WHAT a strange world is this in which we live! The Prince of Light, and the Prince of Darkness—good men and bad men—holiness and sin—are all made objects of sport and ridicule. However, it is dangerous folly to jest with serious things; and Solomon teaches, that they are “fools” who “make a mock at sin.” Prov. xiv, 9. Here we see children doing mischief and then laughing at it, in which, alas! they are often encouraged by ungodly parents; there the drunkard boasts of his excesses, the debauchee of the number of his victims, and the gamester of the fruits of his art and deceit. Thus many, at every period of life, glory in their shame!
Wicked men triumph when they see blemishes in the character of the righteous. What manner of persons ought Christians then to be in all holy conversation and godliness, that they may cut off the pleas of gainsayers, and put to silence the ignorance of foolish men!
Friendly reader, art thou tempted to countenance by a laugh or a smile, or in any other way, what thou canst not inwardly approve? We entreat thee to weigh well the following considerations:
1. He who laughs at sin, laughs while God frowns. “God is angry with the wicked every day.” Ps. vii, 11. What is it that excites his anger? What is that by which his spirit is vexed and grieved? What is that which occasions the sword of vengeance to hang over the heads of sinners? “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.” Rom. i, 18. And if the wrath of a king be as the roaring of a lion, how dreadful must be the wrath of the Almighty God!
2. He who makes light of sin, makes light of the miseries of all mankind. We live in a vale of tears, in which prisons and hospitals, and innumerable other receptacles of wo, impress the solemn truth, that the misery of man is great upon him. Eccl. viii, 6.
Ah! little think the gay, licentious, proud,
Whom pleasure, power, and affluence surround;
They, who their thoughtless hours in giddy mirth,
And wanton, often cruel riot, waste:
Ah! little think they while they dance along,
How many feel this very moment death,
And all the sad variety of pain! [Thompson.]
3. To sport with sin, is to sport with death. For sin entered the world, and death followed sin. Rom. v, 12. And death has made this world like Golgotha, a place of skulls—not a fit place then for profane merriment. If all the bones of all the dead were collected into one vast pile, and Jehu should ask, “Who slew all these?” [2 Kings x, 8.] the answer must be, “Sin slew them all.”
4. For a man to laugh at sin, is to laugh when he ought to mourn. Will any one make sport with his own disease? Sin is a disease. It is poisonous—it is fatal too, unless the Balm of Gilead, (the blood of Christ,) be applied in time. Sin produces guilt and shame. When a man laughs at his sin, he laughs at the fraud by which he has cheated himself. His conduct is not less absurd than wicked. ’Tis the folly of a fool laughing at his own folly.
5. To sport with sin, is to sport with the sorrows of Jesus. And this, considering the dignity of the person of Christ, is the most solemn and awful consideration that can be suggested. It were less guilty to sport with fellow creatures than with the Son of God. Never did any person suffer so much from contempt as Jesus did. He was blindfolded and buffeted, and in the grossest manner insulted by the rabble in the high priest’s hall. “Then did they spit in his face.” Matt. xxvi, 67. Herod and his men of war set Jesus at nought. In mockery he was invested with a purple robe. A reed was put into his hand for a scepter, to ridicule his pretensions to a kingdom. And when he was lifted up on the cross (O horrid to relate!) they mocked the pangs in which he died. Passing strangers wagged their heads, and said, “If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.” The chief priests, scribes, and elders, said, with bitter sarcasm, “He saved others—himself he cannot save.” And even the thieves who were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
And can you, O wanton sinner! join your voice to theirs to insult him? Can you trifle with Jesus and make light of his prayers, his tears, his groans, and bloody sweat in the garden of agony, the severity of the scourge, and the torture of the crown of thorns? O be persuaded to trace his footsteps to Calvary. There stand and gaze; pause and ponder. If at such a place, with such a scene, you can trifle, what would angels think! “More struck with grief or wonder, who can tell?”
Now, therefore, be ye not mockers, lest your hands be made strong. Isa. xxviii, 22. If God give you repentance unto life, you will mourn for Christ as one mourneth for an only son, and be in bitterness, as one that is in bitterness for the loss of his first born.
Let our readers, young ones especially, be persuaded to commit to memory the following lines, which express in an agreeable manner, the substance of the preceding remarks, and which, by the blessing of God, will well repay the trouble it may cost them:
Who laughs at sin, laughs at his Maker’s frowns,
Laughs at the sword of vengeance o'er his head:
Laughs at the great Redeemer's tears and wounds,
Who but for sin had never wept or bled.
Who laughs at sin, laughs at the numerous woes
Which have this guilty world so oft befell:
Laughs at the whole creation's groans and throes,
At all the spoils of death, and pains of hell.
Who laughs at sin, laughs at his own disease,
Welcomes approaching torments with his smiles,
Dares at his soul's expense his fancy please,
Affronts his God—himself of bliss beguiles.
Who laughs at sin, sports with his guilt and shame,
Laughs at the errors of his senseless mind:
For so absurd a fool there wants a name,
Expressive of a folly so refined. [Jos. Stennett.]
Evil Speaking.
By Israel Champerlayne
If you are an evil speaker, you will probably say: 1. “O, I mean no harm!” No harm at all. You only enact the part of Solomon’s madman, or fool—I forget which—throw around you fire-brands, arrows, and death, and, wiping your mouth, demand: “Am I not in sport?” But, perhaps, you are he that “seemeth to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue.” If so you will be very apt to say.
2. “I can’t bear such abominable practices—such vile creatures—and I must speak my mind.” I understand you. You must sin, because you love God so well. You hate sin, and love holiness, so violently, that you must serve the devil. Is this your religion? Bless God that you have no more of it; for if what you have impels you to break one of his plainest commandments, it follows, that if you only had enough of it, you would be constrained, to break them all. Be no longer deceived. There is no necessity for it. The case is plain. It is not because you hate sin, and love holiness, that you are an evil speaker. Directly the reverse; it is because you love sin, and are unwilling to be sanctified, that you are living in this scandalous and guilty practice to this day.
3. But objections come thick, and must be disposed of by a shorter method.
OBJECTION.—“If we must say nothing of the absent but good, we shall find ourselves under very uncomfortable restraints.”
ANSWER.—And so you ought, till you learn to be easy and happy without dabbling in the muddy waters of detraction.
O. “The whole world is in the practice.”
A. “The whole world lieth in the wicked one.” “Come out from among them, and be ye separate.”
O. “But the Church is in the same condemnation.”
A. “All are not Israel that are of Israel.” The charge is too indiscriminate. “Thou hast a few names even in Sardis, who have not defiled their garments.”
O. “Who is free from it?”
A. Every truly honest man.
O. “According to this doctrine, where is there a true Christian?”
A. Wherever the principles laid down in Ps. xv, and in 1 Cor. xiii, are exemplified.
O. “This view of the subject shows a very strait way to heaven.”
A. “Strait is the gate.”
O. “It opens the portal of life to but a very few.”
A. “Few there be that find it.”
O. “But what is to become of all the ministers and church members who habitually speak evil one of another?”
A. We can tell better when we know whether they finally repent or not.—Israel Champerlayne.
A Sad Picture.
By Editor
If Rev. Charles Beecher tells the truth of his associates, we should rather be almost anything else, than an evangelical preacher. We have long thought that what he says is true, and when we see such a statement from one who had the benefit of observation and experience both, we must believe it. What a melancholy picture! Mr. Beecher uttered this language, Feb. 22d, 1846, at the dedication of a Presbyterian church in Fort Wayne, Indiana:
“During the whole course of seven years’ study, the Protestant candidate for the ministry sees before him an authorized statement, spiked down and stereotyped, of what he must find in the Bible, or be martyred. And need any one acquainted with human nature, be told that he studies under a tremendous pressure of motive? Is that freedom of opinion?—The liberty wherewith Christ maketh free? Rome would have given that. Every one of her clergy might have studied the Bible to find there the Pontifical Creed on pain of death. Was that liberty?”
“Hence I say that liberty of opinion in our Theological Seminaries, is a mere form. To say nothing of the thumb-screw of criticism, by which every original mind is tortured into negative propriety, the whole boasted liberty of the student consists in a choice of chains—a choice of hand-cuffs—whether he will wear the Presbyterian hand-cuff, or the Methodist, Baptist, Episcopal, or other evangelical hand-cuff. Hence it has secretly come to pass that the ministry themselves dare not study their Bibles. Large portions thereof are seldom touched. It lies useless lumber; or if they do study and search, they dare not show their people what they find there! There is something criminal in saying anything new. It is shocking to utter words that have not the mould of age upon them.
“For through the ministry the same spirit has been conducted to the people. The denominations are so nearly balanced, the strife for power is so keen between them that every fancied departure from that creed, is seized to make political capital, as really as in any political campaign. Houses must be built; salaries must be raised. This requires wealth. Wealth requires members and patronage. This creates a servile dread of novelty, for everything that another party can get hold of, strikes at the gold. Therefore the people watch their minister, and the minister is afraid of his people. For if he studies independently, if he gets outside of the book, [creed,] if he slips the hand-cuff, the people tremble—it will not please—the opposition will seize it—we shall be unpopular—we shall not succeed!
“Oh! woful day! Oh! unhappy Church of Christ! Fast rushing round and round the circle of absorbing ruin! Thou sayest I am rich, and increased in goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art poor, and miserable, and blind, and naked!
“Thus are the ministry of evangelical, Protestant denominations, not only formed all the way up under a tremendous pressure of merely human fear, but they live, move and breathe in a state of things radically corrupt, and appealing every hour to every baser element in their nature, to hush up the truth, and bow the knee to the power of apostasy!
“Dimly does every one now and then see that things are going wrong. With sighs does every true heart confess that rottenness is somewhere, but ah, it is hopeless of reform. We all pass on, and the tide rolls down to Night.”—Ex.
Review to the Poor.
By James White
It is the design of the publishers to send the REVIEW to all who desire it for their spiritual good, and to learn the Bible truths it publishes, whether they can pay for it, or not. Let no brother or sister order it discontinued for want of means. We have the names of several hundred on our books, of whose circumstances we are of course ignorant.
Those who cannot pay for the REVIEW, but wish it continued, can do no less than to write and state their inability to pay. Not a few of the humble, worthy poor have written to the Office in a Christian spirit, expressing gratitude to the publishers for sending the REVIEW, and stating that they loved the paper, but could not pay for it. To all such it is freely sent. The liberal will see that the expense of sending the REVIEW to the worthy poor is met.
J. W.
Conference at Buck's Bridge, N. Y.
By John Byington
Bro. Smith:—I would say for the encouragement of the saints, that the conference lately held at Buck's Bridge has been a great blessing to the church. Some brethren from Vermont, and some from Central N. Y., were with us. The church had been in trial for some time past. At the commencement of the meeting the duty of confessing our own faults and not accusing others was made plain, and when this was made plain it was comparatively easy to settle difficulties. The present truth appeared to us with greater clearness, and almost every individual confessed their wanderings and their lukewarmness, and while prayer was made and strong exhortations given, God manifested himself in power, and great good was done. The labors of Brn. Hutchins, Sperry, Rhodes, Edson and Goodwin have been a great blessing to us. The last day of the meeting was a time that will long be remembered. I have not time now to write particulars. I think others will do it soon.
John Byington.
Madrid Depot, N. Y., Nov. 19th, 1856.
Napoleon Supposed to be Mad
Napoleon Supposed to be Mad.—A correspondent of the N. Y. Tribune, writing from London under date of Oct. 31st, says, Strange rumors are afloat about the health of Napoleon, and in spite of all my endeavors to ascertain the real state of the matter, I am unable to assert either their truth or their falsity. It is said that he has fits, and gets occasionally raving mad; but that, with the exception of short periods of depression following these crises, his mental powers have not generally suffered. Whether these rumors be true or false, they have considerable influence on the French nation, and a presentiment of revolutions looming in the next future gets hold of the population. Republicanist, Socialist, Legitimist and Orleanist "placards" re-appear on the walls of Paris; people are arrested by scores, and even the cautious London Exchange loses its belief in the stability of the Imperial Government.
The Sabbath
It is very remarkable that the heathen nations, who can be supposed to have no knowledge of the law or history of Moses, accounted one day of the seven more sacred than the rest. Hesiod styles the seventh day "the illustrious light of the Sun;" and Homer says, "Then came the seventh day, which is sacred or holy." Almost all nations, too, who have any notion of religion, have appropriated one day in seven to the purpose of public devotion.
The Uncertainty of Future Repentance
You say you will repent at some future period of time; but are you sure of arriving at that period of time? Have you one hour in your hand? Have you one minute at your disposal?
The Church Converted by the World
HITHERTO the spectacle has been, not the church converting the world, but the world converting the church.
Conference.
By E. Everts; J. Hart
The Brethren in Round Grove and vicinity enjoying the visit and labors of Brother and Sister White, appoint a Conference at the Hittleson school-house on Sabbath and First-day, Dec. 6th and 7th. Those coming by Rail Road stop at Round Grove depot, near Bro. Everts’, where conveyances will be in readiness to accommodate. Will all the Sabbath Brethren in the State, as far as possible, attend.
E. Everts.
J. Hart.
Round Grove, Whiteside Co., Ill., Nov. 24th, 1856.
Notice.
By J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH
At the tent-meeting at Barre, R. F. Cottrell was chosen treasurer of the N. Y. Book and Tent Fund. Those who have accounts unsettled can settle with him. The books left in N. Y. with me are now in his hands.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
Wawkou, Iowa. Nov. 6th, 1856.
Business.
By Editor
L. A. Whitaker:—We will send your paper free. The sums sent in to send REVIEW to the Poor, are designed especially to meet the deficiencies of the poor and free list. We would say the same to R. W. Hersey, and L. Chandler.
Mrs. N. Haddock:—We will send your paper free.
Z. Andrews:—We will continue your paper.
A. H. R.:—We put you on the free list.
J. A. Wilcox:—Bro. White received a letter from D. Moody, dated Oct. 5th, with $2, one of which was for tent. Was that the one referred to?
A. Belden:—F. Blinn is credited on book for Vol. IV, of INSTRUCTOR.
L. Carpenter:—You give directions in your letter for disposing of only fourteen dollars. What shall we do with the other dollar?
Lorinda Chandler:—Your paper was returned a short time since by the Post Master. That is the reason you have not received it.
L. J. Richmond:—The first edition of the Bible Student's Assistant is exhausted. We shall have some more ready soon, and will then fill your order.
I. Abbey:—Bro. White is now absent. When he returns your business can be arranged.
M. B. B. Obrist:—Bro. Byington sends $2 for you. He says, "I received this some time since, and think I sent it. Was there a mail burned near London, C. W.? I send it now myself that all may be right with her."
In answer to the question concerning the mail, we would say that there was a mail car and all its contents consumed in Canada, in the latter part of October, according to accounts which we then noticed. This may also explain some other slight losses which we met with about that time.
Letters.
R. Jarvis, A. B. Atwood, E. M. L. Cory, L. A. Whitaker, I. C. Vaughn, J. H. Darling.
Books Sent.
By Editor
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By Editor
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