A Few Items Relative to the Cause.
By John Matteson
DURING the season of fasting and prayer, I was with the church at Oakland, Wis. We were much blessed on the occasion, and the Lord revived his work among us. What a blessed thing it is that Christ did not leave us comfortless. He doth even now send the Comforter to teach us all things, and bring the promises of Christ to our remembrance. If this was otherwise our faith would cease, our love die away, and our hope turn to sad despair. How can we pray except the Spirit help us. But when he fills the soul then the fervent prayer ascends into Heaven, and the blessing of God descends like the gentle dew in the morning. Some do not think they have the Spirit except they can rejoice in God. But remember that even the very first feeling of conviction, and sorrow for sin, and longing after Jesus, are all blessings of the Spirit. The Comforter will convince the world of sin as well as of righteousness, and of judgment. And this same Spirit giveth to one the gift of healing; to another, the working of miracles; to another, prophecy. "All these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will." If we therefore feel disposed at all to read the Bible, pray, turn away from sin, seek after Jesus, go with the people of God, &c., let us thank the Lord for it, and follow after the teachings of that Spirit which is in harmony with the word of God. We can not always here enjoy the same degree of happiness, but this is no sign that God hath forsaken us. The great question is, Are we honest as far as we have gone? Two steps in Christian experience with honesty, are better than a thousand without it. What are we living and laboring for? Is it really to glorify God and save souls? Or is it to defend some darling hobby, and build up a party, or gain the honor and money of men? If we seek the glory of God, then let us rejoice in present blessings, be they ever so small. This will open the way for greater enjoyments. But if you murmur and fret, and always look on the dark side of the picture, then be it remembered, that your trouble will increase, and your burdens grow heavier, until they sink you into an untimely grave. The great secret of bearing burdens is to cast them on the Lord. But some say they have such heavy burdens! Just as though the Lord could not bear a heavy burden as well as a light one. Go to Jesus and get him to help you in all troubles, even in the health-reform, and you will find it comparatively easy. He can help all,206and will do it; and all need him, the most learned, and experienced preacher just as much as the convert that begins to-day to serve the Lord. As we tried to trust in the Lord, darkness gave way. Rays of light shone bright upon the blessed promise, "Fear not little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." One of our sisters was sick. We prayed for her that God would raise her up and bring her into our midst before the fast ceased. Sabbath morning she came and praised the Lord with us. We prayed for Bro. White, and believed that God would heal him. I told the brethren that when I came to Battle Creek I expected to see Bro. White come to the meetings and hear him speak. Their hearts and their voices responded, Amen. A few days after I came to Battle Creek, and called on Bro. W. When I saw him bowed down with disease and took his weak hand, I could not refrain from weeping. Like a mighty oak he had stood the storms of many winters, but a cruel tornado had broken the limbs, and even loosened the roots, so as to deprive the tree of its nourishment. He had stood foremost in the ranks, never fearing the bullets, nor terrified by the roar of the cannon, the bravest, and yet the humblest and most benevolent. He is now the most needed. Shall he sink down with the rest of our pioneers whose voices are silenced beneath the grassy turf? He looks like a bruised reed. Yet God will not break the bruised reed. Bro. White will recover. Even though the Devil is trying to sap his life-power, depriving him of sleep, and disturbing his brain, yet God is stronger than the Devil. On the following Sabbath, fasting and prayer was again appointed. Bro. Bates led the meeting. The peace of God shone from his countenance. Ardent and united supplications went up to the throne of grace. We ceased not till Bro. W. came into our midst and testified that the Lord had united his bands. Then joy and hopeful expectation shone from his eyes while he praised the Lord, and all united with him. Since that time he has enjoyed refreshing sleep nights, and his blood circulates naturally. First-day afternoon he took part in and stayed during the services, and second-day he shared in the ministerial deliberations. May the Lord establish him fully to lead on in this blessed cause of God. Sister White has been much worn by constantly taking care of him. But through the grace of God, and obedience to the laws of health, she has been wonderfully sustained. And this happy turning of their captivity seems to give her new life. She spoke on the Sabbath, and twice in the tent on first-day. She urged the necessity of carrying out the health-reform, and said that this was necessary to fit us for translation. This is the first opportunity I have had of seeing her, and I considered and weighed well all her actions and words. I have been at one period of my life a skeptic, and I now let skepticism bring in her objections, and let the Bible, the Spirit, and reason answer. As the result of this examination I will here present one argument to prove that Sr. White is led by the Spirit of God. We have the best evidence that gold is genuine, by the excellent quality of its own matter. Bank-notes are proved by the excellency of their steel engravings; poetry by its beauty and spirit; the Bible by its power, sublimity, truthfulness, and simplicity. Now let us prove the manifestations of Sr. White on the same rule. I happened accidentally to overhear her family prayers twice, unknown to her, as she was alone with her husband and children. What was she doing? Planning cunningly how she might lead her admirers to bring their sacrifices before her? Or how she might be revenged upon her enemies and bring shame upon them? No! Childlike and earnest pleadings were heard, not only by me, but by Jesus and angels. She communed with God. She was moved by the same Spirit that moved upon me when I heard the first comforting word from my Saviour. If she does not have the things presented before her mind, which she purports in her testimonies, then she is a deceiver, and one of the worst kind too. But her prayers were not such as deceivers bring forth. "Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshiper of God, and doeth his will him he heareth." One such prayer does me more good, than all the papers of Hicks, multiplied by a thousand, can do me hurt. In her home she did not betray the least sign of one who is exalted. She engaged in household duties, and appeared just as humble and social as one who had never spoken in public. When she spoke to the people, she manifested no human learning or art. No studied eloquence, nor gestures, nor display of education. But there was an earnestness, power, and yet simplicity, which told that she had been with Jesus and learned of him. Appeals came from the heart and went to the heart. She stated, that she had never read a book on health reform at the time when these things were first presented to her. And yet brethren will so continually throw this out as an excuse. When she spoke, she appeared to me like one crying in the wilderness. Those appeals ought to stir every soul to renewed action and consecration. But they seem to be partly lost amid all this worldliness, and pride, and surfeiting, of the latter days. Oh God! help to cry aloud and spare not. Make thy word a mighty hammer that breaketh asunder the rocks. Let thy Spirit come down with power. Bless thy servants and thy handmaidens. Let the great and notable day of the Lord come. And help us so to call on the name of the Lord, that we may be saved.
JOHN MATTERSON.
Battle Creek, Mich.