The Advent Herald, and Signs of the Times Reporter [Himes], vol. 7
May 1, 1844
Vol. VII. No. 13. Boston, Whole No. 157
Joshua V. Himes
THE ADVENT HERALD,
AND SIGNS OF THE TIMES REPORTER.
BEHOLD! THE BRIDEGROOM COMETH!! GO YE OUT TO MEET HIM!!!
NEW SERIES VOL. VII. NO. 13. Boston, Wednesday, May 1, 1844. WHOLE NO. 157. HST May 1, 1844, page 97.1
THE ADVENT HERALD
IS PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY BY
J. V. HIMES,
AT NO. 14 DEVONSHIRE STREET, BOSTON.
J. V. Himes, S. Bliss, & A. Hale, Editors. HST May 1, 1844, page 97.2
Terms.—One Dollar per Volume, of 26 Numbers. Five Dollars for 6 Copies, Ten Dollars for 13 Copies. HST May 1, 1844, page 97.3
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Post Masters are authorized by the Post Office Department to forward free of expense all orders for, or to discontinue publications, and also money to pay for the same HST May 1, 1844, page 97.5
Subscribers’ names with the State and Post Office should be distinctly given when money is forwarded. Where the Post Office is not given, we are liable to misdirect the paper, or credit to the wrong person, as there are often several of the same name, or several Post Offices in the same town. HST May 1, 1844, page 97.6
Dow & Jackson, Printers.
BEHOLD HE COMETH
From Blackwood’s Magazine. HST May 1, 1844, page 97.7
“The day cometh that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble.**** HST May 1, 1844, page 97.8
“But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise.**** HST May 1, 1844, page 97.9
“And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet, in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of Hosts.** HST May 1, 1844, page 97.10
“Behold I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.”—Malachi, ch. iv. HST May 1, 1844, page 97.11
A sound on the rampart, a sound at the gate,
I hear the roused lioness howl to her mate;
In the thicket at midnight they roar for the prey,
That shall glut their red jaws at the rising of day;
For wrath is descending on Zion’s proud tower:
It shall come like a cloud,
It shall wrap like a shroud,
‘Till, like Sodom, the sleeps in a sulphurous shower.
HST May 1, 1844, page 97.12
For behold the day cometh, when all shall be flame;
When Zion! the sackcloth shall cover thy name!
When thy bark o’er the billows of Death shall be driven,
When thy tree, by the lightnings, from earth shall be riven;
When the oven unkindled by mortal shall burn;
And like chaff thou shalt glow
In that furnace of woe:
And dust as thou wert, thou to dust shall return.
HST May 1, 1844, page 97.13
‘Tis the darkness of darkness, the midnight of soul;
No moon on the depths of that midnight shall roll!
No starlight shall pierce through that life-chilling haze;
No torch from the roof of the temple shall blaze.
But when Israel is buried in final despair,
From a height o’er all height,
God of God, Light of Light,
Her Sun shall arise—her Great Sovereign be there!
HST May 1, 1844, page 97.14
Then the sparkles of flame, from his chariot-wheels hurled,
Shall smite the crowned brow of the God of this world!
Then, captive of ages! the trumpet shall thrill
From the lips of the seraph on Zion’s sweet hill.
For vestured in glory thy monarch shall come,
And from dungeon and cave
Shall ascend the pale slave;
Lost Judah shall rise like the soul from the tomb!
HST May 1, 1844, page 97.15
Who rushes from heaven? the angel of wrath;
The whirlwind his wing and the lightning his path;
His hand is uplifted, he carries a sword:
‘Tis Elijah! he heralds the march of his Lord!
Sun, sink in eclipse! earth, earth shalt thou stand,
When the cherubim wings
Bear the King of thy kings!
Wo, wo to the ocean, wo, wo to the land!
HST May 1, 1844, page 97.16
‘Tis the day long foretold, ‘tis the judgment begun;
Gird thy sword, thou Most Mighty! thy triumph is won.
The idol shall burn in its own gory shrine;
Then, daughter of anguish, thy day-spring shall shine;
Proud Zion, thy veil with the olive shall bloom,
And the musk-rose distil
Its sweet dews on thy hill;
For earth is restored, the great kingdom is come!
HST May 1, 1844, page 97.17
Letter from Mr. Miller
Dear Brother Himes:—The Advent cause is holding its own, at least in this section: and I have not yet learned of a single desertion in this vicinity this spring, although our time has run out. The scoffers, “wonder why we dont give it up,” and become infidels, as they prophecied we would when the time should be fulfilled; but I am fully satisfied that they are false prophets, and that they prophesy out of their own hearts. No one who has obtained this hope, seems willing to give it up:—they expect to be tried, and so understand it. They are therefore looking with a deeper interest than ever for the final accomplishment of the prophecies: and, I think, are purifying themselves and sanctifying themselves more and more, from unbelief, and the influence of sectarianism, and bigotry of the sects. I am not certain but that God will confound all of our sectarian churches, and bring out his people from among them. Yet it is plain God did command his people to associate themselves in-churches, and bid them to walk in his precepts, and obey his ordinances. Now what must we do? To disobey God, I dare not. And to walk with and have a good fellowship for those who by their traditions, make void the law of God, I must not. To fellowship those who say and act as if they spake the truth, that Christ will never come again to earth, who have no faith in Christ’s personal coming, in the resurrection of the body, or the reign of Christ with his saints; or who ridicule the promise of the New Heavens and New Earth, and deny a judgment to come; and who are pre-ordaining the fables of the carnal Jews’ return to Jerusalem under the Mosaic law, or the conversion of the world by means of our Babel sects, in me it would be wicked. Yes, hypocrisy in the extreme. What then can I do? To go out of Babel, and run headlong into Babylon, would not glorify God, nor benefit man. To fellowship many of those sentiments among those who call themselves sound adventists, would be absurd. And I cannot see it duty at present to countenance, in any way, those who though escaped from the pollution of the sects, are living in error by neglecting the plain commands of God in his word. You and my dear brethren may call me uncharitable, and bigoted: But what if you do? Have I been for fifteen years called hard names, and shall I quail now when I have but a few days more to suffer? No, I hope not. I know that we can bear more, much more from an enemy than we can from our friends; for from them we are prepared to receive all manner of reproach, while the same treatment from a friend would break our hearts. But I am perfectly satisfied that those who are the true children of God, must expect to receive persecution for the future, until their Master comes; and I hope to be in such a state of mind as to bear patiently whatever God in his providence, suffers me to receive. I do not mean to be smiting my fellow servants when he comes, neither will I, if God by his grace will assist me, lay down my watch until that blessed and glorious event shall burst upon my enraptured vision. I can truly say, not a day nor hour when awake, but I am looking, yes, actually looking for the King of kings. Some tauntingly tell me, “the people will have no more confidence in your preaching.” Very well, I tell them, my Master will take care of that, and one thing I do know, I have never preached anything but what I thought I had Bible for, and what in my heart I believed. HST May 1, 1844, page 97.18
Mr. Shimeall’s Sermon
By the kindness of bro. McMurray of Lansingburg, I have received a pamphlet containing two sermons preached in New York city, by Mr. Shimeall, on the last part of the text, Daniel 11:14. “The robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision, but they shall fall,”—In which he attempts to prove that the text alludes to the “Millerites,” in as much as they have robbed the Jews of the promise made unto Abraham that his seed should literally inherit the land of Canaan, which he says they never have done; and now the “Millerites” have robbed them to establish Daniel’s vision; but the “Millerites” shall fall. If this is not perverting the scriptures, then they never were perverted, and this too before an enlightened community. We should have supposed that such willful ignorance could not have been found in the world. Now if this champion could be right, then the “Millerites” must have existed from Joshua’s day, and would then have failed: for God says, Joshua 21:43-45. “And the Lord gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers: and they possessed it, and dwelt therein. And the Lord gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand. There failed not aught of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.” And also, 23:14. “And behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth; and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which, the Lord your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.” Therefore they did inherit all that was promised by God to their father Abraham, and who shall we believe, God, or this modern wrester of the prophetic word? Again, to make out his case, he must prove that the carnal Jews are the people of God at this time. And in order to establish this, he will have to destroy the testimony of Isaiah 65:15. “And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord God shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name:” Hosea 1:9. “Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.” Matthew 23:32, 33, 33. Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.” Paul, too, Romans 2:28, 29. “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh But he is a Jew which is one inwardly; and circumcission is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter: whose praise is not of men, but of God.” What a dilemma these Judaizers get themselves into, and how silly must Mr. Shimeall have appeared before all of his hearers who had common sense. I have never read anything from the pen of any writer, Infidel or sceptic, so perfectly reckless of truth, as these two sermons. I should suppose it was a burlesque on the mode of modern sermonizing, had it been an anonymous publication. But Kneeland, or a Whitimore would have been ashamed of such a production. HST May 1, 1844, page 97.19
I know not what motive the writer could have had, and I am very sure it is not very favorable in its effects upon the clergy of that sect. Isaiah 44:25. “That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;” I cannot conceive what foolish thing remains behind this, for to put down the glorious advent. I therefore remain as before, looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of the Lord. HST May 1, 1844, page 98.1
Wm. Miller.
Pilate & Herod made Friends
By Miss E. C. Clemens.
Part II—Continued
Dr. Proudfit. Dr. Clarke held the same intelligent views. He interprets these parallel passages thus, “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father, with his angels, and then shall he reward every man according to his works.” Matthew 16. “And whosoever, therefore, shall be ashamed of me, and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father, and with the holy angels” Both refer, in that learned author’s opinion, “to a period during the natural lifetime of some of the Savior’s audience.” Dr. Whitby, also, the author of the Millenium hypothesis, advocated a spiritual coming, and so did Dr. Lightfoot. HST May 1, 1844, page 98.2
Rev. Mr. Evans. He doubtless considers very justly, that God it a spirit, and therefore cannot come to the earth personally; true it is said, for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth, but that is to be spiritually understood, according to our enlightened mode of disposing of scripture. HST May 1, 1844, page 98.3
Dr. Proudfit. I am happy that there is such an unlooked for and remarkable coincidence of views, for Dr. Adam Clarke says on this passage, “Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” The learned Dr. has the following paraphrase. “Hereafter, in a few years, ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, fully invested with absolute dominion, coming in the clouds of heaven to execute judgment on this wicked race.” HST May 1, 1844, page 98.4
Rev. Mr. Evans. (Aside—that’s what I call good sound theology. A man that has the benevolence to reason thus, is a good Universalist at heart.) I always was an admirer of Dr. Clark. HST May 1, 1844, page 98.5
Dr. Proudfit. And justly. He was certainly a great light, and we rejoice in his light. HST May 1, 1844, page 98.6
Dr. Green. But how would you dispose of this passage. “Behold he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him, and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him,” in Revelations? HST May 1, 1844, page 98.7
Rev. Mr. Evans. Oh, it is only a citation of Matthew 24:30, “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man, coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” It is just aseasy to spiritualize one as the other—same operation precisely! HST May 1, 1844, page 98.8
Dr. Green. I see! I see! and it is a pleasing discovery to; in this way, we can disprove conclusively the event which so many poor deluded fanatics are looking for. HST May 1, 1844, page 98.9
Dr. Proudfit. Dr. Clarke’s [original illegible] the passage in Matthew 24:30, reads thus: “The plain meaning of this is, that the destruction of Jerusalem will be such a remarkable instance of the Divine vengeance, such a signal manifestation of Christ’s power and glory, that all the Jewish tribes shall mourn, and many will, in consequence of this manifestation of God, be led to acknowledge Christ and his religion!” HST May 1, 1844, page 98.10
Bishop Black. Undoubtedly. But it might be objected, that the prophecy in Rev. was after the destruction of Jerusalem. HST May 1, 1844, page 98.11
Prof. Brown. All the same; that point is not essential at all. Our system of interpretation is not startled at trifles. HST May 1, 1844, page 98.12
(Enter Farmer Cleaveland.) HST May 1, 1844, page 98.13
Dr. Proudfit. Ah, farmer Cleaveland, how are you? (Introducing him.) Gentlemen, this man believes in reading the Bible for himself—ha! ha!—somewhat heretical eh! He’s a teacher of divinity, gentlemen! HST May 1, 1844, page 98.14
Rt. Rev. Bishop Black. Indeed! what right have you to teach? What authority have you to take such fearful responsibility on your unsanctified shoulders? HST May 1, 1844, page 98.15
Farmer Cleaveland. My commission is to preach “the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” as much as was the fishermen’s. HST May 1, 1844, page 98.16
Bishop Black. You are doubtless ignorant of what the church has decided are ministerial qualifications. And here it may be necessary to explain the views of our church, in regard to the precise character and powers of the ministry. And first, the distinguishing feature of the views of the church, upon this subject is, that it holds this fact, “that it is evident to all men, diligently reading holy scripture, and ancient authors, that there have been from the Apostles’ time, three orders of ministers in the Church of Christ,—to wit.—Bishops, Priests, and Deacons—and that no person is admitted to the discharge of any ministerial act in the church, unless he has had Episcopal consecration, or ordination!” So you see, Farmer Cleaveland, that your teaching is unscriptural, for you have no authority to teach. HST May 1, 1844, page 98.17
Farmer Cleaveland. Neither have those clergymen received Episcopal ordination. HST May 1, 1844, page 98.18
Dr. Proudfit. I beg pardon, gentlemen, but we are examining Prof. Bush’s letter, in connection with some Universalist authors, and should regret to have our minds diverted, when we found our views coincided so harmoniously. HST May 1, 1844, page 98.19
Elder White. Can you tell me, brother Evans, who the angels were that came with Jesus, in the clouds of heaven, and gathered the elect, from the four winds? HST May 1, 1844, page 98.20
Rev. Mr. Evans. With the greatest pleasure.—They were no other than the “apostles, who went forth and preached the gospel to all nations.” HST May 1, 1844, page 98.21
Farmer C. But how does it appear that they were more successful then, than at any other period;—and where is the proof that all the tribes of the earth mourned at that time? HST May 1, 1844, page 98.22
Rev. Mr. Evans. The intelligent understand that the Jewish tribes are meant. HST May 1, 1844, page 98.23
Farmer C. What proof have we that every eye saw him? History records no visible appearance. HST May 1, 1844, page 98.24
Dr. Proudfit. Your question is not in point. HST May 1, 1844, page 98.25
Rev. Mr. Evans. We have always expounded it so, and now, all the Orthodox join us. Although it had been revealed to Christ, that all these things were to happen during the lifetime of that generation, he did not know the day nor the hour when Jerusalem was to be destroyed. And when, after his resurrection, his disciples asked him, “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” he replied reprovingly, “it is not for you to know of the times and seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power!” HST May 1, 1844, page 98.26
Farmer C. And added—“But ye shall receive power after the Holy Ghost it come upon you.”—Power in what? why power in understanding that which they could not then understand, the “times and seasons.” HST May 1, 1844, page 98.27
Dr. Green. Too fanciful entirely—strange perversion, made by a comparatively illiterate man too! HST May 1, 1844, page 98.28
Dr. Proudfit. Among the other proofs we have that the “end is not yet,” and that your people, farmer Cleaveland, are at fault in the event, is the wasting away of the fourth beast, or of the fourth great empire (the Roman.) The interpreting angel says to Daniel, “And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom, under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominion shall serve and obey him! How can the world be burnt up—Christ come—the righteous dead he raised—the living changed—between the passing away of the Roman Empire and the setting up of God’s Everlasting Kingdom! Incredible! Absurd! This prophecy does not mention the events, therefore they do not belong there. “The plain import of the passage is” as the Prof. very justly remarks, “that the one power should be gradually abolished, and the other gradually introduced.” HST May 1, 1844, page 98.29
Farmer C. “If the one is to be gradually abolished, and the other gradually introduced, it is singular that the prophecy is entirely silent respecting that also.” The way the Bible teaches, is, here a little, and there a little, line upon line, and precept upon precept, and in order to understand it, we must compare the different descriptions of the same event. The event of which we were speaking, the destruction of the kingdoms of this world, has its parallel in the second of Daniel. There is no gradual abolishing of the earthly powers, and gradual introducing of the reign of Christ described there. It is done at a blow. The stone smote the image upon its feet, (we are living under the toe kingdoms) that were of iron and clay, and broke them to pieces, and they became like the chaff of the summer threshing floor: and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. In the days of these kings, (the toe kings) shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. It will be, as when God said, “Let there be light, and there was light.” No tampering, tinkering or patching up of the old image, (kingdoms of this world) which has so long belonged to Satan, “with all its glory.” God speaks, and it is done at a blow, it is broken into chaff, and is no more. Besides, in the connexion of your passage in Daniel 7., Jesus is represented as coming, “One like unto the Son of man came in the clouds of heaven, and came to the ancient of days.” And he shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom. “Then the saints shall be raised, for the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an Archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. In Daniel, the verse preceding the one quoted, we read, “The judgment was set and the books were opened,” There are the risen saints, “thousand thousands ministred unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.” HST May 1, 1844, page 98.30
Dr Proudfit. You cannot hope to convince us: we have studied these matters more than you have, and you are assuming quite too much, to take upon you to teach, illiterate as you are, and without authority, as the learned Bishop has said. We all fully agree with Prof. Bush, the event to be expected is not a physical renovation, but a moral regeneration. HST May 1, 1844, page 98.31
Bishop Black. We are glad there are the dawnings of a better state of things. Already has the morning of the Millenium arisen. HST May 1, 1844, page 98.32
Dr. Brown. Yes, that day is fast approaching, and during that period such numbers will be saved as greatly to overbalance the lost. Although I am not yet prepared to say that all mankind will be saved; yet, I fully concur with Prof. Stuart, that the final number of the lost, compared to the number saved, will be in proportion to the convicts in a State’s prison, compared with the multitudes out. HST May 1, 1844, page 98.33
Rev. Mr. Evans. I am happy to hear it. I was ever an advocate for a spiritual Millenium. A thousand years of “Peace and safety,” when the saints will possess the earth. “There is (I rejoice to say with Mr. Burnap,) a power of government, efficient and universal, of which we now see some dawnings—that of the individual conscience, the reign of God in the souls of men, the allegiance of every human being to truth and duty. The kingdom of God, it was the great object of Christ and Christianity, to bring about such a government, as this is calculated to supercede every other species of dominion. Whenever it should become universal, prisons would become empty, courts would be deserted, fortifications would crumble, navies would rot, arms would rust, and the nations would learn war no more. HST May 1, 1844, page 98.34
Farmer C., God’s word says, that the wheat and tares will grow together until the harvest, that the downward road is, broad, in which many go, while the road to life is narrow, which few find—at the time of the end, the wicked shall do wickedly, and thousands who profess him shall have a form of godliness, without the power. For then they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears, who shall turn them away from the truth and shall be turned unto fables. HST May 1, 1844, page 99.1
Dr. Green. Humph! Your common sense should teach you that that “is to be understood spiritually, by way of accommodation.” HST May 1, 1844, page 99.2
Dr. Proudfit. Prof. Bush sets in a justly ridiculous light the doctrine of the Resurrection and the New Earth of the Adventists. HST May 1, 1844, page 99.3
Prof. Brown. Ah yes, he quite demolishes that very absurd part of the theory. HST May 1, 1844, page 99.4
Dr. Proudfit. He says to Mr. Miller, “Upon your view the risen righteous are to inherit the earth in their resurrection bodies. But Paul tells us those bodies are to be spiritual, and how can spiritual bodies inhabit a material globe? He says further that God has never affirmed any such thing. He finds nothing from Genesis to Revelations that incontestibly teaches that this terrestrial sphere is ever to be the abode of the risen saints.” HST May 1, 1844, page 99.5
Prof. Brown. Do you hear that: (with an air of triumph,) Neither do I find any thing in God’s word to that effect—its all moonshine to talk of a literal inheritance! HST May 1, 1844, page 99.6
Dr. Green. This is my private opinion—but the public mind is not yet quite ripe enough—we have too lately emerged from the errors of the dark ages, to adopt it yet, as pulpit a sentiment. HST May 1, 1844, page 99.7
Bishop Black. Do not be too hasty in abolishing the resurrection—that’s an article of our creed. HST May 1, 1844, page 99.8
Father O C. That too is in accordance with the teaching of the church. I should regret to have error advocated for the sake of putting down error. HST May 1, 1844, page 99.9
Elder White. Colver, Dowling, Chase and others, champions against the Advent cause, in our denomination, have such an accommodating spirit of exposition, that I doubt not they would find it agreeable to fall in with the sentiments of Prof. Bush. HST May 1, 1844, page 99.10
Rev. Mr. Evans. The judgment is certainly more difficult to be explained away than the Resurrection. That can be disposed of with the greatest ease, and I am happy that we are so united in laboring in our Master’s cause against this Miller fanaticism. That question of the Prof. is a poser, “How can spiritual bodies inhabit a material globe?” What say you to that, Farmer Clavland? HST May 1, 1844, page 99.11
Farmer C. This is the promise God made to Abraham, “I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Cannan for an everlasting possession: and I will be their God, Genesis 17:8. Something tangible, literal, was promised—land. Stephen tells us, that God gave him (Abraham) none inheritance in it, (the land of promise) no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him, for a possession and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child,” Acts 7. In the eleventh of Hebrews we read, “By faith Abraham sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for a city which hath foundations, (something tangible and real) whose builder and maker is God. From Daniel 7:27, we learn that the kingdom of the saints, (all the saints, not a part) is to be under the whole heaven, and it is an everlasting possession. From Ezekiel 37. we learn that God will open the graves of the whole house of Israel and bring them into their own land. If this is not a literal resurrection, then I know not what language could describe one, and if “their own land” means not the promised land, I think it means nothing at all. Our Savior says, “the meek shall inherit the earth.” The redeemed in their song, prophetically heard by John, says, “thou hast made us unto our God kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth, and they, the kings of the earth, shall bring their glory into the New Jerusalem.” How can spiritual bodies inhabit a material globe? By not being spiritualized and etherealized away, according to the doctrine of the modern “Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection.” After Jesus arose, he said, “a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have handle me and see; and when he went to heaven, two angels informed the disciples that this same Jesus should so come, in like manner, as they saw him go into heaven.” Paul says, from heaven we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change onr vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, “And God hath both raised up the Lord” and he will also raise up us by his own power. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead, dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead, shall also quicken your mortal bodies, by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” And again Paul says, this mortal must put on immortality, not spirituality! Well may you deny the resurrection, if the body is not to be raised. Jesus has paid the price for “the redemption of our body,” also, for the restoration of all things spoken of by all the holy prophets since the world began.” So the curse of sin will be removed from the redeemed, and the earth, and he will create all things new. HST May 1, 1844, page 99.12
Dr. Green. New hypotheses! Redeemed to inhabit earth—Satan’s own construction. You ought to know better. HST May 1, 1844, page 99.13
Farmer C. This was the belief of Luther, Calvin, Wesley, Milton, and our forefathers. It was the faith delivered to the saints. HST May 1, 1844, page 99.14
Rev. Mr. Evans, And you are simple enough to believe it. HST May 1, 1844, page 99.15
Farmer C. I am, assuredy. I believe every word the Lord hath spoken, just as it reads. HST May 1, 1844, page 99.16
Rev. Mr. Evans. You are the very personification of Fanaticism. I think it is Abercrombie, who says, that “unbounded credulity is the part of a weak mind, which never thinks or reasons at all.” HST May 1, 1844, page 99.17
Farmer C. Yes, and adds, that unlimited skepticism is the part of a contracted mind, which reasons upon imperfect data, or makes its own knowledge and extent of observation the standard and test of probability.” HST May 1, 1844, page 99.18
Rev. Mr. Evans. If you insist that there must be a resurrection, if Christ was raised—I can show you how you would be wound up on that head by some people. Now when we embark in an argument, we take no mercy with us, so do not call for it, when you see your own hopes blasted—your theory cast high and dry on the coast of discomfiture—stern justice is at the helm, and we cannot listen to the vain cries of those who are so foolish as to put themselves in our way and be shipwrecked by us. Listen how a learned historian (Hume) would have put your vain fancies to flight—listen to his celebrated argument against the resurrection of Christ, on the ground that it is incredible, absurd and improbable. “Twelve witnesses” he says, as nearly as I recollect, “I admit agree in testifying that a man arose from the dead. I am consequently compelled to believe one of two things, either that twelve men agree to tell a lie, or that a man rose from the dead. Either of these suppositions is, I confess, very extraordinary, but as one or the other must be true, I must admit the one that is the least extraordinary. Now it seems to me, more probable, that men should lie, than that one who had been several days dead should return to life again:—for it is a very common thing in this world to testify falsely: but it is contrary to all experience that a man should rise from the dead.” HST May 1, 1844, page 99.19
Farmer C. They that adopt reasoning bearing any affinity to this, are infidels, and “err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.” HST May 1, 1844, page 99.20
Bishop Black. I consider it quite unnecessary to have recourse to such reasoning—it is entirely at variance with the teachings of the church. HST May 1, 1844, page 99.21
Dr. Green. I must remonstrate with you, brother, and think this argument wholly uncalled for. We can much more effectually and gracefully dispose of that mooted question of the resurrection by spiritualizing it, and this mode is certainly free from the objections that exist against yours. HST May 1, 1844, page 99.22
Prof. Brown. We are happily not called to such an extremity as to be under the necessity of wielding such dangerous weapons, and which are honestly owned by skeptics alone. Our system of Exegesis amply provides for the disposing of all troublesome passages, wherein is found any allusion to disagreeable topics. HST May 1, 1844, page 99.23
Rev. Mr. Evans. Those opinions of the Adventists, about the coming of the Lord—the resurrection, and the New Earth, are quite too gross and earthly for a refined and cultivated Christian to swallow—so like the Mormon New Jerusalem, and the Paradise of Mahomet. Really it is shocking to think of it! Fruits of a literal interpretation. HST May 1, 1844, page 99.24
Farmer C. There is abundant evidence “that the believers who lived in the days of those who saw the Lord, and received instruction from them, interpreted the Scriptures literally, believed the word of the Lord as it was written—“the system of spiritual interpretation was unknown until the church became corrupt:” and wished to lower down the unbending truths of God’s word to suit convenience. I claim that the faith of the Adventists adheres closely to, and is in accordance with the Apostolic belief which prevailed in the first and purest ages. Terrullian, Bishop of Carthage, wrote his famous Apology about A.D. 180, in which the doctrine of the reign of Christ with his saints on the earth, after its renovation, is found: and he mentions it as a custom of his times, for Christians to pray that they might have part in the first resurrection. Cynrian who lived about A. D. 220, states that Christians supposed that those who suffered for Christ would obtain a more distinguished lot in his kingdom; and that a thirst for martyrdom was the consequence, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Remember the Nicene Creed, a form of ecclesiastical doctrines which shows the received opinion of the church in the early ages. On the last clause “I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come,” is the following: “The world was made inferior through foreknowledge: for God saw that man would sin; therefore we expect new heaven and a new earth; according to the Holy Scriptures, at the appearing of the Great God our Savior Jesus Christ. And as Daniel says, (chap. 7:18), The saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom. And there shall be a pure and holy land, the land of the living, and not of the dead; which David foreseeing with the eye of faith exclaims; I believe to see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the living—the land of the meek and humble. Blessed, saith Christ, (Matthew 5:5,) are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. And the prophet saith: (Isaiah 26:6.) the feet of the meek and humble shall tread upon it. HST May 1, 1844, page 99.25
Thomas Burnett, in his “Theory of the Earth,” printed London, A.D. 1697, states that it was the received opinion of the primitive church from the days of the Apostles to the council of Nice, that this earth would continue six thousand years from creation, when the resurrection of the just and conflagration of the earth would usher in the Millenium and reign of Christ on the earth. HST May 1, 1844, page 99.26
Rev. Mr. Evans. So you deny the Bible truth, that we are to go to heaven when we die! What heresy will you not be guilty of next! (aside, only orthodoxy carried out, to be consistent they must believe it.) HST May 1, 1844, page 99.27
Dr. Green. A belief in the benevolence of God leads us to the conclusion that he is a reasonable Being, and has given us a reasonable revelation. Now, since the soul at death goes directly to heaven, is in the immediate presence of God, where is fulness of joy, what is the use of coming back to the earth and taking up with the clogs of mortality again, which the spirit so triumphantly laid in the grave! Nothing is gained by this, it does not look probable—it is in the highest degree absurd and incredible, hence we must interpret the Bible according to the dictates of reason and common sense. And the resurrection, since nothing could be gained by having it literal, is to be spiritually understood, and we have a beautiful figure of the manner in which the church is to rise to glory and dominion: it will be, as the Scriptures say, “like life from the dead.” HST May 1, 1844, page 99.28
Prof. Brown. I am not prepared fully to agree with you. I believe as the farmer has said, that the primitive church who had the advantage of the teaching of the Apostles, took the Bible mainly as it reads—interpreted it literally—yet, I do not suppose it a fundamental point. In the present case, we have recourse to the eastern system of spiritual Exegesis, to combat the very alarming and fanatical errors that so threaten to take away both our name and nation, “and the end justifies the means,” as all good Christians are agreed, and we have also the example of the Apostle, where he speaks of “doing evil that good may come.” HST May 1, 1844, page 99.29
Dr. Green. If we adopt any other system of exposition, comparatively illiterate persons may be our teachers. In order to maintain our dignity, as religious Doctors, it is absolutely necessary for us to represent the Scriptures as very allegorical; and give them as far fetched and insignificant meaning as possible, only “intelligible to the intelligent.” As we value the upbuilding of the cause of Christ, and the extension of the knowledge of the Lord, we must do this, in order to hasten and usher in the glorious temporal millenium, when the latter day saints are to reign on the earth. To be continued. HST May 1, 1844, page 99.30
Advent Herald & Reporter
“The Lord is at Hand.”
BOSTON, MAY 1, 1844.
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES on which the SECOND ADVENT CAUSE IS BASED
I.—The word of God teaches that this earth is to be regenerated, in the restitution of all things, and restored to its Eden state as it came from the hand of its Maker be fore the fall, and is to be the eternal abode of the righteous in their resurrection state. HST May 1, 1844, page 100.1
II.—The only Millenium found in the word of God, is the 1000 years which are to intervene between the first and second resurrections, as brought to view in the 20th of Revelations. And the various portions of Scripture which are adduced as evidence of such a period in time, are to have their fulfilment only in the New Earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. HST May 1, 1844, page 100.2
III—The only restoration of Israel yet future, is the restoration of the Saints to the New Earth, when the Lord my God shall come, and all his saints with him. HST May 1, 1844, page 100.3
IV.—The signs which were to precede the coming of our Savior, have all been given; and the prophecies have all been fulfilled but those which relate to the coming of Christ, the end of this world, and the restitution of all things. HST May 1, 1844, page 100.4
V.—There are none of the prophetic periods, as we understand them, extending beyond the [Jewish] year 1843. HST May 1, 1844, page 100.5
The above we shall ever maintain as the immutable truths of the word of God, and therefore, till our Lord come, we shall ever look for his return as the next event in historical prophecy. HST May 1, 1844, page 100.6
Note.—The above was written in the Jewish year 1843, which has now expired According to the best chronologers the captivity of Manasseh, the commencement of the seven times, or 2520 years of Levit. 26th. was B. C. 677; also the captivity of Jehoiakim the comnencement of the Great Jubilee, or 2450 years, was B. C. 607; also the decree to rebuild Jerusalem in the seventh of Artaxerxes, the commencement of the 70 weeks and 2300 days, of Dan. 8th and 9th, was given B. C. 457; and also the taking away of Paganism in Rome, the commencement of the 1335 days of Dan. 12th, was about A. D. 508. Reckoning from those several dates, the respective periods can extend only to about the Jewish Year 1843. This being ended, our published time is now past; but as we can find no new dates for the events from which we have reckoned those periods, we cannot extend them beyond the time specified, which has been our only time; and yet our faith is as strong as ever, that at the end of those periods the Lord will surely come; while we can only wait for his coming such time as human chronology may have varied from the exact time,—continually looking for, and momentarily expecting his appearing. This we do in accordance with Habakkuk 2:3,—“For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end” [of the prophetic periods] “it shall speak and not lie; though it tarry,” [beyond their apparent termination] “wait for it; because” [when they are fulfilled] “it will surely come, it will not tarry,” HST May 1, 1844, page 100.7
Insanity
“There is a frightful increase of insanity from religious causes, during the last year, in the New York Western Asylum—28 out of 220 have grown out of that cause, 15 of which are attributed to the Miller excitement.” HST May 1, 1844, page 100.8
The above scrap, which we cut from the colums of the Zion’s Herald, we believe has been copied by the whole clique of the anti-advent press. Its truth or falsehood, of course, we have no means of determining. But judging from the ascertained truth of many similar statements, we do not hesitate to pronounce it extremely doubtful. HST May 1, 1844, page 100.9
We have become extensively acquainted with the operations of the Advent cause, particularly in the New England and middle States, and we have never fallen in with a single case of insanity, which even our enemies, when their candor has been appealed to, in view of all the facts in the case, could attribute to a belief in the Advent doctrine. HST May 1, 1844, page 100.10
There are, however, statements enough like the above in circulation; and there is no difficulty at all in accounting for them. The following incident, for the truth of which the parties in the case will be responsible, exhibits at once the spirit and the agency from which they have their origin. HST May 1, 1844, page 100.11
An Advent lecturer having been invited to visit one of the towns of N. H., on the morning after having delivered his first or second lecture, called into the office of a gentleman, a lawyer, we believe; and while he was seated there, one of these guardians of the public sanity called in to give a chapter upon the “awful effects of Millerism,” when the following conversation took place between him and the lawyer. HST May 1, 1844, page 100.12
Well, do you know what an excitement the Millerites are getting up in our village. If we don’t put a stop to it the people will all go crazy. HST May 1, 1844, page 100.13
Lawyer. Indeed, I was not aware that any particular danger existed. Have you attended any of the lectures that have been delivered? HST May 1, 1844, page 100.14
Me! No, I’d sooner have the plague come among us. There are half a dozen of our neighbors now raving crazy. Such things ought not to be countenanced. The lecturers ought to be stopped at once. HST May 1, 1844, page 100.15
Lawyer. I have attended the lectures, and they appear to be very Scriptural and instructive, and I am astonished that such results should be produced. Pray, who are these neighbors who are affected as you report them to be? HST May 1, 1844, page 100.16
O, there is half a dozen of them! HST May 1, 1844, page 100.17
Lawyer. Will you be so good as to give their names? If there are so many of them, you can have no difficulty in giving their names. HST May 1, 1844, page 100.18
Well, there is T. L. and-and-and—there are half a dozen others. HST May 1, 1844, page 100.19
Lawyer. Is T. L. all the one that you can think of? HST May 1, 1844, page 100.20
O, it’s too bad that this Millerism should be tolerated among us. It will set our neighbors all crazy? HST May 1, 1844, page 100.21
Lawyer. There is certainly something “bad” about the case. You, who have not attended a single lecture, and know nothing about he subject to which they relate, have come here with the report that our neighbors are going crazy, and out of the whole number you can name but one individual, and that one we all know was crazy six months at least before the lecturer came into town. It will be much more honorable for you to go and hear the lecturer yourself, and see if here is any thing to be frightened at, before you attempt to trouble an honest man, and to circulate such reports about your neighbors. HST May 1, 1844, page 100.22
This is by no means a rare case; yet these are the agencies which get up such reports, and the Christian and other presses, spread them over the land for truth. HST May 1, 1844, page 100.23
We give another statement of this “N. Y. Western Asylum” case, which will show that there is a mistake somewhere. It was cut from the columns of the “Portland Transcript,” and while it reduces the number of cases more than one half, Millerism is only “the supposed cause.” “Millerism is set down as the supposed cause of seven of the persons now confined in the State Lunatic Asylum at Utica!” HST May 1, 1844, page 100.24
We do not wonder that there is “a frightful increase of insanity from religious causes!” And when so many of the professed disciples, and public advocates of religion reject its warning, and violate all its precepts which require them to speak the truth, we confess the prospect of relief is any thing but flattering. HST May 1, 1844, page 100.25
Neology. We often hear the inquiry made, “What is Neology?” It is New Theology—depa2rting from the old established principles of Biblical interpretation, and leaving the faith once delivered to the saints, for new doctrine. HST May 1, 1844, page 100.26
It begins with denying the literal rendering of the word, and ends with a denial of the inspiration of the Scriptures. We accordingly find men in the church, in every stage of progress, from the most incipient germ, to the boldest scepticism. It is manifested in some, by a denial of the literal application of all those passages of Scripture which relate to the coming of Christ, and end of the world. In others, the fourth beast of Daniel is made to symbolize the divided Grecian kingdom, and its little horn, Antiochus Epiphanes; the prophetic time being confined by them to literal days, and the judgment scene id Daniel 7., and the resurrection in Daniel 12., being carried back to the death of Antiochus. While, therefore, we speak of the Neological view of the church, we include all the various phases that this doctrine assumes,—individuals being more or less Neological, as they depart from the literal Scriptures, and forsake the old established principles of interpretation which the Boston Recorder acknowledges are “the foundation of Millerism.” HST May 1, 1844, page 100.27
The Gentile Clock. This is the time piece that chronologers and historians have followed in the computation of time. While God’s time can never vary, this may run too fast or too slow. According to it, the night is now spent, but this is “apparent time.” How much too fast this clock may have run, we can never know till the end be, for which we are now daily looking.” HST May 1, 1844, page 100.28
New Interest. Since the passing by of the time when our opponents were expecting to see our total discomfiture, we find a new interest is being awakened in many places. Our friends are firm, our subscription list is increasing, and many who were led to regard “Millerism” as only a matter of “time,” now express themselves desirous of examining the question for themselves. To God be all the glory. The cause is his, and he will work in his own way. HST May 1, 1844, page 100.29
“Such Nonsense.” The restoration of this earth to its Eden state, is a very foolish idea to those who are looking for a terrene millennium. A member of the Marriner’s church, in this city, was in our office a few days since to inquire into the nature of the organization of the church at the Tabernacle, as one of the members of the first named church wished to be dismissed to the last. We informed him that we had no bond of union, but the love of God and of each other in our hearts; and nothing but he Bible for our creed. He thought they could not dismiss to such a church, but must excommunicate their brother. We then entered into conversation with him respecting the new earth; and he wished to know if we really believed there would be a city in the new earth with streets of gold, and gates of pearl, and with trees on each side of the river? Most certainly, we replied. P-o-o-h, exclaimed he, I’ve heard enough of such stuff. We then asked him if he would accept a book and read on the subject. No, he replied, he had read enough of such nonsense; and immediately left. Alas! thought we; your state of mind is like that of thousands in all the churches. You have heard he subject of the Lord’s coming ridiculed, you cannot believe the sincere word of God, and will not read on the subject; but will live on, looking upon the doctrine of the Advent as the veriest nonsense, until the voice of the Archangel shall proclaim the door of mercy closed. HST May 1, 1844, page 100.30
The New York Tabernacle. It seems from the religious papers that this building has been let for various purposes, which has called forth some censure; so that the proprietor, Mr. Hale, has felt called upon to apologize through the colums of the N. Y. Evangelist. Speaking of some of the objects for which it was let, he says:—“Ole Bull fiddled there! So he did, and many clergyman of the city went to hear him.”!!! Again, speaking of the “Millerites,” he says:—“Their labors in some places had done good, and I thought many of them good men, and their interpretations of prophecy as likely to be correct, as some others which are more popular!” HST May 1, 1844, page 100.31
“And Think to Change Times.” Daniel 7:25. This was to be one of the marks or evidences of the little horn of Dan.—the Papal beast of Rev. In accordance with this prediction, we find the Papists have endeavored to disprove the prophetic times of Daniel and the Apocalypse—making their fulfillment in Antiochus or Nero, in literal days. This same mark of the beast we find is now being presented by the Culvers and kindred interpreters of the Protestant churches. They are vainly attempting to show that the times appointed of God are of very little import, and seem to suppose that they can change or avert their fulfillment. HST May 1, 1844, page 101.1
1843, Jewish Time.—When we speak of A. D. 1843 Jewish time, we do not mean the Jews’ 1843: for they have no such year from A. D., but reckon from their own epochs. A. D. 1843, Jewish time, must therefore denote a Jewish year, which the nearest synchronises with our 1843. The Jews originally began their year in October. After they came out of Egypt, they were commanded to begin their ecclesiastical year in the spring; and being a later appointment, begins the seventh month of the civil year—consequently the civil year begins and ends six months earlier than the ecclesiastical.—The Jewish year which synchronises the nearest with A. D. 1843, must be a year, the greater part of which is contained within that year. This, therefore, must be the civil year commencing in October 1842, and the ecclesiastical year ending April 1844, nine months of each being in included in A. D. 1843. The new moon in April being passed, we are consequently beyond 1843, not only Gentile, but Jewish, civil and ecclesiastical time, and are now in the year 1844, according to our chronology. HST May 1, 1844, page 101.2
Intermediate state of the Dead—End of the Wicked.—Bro. Litch’s work on the above subjects, noticed two weeks since, is received and for sale at this office: price 10 cents. Brother Storr’s Reply to the same, in the Bible Examiner No. 14. has also appeared, and is for sale as above: price 6 cents. HST May 1, 1844, page 101.3
Letter from Bro. J. Buffum
Brother Himes:—As I have, in years past, been one of those who “go down to the sea in ships,” and have observed that you sometimes publish communications from sailors in your excellent paper, I have a desire to say a few words in answer to questions, which, are frequently put to me, concerning my belief in “Millerism.” Professors of religion sometimes say to me, “You talk about the signs of the times—I don’t see any signs.” To this I answer them, I believe you, and I think I can tell you the reason why you don’t see any signs;—you don’t look for them: how can a man see any thing, if he will not look at it? Now, I think I can give an illustration of this. Suppose we are (as I have been in years gone by) on board of a good ship, with good wages, good usage, and every thing comfortable, homeward bound from a voyage; under these circumstances, with their pay going on, the crew are not in haste, or particularly anxious to get home.—True, they believe the voyage will have an end, sometime or other: but, being contented “out at sea,” they are not looking for the signs of the land. Now, while this is the state of the crew, how is it with the captain of the ship. I will tell you. He is anxious to get into port; he has a valuable ship and cargo under his care, and he knows and feels his responsibility. Hence, he is anxious to know his whereabouts, in the wide waste of waters, viz. his lattitude and longitude, and distance from port, and knowing that he is, by his reckoning, drawing near the land, you will see him every morning, when he first comes on deck, looking at the water, first on one side of the ship and then on the other, and watching for signs of land. HST May 1, 1844, page 101.4
Now, at such a time as this, let any one ask the contented crew if they have seen any signs of land, they will answer, no; and why have they not?—because they have not been looking for them. Just walk aft, and ask the captain, Have you seen any signs of land, sir? O yes,—I saw a stump of a tree drifting by yesterday; two days ago I saw some rockweed, and this morning I saw a land bird, etc. Now, these are all signs of land, and he has seen them because he has watched for them, expected to see them, and was anxious to get into port, and was not contented out at sea.” Furthermore, some have said, that after the time had gone by, Adventists would become infidels, throw away their Bibles, etc., and some say to me, “What will you do now, your time has gone by?” In answer to such inquirers, I must take them on board the ship again. Our captain has a good chronometer, which he has proved in many voyages, but still; like all good and careful navigators, he does not place implicit confidence in it, well knowing that any thing of human workmanship is liable to get out of order; he therefore takes “Lunar Observations,” as opportunity offers, and compares the ship’s place, as given by them, with the longitude by chronometer, and also keeps his “dead reckoning.” Now, by all these means, as well as by the signs, he is convinced that he is drawing near the land, and gives orders to have a good look out kept ahead, especially if the nights are dark and stormy; and like a wise man, begins to look out in season, rather than to wait until the last moment, and thereby, if perchance the ship should be ahead of her reckoning, as is often the case, endanger the safety of all on board. Now, suppose we put a question to the captain. “When shall we make the land, sir?”—He answers, next Sunday. Very well; Sunday morning comes, the captain comes on deck, and says to the mate, Mr. So and So, send a man aloft, to see if he can see the land; tell him to look all round ahead. Well, the man goes aloft, looks all round, comes down and reports that he cannot see any thing. Well, says the captain, we shall see it by noon; at noon a man is sent aloft again, looks all round, comes down, and says again, nothing to be seen, sir. Now the captain, (strange as it may appear to some) is not alarmed or disturbed at this: but says, well, we shall see it by sun-down; and at sun-down the same thing occurs again, and no land is seen; now two or three days may lapse, and still no land is seen. At last the cry is heard, “Land Ho!” and the captain’s heart beats high: but lo! after sailing along awhile, it proves to be nothing but a bank of fog. Now, under all these apparent discouragements, what will the captain do? Will he throw his chronometer overboard? Will he ‘bout ship and go back whence he came? Not he; he is not such a fool, he does as common sense dictates, viz., keeps on his course, watching, and looking out more earnestly and more anxiously than ever, and is not in the least discouraged by the delay, or by the failure of his first expectations; he is confident of soon being in port, and accordingly has the ship put in the best possible condition, every thing in good order; anchors and cables all ready; his manifest, and other papers arranged, his accounts all made up, and every thing done up in good style.—So may it be with all who “look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Let us have every thing ready, “our loins girt about with truth, our lights burning, etc.,” and no matter if some green landsmen on board should say, your time is gone by, you had better go back, you had better throw your chronometer overboard, the land is yet a thousand miles or more distant, and besides, what is the use of making such a fuss about getting into port? you may fall overboard to-night, and be drowned, and then your voyage is up, that will be getting into port to you. I say, would any sailor, who really desired to get into port, give any heed to such lubberly advice as this? No, no. Such advice would only betray the ignorance and inexperience of the giver, and it would have no effect on those who felt an anxiety to get home. From those who are contented to remain out on the boisterous ocean of this world, who prefer the tumultuous tossings and heavings of all things here, to the peaceful rest which those look for, who are soon expecting to enter the heavenly port; such advice must be expected from them.—But the faithful mariner, who is most anxious and prompt to do his duty while on board, still prefers the comforts of home, to the storms and dangers of the ocean. He will still be on the lookout, and often at the mast head, straining his eyes to catch the first glimpse of land, that he may give the joyful sound of “Land Ho!” and though his hopes may be deferred, he will be patient, remembering that his duty is, “if the vision tarry,” to wail patiently for it. J. Buffum. HST May 1, 1844, page 101.5
Boston, April 9th, 1844.
Extract of a Letter from Sister L. H. Everett
I believe the labors of the people of God in this wicked world are soon to close. They are now doing their last work in proclaiming. “Behold the Bridegroom cometh.” The signs of the times all indicate that he is near, even at the door. Men’s hearts are failing them for fear, and are looking after those things that are coming on the earth. All seem to be in expectation of some great revolution or change, and many have distressing fears respecting the future. But why cannot all “discern the signs of this time?” Why can they not just read our Savior’s words, and believe them? Is it not because “their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and be converted.” HST May 1, 1844, page 101.6
My heart is pained for a stupid, unbelieving church, and a wicked world. “O that they were wise, that they would consider this, that they would think on their latter end.” O that I could arouse one poor, careless soul, how would I beseech him to flee to Jesus, before the dreadful storm bursts upon his hapless head. HST May 1, 1844, page 101.7
Sinners will awake erelong, but it will be too late. They will pray by and by, but it will be for “the rocks and mountains to fall on them and hide them from the wrath of God and the Lamb.” O what a horrid prayer-meeting the wicked will then have. But their prayer cannot be answered; they cannot be hid from the wrath of God. They cannot be blotted out of existence at their request, but must “suffer the vengeance of eternal fire.” How should all who believe that day near, labor for the salvation of souls. It is a blessed thought that “the long suffering of the Lord is salvation:” and it should reconcile us to wait with patience, while the vision tarries, “for it will surely come, and will not tarry.” It will come at the very best time. It will come when all things “are fulfilled which are spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets.” Amen.—Yours in the blessed hope. HST May 1, 1844, page 101.8
Lucinda H. Everett. HST May 1, 1844, page 101.9
North Leverett, April 12, 1844. HST May 1, 1844, page 101.10
Claremont, N. H. Bro. J. Billings writes:—“Our hand is increasing in numbers and faith.—Eight were baptised last Sabbath six new converts praise the Lord; more will soon follow.” HST May 1, 1844, page 101.11
Holy Scriptures.—We believe they were given forth by the Holy Spirit of God, through the holy men of God, who (as the Scripture itself declares, 2 Peter 1:21,) spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost. We believe they are to be read, believed, and fulfilled, (he that fulfils them is Christ,) and they are profitable for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works, (2 Timothy 3:16, 17,) “and are able to make wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (Ibid 15.) We believe the Holy Scriptures are the words of God; for it is said in Exodus 20:1, “God spake all these words, saying,” etc., meaning the ten commandments given forth on Mount Sinai. And in Revelation 22:18, saith John, “I testify to every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man addeth unto them,” “and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy,” not [the word,] etc. So in Luke 1:20, “Because thou believest not my words.” And in John 5:47, and 15:7, and 14:23, and 12:47. So that we call the Holy Scriptures, as Christ, the apostles, and holy men of God called them, viz., the words of God.— HST May 1, 1844, page 101.12
George Fox’s Journal, vol. ii. HST May 1, 1844, page 101.13
“HAVE YOU FAITH?”
I tell you that he will avenge speedily! Nevertheless when son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth. St. Luke, chap. 18, verse 8. HST May 1, 1844, page 102.1
Second With exrpesssion and life. Loud. HST May 1, 1844, page 102.2
1. Je-sus our Saviour says:—I will ap-pear! Have you faith? My trumpet is sounding ma-jes-tic and clear? Have you faith? First. 2. Prophets have spoken, their words are ful-filled, Have you faith? My word is es-tablished, your anguish is stilled. Have you faith? Bass. 3. Though I should tar-ry be not dis-mayed, Have you faith? The judgment is coming o’er all I’ve said, Have you faith? Moderate. Loud. Louder. The faithful a-lone I come to see, And they shall live and reign with me, On-ly have faith! on-ly have faith! on-ly have faith! The plan of sal-vation the faith’s eye will see, And live for-ever and reign with me, On-ly have faith! on-ly have faith! on-ly have faith! The doubt to the bondage, the faith to the free, To live for-ever and reign with me, On-ly have faith! on-ly have faith! on-ly have faith! HST May 1, 1844, page 102.3
The Times in which we live
“We live in times when the Christian and the infidel, the Statesman and the Divine, seem to agree in the expectation that some great crisis is at hand. The public mind, both at home and abroad, is held in the calm of a feverish suspense. New and strange blasphemies are coming to the birth; the foundations of the State are loosing, and the Church of God is beset and assailed on every side. Amid these thick clouds, all eyes are fixed with an eager gaze on the dark and coming future. But who shall unravel its mysteries? Who can decipher its solemn roll of fate. Who can pierce with steady eye into the depth of past history, and read there, as in a mirror, the judgment or mercy in store for after generations? Who can expound the strange dream of this fleeting, shadowy world, or unlock to the faith of the Church the royal treasure-house of good things to come? HST May 1, 1844, page 102.4
“It is here that the wisdom of the world stands rebuked, and its idols are all mute and silent. The research of its historians here proves in vain; the policy of the statesmen is baffled and confounded. The future continues veiled from every worldly eye in deepest mystery; and every effort of human pride to decipher the solemn handwriting proves utterly in vain. HST May 1, 1844, page 102.5
“Divine prophecy is the only light that can remove this impenetrable darkness. There God himself reveals to his own servants the great outlines of His providence, and enables them, by patient search, to trace through the past and the future the granduer and the majesty of His high counsels of love. Here nature, providence, and grace are all combined for their comfort and instruction in the faith in glorious harmony. In two short books of Scripture, all nature is laid under contribution for rich and varied emblems, whereby to express the mighty course of God’s providence through six thousand years, and the mysteries of redemption therein contained. There to the diligent search and patient study of the humble and devout Christian, it spreads before his eyes, in one vast expanse, a landscape of wondrous grandeur and surpassing beauty, and whose horizon is fringed with the bright and dawning glories of eternity. The providence of God in times past and present thus becomes one continual pledge of His mercies in time to come; and that whatever the trials of the Church may be now, and however mighty the enemies that surround her, the Captain of her salvation is leading her, by a pathway which he himself has appointed, to a sure and final victory, and the possession of her long-delayed inheritance. HST May 1, 1844, page 102.6
“Those trials seem indeed fast approaching. Those enemies are now active, boastful, and strong. The vessel of the Church seems ready to be hurried by fresh waves into the deep. And what shall she do in this time of peril? Could our feeble voice reach her ears, the words of the Roman poet to his storm-tost country would be our language also. We should say to her, amidst these signs of tempest—‘Fortiter occupa portum’ Let her beware of losing the firm anchor-hold of the word of prophecy. There let her secure a knowledge of her place in the safe harbor of Divine Providence. Let no novel theories of any of her children tempt her to weigh the anchors of her hope, and to commit herself without chart or compass to the tossing waves of time. Instead of casting aside the precious truths which Fathers and Reformers have committed to our keeping, through the unthinking haste that will not wait to free them from the incrusted error, let her rather abide by the old landmarks, while she goes on to perfection by a fuller understanding of the truth. Let the Church of God, and especially our own favored church, follow this course, and she will not fail to trace, in the word of prophecy, the unbroken line of God’s judgments and mercies, through all the days of her widowhood, till her Lord shall return. While the children of this world walk on in darkness, and all the foundations of the earth are out of course, she will thus dwell in a Goshen of heavenly light and blessed liberty. The wiles both of her inward and outward enemies will thus be unmasked—their approaches laid bare—and their violence repelled. And even should the darkness and the storm thicken around her, she will still be able to lift up her head with joy and gladness, and will know the more assuredly that her redemption draweth nigh.”—Church of England Quarterly Review for April 1840. HST May 1, 1844, page 102.7
Deplorable.—On Monday afternoon last, seven females and two males were baptized in the Delaware, at English Ferry, Camden, N. J. They had embraced the Miller mania! Had they been vulgarly punished with a flouring, it would have been more in keeping with the name of their prophet.—Daily Times. HST May 1, 1844, page 102.8
The Times is very charitable in wishing to punish the Millerites for their mode of baptism, while it excepts the Baptists, Methodists, Universalists, etc., whose mode of baptism is the same. The idea of punishing the Miller converts in order to destroy their forms and ceremonies, is no doubt in accordance with the Christian spirit, as the Times understands it, but we were in hopes that such kind of Christianity was about given up.—Investigator. HST May 1, 1844, page 102.9
The Last Scrutiny.—Let me suppose that this was the last hour of us all; that the heavens were opening over our heads; that time was past, and eternity begun; that Jesus Christ in all his glory, appeared on the tribunal, and that we were assembled here to receive our final decree of death or life eternal! Let me ask, impressed with terror as well as yourselves, and not separating my lot from yours, but putting myself in the same situation in which we must one day all appear before God, our Judge: let me ask, if Jesus Christ should now appear to make the terrible separation of the just from the unjust, do you think the greatest number would be saved? Do you think that the number of the elect would be equal to that of the sinners? Do you think, if all our works were examined with justice, would he find ten just persons in this great assembly? Monsters of ingratitude! would he find one?— HST May 1, 1844, page 102.10
Massillon. HST May 1, 1844, page 102.11
The Nation’s Destiny—It has run fast in the race towards Ruin, so much faster than other nations commencing their course long before it, that it will reach the goal as soon as they. From so great a comparative height of light and liberty has it plunged, that its downward velocity is proportionally rapid. It will soon have ripened itself for Destruction, ready to its simultaneous sinking with the rest of the world’s great Babylon, to complete and final ruin, “as a millstone cast into the depths of the sea,” giving place to the New Jerusalem, “coming down from God out of heaven.” HST May 1, 1844, page 102.12
Letter from Brother R. Carland
Brother Bliss:—As whatever may have been written by the pious or learned in reference to the fulfilment of prophecy has become so interesting to me, and must be so to you, while giving expositions, I would cite you to a remark of Gibbon, written, A. D. 1782, or 3. “Perhaps the present generation may yet behold the accomplishment of the prediction, of a rare prediction of which the style is unambiguous, and the date unquestionable.” Vol. 4, chap. 55. page 51. This no doubt you have noticed; but I would like to know whether you consider the existence ambiguous, or whether, as I do, that by the rare prediction, the prophecy in Revelation 9:15, was unquestionably intended, and its accomplishment, the fall of the Ottoman power, which that generation have beheld. HST May 1, 1844, page 103.1
I would also call your attention to an inquiry of a learned Jew, written to a friend nearly 800 years ago, in relation to their captivity. “I would fain learn from thee, out of the testimonies of the law and the prophets, and other scriptures, why the Jews are thus smitten in this captivity, wherein we are; which may be properly called the PERPETUAL ANGER OF GOD, because it hath no end. For it is now above 1000 yearn since we were carried captive by Titus; and yet our fathers, who worshipped idols, killed the prophets, and cast the law behind their backs, were only punished with a seventy years captivity, and then brought home again; but now there is no end of their calamities, nor do the prophets promise any.” S. Moraccamsu, in Bp. Patrick. But it seems that modern expositors can find promises where this Jew could see none. Says T. Scott, “we are taught to expect that the very Jews now without prince or sceptre, will ere long be gathered to him (Christ) as his willing people.” Yet not as a nation, according to our belief. But, “when the Son of Man shall come in his glory, and all his holy angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory; and before him shall be gathered all nations.” G. HST May 1, 1844, page 103.2
Barnstead, April 6th, 1844. HST May 1, 1844, page 103.3
Remarks.—We do not know to what prediction Gibbon had reference. Perhaps some of our readers may be in possession of the fact, and inform us. We think Gibbon, being an infidel, did not refer to the scriptures. HST May 1, 1844, page 103.4
We think the Jew, could he have seen the truth of the Advent, would have seen why the captivity of his nation was so long continued. HST May 1, 1844, page 103.5
Eds. HST May 1, 1844, page 103.6
Letter from Bro. S. S. Snow
“But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption.” 2 Peter 2:12. HST May 1, 1844, page 103.7
In these words the apostle Peter is describing the false teachers of the last days, as appears fully from the first verse of the chapter. For a specimen of their fulfilment take the following paragraph which I extract from the “N. E. Puritan,” of March. 29. It is contained in an article headed, ‘Causes of opposition to the ministry,” and the leading editorial. HST May 1, 1844, page 103.8
“Accordingly, it is every way to be expected, that when a shrewd man forms a design of driving, under false pretences, a scheme for self-advancement—a scheme which he is conscious will injuriously affect the religion and morals of the community—he will pitch battle at once with the ministry. This has been a matter of fact and experience in former generations, and it is eminently so in our own times. To say nothing of the past, just notice two or three movements for the present. A few year ago, Millerism came up; and of the intentions of it leaders, we leave our readers to judge—simply stating a well-known fact, that some of them have enriched themselves by means of popular credulity; and the fact, that the scheme promised to a discerning mind nought but evil to the public interests. But the currents of this fanaticism were not fairly in motion, before its prophets were pouring forth sheets of flaming denunciation against the ministers of Christ. It was the ministry that stood in their way—it was the ministry that was sending souls to hell by thousands—it was the ministry that was the great stumbling block in the way of realizing all the benevolent intentions of the Millerites.” HST May 1, 1844, page 103.9
The above is a fair sample of the arguments made use of by the opposers of the blessed Advent. Surely the seven thunders have uttered their voices! It is no wonder that brother John when he heard their declaration in Patmos, was not permitted to write them. They are directly opposed to the truth of God; and, consequently, could not be incorporated in the Sacred Scriptures. HST May 1, 1844, page 103.10
How many truths are contained in the foregoing extract? Let us see. In the first place, it is stated that designing men, when they would for selfish purposes impose on the community, have generally, if not always, commenced their iniquitous course by pitching battle with the ministry. If this were so, it would prove that these designing men were not so very “shrewd,” after all. For it is an incontrovertable fact, that the clergy of the present day exert a great influence in the community. Hence, instead of opposing a popular ministry, a man who “forms a design of driving under false pretences a scheme for self-advancement,” generally finds it necessary to court the favor of the clergy in some way; and after securing their influence in his favor, he goes forward with his nefarious plans, and the public is thus most completely gulled. “This has been a matter of fact and experience in former generations, and is eminently so in our own times.” Witness the rise and progress of the wonderful “Science of Mesmerism.” See it going forth like a frog in all its filthiness from the mouths of the false prophets of these last days, and performing its great wonders, to deceive if it were possible the elect. Do these jugglers and wizards oppose the ministry? No, no! They are too “shrewd” for that. They know better. HST May 1, 1844, page 103.11
Another statement is that some of the leaders of “Millerism” have “enriched themselves by means of popular credulity.” This is given as a “well-known fact! If indeed it be so, it is most certainly susceptible of proof. Then let it be proved. Assertions are not proof. I call upon Jona. E. Woodbridge, Dorus Clarke and Parsons Cooke, editors of the N. E. Puritan, to give the names of those “leaders,” with the proof that they have “enriched themselves,” or they shall stand before the world as the fabricators of a base and malicious falsehood. HST May 1, 1844, page 103.12
Again, it is stated as a “fact, that the scheme itself promised to a discerning mind nought but evil to the public interests.” If by public interests the writer means the selfish interests of those whose treasure is on earth, we agree. But if he mean the best—the highest—the eternal interest of God’s children, we disagree. Let this be decided in the day that is just at the door, when the seventh trump will sound, and the mystery of God will be finished. HST May 1, 1844, page 103.13
But the writer says, we denounce the “ministers of Christ.” This is false. We denounce the ministers of Satan, who, for filthy lucre, are transformed as the ministers of Christ. And such God’s word denounces in words of living fire. Oh! their end, their dreadful end! Samuel S. Snow. HST May 1, 1844, page 103.14
A Just Rebuke
We present the following from the Vermont Observer, not so much for the sake of giving the article from the paper called the Christian Watchman, as we do to show that occasionally a paper like the “Observer,” is disposed to do us justice. The “Watchman” is the leading Baptist paper in N. Eng., and not only has gone into Neological ground, but also manifests a most unlovely and unchristian spirit; and the extract from it is only a specimen of what most of the religious papers are vending to their readers respecting the Advent. HST May 1, 1844, page 103.15
Millerism Ended.—The following is an extract of a letter dated, “Philadelphia, Feb. 4,” signed William Miller, and which was published in the “Midnight Cry,” of Dec. 7, 1843: HST May 1, 1844, page 103.16
“My principles, in brief, are that Jesus Christ will come again to this earth, cleanse, purify, and take possession of the same, with all his saints, some time between March 21, 1843, and March 21, 1844. I have never for the twenty-three years had any other time preached or published by me; I have never fixed on any month, day or hour between that time; I have never found any mistake in reckoning, summing up, or miscalculation. I have made no calculation for any other time.” HST May 1, 1844, page 103.17
Thus this miserable old man has lived long enough to see his ignorance, folly and presumption fairly and fully demonstrated by the march of time. Will he and his dupes now believe that they “know not the day nor the hour when the Son of Man cometh?” that “the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night,” that “of that day and of that hour knoweth no man?” And will they now heed his words and “be found watching?” Christian Watchman. HST May 1, 1844, page 103.18
The foregoing we cut from the Christian Watchman, Boston. It is well known that we have never believed with bro. Miller, and have had no confidence in his mode of reckoning time. But we cannot consent to have such language as is used by the Watchman pass without entering our protest against treating the subject in this way. “This miserable man,”—“his ignorance, folly and presumption,”—his dupes.” etc. are expressions that we should not have expected from such a source as the Watchman. No possible good can come from them. Besides, we can see no great difference between the “ignorance, folly and presumption,” of bro. Miller, and that of Gill, Scott, Doddridge, McKnight and others, who have written upon the prophecies, unless the “wisdom” of the latter is more conspicuous, in setting the time far enough off, so as not to have their “folly” manifest itself in their own day. We believe they all reckoned many of the numbers in Daniel and Revelation just as bro. Miller has. They marked, the path—he followed it to its termination. They stated the questions—he solved the problem: and the true result is, “Ye know not when the time is.” HST May 1, 1844, page 103.19
If the editor of the Watchman believes in reckoning “a day for a year,” in Daniel’s numbers, we consider him equally subject to the charge of “folly,” with bro. Miller. If he does not so believe, there is so large and respectable a class of christians who do, that they are not to be scouted. Besides, if our brethren have erred, either in setting the time, or in the spirit they have manifested toward those who could not adopt their theory, (and we doubt not they have erred in both) it belongs to those who are “spiritual” to restore them in the “spirit of meekness.” But we doubt whether the spirit of the article in question would do much to “restore” any of our brethren. How liable we are, while avoiding one error, to fall into another. HST May 1, 1844, page 103.20
Correspondence
Fallsington, N. J. Bro. E. P. Worrall writes:—“The Advent brethren in this place, though few in number, are strong in the faith once delivered to the saints; and although the vision appears to tarry, they are determined to wait for it, believing that at the time appointed, it will speak and not lie.” HST May 1, 1844, page 103.21
No Troy, Vt. Bro. J. H. Pratt writes:—“There are a few in this section who are looking for the Lord, expecting hourly the return of the Bridegroom. They are strong in the faith found in the Word of God. The labors of Bro. C. Green were blessed to the good of souls.” The brethren there are now destitute of a lecturer, and wish for some one to go out and in before them, and break to them the bread of life. We do not now see what can be done for that place. The Lord may send some laborer there. HST May 1, 1844, page 103.22
S. Scituate, R. I. Bro. G. A. Williams writes:—“We are still looking for the Lord, and intend to continue so doing, till the clouds of heaven reveal him.” HST May 1, 1844, page 103.23
Low-Hampton, N. Y. Mr. Miller writes:—“I should be very much pained to learn that any one who had believed in the soul-stirring, and heart-searching doctrine of the Second Advent, had given up on account of the time having run out. God has promised, at the end of those days to perform the glorious things for which I now look. He has commanded us to watch, and now we can show our obedience; for the time has now come for us to watch. Therefore, I am determined for myself, at least, to watch until he comes, if I live.” HST May 1, 1844, page 103.24
Middlebury, Vt. Bro. H. Richardson writes:—“I have examined the subject of the Advent without any prejudice, or being influenced by any one, for I never heard a lecture delivered by any one since the subject has been agitated. The facts that have been exhibited on the subject of Christ’s Second Advent, in my mind, fully accords with the Word of God. HST May 1, 1844, page 103.25
And from what has taken place in the rise and fall of kingdoms and empires; and the signs given by our Savior, and the inspired writers of the New Testament, which have to my mind, been nearly all fulfilled, we now stand near the closing period of time. May we not infer from the present condition of the world, and the great commotion that prevails among the nations, that some wonderful event is about to take place. The Bible is the grand chart to point out the way to happiness and heaven. It is a guide the humble and devout follower of Christ, to light up his pathway through this world of sorrow, toil and pain, to the haven of eternal rest. Its blessed promises cheer our drooping souls, and point to joys above. I feel it all important to give heed to the admonitions of the Savior, to have my loins girt about with truth, my lamp trimmed and burning, that I may, at his appearing, be found of him in peace.” HST May 1, 1844, page 104.1
Hanover, Mass. Br. Elam Burnham writes:—“I have held meetings in Randolph, Braintree, Weymouth, Abington and this place; and I find the brethren strong in the faith, and waiting patiently for the King from heaven. The meetings are generally well attended each evening by large numbers who are very still and hear with great attention.” The Baptist church in that place have suspended one brother for his Advent views. HST May 1, 1844, page 104.2
Liberty, Me. Bro. E. Start writes:—“There is a little band of Advent believers here, looking for the Lord. Our brethren have been voted out of the school house, and have concluded to put up an Advent House. We intend to have it finished in three weeks.” HST May 1, 1844, page 104.3
We shall be unable to comply with the request to visit there at present. Will some brother visit there?—Eds. HST May 1, 1844, page 104.4
Ware, N. H. Bro. T. M. Preble writes:—“I am happy in the prospect of soon being an inhabitant of the New Earth: yes, daily am I looking for the Savior. To me this is a reality, as much so as faith can make it. HST May 1, 1844, page 104.5
But believing it to be duty to occupy till the Master comes, I therefore think to start in a few days, for the State of New-York, to warn the people there, to prepare to meet their God, should time continue long enough for me so to do; but if not, I can say with all my heart, Amen, and Amen.” HST May 1, 1844, page 104.6
North-Stringfield, Vt. Bro. I. W. Shipman writes:—“Our brethren are strong in the Lord, amid contending elements, and as unmoved as Mount Zion. Our meetings are full and flourishing, and our enemies raging. May God keep all his children united, faithful, and happy to the end.” HST May 1, 1844, page 104.7
Utica, N. Y. Bro. C. Hersey writes:—We arrived here on Saturday from Glenville, where we have been laboring a week. God smiled upon our labors: having been denied a meeting-house, a tavern keeper kindly fitted up an “upper room,” and invited us to preach as long as we would. Elder Thompson, of Ballstown, was present, and at the close of our meeting administered the ordinance of baptism to two, and the Lord’s Supper. The meetings were very interesting, and fully attended.—Tears trickling down their cheeks, bespoke the feelings of their hearts; and the confessions were “truly, there is something in the Bible that tells us Jesus is coming.” We had also an interesting meeting at Scotia before we went to Glenville.” HST May 1, 1844, page 104.8
Lower Granville, N. Scotia. Bro. E. Sproul writes:—“For some time past, the Advent brethren in this place, though few in number, have stood firm; believing that the cause we advocated was that of our divine Master’s, we felt willing to leave the result with Him who never will disappoint those who put their trust in Him. And at the very time our enemies thought to triumph over us, the great head of the church, through the instrumentality of one of his faithful servants, is pouring out his spirit, so that the few are becoming many. Elder Hamilton, who was at Woodstock last winter, arrived here about three weeks ago, and was kindly received by the people in general, in the vicinity, which has resulted in the conversion of some 20 or 25. Though in a thinly inhabited country place, his congregation amounted to from 200 to 250 and at one time half the latter number came forward to the anxious seats (as he termed them) to be prayed for. Bro. Martin’s labors last season in this place were not in vain. One case I will mention. An intelligent man of about the middle age of life, about twelve years past, embraced the principles of Universalism, and being assisted by the pens of talented and artful men of that denomination, settled down in it, and followed a course too often pursued by men of those principles. Out of curiosity, he went to hear Mr. M. lecture and his clear illustrations of the different kingdoms, in agreement with history (of which the hearer was to some extent acquainted) and other forcible arguments, adduced from the Word of God, shook his system and made him to feel there was a hell for the final impenitent. He confessed that such was the force of truth that he thought he must throw away his Bible, or believe it. He is now happy, and can bless the Lord for the doctrine of the Second Advent. Elder H. I expect, will write more particular.” HST May 1, 1844, page 104.9
Rochester, N. Y. Bro. J. Marsh writes:—“The brethren are firm in the faith. I have never been more confident that the Lord will soon appear.” HST May 1, 1844, page 104.10
Detroit, Mich. Bro. L. Armstrong writes:—Br. Fitch came here about a year since, and delivered a few lectures, and left a good impression upon many; but since then, we have had no lectures, except by one or two transient brethren, not calculated to draw out an audience. Why will not some of our brethren pay us a visit? I am confident they would gain a hearing and do good. Cannot Brn. Chittenden, Cook, Jacobs, Storrs, or some other good brother come this way? HST May 1, 1844, page 104.11
Westboro, Ms. Bro. W. Hatch writes:—“We have a good band of brothers who are waiting for the Lord.” HST May 1, 1844, page 104.12
We were unable to send him help as he requested the last Sabbath. Eds. HST May 1, 1844, page 104.13
To Correspondents.—Bro. J. Randal’s communication is received. We presume that it looks all very real to him that the first chapter of Genesis is a prediction; but we are fully satisfied that he is wrong respecting it. We have not time to give our reasons in full; but while we would like to gratify him by publishing his views, we could not in conscience thus do what we should consider to be violence to the word of God. We believe that the Scriptures explains its own figures; and when there is no such explanation, and no violence is done to common sense, we must understand the Bible in its plain, literal import. The spiritualizing the account of creation and the fall in Genesis, is one of the sins of the Neologists of Germany, whose errors we labor to oppose. HST May 1, 1844, page 104.14
Lines by Wm. W. S. are deficient in poetic merit. HST May 1, 1844, page 104.15
To D. B. G. We can see no additional reasons than those before considered for publishing the article on that subject. HST May 1, 1844, page 104.16
Bro. Warfield. Your letter has been mislaid. Will you send us those extracts again? HST May 1, 1844, page 104.17
Polycarp’s Decision.—When he appeared before the proconsul, the latter said to him—“Swear, curse Christ, and I will set you free!” The old man answered—“Eighty and six years have I served Him, and I have received only good at His hands! Can I, then, curse Him, my King, and my Savior?”—When the proconsul continued to press him, Polycarp said—“Well, then, if you desire to know who I am, I tell thee freely, I am a Christian!—If you desire to know what Christianity is, appoint an hour and hear me.” The proconsul, who here showed that he did not act from any religious bigotry, and would gladly have saved the old man, if he could silence the people, said to Polycarp—“Only persuade the people.” He replied—“To you I feel myself bound to render an account, for our religion teaches us to treat the powers ordained by God with becoming reverence, as far as is consistent with our salvation. But as for those without, I consider them as undeserving of any defence from me.” And justly too! for what would it have been but throwing pearls before swine, to attempt to speak of the Gospel to a wild, tumultuous, and fanatical mob? After the governor had in vain threatened him with wild beasts and the funeral pile, he made the herald publicly announce in their circus, that Polycarp had confessed himself a Christian. These words contained the sentence of death against him. The people instantly cried out—“This is the teacher of Atheism, the father of the Christians, the enemy of our gods, who has taught so many not to pray to the gods, and not to sacrifice!” As soon as the proconsul had complied with the demand of the populace, that Polycarp should perish on the funeral pile, Jew and Gentile hastened with the utmost eagerness to collect wood from the market places and the baths. When they wished to fasten him with nails, to the pile, the old man said—“Leave me thus, I pray, unfastened.—He, who has enabled me to abide the fire, will give me strength also to remain firm on the stake.” Before the fire was lighted he prayed thus—“O Lord! Almighty God! the Father of thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ; through whom we have received a knowledge of Thee! God of the Angels and of the whole creation; of the whole human race, and of the saints who live before thy presence! I thank Thee that Thou hast thought me worthy, this day, and this hour, to share the cup of thy Christ among the number of thy witnesses.”—Neander. HST May 1, 1844, page 104.18
Letters received to April 27, 1844
A Ackley by pm $1; W B Start by pm $2; pm Norway, Me; A B Nuckels 10 cts; Ellen Tanner; R Hutchinson; R E Ladd and others; H Richardson; J H Scotiff by pm $1; L P Park; L P Barnum by pm $2; Sally Farhan; R Cutter; J R Dunbar by pm $1; H Cook by pm $1; Wm Trowbridge; C Stow; Maria Leighton by pm $1; B Cooper by pm $1; E Hurd by pm $1; H F J Scribner; J Chillis; W m Miller; A Lyford by pm 50 cts; E C Clemens 2 fo; S Howe $1; J Litch; W Hatch $1; P Wilcox and M O Pray by pm $1; each; Wm Walson by pm $1; Samuel Turner by pm $1; pm Walpole Vt; pm Troy N Y; J Pearson $15; J J Porter; J B Veitch; G S Stacy $5; J Burley $2; A Tilton $1; pm Southbridge Ms; E W Goft by pm $1; Rev P T Hervey by pm $1; Z D Smith $1; pm N. Haven Vt; D Tuxbury; L C Collins; W P Stratton; Eld Batchelder $1; W P Stratton; pm Spencer Ms; T L Tullock; S Pottle; M M George 1$; A Anthony by pm 50c; pm Wales Me; E Bartlett by pm $1; Jessee Wood by pm $2; B Allard by pm $1; Mary S Washington $1; Mrs Shuts by pm $1. HST May 1, 1844, page 104.19
Packages Sent
F B Evans Manchester N H; Z Baker 17 Cheapside N Bedford, J V Himes 9 Spruce St N York, J Litch Philadelphia; R Cutter Newburyport Ms; E C Galusha Rochester N Y, 17 Arcade; M M George Lowell Ms. HST May 1, 1844, page 104.20
NOTICE. Some 25 or 30 of our papers, No. 12, April 17, were accidentally marked last week, instead of the Herald of that week. If any one who has received those papers will please inform us by their post master, we will forward the right number at once. It is not probable that the accident will occur again; we much regret that it occurred at all. HST May 1, 1844, page 104.21
Office Agent. HST May 1, 1844, page 104.22
CAMPMEETING
If the Lord will, there will be a campmeeting held in N. Wilbraham, one mile north of the W Rail Road, on the land of Charles T. Potter, to commence on Wednesday, May 22, and continue over the Sabbath. The cars will stop at a place called Sodom, 12 miles east of Springfield, and conveyance can be had from thence to the ground at 6 1-4 cts each, where all who may wish to attend will find good accommodations and board on the ground at reasonable terms. Brother S. Hawley, jr. and other able preachers of the gospel of the Everlasting Kingdom, are expected to be present. Brethren Miller and Storrs are requested to attend, if convenient. We hope there will be a general rallying of the friends of Christ, with their tents, to this feast of tabernacles, and show to the world that while waiting for the vision we are not asleep, or become infidels, as was prophecied of us, but mean to labor for the salvation of souls until the Lord comes. HST May 1, 1844, page 104.23
R. E. Ladd, E. M. Smith, O. Powell, H. Manger, W. Ordway. HST May 1, 1844, page 104.24
New Works
Bush’s Letter, with Miller’s Reply, is now published, and for sale, as well as here, at the New York and Philadelphia offices. Price 6 1-4 cts. Mr. Miller’s answer is to the point. Our friends will not fail to perusing it. HST May 1, 1844, page 104.25
The Advent Shield. This is an important work, adapted to this crisis, containing elaborate articles from Prof. Whiting, and others, on appropriate topics; to be published soon. HST May 1, 1844, page 104.26
The Advent Message to the Daughters of Zion. This work is designed to meet the wants of a large class of inquirers in the churches. It comprises a variety of appropriate articles from the pens of sisters Miner, of Philadelphia, and Clemons, of Rochester. HST May 1, 1844, page 104.27
BOSTON: HST May 1, 1844, page 104.28
DOW & JACKSON’S POWER PRESS.
14 Devonshire Street.