still with the little remnant in this place. The conference here has just closed. Brn. Baker, Wheeler, and Wyman attended. The word preached was backed up by the energies of the Holy Ghost, and we trust that much good will be the result of the meeting. A number manifested a desire for the prayers of the saints by rising.
The third angel's message is gaining ground here, notwithstanding there are many adversaries. It is the truth, and it will go forward. The Lord speed it on, is my prayer. Some are making up their minds, in this place, to keep the commandments of God.
The Review and Herald is received here with gladness. We hope you will visit us on your tour East. I feel that it is good for me to keep the Sabbath. It is not grievous. How sweet the promise in Isa. lviii, 13, 14:—
"If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord honorable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
"Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it."
We wish to be remembered by all the faithful ones.
Yours in the love of the truth,
Ashfield, Mass., July 13th, 1852. H. FLOWER.
Faith in the Judgment Hour Message
By Lebbeus Drew
From Bro. Drew.
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—Since you left here I have been to Rushville, Canandaigua, and Seneca Falls. In all these places I can but hope there are some that will receive the truth. The age to come theory is taking so deep hold of some of our former brethren, that it leaves but little ground to hope for them. The book of Revelation they apply principally to the 1000 years, especially chap. xiv. But if they are right now, then they were wrong in giving the judgment hour cry when they did.
I still believe that the judgment hour message was given in the right time, and I will bless and thank God's holy name for granting me patience so long. My faith never was stronger than now. The third angel's message has done a great work for me, and some of my children. My brethren, I see nothing discouraging. God is for us, who can be against us? Our meetings in this place have been crowned with heaven's blessings. LEBBEUS DREW. Pultney, N. Y., July 6th, 1852.
Purified by the Present Truth
By Mary Leadbeater
From Sister Leadbeater.
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—I feel to thank and praise my Saviour that he has opened my eyes to the present truth. It seems plain that Jesus is beginning to reach out his arms to gather his people into one spirit and one faith; and it becomes us to keep pace with the unfolding truth of the blessed Bible.
I received my last paper yesterday, and was greatly strengthened and encouraged in reading so many interesting letters from the brethren scattered abroad. Truly, the Lord is at work, and blessed be his name. Although it is not my privilege to meet with them, yet it rejoices me very much to hear from them through the Review and Herald.
Dear brethren and sisters, having the hope we profess, let us purify ourselves even as he is pure. We should be following the Lord fully, as did Caleb and Joshua, and walking with him as did Enoch and Elijah. Holiness becometh thy house, O Lord. Without it we shall not see thee.
My prayer is, revive us, cheer us, strengthen us, and purify us, and save us at thy coming, and kingdom.
I approve very much of your idea of getting up a paper for the children. I hope God will enable you to be instrumental in his hands of doing much good to the household of faith. MARY LEADBEATER.
Cincinnati, O., July 15th, 1852.
The Three Messages and God’s Law
By David Upson
From Bro. Upson.
DEAR BRO. WHITE: Since you was here, I have not been a little comforted and strengthened in the faith of Jesus, as the Apostle says, faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God, and as the Blessed Jesus says, man liveth not by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. God's word is truth, and I feel that if we are ever fitted for heaven and glory, we must be sanctified through the truth. The Psalmist says, thy Law is the truth. Unless we keep the commandments of God, we can never have a right to the tree of life, and enter in through the gates into the City.
The three messages are just what the children of God needed, to bring them out of the errors of the nominal church and to bring them into the light and liberty of the gospel of the Son of God, and fit them for heaven. They are like leaven hid in three measures of meal until the whole was leavened. It seems to me that the light of revelation is now shining clearer to the children of God, than at any age of the world. Truth is powerful, and it will cut its way through to the hearts of God's people. God has sent out his servants to proclaim his word and to give the world the last warning message of the approaching judgment.—The prerogative of Satan is to counteract the truth of heaven, and deceive the world. Let us walk by faith and not by sight. Without faith it is impossible to please God, and there is no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. The law is spiritual. It is the law of liberty that St. James speaks of, by which we are made free from condemnation, through Jesus Christ.
Yours in patient waiting for our coming Lord and King,
DAVID UPSON.
Catlin, N. Y., July 11th, 1852.
Let the Candid Judge
By A. A. Marks
From Bro. Marks.
Let the Candid Judge.
Dear Bro. White: I thought of saying a few words in relation to an obituary notice in the Advent Harbinger for December 20th, 1851, from the pen of Mary A. Seymour, on the death of P. Cook of Jackson, Michigan.
It seems that there is nothing, however absurd or false it may be, but what can find a place in that paper, if it is only in opposition to the Holy Law of God, or those who love and obey it.
The writer asserts that most "of his [C.'s] former brethren whom he much loved, having embraced the shut door, and its kindred doctrines, seemingly shut their bowels of compassion towards him, and others also who do not agree with them in faith. This to him was a very great grief. They did not as much as look at him. More than this, did the Priest and Levite."
As to the truth of the assertion, that he much loved his former brethren, let the reader decide; for he left them, and their meetings and united with the wicked world, and fallen church, for no other reason than that they opposed the idea of Christians voting for wicked rulers. It was about a year before we embraced the open and shut door of the heavenly Sanctuary, and the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, that Mr. C. left us; and although we entreated him time after time, and exhorted him in Christ's stead to be reconciled to God, yet all in vain. Still he stood opposed to the commandments of God. Not willing to give it up, I visited him again, when I was told by his wife, in his presence, that she wished I would go away, and keep away, and that he did not want to hear it (the present truth) any more than she did.—To this he kept silent. She further said that some of us were coming there every little while, and hanging on to him, calling him Bro. Cook, and she wished we would keep away, and I left the house. I have stated the remarks of Mrs. C. as near as I can recollect, and I leave the candid to decide whether we could go there under such circumstances, or not.
I am one of his former brethren who have embraced the commandments of God, &c., yet, under all these circumstances, I was with him in his last illness, time after time, watched with, and took care of him, and when unable to watch myself, I have been after others to watch with him.
The other brethren living about three miles off, and all of us being requested to keep away, complied with the request. Mr., and I think Mrs. Seymour was knowing to the fact of my being with Mr. C. in his last illness, and yet they could make the assertion that we "did not as much as look at him, more than this did the Priest and Levite." But I submit the subject with the following questions. 1. Did he much love his former brethren? 2. Did they shut their bowels of compassion towards him? Was that to him a very great grief? 3. Did they not as much as look at him? I leave the candid to judge for themselves where the truth is in this matter.
Yours in the truth, keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus,
A. A. MARKS.
Jackson, Mich., June 20th, 1852.
EXTRACTS OF LETTERS.
By Editor
BRO. JOSEPH BATES writes from Galesburgh, Mich., July 12th, 1852:—"I have stopped at the Post Office to communicate a few lines. Bro. Dodge, of Jackson came here with me yesterday from Climax, where we spent the Sabbath, at which place two brethren embraced the truth.
"We gathered a few friends here yesterday to listen to the truth; and one of the dark spirits from the East came with them, (R. H.) He charged the Sabbath-keepers with breaking up a band of Advent believers of about one hundred in number, in Roxbury, Mass. I told him it was the Sabbath-breakers that did that work. He afterwards acknowledged that he had kept the Sabbath a few years, just to please the rest; but he knows the commandments are all abolished. It is many years since I have heard such a perfect jargon as this man presented, after I closed, and a part of it while I was speaking. He is a real brawler. I told the man of the house I should not preach in the evening if this man was allowed to brawl in this manner. So we left.
"I sent you five names, last week, from Plymonth. There, I trust, a good work is done with Bro. Cornell's family and brethren. I wish I had time to give particulars."
BRO. W. MORSE writes from Royalton, Vt., July 12th, 1852:—"I feel very thankful for the effort you are making for the dear youth, in publishing a paper for their benefit. I send you a few names, and the enclosed—for their paper. All I have seen seem much interested in the paper.
"Our hearts are encouraged while we read in the Review and Herald the cheering account, from the brethren at a distance, of the state of the cause. We think much of Bro. Andrews' Letters to Crozier. I would not part with the papers that contain them for any price, unless I could obtain them again.
"I feel deeply for some who have been with me in the former messages. I want them to share with me in finding a good foundation to stand upon. I want them to have the paper, receive the truth, and stand with us on Mount Zion. I walked eight miles, last night, after doing a day's work, to see some that have been firm in the Advent faith, and found two that wanted the Review and Herald."
BRO. H. S. GURNEY writes from Fairhaven, Mass., July 11th, 1852:—"We have had a good meeting the day past. It is thought best to have a conference at Bro. Collins' about the time you may be this way, and leave it with you to make the appointment.
"I thank God that the work is manifestly progressing, although I am unworthy of being identified with his cause; but I do rejoice in the work."
BRO. R. MORAN writes from Lawrenceburgh, Dearborn Co., Ind., July 11th, 1852:—"The Review and Herald comes regularly, in a day or two after its publication. Our beloved Bro. Andrews' letters to C., in my judgment, are invaluable. If I had the means, after the series are finished, I would scatter them in pamphlets by the thousands. It does seem to me, that any person, to be honest before God, cannot withstand their force."