greatness which far surpassed what she had heard, and she was compelled to exclaim: "Happy are thy men, happy are these, thy servants which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom." "Blessed is the Lord thy God, which delighted in thee, to set these on the throne of Israel forever." But Solomon loved many strange women of those nations which God had forbidden-and turned his heart after their Idol Gods, thus showing that his heart was not perfect. And the Lord was angry and said he would surely rend the kingdom from him, When he heard that, he called the Elders of Israel together, and spread forth his hands toward heaven and said,-" Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee in heaven above, nor on earth beneath." His prayer was very interesting and forcible; he desired his supplication might be heard in behalf of his people, that if they should sin, let their crime be of what sort it may. "Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive," for Le acknowledged he only knew the hearts of the children of men-for he it was that did separate them from among all the people of the earth to be his.

God cannot look upon sin with any allowance neither will he pass by our iniquities, he will hide his face from us, and that is to be feared as much as though we possessed a kingdom. Let us strive then my friend to walk in his commandments, and live. Let us thank him for all his fatherly love and kindness, for he knows what is best for us, do not murmur nor complain, although you are grieved and cast down, trust in your head and be cheerful.

Yours in Christian Patience,

ABIGAIL HOUSE.

DEAR GIRL:

After hearing from you on the decrees of God, I thought if it were as you say that we cannot help doing just as we do, and what need is there in trying? Yet we do feel ourselves under some moral obligations to adhere to the rules laid

down in the Gospel, for when we come short of its true meaning, we will charge God with folly, or more than that, with injustice, and partiality.

Our hearts rise in opposition to his government, and that will show us that we are fallon and rebellious, and have also a disposition to dethrone the Almighty. But what if we do? What then? Can we by our belief change his decrees? Or if we curse, what then? Are we any the better? Hath not the potter power over the clay to make one lump unto honor and another unto dishonor? Shall the thing formed, say unto him that formeth it, why hast thou made me thus?

Whether our views are correct or not, God is the same, and our business is to submit to his will, for he is just. It is not only our duty, but it is our joy and privilege to acquiesse in his divine law, for God is love, and he that abideth in God abideth in love. It is enough for each one to bear his own iniquity. Perhaps you will say that God requires more than you can perform, I think not; for the fulfilling of the law is to love him with all the heart, and our neighbor as ourself: and the latter you think is as hard as the former. You may ask who is my neighbor? It is not always him that hath joined fields, but him that doeth his Master's will; him that is God-like: such should we love, and when we love like that, we shall do our neighbor no harm. "For love worketh no ill to his neighbor." I would recommend that you should read the scriptures, and that will show you your fallen estate, and also the remedy. "Whoso believeth on the Son hath eternal life." Take courage then dear girl, there is a refuge where you may flee and be safe: and that is the name of the Lord. Press into the kingdom, for it has come nigh unto you. Yours with the best of wishes,

ABIGAIL HOUSE.

DEAR SISTER:

I have just read the fiftieth chapter of Jeremiah concerning the fallen condition of Baylon, and the judgements thereof, because she had destroyed the place where the Lord did dwell, the house she had built unto his great name. God's anger was kindled against the proud, and when the king of Babylon heard the prophesy of Jeremiah, his hands waxed feeble and anguish took hold of him. At the noise of the taking of Babylon, the earth is removed, and the cry is heard among the nations.

See the contrast: "In those days, and in that time saith the Lord, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping, they shall go and seek the Lord their God. They shall ask the way to Zion, with their faces thitherward, saying, come let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.” "My people have been lost sheep, their shepherds have caused them to go astray, so they had forgotten their resting place." The children of God forgets, but he never forgets those he loves-their "Redeemer is strong, the Lord of hosts is his name." Although Israel is a scattered sheep, and lions have driven him away, yet shall he be restored, for the Lord hath declared it, though their land was filled with sins of various kinds, he has not broken his covenant. "The Lord hath brought forth our righteousness." What shall we learn by "our righteousness" for we read that our righteousness is as filthy rags and so I believe, therefore is it not Christ? "Come and let us declare in Zion the work of the Lord our God."

When Jerusalem was in affliction she remembered her pleasant things of old-so it is with the people of God in this day, when the rod is laid heavy upon them: they will cry out,-O! that it were with me as in months past; then they remembered the pleasant things of old. But how are the mighty fallen, fear and a snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction, the gold is become dim, and the fine gold changed. Remember O Lord

what is come upon us, consider and behold our reproach. The joy of our heart is ceased. "Turn thou us and we shall be turned, renew our days of old."

Write me soon on this subject more fully, ond oblige your friend and a true well-wisher to the cause.

ABIGAIL HOUSE.

DEAR BROTHER:

After reading the visions of Ezekiel concerning the Sanctuary, and especially the description of the temple, and the ordinances thereof, the Lord entered into the inner-court and his glory filled the house, and the prophet fell upon his face. And the Lord said unto him: "Son of man, mark well, and behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, all that I say unto thee, concerning all the ordinances of my house and MARK well all the laws and especially the entering in of the sanctuary." He was commanded to say to the rebellious house of Israel,—“O ye house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your abominations. In that ye have brought into my sanctuary, strangers uncircumsized in heart and flesh to pollute it."

Thus saith the Lord God,-" No stranger uncircumcised shall enter into my Sanctuary which went astray from me after their idols-they shall even bear their iniquity. But such as kept the charge of the sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray, it is they that shall come near and minister unto Me.”

Thus we see it is the sanctified which keep the charge, and go not astray that caused the Lord to dwell there, and established the name of the city,-"The Lord is there." Where, dear brother shall we go in the sanctuary of the Saints where it can be said,-The Lord is there? Perhaps you will say come to our chapel and there you will find him-and another will say no,

you will find him with us. In this way the scripture is fulfilled, where it saith,-"Lo! here, or lo there is Ohrist we are to believe it not," for we have gone so far astray that we may, or are liable, to take the shadow for the substance. I ask, is it possible that the genuine christian does not know the sweet whispers of the holy spirit and its operations? Or is it because all classes of uncircumcised in heart and ears, have entered into the sanctuary with the presumption of ministering to his holy name, that has eaused Deity to withdraw his reconciled countenance, and forced him to say as he did to Judah after their revolt.

To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? I am full, etc. When ye come to appear berore me, who hath required this at your hands to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations, incense is an abomination unto me.

"The new moons and Sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new-moons, and appointed feasts, my soul hateth, they are a trouble unto me, I am weary to bear them. And when yo spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you; yea, when ye make many prayers I will not hear; your hands are full of blood."

"Wash you-make you clean-put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes, cease to do evil-learn to do well."

There is no chance for dissembling, God will find us out, he knows every thought, and every motive of the heart.

"Although the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in the vineyard, yet shall she be remembered as the City of Righteousness. The faithful City. But she must be redeemed by judgments."

"O that we might return unto the Lord, for very great are his mercies, he saith,-Let us reason together, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool" We have every encouragement to walk in the ways of holiness. "If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land," but not so with those who refuse and rebel. "They shall be devoured with the sword, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. No one shall escape without repentance, not even the shepherds. “A voice of the cry of the shepherds and an howling of the principal of