"SIMON PETER, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue; whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
"And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and can not see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fail; for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." 2 Pet. i, 1-11.
This quotation from Peter is a clear and beautiful illustration of the advances in the christian life which constitute Bible sanctification. In introducing this subject we call attention to the following points:
1. The apostle addresses young converts, or those who have just "obtained like precious faith," and sets before them the victories to be obtained, or the graces to be added, in their order, necessary to insure an admittance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
2. If the apostle regarded a happy frame of mind as alone constituting sanctification, then we might expect him to illustrate the victories of the onward course in the christian life by higher and still higher flights of feeling. But in this quotation he is silent in regard to feeling, and presents progress in well-doing as the basis of true sanctification. The love of God shed abroad in the heart, enlightening the mind, and purifying the affections, is the result of faith in Jesus Christ while living in obedience to the word. Such blessedness, resulting from walking in the self-denying path of obedience, is Bible sanctification. It is illustrated by the following impressive sentence of the agonizing prayer of Christ for his followers, "Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth." John xvii, 17. And it is the privilege of the true Christian, who walks in willing obedience to the word, to enjoy all that peace and fullness of joy expressed in the Bible. But to make flights of feeling constitute the sumtotal of sanctification, is to expose the minds of inexperienced disciples to the wildest freaks of fanaticism.
3. Peter's progressive work system of sanctification is safe to embrace and follow, as it leads to all that faith and hope can grasp. It secures an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
4. The apostle teaches the young Christian to progress by the simple rule of addition, with an all-persevering hand, all the way through to the kingdom. He says, "And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge, &c. Or, we may illustrate his system of sanctification by a ladder with eight rounds, reaching from earth to heaven, or from a state of sin to a condition of moral fitness for the kingdom of God. Here are the rounds of the ladder: "And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your
"1. FAITH (upon which the young disciple stands),
"2. VIRTUE; and to virtue,
"3. KNOWLEDGE; and to knowledge,
"4. TEMPERANCE; and to temperance,
"5. PATIENCE; and to patience,
"6. GODLINESS; and to godliness,
"7. BROTHERLY KINDNESS; and to brotherly kindness,
"8. CHARITY," or love, the crowning christian grace.
The order in which the apostle has given these progressive steps is worthy of especial notice. The young disciple, who has just embraced the faith of the gospel, must first add to his faith, virtue, and then to virtue, knowledge. He may have been vicious; at least, he has lacked the principles of real virtue. His first work is to seek for purity of thought, words, and acts. Then, in a pure mind and heart, he may add knowledge of the word of God to enable him to defend his position before the world. Some make a careless stride over the first round, and add to their faith, knowledge. They neglect to cultivate virtue, and labor to store their minds with knowledge that they may be able to argue down their neighbors. Such seldom turn men from error to truth; but frequently, from their lack of piety, disgust and prejudice those with whom they mingle. They may talk the truth, but it is poorly represented by them. The food they offer is good of itself, but tastes badly of the dish. They generally become self-righteous, and say in their heart, "I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing," and they know not that they are "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked."
The misfortune of these deceived souls is sometimes the result of wrong impressions received from the minister who first taught them the truth. Perhaps he is a smart debater. (This is good, with an even balance of deep piety.) And he is really witty, sometimes, and bears an air of self-confidence and self-righteousness. Such ministers may convert the head, but they generally leave the heart untouched, and many of those they bring to the acknowledgment of the truth, are brought just far enough for Satan to make them religious bigots. But if the minister who first teaches them the truth be a godly man; if he, instead of producing a smile on his audience, weeps over sinners as he delivers the message, the most solemn ever committed to man; if he in all his deportment makes a deep impression of solemnity; then the truth he teaches will reach the heart, and he may rejoice to see the young disciples around him adding to their faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge of the Word and Spirit of God.
Who can but admire the order in which the apostle has given the victories in the Christian life? He continues, "and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience." The intemperate man cannot be a patient christian; hence he must add temperance first, then patience will be an easy victory. The man who uses intoxicating drinks is seldom a patient man. Intemperance in eating, in quantity, or in the rich quality, or in both, deranges the system, causes dyspepsy, or other evils, affects the nerves, depresses the spirits, sours the temper, and renders the epicure unfit for the exercise of true Christian patience. We live in an unfortunate age, when men move from impulse more than from reason. The appetite must be gratified regardless of results. In the preparation of food, the taste, and not the stomach, is generally consulted.
But while we object to high seasoned, greasy food, we would not recommend an impoverished diet, but plain, nourishing food. Thus prayed Agur, "Feed me with food convenient for me." Prov. xxx, 8.
But we must come a little closer and speak of the filthy habit, and results of using tobacco. Probably no one at first loved the taste of tobacco. It was a task to learn to use it. Yet millions contract this strong habit, useless, inconvenient, expensive, filthy, and annoying to women, and children, and temperate men, and are slaves to it till their death. If tobacco had been known and used by any of the descendants of Abraham in the days of Moses, or by any of the nations around them, endangering the purity of the Israelites, God would have given them a law forbidding its use, in harmony with the principles of purity and cleanliness taught that people. And when we come to the New Testament we may see that every declaration requiring purity, cleanliness, and self-denial, is a plain rebuke on tobacco using.
But many continue the use of tobacco because it is not convenient to leave it off. It was not convenient for Christ to die on Calvary. What! a cross-bearing, tobacco-eating, tobacco-smoking, tobacco-snuffing follower of the crucified One! This is but a trifle short of a burlesque upon the Christian religion. But physicians recommend tobacco as a medicine. May God pity them! Tobacco will not remove disease. It is a cause of disease itself. It may change the form of disease in some cases; so will the small pox, and the ague and fever. But who would expose himself at the pest-house, or to the miasma of a Michigan marsh, to find relief from some of the trifling ailments to which human nature is heir?
The habitual use of tobacco is injurious to the constitution. As one proof of this we refer to those who have become so nervous and shattered by long using this slow poison that they are compelled to abandon it. Says a veteran tobacco-user, "I have used it thirty years, and I do not see that it has much influence on me." Well, you certainly had a good constitution on the start, or you would now probably be in your grave. But if tobacco is not deranging your system,5and injuring your constitution, what makes you feel so dreadfully when your tobacco-box is emptied, and the stimulating influence of the filthy weed is gone from you? You may have been without it twenty-four or forty-eight hours. How strangely you felt. Your head, perhaps, appeared to you to be twice or thrice its usual size. And how wonderfully numb and strange you felt around the mouth and throat. In this deplorable condition men have left their business and gone from one to ten miles to get a supply of tobacco, to satisfy an unhealthy appetite.
God has made us wisely, and nature will do her work well unless intruded upon, and wearied to feebleness by receiving into the system the influence of stimulating poisons. When the work of nature has been thus disturbed, and the habit fully formed, the steam must be kept up, or the poor slave to a morbid appetite is in trouble. Interrupted and unfeebled nature can not rally in a moment to take the place of the intruder, and O, the demand just now for a little more tobacco. But keep the base intruder back, and give nature time to rally and fill her place, and the appetite becomes natural, the hankering is gone and health improves. And as far as the health is injured by the use of tobacco, so far the mind is affected, and one of the evil results is impatience; hence in the onward victories of Bible sanctification, patience is preceded by temperance.
We come a little closer yet and ask, Why use tea and coffee? In point of filth these cannot be classed with tobacco; but they are as useless, and more expensive. In regard to their influence on the health, we use the same arguments as in the case of tobacco. The reason why those who have for years used strong tea, especially females, rise in the morning with such bad feelings at the stomach and in the head, is because the stimulating influence of tea is gone, and they find relief only in a good strong cup of tea. Sleep will restore the temperate person, and to him or her, the morning hours are generally the clearest and the best.
The drunkard lies down upon his couch at night under the influence of liquor; the tobacco slave casts aside his well-chewed quid to smoke his pipe before retiring to rest, and the tea-drinker goes to rest under the influence of strong tea. In the morning they rise with languid feelings, while a cloud of melancholy hangs over them, and they are in danger of getting impatient unless domestic matters move off smoothly. But the drunkard goes for his dram, and he feels better, for the steam is up again, while the others find similar relief in their morning rations of tobacco and tea.
And are any of these real Christians? Some think they are. Doubtful Christians, these! And do they think of meeting Jesus at his coming with a smile, while their lips and beard are stained with tobacco, and their whole system and soul tainted with it? May God have mercy, and help them to cleanse themselves "from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." 2 Cor. vii, 1. This is Bible holiness. When men, seeking for the grace of life, are thus cleansed from their idols, the light of Heaven will illuminate their minds, and enable them in all the walks of life to exhibit true Christian patience.
The apostle continues, "and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly-kindness; and to brotherly-kindness, charity." He who has added to faith, virtue, and to virtue, knowledge, and to knowledge, temperance, and to temperance, patience, has so far escaped the corruptions of this world that he may understand the principles of true godliness. His idols are slain, therefore he has no other gods before the Lord. He now loves God supremely, and delights to do his commandments.
And he who loves the Lord God with all the heart, and with all the soul, and with all the mind, will love his brother as himself, and the manifestation of brotherly kindness will be natural and easy. Hence he who adds godliness will also add brotherly-kindness. Charity, or the perfect love of God, next comes in as the crowning Christian grace, constituting the highest round in the ladder of Bible sanctification.
The apostle continues in language most pointed as he applies the subject to the hearts and consciences of the people of God. Weigh well his words: "For if these things be in you and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren (margin, idle) nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and can not see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things ye shall never fall, for so an entrance shall be administered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."
In conclusion we notice the following points:
1. The conditions stated—"if ye do these things"—if ye ascend the ladder, step by step, and overcome and gain the specified victories. Then these things will be in you and abound.
2. In so doing there is safety—"ye shall never fall." Then let those who are trembling with fear that at some future time they will fall, cast aside such fears, and in confidence ascend the way to life.
3. Those who lack these things are blind and forgetful. They cannot see afar off, and have forgotten that they were purged from their old sins.
3. Peter's view of election. He does not teach that all men are elected to salvation or destruction, and that their fate is unalterably fixed before they are born, and leave them in Satan's easy chair; but he exhorts his brethren to diligence to make their calling and election sure.
5. The reward. The apostle in his first epistle [chap. i, 2], says, "Grace unto you, and peace be multiplied." He teaches sanctification by the rule of addition; but holds forth spiritual blessings to be enjoyed in this life by the obedient by the rule of multiplication. But in this connection he presents before those who "do these things" their final reward. "An entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."
The ministration of an abundant entrance into the city of God means something more than a mere permission to pass in. Those who have honored their lives by well-doing, and have ascended the ladder of Bible sanctification step by step, will be conducted in triumph into the metropolis of the kingdom of God. Jesus overcame, and as he ascended to the Father's throne, standing angels in triumph shouted, "Lift up your heads, O, ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in." And in response to the inquiry, "Who is this King of glory?" they again shouted, "The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, strong in battle." Ps. xxiv, 7, 8. And those who overcome and sit upon the throne of the Son, as he overcame and sat down upon the throne of the Father, will be escorted thither with triumph, while the voice of Jesus will be heard saying, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you. Welcome to the tree of life! and the crystal waters! Welcome to all the joys of the kingdom forever!
THE REVIEW AND HERALD.
By Editor
In this volume of the Review and Herald, which commences with the present issue, we design to give the reasons of our faith and hope as far as possible without crowding out other important matter. The first three pages, for one volume at least, may be better filled with the strong evidences of our position than with selections from various sources. This will leave five pages of each paper for practical remarks, experience, exhortation, &c., to be occupied by the editor and many correspondents. This will give a good variety of the theoretical, practical, and experimental.
Those who first subscribed for the Review and Herald, and who sustained it by their liberal donations when its friends and supporters were few, and who at an early date in the history of the message learned well the reasons of our faith and hope, may not regard the first three pages of the paper with all that interest on their own account as if filled with a greater variety; yet for the sake of twice their number, who should read and re-read those clear expositions we propose to give, they will be glad to see a portion of the paper occupied with the reasons of our faith and hope. And it will probably help the faith and piety of the best-informed and most devoted to refresh their minds with those subjects. The apostle addresses his brethren as follows: "Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth." 2 Pet. i, 12.
Our appropriate heading, Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, justifies the heralding abroad, and making very prominent, the Sabbath of the Lord; also often reviewing the past Advent movement in the light of prophecy which establishes the third angel's message. And then the mottos on the first and fourth pages, "Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus;" "Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth," show that the specific work of the Review and Herald is to teach obedience to the truth connected with the third message. This title, and these mottos, the paper has worn eleven years, and they now seem to shine brighter than ever.
The circulation of the paper should be greatly increased, and now is the time to make a special effort to obtain new subscribers, as such would have set before them the main evidences of our position in this volume. Let all our brethren and friends who do not now take the Review and Herald be solicited to subscribe for it, and all who are able should become permanent subscribers, paying the full price. Then let the friends of the cause order it for their friends east, west, north, and south, at half price.
We shall print about five hundred extra copies of the first two or three numbers of this volume, so as to be able to send back numbers to new subscribers. Let no one delay ordering the paper for themselves or their friends on any account. If you have not the ready means, do not delay in this case until you obtain it; but send the names right in, and the pay at your first convenience.
PREACHERS SHOULD BE SOBER.
By M. E. Cornell
I FEAR that I have many times indulged in unnecessary lightness of speech, calculated to court a laugh in the audience, not to correspond with the solemnity of the last message of mercy. Sometimes the people will smile at a shrewd turn or point in the argument when we do not intend or desire it; but I am resolved to guard this more in the future. It must appear very inconsistent to the candid listener when we step out of the way to excite levity in the audience.
Every sermon ought to be forcibly applied, or close with an exhortation. But to make amusing anecdotes, and indulge in merry turns, and then exhort till some of the more sympathetic will weep, must be disgusting to men of good sense, for it seeks so much like playing the clown in the pulpit. But for us to think because some weep from mere human sympathy, we are doing good, is the hight of folly. When the Spirit of God is grieved away by lightness and vanity, it is not so easily brought back again.
When I think of the solemnity of our work, and the times in which we live, I think how grave should we be in all our deportment, both in public and in private. Every word should be seasoned, so as to make an impression suitable to our profession. Col. iv, 6. "Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." But as that which excites levity is not salutary, but tends to corrupt, it should be strictly avoided at all times, and especially in the pulpit.
Col. iii, 17. "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." But we can no more use lightness in the pulpit in Christ's name, than we can chew or smoke tobacco in his name. Another text says that we should "do all to the glory of God." The apostle says that "knowing therefore the terror of the Lord we persuade men," and in the same connection, "whether we be sober, it is for your cause."
One of the most essential qualifications for a preacher is gravity, or sobriety. In the charge to Titus, the apostle says, "But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine." "Young men likewise exhort to be sober-minded, in all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that can not be condemned," &c. But how can we exhort young men to be grave, except we at the same time set them a pattern? The apostolic rule is that our converts should follow us "as we follow Christ." If converts are made and brought in with a light spirit, they will generally live in the same way, and this is why the apostle insists upon a right pattern being set by those who preach the word. I would that all of us should constantly hear in mind the words of the apostle Peter: "But the end of all things is at hand; be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer." Christ was a pattern preacher, and it is recorded in an ancient manuscript that he was often seen to weep, but never to laugh.
But why use lightness in the pulpit? Is it not to amuse and please the hearer? But the apostle says, "Do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ." 2 Cor. v, 11, 13.
"For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: but as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God which trieth our hearts. For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness; God is witness: nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ." 1 Thess. ii, 3-6.
We are God's husbandry, and laborers together with God, and are admonished to take heed how we build upon that foundation laid for us, and we are exhorted to beware of the "wood, hay, stubble," lest we suffer loss.
I once heard senator Harlan, of Iowa, make a political speech. His manner was so grave and solemn it seemed more like preaching, than a political speech. His aim was to address the sober senses, the better judgment; while others aim to tickle their fancy, by exciting mirthfulness. I thought what a contrast between this politician and some preachers. O, what a shame that a minister of Christ should be more vain in his manner of speech than a politician! It should not, it must not be so with us.
That excellent, good man, Barton W. Stone, in the Messenger of June, 1843, says, "I have seen preachers in the earnestness and pathos of Demosthenes in the pulpit, and as soon as they had left the sacred desk, they left also their zeal and gravity—they mingled with the people, and engaged in vain, light, and sportive conversation on trifles; and even on noisy politics; and this, too, on the Lord's day! By such conduct they destroyed all the good impressions they might have made in the pulpit—watered the germ of infidelity—sunk their own influence—and hardened sinners against the fear of God."
While Mr. Stone, in his address to elders and preachers, could speak as above, he also set a good example. His biographer says: "He was grave and dignified in his demeanor every where, but especially in the pulpit. He was too deeply impressed by a sense of the worth of souls, and responsibility of his position as a christian minister, to indulge in levity in the pulpit. He filled that sacred place with the grave, the judgment, and the eternal destinies of a world, full in his view. Any effort at wit, or exhibition of lightness, therefore, in the sacred desk, always met his decided disapprobation. The writer never saw him smile in the pulpit."
6To illustrate what a preacher should, and should not, be, the following from Cowper is appropriate, as quoted by Mr. Stone's biographer:
"He that negotiates between God and man,
As God's ambassador, the grand concerns
Of judgment and of mercy, should beware
Of lightness in his speech. 'Tis pitiful
To court a grin, when you would woo a soul:
To break a jest, when pity would inspire
Pathetic exhortation; and to address
The skittish fancy with facetious tales,
When sent with God's commission to the heart!
So did not Paul.
'No: he was serious, in a serious cause,
And understood too well the weighty terms,
That he had ta'en in charge. He would not stoop
To conquer those by jocular exploits
Whom truth and soberness assailed in vain.
'Would I describe a preacher, such as Paul,
Were he on earth, would hear, approve, and own,
Paul should himself direct me. I would trace
His master-strokes, and draw from his design.
I would express him simple, grave, sincere;
In doctrine uncorrupt, in language plain,
And plain in manner; decent, solemn, chaste,
And natural in gesture; much impressed
Himself, as conscious of his awful charge,
And anxious mainly that the flock he feeds
May feel it too; affectionate in look,
And tender in address, as well becomes
A messenger of grace to guilty man."
I am fully aware that in writing this article, and transcribing such sentiments as the above, I am laying myself under double responsibility in this matter. But I must look to God for help. Our messengers are mostly young men, and in danger on this point. As an individual, I would earnestly entreat the aged and experienced of our brethren to faithfully admonish us as duty may require. Let them not suffer a messenger to go on to the injury of the cause. And shall not the evangelists watch over each other for good? Shall we talk of order, and not be united ourselves? Shall we straightly warn and reprove those who use tobacco, or wear hoops, and at the same time ask indulgence for that which is equally wrong? The tobacco user says, "Give me time, I am trying to taper off; besides, I only use a little for medicine." We reply, that their duty is to drop it at once, cease to do evil, &c. But right here come in the words of the apostle, "Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest not thou thyself?" Let the ministry earnestly and thoroughly reform on the point of levity, and we shall soon see a reform in the church. Let them be united in brotherly love, with living faith, and importunate prayer, and the church will catch the flame. May the Lord help us to weep over our wrongs and repent thoroughly, and at once. Let us not think of asking indulgence for a single hour. May the Lord so fit up his servants that they shall teach his way more perfectly, is my fervent prayer.
M. E. CORNELL.
THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT.
By E. S. WALKER
INTENDED FOR CHILDREN.
"Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." This is the fifth commandment in God's law, and is the first commandment with promise. The apostle Paul says in his letter to the Ephesians, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord; for this is right. Honor thy father and mother: which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest live long on the earth." Have you ever considered the promise contained in this commandment. If you honor your parents, the promise is "that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." What land is it that is here promised? Certainly not this earth in its present state, where thorns and thistles grow, where trouble and sorrow dwell, where children who obey their parents, as well as those who do not, sicken and die, and are laid away in the grave; this cannot be the land, for our days are not long upon this land.
According to the word of God, the days of no one are long upon this earth in its present state. Job says, "Man is of few days and full of trouble: he cometh forth like a flower and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not." The psalmist David says, "The days of our years are three score years and ten: and if by reason of strength they be four score years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow, for it is soon cut off."
The apostle James says, "But what is your life? it is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away." And again we read in Isaiah, "The heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner." And according to Peter's testimony, "the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also, and the works that are therein shall be burned up."
Then according to the Scriptures, our lives in this world are compared to a shadow, to a flower that is cut down, and to a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. And we find that the earth is to wax old like a garment, and finally to be burned up.
So then in addition to what we see around us, we have the evidence of good men—of inspired men—that this is not the land promised. Well then, I think I hear you ask, Where then is it? Where is that land which God has promised to give us, in which our days shall be long? Let us examine the Bible and see if we cannot learn something of it. God has made the promise, and he has certainly told us in his word where this land is, and what it is like. But before looking for it, let us bear in mind that God has promised that our days are to be long in it, and if God says our days are to be long, we may rest assured that we shall be permitted to live there a great while, for we are informed that a thousand years in his sight are as but yesterday when it is past.
We will now proceed with our examination. Peter says in speaking of the destruction of this earth, "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness," or wherein the righteous will dwell. Then there must be a promise that when God destroys this earth by fire, he will create new heavens and a new earth; let us examine Isaiah's prophecy. In chap. lvi we find the promise: "Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered nor come into mind."
We can now understand Paul's language where he says, "Honor thy father and mother, that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest live long on the earth." Then is it not plain that the land promised in obedience to the fifth commandment, and the earth spoken of by Paul, upon which those who honor their parents are to live long, I say, is it not clear that it is the new earth? Yes, after this earth is destroyed by fire God has promised to create new heavens and a new earth. And in this new earth there will be no more death; none of the inhabitants will grow old and feeble as they do here. There will be no aching head or tired limbs, nor anything to hurt or destroy in all the earth. And there will be no ravenous beasts there.
We read that the wolf and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the young lion shall dwell together, and a little child shall lead them. There will no noxious weeds grow there, no thorns nor thistles, but beautiful flowers will grow there abundantly, much nicer than anything that grows on this earth, and they will never fade. Here, what flowers we have bloom but for a short time, and then fade and die away. Not so there; they will bloom forever, and never fade nor die. And then there will be beautiful rivers, clear as crystal, beautiful trees, and the most delicious fruit. There will grow the tree of life, which bears twelve different kinds of fruit, and yields its fruit every month, and those who eat of it will live forever.
Here in this earth persons build nice houses, and have to die and leave them for others to live in. Not so in the new earth. There they will build houses and live in them. Here persons plant vineyards and orchards, and frequently have to die before they are large enough to bear fruit. Not so in that country. There they plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them. There will be a beautiful city there with its streets paved with gold. But I cannot tell you about that at this time, nor can I tell you a hundredth part of the beauties and glories of the new earth.
If you use your eyes and look upon every thing beautiful in this world, and then use your ears and listen to every thing that you can hear that is melodious, and then think of every thing that you can think of that is beautiful and nice, and after you have done all this you can have no idea of the beauties of the new earth. For it is written, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."
Then will you not all strive to love God with all your heart, to do all that he has commanded you in his holy Book, and especially honor your parents by obeying them in all things, so that you may receive the promised reward—be permitted to dwell long on the beautiful new earth?
E. S. WALKER.
MISCELLANEOUS.
By J. CLARKE
Col. McCunn, of the 39th N. Y. regiment, has been publicly reprimanded by Gen. McClellan for improper conduct, and ungentlemanly treatment of another officer, who in discharge of his official duty, demanded Col. McCunn's pass. It seems that Col. McCunn flew into a passion, and in this condition ruined his character as a soldier. Gen. McClellan alludes in his reprimand to the fact that an officer who has no self-command, is not fit to command.
If order is indispensable in the camp, is it less so in the church? And if among soldiers men must have self-control, how much more in the church. And if respect is due there, how much more here. Lately Col. McCunn has been unsparing in his abuse of Gen. McClellan, and has been ordered out of town, or be put in irons. So it must be, turbulent, ungovernable, unsubdued spirits, cannot endure order, here or there.
Some men are all politeness, when securing a friend; but look out, when they have the key turned and in their pockets.
Some are like a certain oppressed race: obsequious to inferiors, but insulting to equals and dependents.
Genuine christianity reforms, polishes, refines, softens, elevates, and makes clean, and decent, the profane; but spurious religion is selfish, and does all from selfish motives.
The parents of Martin Luther flogged him abundantly. To this he ascribes much of his subsequent usefulness. What a pity his parents could not have had a modern lecture on moral suasion!
Some can not confide in a friend unless he enters into all their personal antipathies. He must think just as they do of every one. Christianity is too noble, too liberal, for such confinement. It wants air and freedom. If the dungeon, the rack, the flame, the sword, failed to hold it in check, in vain you fetter it with such hobbies as these. No, eradicate all these sordid, petty strifes and prejudices, and have a noble disregard of the swarms of troubles constantly arising. As the warrior presses to the battle-field, what cares he then (though beset with difficulties) for aught but victory?
People need humanizing. Once a whole people could spend weeks bewailing a friend. Now few find time to attend a funeral.
"My boy noticed it in a moment!" Ah, do you allow your boy to criticise the conduct of his superiors in age? Are children proper judges of moral worth? And should parents allow children to assume the censorship of the church? Parents, teach your children due caution.
What is the use of family worship, where the children are not collected and brought under its influence? One at the barn, another gone to the pasture, &c., &c. Alas! parents do not all see yet. A little more sleep!
Errorists visit, advertise, labor every way, to spread poisonous opinions. Lovers of truth sit still, trusting that the car of truth will propel itself. O, for life, for activity.
A lady investigating the immortality question was told by her minister, "It was investigation that ruined mother Eve." Isa. lvi, 10-12.
A minister's influence should tell at the fireside, everywhere. He needs no clerical starch, but his soul in the work, like Jesus, who was as much Jesus Christ in the market-place, or open field, or in private conversation, as in Pilate's judgment hall. He was Jesus, in the fishing-boat, at the feast, at the funeral. He was cheerful or sad, as occasion demanded; but it was Jesus still.