MEETINGS IN VERMONT by A. C. BOURDEAU

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 25, 1868

MEETINGS IN VERMONT.

By A. C. BOURDEAU

According to the arrangement as stated in my last in the Review, Sabbath, Jan. 18, while my brother attended a Quarterly Meeting with the church at Johnson, Vt., I met with the church at home. Sabbath evening our social meeting was quite interesting. We felt that the interest in the things of God which had been revived in us when Bro. and Sr. White and Bro. Andrews were among us, had not all abated. I spoke about forty minutes, enforcing the importance of our being awake, active, and diligent in fulfilling the duties incumbent upon us while engaged in the service of God; and showed that it is a notable fact that our tendencies in this direction are usually indicated by the readiness we manifest in the performance of our religious duties in meetings.

Sabbath morning, I spoke to the church on putting on the whole armor of God. Text, Eph. vi, 11. Showed, 1. What constitutes the Christian armor. 2. The means that Satan uses, and the manner in which he makes his attacks upon the Christian, especially the young convert. 3. The course to be pursued by the Christian in the warfare, and the use that he should make of the different parts of the armor in order to withstand, and successfully defeat the enemy. 4. The necessity of our seeking every opportunity to secure to ourselves every part of the armor, and to become fully drilled and fitted up for the time of trouble which is just before us, that we may be able to stand in the evil day, and having done all to stand.

I would here say to the young, and to the desponding, who are apt to dwell upon their own lacks and wrong-doings, and to be discouraged: Never give up to the idea, suggested so often by the enemy, that you are mortally wounded, until you have examined yourselves and seen what strength you have in you, and applied to the Great Physician who is able to heal all your wounds. Look to the attainments that you have made since you enlisted in the service of your Heavenly Master, and believe that as you have been enabled to overcome on some points, you may yet have strength to overcome on others.

The testimonies which were given in quick succession at this meeting, evinced that these remarks were appreciated by the brethren and sisters present.

My brother and I had intended after this meeting to go and visit old friends in Canada, and a few French families in Northern New York. Although my children were all quite sick with the measles, and owing to my wife being at the Health Institute in Battle Creek, Mich., for the purpose of recovering her health, were deprived of the presence of a kind mother to care for them, and minister to their wants; yet on Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 22, we attempted this journey, drove thirty-two miles, till we came near Alburg Springs. But on account of having a severe storm and high, blustering winds, we felt that it would not be prudent for us to attempt to cross on the ice over the lake. Our way being thus hedged up, the limited time that we had before us in which to perform the journey, and the great anxiety that we had about the sick ones at home, led us to conclude that it was right for us to turn about and head toward home.

We will try not to forget the friends where we intended to visit when we started on this trip, and will endeavor to call on them at our earliest convenience.

On Tuesday, Jan. 28, my children had recovered measurably from their sickness, but our hired girl was coming down and having quite a siege with the measles. Leaving them in the care of my brother's wife, in company with Bro. N. Orcutt, I started on a tour in the southern part of the State. As we passed through the village at Jericho Corners I noticed a sign bearing, I. Roscoe, Carriage Maker. I drove up to the shop at once, entered the door and found Bro. R., who gave me a warm and friendly greeting. This brother is a French Sabbath-keeper. Sixteen years ago he was a student at the Grand Ligne Mission in Canada East. About five years ago my brother and I visited him in Canada and left with him works on the Sabbath, and exposition of Dan. ii and vii, in French. He soon embraced the Sabbath, then moved to Jericho Corners, Vt., and established a carriage shop. For four years he has had a sign on the door of his shop reading, No work or business done here on the Seventh-day Sabbath. During this time Bro. R. has not seen a Sabbath-keeper; has encountered opposition on the part of some; works have been thrown in his hands by first-day Adventists; and though he has not seen the Review, and has not had access to many of our works, he still proves firm on the Sabbath.

A. C. BOURDEAU.