KNOWING this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 2 Pet. iii, 3, 4.
This scripture is now having its fulfillment, as may be seen by the following paragraph, clipped from the Buffalo Christian Advocate.
"MILLERISM REVIVED.—Some of the leading Second Adventists have again set a period for the destruction of the world—professing to have discovered the errors of their former calculations, and to have finally ascertained the exact truth. They regard the recent financial depression and the prevailing religious excitement as among the signs of the last days. By the next arrival from Europe they expect to hear of the destruction of the city of Rome, and this will portend the conflagration of the world next Summer. But the Summer will come and go, and Winters, and years, and ages, and the work of God will go on, sinners will be converted to God in glorious revivals of religion, followed by decline, and Second Adventists will prophesy the end of the world at hand, as they have done for thousands of years past, and successive generations will be born and prepared for heaven, while the earth rolls on in her orbit just as quietly as if her destruction were not so frequently foretold.—Observer."
It is true that there have been individuals, professing the Advent faith, who have been engaged in setting a great number of times for Christ's coming and the end of the world, from 1844 down to the present year. Such are justly exposed to censure; their folly is manifest to all. But I would gladly be informed, if any one can tell, who the "leading Second Adventists" are, that are preaching definite time, since the present "financial depression." Perhaps the observer was not so well informed as he should have been, when he made the statement. It is true that an individual in Philadelphia published a book, fixing the time for the first resurrection in April 1858. And yet the Summer has come and almost gone, and honest souls still have time to hear and heed the Third Angel's Message, and scoffers to mock on.
It was the purpose of the Most High that the second coming of Christ should be preached in the last days. The persons scoffed at must be contradicting the desires of the scoffers, by preaching the coming of the Lord; else they never would think of raising the question, Where is the promise of his coming?
These scoffers walk according to their own desires. From this we may reasonably infer that they are of a class that profess to be walking after the Spirit, and not fulfilling the desires of the flesh. They are professors of religion. They profess to love Christ, but they do not desire his coming; they love him a great way off. They desire that he will not come at present; and so they walk and talk according to their own desire. They give no reason from scripture why the advent is ages in the future; because they cannot. But they desire that "the Summer will come and go, and Winters, and years, and ages." They desire that sinners may be converted to their creeds in "glorious revivals of religion, followed by decline," and this is all the reason they can give that it will be so. Their motto is, "All things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation," and this is their proof that all things will continue the same for ages to come. "Millerism" itself is nothing new. "Second Adventists" have prophesied "the end of the world" "for thousands of years past," and it never has come, therefore it never can come. Thousands of years in the past! who were Second Adventists so long ago? I recollect. There was "Enoch, the seventh from Adam," who prophesied saying, "Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all." But this prophecy has never come to pass, and let each successive generation, professing christianity, have their own desires, and it never will.
This very state of things proves that we are in the "last days," according to the text. In former days christians prayed with a sincere heart, Thy kingdom come, even so come, Lord Jesus. But though this prayer may now be uttered by the lips, yet but very few put up this petition from the heart. They do not desire it; if they did, they would learn from the Word and its fulfillment, that the day is at hand. This they willingly are ignorant of. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, to such. Their unbelief will not defer it. While they shall say, Peace and safety—that "successive generations will be born and prepared for heaven, while the earth rolls on in her orbit just as quietly"—then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape.
But to the faithful it will not be so. "Ye brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief." The faithful will be expecting that day when it comes, and consequently will not be taken by surprise. Isaiah, one of the ancient "Second Adventists," prophesied that it should be said in that day, "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us; this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation." None but believers in the advent at hand can say thus in truth in that day. That servant, to whom the Lord shall come "in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of," will be cut asunder, and have his portion with the hypocrites. Then let every soul that desires salvation, learn a parable of the fig-tree, and know that the Lord's coming is near, even at the doors.
"BUT GROW IN GRACE
By A. S. Hutchins
"AND in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." 2 Pet. iii, 18. These are the words of the apostle Peter, after directing his brethren to the coming of the Lord, and speaking plainly of the "scoffers" of the "last days;" and the danger of being led away from the truth by error, and falling from our steadfastness.
In chap. iv of his 1st epistle he speaks of the present eventful period too plainly to be misunderstood. "But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober and watch unto prayer." Verse 7. And in verse 17 of the same chapter he declares that "the time has come that judgment must begin at the house of God."125
To this important and solemn point we were brought by the proclamation of the First Angel's Message of Rev. xiv, 6, 7.
"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters."
As the prophetic period of Daniel's vision, [Dan. viii, 13, 14,] of 2300 days, (years) brings us to the Fall of 1844, here, according to the declaration of the angel above referred to, we reached the judgment hour, as has been clearly and repeatedly demonstrated in the Review.
The disappointment of God's people in not seeing their Lord in 1844, has given place to scoffers, walking after their own lusts, as described by the Apostle, for the instruction of the remnant church.
"Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." 2 Pet. iii, 3, 4.
Scoffers will continue to scoff on, manifesting the darkness and blackness of their hearts, and saying, "Where is the promise of his coming?" "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." 2 Pet. iii, 13.
O, blessed promise! Who would not be faithful? who would not suffer in view of the new heavens and new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness? "Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot and blameless."
Notwithstanding thousands who were interested in the proclamation of the Lord's coming in 1844 have turned back, and shamefully denied their faith, still the humble, faithful followers of Jesus will continue to look for and love his appearing.
Says Paul, "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul." Heb. x, 38, 39.
Some will believe to the saving of the soul. Some will know, and can tell their whereabouts; our reckoning is not lost, the chart and compass, we have; and we may as properly sing to-day, "My Bible leads to glory," as under the sound of the first two Messages of Rev. xiv. Praise the Lord!
It is our privilege not only to "grow in grace," but also "in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."
Those who were willing to follow in the bright shining light of Holy Writ, and who would be led by the Spirit of God, have followed the blessed Redeemer by living faith, into the second apartment of the heavenly Sanctuary, and understand his work there while in the solemn hour of Judgment, as it was understood in the type anciently by the Israel of God.
The Third Angel's Message [Rev. xiv, 9-12,] is now sounding. Under its proclamation the world will be divided into two visible classes. Those who love and obey the Commandments of God, and have the Faith of Jesus; and those who are found worshiping the beast and his image, and who receive his mark, and consequently oppose the Commandment-keepers.
But it is to be feared that many who have embraced the Bible Sabbath, do not heed the injunction of the Apostle, which stands at the head of these remarks.
To grow in grace, certainly requires some effort. Men will not grow in grace, they will not increase in favor with God, unless they struggle for it, unless they strive for it.
We have often heard the remark, "I have all the enjoyment that I live for." This is certainly all that any one should expect. But how much do you live for? Are you growing in grace? Are you overcoming daily? These are questions of importance.
The word of God teaches that it is a matter of the utmost importance that we go on from strength to strength, in the Christian warfare.
In proof of this, let us read the following testimony: "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." 2 Pet. i, 5-7.
Here we are exhorted to advance in the Christian walk, step by step, adding one Christian grace to another, and increasing in strength and communion with God, till we can claim the richest and choicest promises and blessings as ours. May the attainments here described be earnestly sought for by such as desire them, "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." Eph. iv, 13.
"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 cannot 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 ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." 2 Pet. i, 8-11.
Mark the striking contrast made by the inspired penman between those who give all diligence to grow in grace, and those who stop short of it.
The former abound in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, and are fruitful in all good works; they "grow up into Christ in all things;" they become perfect men in Christ; while the latter do not care for a growth in grace. They are but babes in the cause of Christ, contented with former attainments, and often fall far short of this: they are blind, and cannot see afar off, and have forgotten that they were purged from their old sins.
What a lamentable condition to be found in as the wrath of God hastens on, and the last sound of mercy dies away! and yet thousands professing godliness may find their true and awful condition marked out by Peter in this text.
Multitudes connected with proud and popular churches, bound by human creeds and the opinions of their preachers and leaders, are blind and ignorant of the awful consequences of walking in darkness, and the sure and destructive storm that awaits the ungodly.
Neither the leaders nor the led have grown in grace for years, but have been on the retrograde; consequently darkness enshrouds them, and the chill of death comes over them, but they know it not!
Alas, alas, for the poor, fallen, sectarian churches! They have passed the happy day of their prosperity and glory, and are fast sinking into the embrace of the second death!
The present saving, sanctifying truth has no charms for them. Their blindness prevents them from seeing its beauty, its sacredness, its loving power. They call bitter, sweet; and sweet, bitter; they put light for darkness, and darkness for light.
Says Paul, "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. For the time will come, when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." 1 Tim. iv, 2-4.
It has ever been the will of God that his children should take the Bible as the rule of their actions, but especially is he calling the church of the last days to leave the inconsistent and self-contradictory creeds of men, and stand upon the Rock of truth, the blessed Bible.
Creeds do not admit of an increase of light and knowledge in the word of God. What was written forty years ago, or more, and bowed to then, must be acknowledged as containing all necessary truth now by those who endorse them as an expression of their faith, while the word of God teaches that "the path of the just is as the shining light, and shineth more and more unto the perfect day."
Says Bernard,
"Men's books with heaps of chaff are stored;
God's Book doth golden grains afford.
Then leave the chaff, and spend thy pains
In gathering up the golden grains."
But notwithstanding the present time is replete with perils, notwithstanding the devil and evil men labor hard to turn the Christian from his steadfastness, yet it is our privilege to know that we are growing in grace: and no one should be contented with his position without the testimony like Enoch that he pleases God. "For before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God."
The reason why the progress of some in this message is so slow, is because they make so little effort to overcome their wrong habits, and their evil practices. "Put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil: learn to do well," saith the Lord.
No one living in the indulgence of known sin should expect to progress in the service of the Lord. He must cease to do evil, if he would "learn to do well."
"Wherefore, laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil-speakings, as new-born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby." 1 Pet. ii, 1, 2.
Again, the Apostle instructs us that we must lay aside whatever impedes our progress, if we would successfully run the race set before us. "Wherefore," says he, "seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us." Heb. xii, 1. "So run that ye may obtain."
A lack of watchfulness and prayer hinders a growth of grace in some hearts. The pride of heart hinders others. The love of the world eats up the affections of many, and cripples, and weakens them in all their attempts to serve God. For "if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." 1 John ii, 15.
Others have not bridled the tongue, the busy tongue. That unruly member is not yet brought under subjection. Vain, hurtful, and sinful conversation is indulged in by some as though it was innocent and harmless indeed.
We pity those given to this sin; but here is a weight that must be laid aside, or prosperity need not be looked for in the Christian race. O, dear brethren, if you love life, and desire to see good days, refrain your tongue from evil, and let not your lips speak guile. 1 Pet. iii, 10. Strive for victory, labor for it; fast and pray earnestly till victory, sweet victory, is yours.
Of those who shall stand with the Lamb upon Mt. Zion, it is said, "And in their mouth was found no guile; for they are without fault before the throne of God." Rev. xiv, 5.
May it be our constant aim, our continued study, to obtain a complete victory over whatever hinders our advancement in the cause of our heavenly Master, whatever lies in the way of a steady and sure growth in grace, that we may be perfect overcomers; for says the blessed Saviour, "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." Rev. ii, 7.
A. S. HUTCHINS.
Lincoln on Slavery and the Union
By Editor
We print this week an extract from a speech by Abraham Lincoln, at the State Convention of Ills. It will be of interest to the readers of the REVIEW, as it shows, on the authority of one who is capable of judging, and whose business it is to watch the design and tendency of legislative action the position which our government at present occupies with regard to the diabolical institution of American Slavery, and the direction in which it is tending on this question. He who looks for good, or hopes for reform in the legislative or executive departments of this government, is doomed, we think, to utter and hopeless disappointment.
Says Mr. Lincoln, "I do not expect the house to fall; I do not look for a dissolution of the Union; but it will cease to be divided; it will become one thing or the other; for Slavery or against."
But if the house does not fall, what reason have we to look for a nation whose tendency is so manifestly downward, to become hostile to the spirit and encroachments of Slavery? If it shall cease to maintain its dragonic character, then we mistake the import of the prophetic delineation.
Report of the Journey
By J. B. Frisbie; S. W. Rhodes
From Brn. Rhodes and Frisbie.
BRO. SMITH: We have just finished our journey, and met all of our appointments according to notice. We hope it has been a profitable journey. Many of the brethren and sisters we found firm in the present truth.
At Windsor we had good meetings, enjoyed some of the Spirit of the Lord. The church lacks zeal and fervency, in which we hope they will increase.
At Portland we found the church almost dead. Perhaps they have been neglected too much and too long by ministers to instruct as to duty, and strengthen them. Their prayer-meetings had gone down, but we are in hopes they will now be kept up; for a church will die if they forget the assembling of themselves together, so much the more, (instead of less,) as we see the day approaching. We would say to the church there, "Be zealous therefore, and repent."
At Ionia the appointment was not known by reason of the brethren's not receiving their paper in season. Here we went to Berlin to find one Jesse B. Parks who has grievously slandered Bro. Frisbie in the public papers, and found that there was no such man in that town, and had not been, neither can we hear of any such name in that county after making diligent search, and conclude that there is no man by that name. The mean, private letter said to be from him from Detroit, was without a post mark, and has every appearance of a drop letter. Bro. M. S. Kellogg, a resident of Ionia county, who has also made diligent inquiry into this matter, thus states the result of his labors:
"Dear Bro. Frisbie: I have made quite extensive inquiry for a man by the name of Jesse B. Parks in this county, (Ionia,) but can find no man by that name. I have become perfectly satisfied there is no such man in this county. And considering the contents of those letters I saw, and there being no post mark on the envelope of the original letter, it is satisfactory to my mind that the author has assumed a fictitious name, and that the matter originated inside of Ottawa county; for the letter could not have gone out of Detroit Post Office without the Detroit post mark on the back of it. I received a letter from Mr. Page, stating that there is no such man in that vicinity, (Boston.) He says there was no man by that name that heard you preach last Winter.
"Your brother, MILTON S. KELLOGG."
Ionia, Mich., Aug. 16th, 1858.
We met the church at Vergennes, and found them trying to live. One of their number remarked, "When we have any difficulty we go right about settling it, and go along." That is doubtless one reason of their having good meetings year after year without much help from the preachers. The idea struck us forcibly, "We settle our difficulties among ourselves, and go along." We could pray that this short lesson might be learned by every church.
At Bowne the little church is moving on slowly. We should be glad to know of their swifter progress. Here Bro. Edgar lives, who might go out and preach the truth if it was not for his little farm, which is nothing to be compared with the worth of one precious soul. We are in hopes the way will open for him to go out untrammeled soon.
We met again with the church at Wright, where we had some good meetings, and some thirteen more were baptized, which now make over seventy who have been baptized there this Summer. Here is the foundation for an excellent church if they will have the patience to learn experience, and the love of the world does not come in. Our prayer is that they may keep together, united as one.
At Grand Rapids city, the brethren Cramer are keeping the Sabbath. Their hearts are strengthened in seeing the prosperity of the cause around them.
At Caledonia it became duty to deal plainly as to the different kinds of spirits that are in the world; and we are glad to know that some begin to see. May all see before it is too late.
At Gaines some few are trying to keep the Sabbath. There, where we have been misrepresented so much by the Orthodoxy of the day, some good, candid people want to hear our faith. There was a modern revival there last Winter, and some have the mad kind of religion, from which we pray to be delivered.
At Wayland there are a few holding on to the Sabbath; but we are afraid that the spirit of combat and argument has a tendency to drive out the Spirit of Christ. Let us give up contention, and pray more. And let us be very mild towards our enemies. As says the Apostle, "Be courteous." We have never seen anything very good arising from combative debates. We had rather strike a man twice on his reason than once on his combativeness. We always like to see people leave at home their prejudice and combativeness, and bring along their reason. Then they can hear and judge. If a man is combatted into the truth, he is quite likely to have the same spirit to combat others into the truth. We crave the spirit of peace and not contention; for no real good can result from real contention. Avoid contention. Titus iii. 9; 1 Cor. i. 11.
We journeyed on to Monterey where we met with Brn. Hutchins and Fisher. We had a quite a free time in speaking the word of life to the brethren assembled from Watson, Otsego, Waverly, Trowbridge and Allegan. We also preached in Allegan, Watson, Otsego, Waverly and Trowbridge.
In Otsego and Waverly there are a few who have been turned away and gone out from us who are not of us; for if they had been of us, no doubt they would have remained with us. They have one preacher and a few adherents. The great difficulty is the tobacco spirit, which reigns among them. They have found the passage which says that it is not that which goeth into the mouth that defiles. So if one gets drunk on tobacco, opium, or brandy, why, it is not that which enters into the mouth that defiles, &c. But it is said that drunkards and idolaters shall not enter the kingdom of heaven; and no matter what they get drunk on, or idolize, they equally break the first commandment in the decalogue. We baptized four at Otsego. The church is trying to live.
A word on sacrificing and we close. Times are hard, and what will be done? We met with scores of brethren who tell the same thing: "I want to help but cannot, because times are hard, and I have not means;" and some will begin to talk of selling some or all of their land; but there are no buyers at present. We dare not advise what others' duty may be; but this we do know, that the work of God must not stop. There is means enough among Sabbath-keepers that can be spared, and it would be a blessing to those who have more than they need, to sacrifice and help now; for the time will come when their help will not be needed.
When some say, Come again, we are glad to see you, don't stay away so long next time, &c., they must remember that the preachers must be cared for, or they must labor with their hands to support their families. We are not alone in this. It will cost something to be saved, and to save others; and should it cost all, it will be cheap enough.
The amount received, before we arrived at Monterey, was $3.85. Our expenses to that time had been $4.12, so that had we returned home from Wayland, what we received would have fallen somewhat short of meeting our expenses. We do not state this to complain, but that the church may think on these things. Brethren have done much better in times past; but we speak of our last trip, and the hard times.
J. B. FRISBIE.
S. W. RHODES.
P. S. We were sorry to learn that some who complained of having no means to help the cause, were able to attend the caravan with their families.