Earlier text: HOW TO PROMOTE LOVE AND HARMONY AMONG BRETHRENGodly fear is an essential part of the christian character. It is sometimes called filial fear. Paul had it, when he said "lest by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." 1 Cor. ix, 27; also Heb. iv, 1. Let us, therefore, fear, lest a promise being left us, &c. All the holy men of old had this fear. It is founded in love; it is continued and perfected in love; it has no torment in it, no discouragement, no spasmodic tortures of body, or mind; but it is calm, collected, composed. It exists in humble, broken, contrite hearts. It exists and grows strong in companionship with peace, love and joy. It fears to offend God because God is just and good and holy, and from respect and veneration to him and his character. It approaches God with careful solicitude, lest his pure eye should behold some hidden sin, while it at the same time stimulates the action of faith as it soars upward to heaven. Slavish fear is entirely different from, and opposed to Godly fear, although it is often mistaken for it. It is the legitimate offspring of sin and guilt. Nevertheless Satan often scares the good man with groundless alarms. See Job vii, 14. This slavish fear is one of Satan's most potent weapons, with which he assaults the poor saint, in his lonely hours. It has been in all ages a snare into which the good have fallen, all the while supposing it to be a Godly fear; which mistake has rivetted the fetters, forged by the archenemy, in his gloomy darkness. The pagan and papal systems, have reaped a large harvest by means of this slavish fear. It has multiplied victims to Juggernaut and penance; Pilgrims to Mecca and to Rome; and it has whitened many a rood of earth's surface with unburied, uncoffined bones. The papal system, especially, has profited by this mistake, calling this slavish fear a godly one. It has nourished it by regularly constituted fasts and acts of penance, and thus has deceived its victims, and cheated them out of heaven. Luther, the great reformer, had nearly fallen a victim to this fear. He was born in 1483, a time of thick moral darkness. Never was the Roman Catholic Church more corrupt, yet the good had not yet broken from its impious and senseless rites. He had been favored with the best education Europe could afford; but all religious teaching, at that time, was so mixed with superstition, that Luther was under its influence, although he sought for the truth as it is in the word of God, yet he knew not how to obtain it. Of his own accord he entered a monastery at the age of twenty-one, the most fitting place, as he supposed to become holy; and here he industriously and sincerely, but vainly, practiced all the rites and severe mortifications of an austere monk; and all the while his fears and convictions deepened, and diffused themselves in his heart, until his life was in danger. None of his fellow monks could fathom his case, or give advice which should assuage his grief, or heal his wounds. Sin, sin, was his bitter foe, and all the rites of the cloister could not suffice to draw the venom from the sting of this deadly enemy. Very happily for Luther, and happily for the good, Providence had previously prepared a fit person to give to the distressed Luther, such advice as was calculated to set him free. I. Staupitz, Vicar General of the Augustine monks, had passed through such religious experiences, as fitted him to administer to Luther appropriate instructions and consolations; and he profited by the mild precepts of his friend, who taught him to look to God as to a kind father, not as to an inexorable avenger, but with faith in Christ, not in self-mortifications and severe penance. About the time Luther left the privacy of a monk's cell, for the pulpit (Luther's disenfranchisement from Romanism was gradual), the following incident took place, which I copy from D'Aubigne's Hist. of the Ref., page 183, vol. 1. "The festival of Corpus Christi was to be celebrated with great pomp at Eisleben. The Vicar General would be present, and Luther repaired there also. He had still need of Staupitz, and sought every opportunity of meeting this enlightened guide, who directed his soul into the path of life. The procession was numerous and brilliant. Staupitz himself bore the consecrated host, Luther following in his sacerdotal robes. The thought that it was Jesus Christ himself whom the Vicar General carried, the idea that the Saviour was there in person before him, suddenly struck Luther's imagination, and filled him with such terror that he could scarcely proceed. The perspiration fell drop by drop from his face; he staggered, and thought he should die of anguish and affright. At length the procession was over; the host, that had awakened all the fears of the monk, was solemnly deposited in the sanctuary; and Luther, finding himself alone with Staupitz, fell into his arms and confessed his dread. Then the good Vicar General, who had long known that gentle Saviour, who does not break the bruised reed, said to him mildly: 'It was not Jesus Christ, my brother, he does not alarm, he gives consolation only.'" If ever there was a time in which it was important to understand this device of Satan, it was in the reformation; and it is evident from Luther's course, that thenceforth slavish fear had no terrors for him, at least none are apparent. He learned by sad experience, that Satan could counterfeit the fear of God, and thus terrify the mind otherwise unmoved. This too is a time of reformation from papal errors. Satan is making a mighty but silent struggle. Many an honest heart is scared with dreams, and terrified in various ways; but the obedient godly person may well claim the promise, and cast itself calmly upon its loving, gentle Saviour.
Jos. CLARKE. THE CAUSE IN WISCONSIN.
By Isaac Sanborn
DEAR BRO. SMITH : The third angel's message is rising; and I believe is speedily preparing for the loud cry. I have just closed the second series of lectures at Little Prairie, Walworth Co., Wis., where I commenced45 lecturing the 29th day of January last. There were at that time only six or seven Sabbath-keepers in the vicinity. Last Sabbath, June 16, after preaching at 10 o'clock A. M., we all went to the beautiful Lake Pleasant, where I enjoyed the happy privilege of burying seventeen souls in the likeness of Christ's death. At 4 P. M. we assembled again for the purpose of becoming organized into a church, and after duly considering God's order of things in the church, forty souls were united together in the strong bond of love and Christian fellowship. Two brethren were then chosen by the church and duly set apart to fill their proper places in the church. O, praise the name of the Lord forever for what he has done for the people there. In the evening at 8 o'clock we met again to follow our Saviour's example as we find it recorded in John xiii, 13-15, and truly we realized the fulfillment of his promise in verse 17. We also partook of the emblems of his broken body and shed blood, which strengthened and encouraged us all to press forward to that crown of bright glory which is laid up for all the finally faithful and obedient. May we all be faithful and overcome, is my prayer. This church have also unanimously adopted the plan of systematic benevolence. Whitewater, Wal. Co., Wis. THE EYE-SALVE.
By J. CLARKE.
Its uses. To improve the sight, so that the Christian may realize his wants, his spiritual wants. He who does not realize his spiritual wants, will have no desires for such things. Of course he lies down in stupidity, and imagines himself already supplied. Like the drunken man, he thinks himself rich, in need of nothing, and knows not that he is poor, and in need of all things, wretched, and miserable, and blind, and naked." Rev. iii, 19. The eye-salve opens his eyes to see his sinful heart, and thus lowers himself in his own eyes. He sees now that there no hope in himself. It shows him its odiousness, its hurtful nature, and the ruin it has brought upon the world, and its hatefulness in the sight of God. Now his heart is somewhat prepared to appreciate its opposite, holiness; and the eye-salve opens his eyes to the character of God as displayed in the word of God, and he cries out in the bitterness of his soul, "Create in me a clean heart." Ps. li, The eye-salve opens to him the beauties and excellent principles unfolded in the word of God, and he pants for greater discoveries and attainments in holiness; to be free from sin, to be reconciled more fully to God, to attain to a holy and heavenly life. The eye-salve opens to his astonished sight the devices of Satan, who is no more to him a myth, a phantom, an apocryphal being, only feared by the weak and superstitious; but now he sees in this archenemy a fallen angel, strong, experienced, artful, persevering; and why should he affect to despise the being who for forty days tempted the Son of God; that made war in heaven; that killed the good of all ages; that crucified the Saviour; the instigator of all horrible crimes, the murderer, the liar, the thief, the sworn enemy of God's holy Sabbath, as well as the enemy of all the ten precepts, and of those who practice them; the hater of truth; he who, if it were possible, would long ago have dethroned God and set himself up chief ruler, where he would have dispensed cruelty, confusion, impurity, and every evil principle, and would have revelled in destruction. The eye-salve so improves his sight, that he now sees his own weakness, and what points need a double watch; where he must institute more than common watchfulness; it shows him whence to draw wisdom, and discernment, how to edify and exhort, and what are the needs and virtues of his cotemporaries. The eye-salve shows him the value of time, and the importance of improving it. It shows to him the order and beauty of prophecy, its practical utility and bearing peculiarly on the present age, and upon personal character, and the danger of closing the heart to any principle of the revelation of God's word. The eye-salve shows him the beauty of candor and truth, the necessity of order and industry, of purity and peace, the excellence of every virtue, and the beauties of God's attributes, of justice, mercy, and truth, and he would not that God should be otherwise than he is. Rather would he fall to rise no more, than that God should surrender one iota of his perfections, or lower his standard of law in the least particular. One peculiarity of the eye-salve is, that he who has most of it values it most highly, while he who has least, values it least. J. CLARKE. "Wives submit yourselves unto your own husbands as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the church. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything." Eph. v, 22-24. The wife should be subject unto her husband (her head) as the church is subject unto Christ. Christ has given rules to govern the church; but if the husband has no rules to govern his family, if he does not take his place as head, in what sense can the wife submit to him? She may be obliged to submit to family confusion; but what is the wife's duty in the neglect of family regulation by her husband? Can she take his place and fill her own? or is it her duty to submit to family disorder in obedience to the apostle's injunction, "Wives submit yourselves unto your own husbands?" Christ has left precept and example to teach and guide the church; but if the husband does not observe and obey those pertaining to the family relation, how can the wife "submit" unto him "as unto the Lord?" It is true she may submit to the want of these very necessary qualifications of her head; but can she submit to him as the church to Christ? Christ has left many comforting words and promises for the church in times of deep trial and affliction, having a tender regard and care for the church; but if the husband has no tender watch-care for his wife, no word of encouragement in times of trial and doubt, she cannot reverence her head. She may submit to neglect, or even harsh reproof, but she cannot love, respect and reverence her husband as her head. Certainly it seems to be necessary that the husband first obey the instruction of the apostle to love and cherish as his own body, his wife, to lead and guide her as Christ the church. Then the wife should cheerfully submit to him in everything. This all good wives will do. She will reverence her head as the church does Christ. Then, and not until then, are the husband and wife qualified to act in unison in training their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. A family that is regulated by the wholesome restraint of the united heads is indeed a most pleasing and beautiful sight. It is truly a little heaven below. "Each in his proper station moves,
Each fulfills his part with love."
It may be said, You "must do it by love." But what is love? Is it to allow the innocent creatures intrusted to our care to rush into temptation when a little restraint on our part at the right time would place them in the path of obedience and happiness, where God's Spirit can touch their tender hearts. Who has pure love for his children? Has he who permits them (because it is grievous for the present to correct them) to grow up unsubdued, with petted wills, restless and unhappy? Does not he who applies the rod of restraint (because it afterward yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness), and brings his children into subjection to rule and regulation, does he not rather show pure love for those intrusted to his care? God is love; and he has just laws requiring strict obedience. Love does not obliterate his law; if it does, it would have ceased at the cross; for where was greater love ever manifested? Christ by his death and sufferings established his Father's law. May the Lord save us from acting in families as if there was no law, while we profess to be keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. It is by these perfect rules that love is preserved and strengthened; without them hate and every evil work would be the consequence. O, the responsibilities of heads of families who have children to be saved or lost. If none but those children can be saved whom the parents bear to the throne of grace in the arms of faith, what a fearful responsibility rests upon the parents that they do their duty in first properly restraining them, and then exercising faith for them. May the Lord help us to have faith for our families.
M. DEAR SISTERS : There is a short article on Deception in the Review of Oct. 27, 1859, which has not, I fear, been read by all with profit. I wish it could be reprinted, or that some would take the trouble to read it again. It is strange that any people professing the religion of Jesus should be vain in their dress, and more surprising still, that we, who have seen the sad effects of pride, should follow in the same path. What is it sisters, that has caused the death of true and vital piety in the nominal churches? It is their pride. "O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up!" Prov. xxx, 12. They will not humble themselves and be obedient to the requirements of God. Pride is their ruin. There is a class of people that have become disobedient to the requirements of our country, who are dressed in a sort of uniform. Why is it that other people disdain to dress like them? The reason is this : they would be looked upon as belonging to them, and counted as such. And should we not much more abhor the idea of being identified with the lovers of pride, by our dress? It is the whole heart that God requires. It will do no good to be almost a Christian, and in the end be almost saved. Pause a moment, as you stand before the mirror, dressed in your fashionable attire. Think you that you reflect the image of Christ? Do you think those fashionable persons with whom you are going to associate, will think any more of your religion, or honesty, for having two methods of dressing, a fashionable mode for fashionable society, and a plain one to appear in when in the presence of Sabbath-keepers? Look again. Do all your ribbons, trimmings, embroideries, and the like, look as if the unconverted could think there was anything in the religion you profess, that purifies the heart? Do they look as if you were willing to be called anything, and suffer anything, if thereby you might glorify God? Do they look as if you were zealous to do all the good you could by example as well as precept? Do they look as if you daily46 visit your closet, asking God to give you a willing heart to do his entire will, and to help you to overcome your pride, and make you a bold soldier for Prince Immanuel, no longer fearing the scoffings of the proud and vain? I have heard of cowardly soldiers leaving their companies, and being overcome; and I would ask, What kind of soldiers are we, if we cannot stand now and then a little light drilling? Sisters, we must have courage. We must be willing to obey God, or our profession will do us no good. We may deceive the church and ourselves perhaps, but we cannot deceive God. He knows the heart, and if the heart is right, our worse than useless trimmings would drop off themselves; that is, we would not have to be told to leave them off. It certainly must be wrong to waste so much time on our clothing; an it takes but little time to prepare a plain, modest suit. We have the word of God, and that teaches us what is right in this matter. 1 Tim. ii, 9, 10. "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broidered hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array [take particular notice of that little word, not*; also that the apostle does not say we may wear these things, if do not take pride in them, but says we must not wear them, or what is equivalent to the same]; but which becometh women professing godliness with good works." How does this compare with your decorated dress? It seems that the style of dress worn by women professing godliness should be a very plain one. A look in the mirror again. Does your dress look as if you were a woman professing godliness? Are those cauls or net-works for the hair necessary? See Isa. iii, 18. Do you think that your hoops add anything to your modesty? Can you have much time for good works when you waste so much time in trying to dress like the lovers of pride? Sisters, your cases are dangerous. Will you go to the Physician and follow his directions, or will you go your own way and perish? Jesus is the Physician, he wants to help you. He wants to save you, but he cannot unless you are willing, and if you are willing you will comply with his requirements. You will love him with all your heart, and then your love of dress, of pride, will be gone, and you will not think the writer of this superstitious and fanatical; but like a drowning person, you will eagerly grasp everything that your anxious friends throw out to you, that you may be saved and God glorified. I entreat you, sisters, think of the sufferings of Jesus, when in the garden of Gethsemane, as he sweat as it were great drops of blood. Look at him on the cross, groaning, dying for us. Is any sacrifice we can make too great for such love as this? Then let us throw off the mantle of pride, and seek righteousness, and meekness, and then it may be we shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger. SWEETNESS DISPELS BITTERNESS.
From Dresden Luther proceeded to Erfurth, and re-appeared to discharge the functions of Vicar General, in that very convent where, eleven years before, he had wound up the clock, opened the gates, and swept out the church. He nominated to the priorship of the convent, the bachelor John Lange, a learned and pious but severe man, he exhorted him to affability and patience. 'Put on,' he wrote to him shortly after, 'put on a spirit of meekness towards the prior of Naremburg, this is but proper, seeing that he has assumed a spirit of bitterness and harshness. Bitterness is not expelled by bitterness, that is to say, the devil by the devil; but sweetness dispels bitterness, that is to say the finger of God casts out the evil spirit.' We must perhaps regret that Luther did not on various occasions remember this excellent advice.”—D'Aubigne's Hist. of the Ref., vol. 1, chapter 9. NEW DOCTRINES.
By J. Clarke
It is often observed by the opposers of present truth, by way of taunt, that we are teaching novel doctrines. Let such read and ponder the following extract from D'Aubigne's Hist. of the Ref., page 213, vol. 1, and observe the striking analogy between those times and ours.
J. CLARKE. "Already many doctors began to speak ill of the Wittenburg professors, and accused them of innovation. 'One would say,' continues Luther, 'that there had never lived men before us who taught as we teach.—Yes in truth there have been many. But the anger of God, which our sins have deserved, has prevented us from seeing and hearing them. For a long time the universities have banished the word of God into a corner. Let them read this book, and then let them say whether our theology is new, for this is not a new book." Bro. L. Martin writes from Bennington, N. H.: "The blessed hope cheers me on in my pilgrimage. I believe that the Lord is ready and willing to bless his people abundantly just as soon as they are in the right place to receive it. Being satisfied that we have the truth I desire to be sanctified through it. I do long for the time to come when all the remnant will be brought together into the one faith and one Spirit, and the third message go with power. There are yet jewels among the rubbish. The work must begin with the church of God. As soon as they get right we shall see the salvation of God. We are a scattered people here in the East. We have to go some distance in order to get eight or ten together; but when we meet the Lord blesses. Thanks to his holy name." Walking in the King’s Highway
Sister M. W. Steere writes from E. McDonough, N. Y.: "I feel a desire to let all know that I am still endeavoring to walk in the King's highway of holiness as laid down in the book of God. I want to praise God with all my heart for his mercy in giving me a desire to know the truths of his word and a heart to obey them. I shall never, in this life, be able to tell the consolation and satisfaction I have already received. My heart kindles in a flame of love to God and all his47 dear children. And O, what a privilege he gives us, in letting us hope to share in his kingdom; for 'O, what must it be to be there.' Satan is indeed rallying his forces, and it seems as though no means is left untried. He is sending his waves of mirth, folly, plays and gambling with novel-reading over the land till it seems as though the youth especially would nearly all be engulfed in it and lost forever. O that we may all awake to righteousness, and cry mightily to God that he may carry forward his work. Let us all strive to be up and at work in his vineyard while we have the opportunity, remembering we are not our own, but we are bought with his blood, therefore we must glorify him in our bodies and spirits which are his." Bro. Wm. Havirland writes from Sumner, Wis.: "I feel thankful to our heavenly Father that I ever heard the third angel's message, and was ever led to obey its truth. The way grows brighter as we press on towards the mark of the prize. God is drawing the dividing line. The Sabbath is a great test, and the more I investigate, the more I can see that God's hand is in the work. "Dear brethren, I am determined by the help of the Lord to live more faithful, to put on the whole armor of God that I may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil, for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. As Paul said that in the last days some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, so it has come to pass and we may know that we are in the last days. The devil has arrayed himself on one side to oppose the work of God; but the third angel's message will, for all this, move onward until the loud cry will come, and the voice will be heard, Come out of her, my people. Speed on, O Lord, the work, and prepare us for that time." LETTERS.
By William H. Brinkerhoof
"Then they that feared the Lord, spake often one to another." BRO. SMITH: Instead of being out in the wide harvest field trying to proclaim the glorious truths of the word of God, I am for the present compelled to remain at my home in Knoxville, on account of the sickness of my wife. I was with the northern Iowa tent a short time, and had intended to labor with Bro. Cornell this summer. But now I cannot, and do not expect to be with him any more during this tent season. When I had to leave Bro. Cornell at Marion, and no one to help him in the tent, I could truly realize the Macedonian cry, and pray that more laborers might be raised up to raise their voices in behalf of present truth. "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few." May the Lord give unto our dear brother that strength of body and mind, that he may be enabled to perform what is presented before him in that part of the State. There is a prospect of a great work being done there. My wife's illness consists of weakness of the lungs; and if she gets able to be about again, I expect to labor around in the small towns in this part of the State. There seems to be a desire to hear the word. Iowa, I think, is fully prepared to hear the messages. I am anxious to be at work again. The cause here seems to be onward. The Knoxville and adjacent churches appear to be striving for the kingdom. There is a great deal of opposition, but it only tends to unite commandment-keepers closer in the bonds of Christian love, and causes them to lean more upon the Lord of hosts, and bring to view that peculiar people zealous of good works. Titus ii, 14. Yours in hope of eternal life,
WM. H. BRINKERHOOF.
Knoxville, Iowa. Awake and Come Up Higher
By I. D. Van Horn
Bro. SMITH: I rejoice in the blessed hope of the soon coming of the Lord. My heart is still in unity with the remnant people who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. I praise the Lord for his long-suffering and loving kindness towards me, in permitting me to be a partaker of that peace, that joy, and that consolation which result from a strict obedience to the will of God. The little company that meet at Bro. Weed's, in Tompkins, every Sabbath, are striving to overcome the "accuser of the brethren," by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. Though few in number (fourteen, besides the children), we feel the necessity, and are fully determined, by the assisting grace of God, to awake from our lethargy, to heed the counsel of the faithful and true Witness, and to come up on higher ground. We feel the importance of consecrating all to the service of God, of giving up all the trifling things of this world, and setting our affections on things above, and of making our calling and election sure; for so an entrance shall be ministered unto us abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. There seems to be an increasing interest in our meetings; and there seems to be a spirit of humble submission to the will of God. Our cry is, O Lord, wake us up and lead us by thy Spirit. We expect that the message will soon go forth with power, when the warning voice of the third angel will be heard all over the land, inviting and warning the inhabitants of the earth to flee from the wrath of God, the seven last plagues, which will be poured out without mixture upon them that worship the beast and his image, and receive the mark of his name. We want to be ready to enter into the spirit and power of the message, that we be not left behind an easy prey to him that watcheth for our souls, and so be spued out of the mouth of the Lord. What a solemn time is this in which we are living! "Choose ye this day whom ye will serve." This scripture seems to be especially applicable to the present time. O let us awake and cast off the mantle of lukewarmness. Let us watch and pray lest we fall into temptation, and that day come upon us as a thief. O Lord, lead us by thy Spirit, is my prayer. Yours striving for the kingdom. WHEN I was down in Egypt's land
I heard my Saviour was at hand.
The midnight cry was sounding,
And I wanted to be free,
So I left the world and Babylon
To sound the jubilee. They said that I had better stay
And go with them in their old way;
But they scoffed at my Lord's coming,
With them I could not agree,
So I left my old companions
For to sound the jubilee. They call us now a silly crew,
And say they know we'll soon fall through.
But we still are growing stronger
Both in love and unity,
Since we left the world and Babylon
To sound the jubilee. I now have joined the Christian band
Who've just come out from Egypt's land;
They are on their way to Canaan,
A blest, praying company,
And with them I am proclaiming
That we're near the jubilee. If Satan comes to tempt your minds,
Then meet him with those blessed lines,
Saying, Get behind me, Satan,
I have nought to do with thee,
I have got my soul converted,
And I'll sound the jubilee. The battle is not to the strong,
The weak may sing the conqueror's song.
I've been through the fiery furnace
And no harm was found on me.
I came out with the evidence
We're near the jubilee. When to our blessed Lord we rise,
And join our Saviour in the skies,
Where the wicked cannot follow
To disturb our harmony,
Where we'll reign and be forever
With our God eternally. Conversions and Baptisms in Woodland
Bro. T. Harlow writes from Woodland, Wis., May, 1860: "I am certain that the third angel's message is having a purifying effect on a goodly number in this place. Since Bro. Sanborn was here last Feb. three have come out decidedly for the truth. Nine have been baptized. Last Sabbath four followed their Lord in the ordinance of baptism, I believe with feeling hearts and understanding minds. The most of the brethren and sisters in this place went to the Mackford conference and were much refreshed and strengthened, and I trust it will have a lasting effect. Thanks be to God that he has given us his revealed word. My prayer is that we may live out the present truth, that we may be prepared for the coming and kingdom of our Lord and Saviour." Sister M. E. Davis writes from Marengo, Iowa Co., Iowa: "God is answering our prayers to the joy and satisfaction of our hearts. Seven months ago we came here among those who had never heard of the third angel's message. Our neighbors called us Millerites, keeping the old Jewish Sabbath and breaking God's holy Sabbath. When we showed them their error, some said there was no Sabbath, others, if there was any Sabbath at all, it must be the seventh day; but they think one seventh part of the time will do for them. Others say such religion is only a nuisance to society. But thanks be to God, a brother of ours and his wife soon joined with us on the side of truth, and are now walking with their faces Zionward. They too have learned of Christ. Three weeks ago last Sabbath two more were added to our number. Quite a sensation is excited in our neighborhood. Yesterday another was added to our number, a dear sister that we have prayed for continually for the past three weeks. But her trials will be great, being surrounded by those who will oppose her on all sides. We request the prayers of all God's children in our behalf. Remember we have no one here to preach the message to us. The Bible is our only messenger, and guide. Our hope and trust is in God. We feel to thank God that we are no longer alone, that seven of us can now meet together for worship upon the holy Sabbath. We expect soon to see more embrace the truth, to have a little church built up here that will honor and glorify their God. O for a closer walk with God, for a deeper work of grace in our hearts, that our light may so shine before the world, that they, seeing our good works may be led to glorify our Father which is in heaven. We hope and trust that God in his providence will send a messenger this way. There is a broad field here for labor. We believe that there are many precious jewels here who, could they hear the third angel's message, would come out and embrace it. Our homes and hearts will ever be open to receive God's messengers. Should any one feel it his duty to come this way he will find our home by inquiring at the Marengo post-office for I. M. Davis. We reside five miles north of Marengo, on Coon Creek, Iowa." OBITUARY.
By A. S. Hutchins
DEATH has again broken our circle. Sister Eveline Swasey, the eldest sister of my dear wife, died of consumption in Barton, Vt., on the third inst., in the 30th year of her age, just four weeks from the day of my wife's death. The rest of these loving sisters now sleeping side by side will be short in the cold grave; for they died in bright hope of a part in the first resurrection. In sorrow and sadness we toil on while they rest; but sweet relief mingles with our grief; we shall hear them cough no more, no more shall we see them suffer. Soon will they awake, but not with bleeding, mangled and wasted lungs, as they fell asleep, but all blooming with life and immortality. Sister Eveline embraced the Sabbath more than ten years since. For more than a year she has often regretted that her religious life had been marked with so little zeal, steadfastness and faithfulness, and at times feared that her hope in death might be faint and unsatisfactory. But her last hours were marked with the clearest manifestations of God's sustaining grace. Duty compelled me to leave home just before her death. But my last visit at her bedside has left an additional evidence to my mind in favor of the value of the Christian religion upon a dying bed, which I can never forget. Though her sufferings were great, said she, "I have suffered none too much, it is all just right." A discourse was preached from the words, "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his." Num. xxiii, 10. DIED at his parents' residence six miles north of Knoxville on Thursday evening June 14, Samuel Abraham, only son of Samuel and Margaret M. Zin, aged three years, two months and twelve days. Almost without a moment's warning, these parents were called to part with their little boy. He was out playing in door-yard in good health, when he was stung by a honey bee near the end of the middle finger, and in less than ten minutes he lay silent and still in the cold embrace of death. Bro. Zin had only a few hours before left home to go to mill at Knoxville, and the sad news met him while there of the death of his child. It seemed almost to cause the vital current in him to cease to flow, but the parents wait in hope; and while tears flowed, they could be heard to say, "We will try and live faithful here, and meet our dear boy in that goodly land of rest where death shall be no more." The writer preached a short discourse from John xi, 25: "And Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life." Knoxville, Iowa, June 18, 1860. Bro. T. J. Hoxsie writes from Delta, Ohio: "The church established by Bro. Waggoner in this place are traveling on to mount Zion. We meet at Delta schoolhouse every Sabbath for prayer. We number twelve or fourteen members, and several others are inquiring after the truth. We can say we know we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren." Bro. S. H. King writes from Orleans, Ionia Co., Mich. : "Some six months since I became convicted that I was breaking God's holy law by not keeping his Sabbath. I have trampled that law under foot almost fifty years, having been fully established in the doctrine of the universal salvation of all, natural immortality and the atonement at the cross. Bro. Frisbie came here, and by his lectures shook my faith. Soon after, Bro. Bates called and showed me the sanctuary question in such a light that I durst not resist God's word. I saw the third angel's message, and I commenced keeping the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus. It looks so beautiful to me I want all to see the light that I have on the Scriptures." Blessed Through Affliction
Bro. W. Goodale writes from Lapeer, Mich.: "I, with many of my brethren and sisters, have been called of late to taste of the bitter cup of affliction. I have been called to bid adieu to a dear mother, and then in less than one year have the tenderest cords of my heart been broken by the loss of my companion. And then to have our church burnt to the ground, as it has lately been, and to see the powers of the adversary pressing on us, and having many cares, has well nigh put me beyond the reach of trials. But blessed be God for all these afflictions. I feel that they have done me good. I can say like one of old, It was good for me to be afflicted; for it has increased my faith, and confirmed my hope in Christ. It has killed me to the things of this life, and I feel that it has made me alive to Christ. I can say like Job of old, 'For we are of but yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow.' Yes, when a few days or years are come, unless the Lord shall soon appear, we shall go the way of all the earth, and are we ready? Have we overcome the world? Have we lived up to all the light of God's truth? Have we that love that is requisite for our brethren and our enemies? I must confess that I come far short in all these particulars. I thank the Lord for the light of his blessed word, and for all his precious promises. God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help an evil doer; but they that hate him shall be cut off, or clothed with shame, and the dwelling-place of the wicked shall be cut off, or come to nought. Shall we who profess the Advent faith be of that number that will have their dwelling-place destroyed? I am determined to hold on to the truth until the end; and there is then a promise that never will fail. Yes, we are told that if this earthly house be dissolved we have a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. In view of these blessed promises let us hold on without wavering, and let nothing separate us from the love of Christ. But how often we see brethren or sisters wading through trouble or difficulties of some kind, and often neglect their duty to their heavenly Father, and that too, perhaps, on account of what some brother or sister has said against them. Now these things ought not to be. How careful we ought to be to bridle our tongue, and be careful not to wound our brother's heart. Let us be sober and show ourselves a pattern of good works and be willing to suffer shame for his name, and rejoice that we are accounted worthy, and may our hearts be knit together in love to God and love to our fellow man."