CONVERSION AND SPIRITUAL LIFE.
By D. T. Bourdeau
Since closing our last report, besides visiting as far as our strength would permit, we have held meetings in this place as follows: Last Tuesday evening, we met with the brethren, and spoke to them on the Health Reform from the following scripture: “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.” 1 Pet., ii, 11, endeavoring to show, both by the laws of our being and by the word of God, how the appetites and passions, when suffered to take the lead, militate against and deteriorate not only the physical life, but also the spiritual life, the inner man, Christ formed within, the Christian character; beclouding and weakening the mind, especially the mental and moral faculties, and blunting the finer sensibilities, so that the truth cannot be discerned, and God and the pleasures growing out of his service, and the pleasures and happiness of the world to come, are shut out from our minds and affections. Such was our freedom growing out of the general interest in the subject, that we spoke over an hour and a half, trying to shield the subject against extremes and to demonstrate that, however high may be our pretensions to religion, we cannot be Christians while we are slaves to lust. It is our most solemn conviction that the people of God must conform to the truth on this subject before they can make any great advancement in overcoming. Last Thursday evening we spoke to the church and quite a number of unbelievers on conversion and the blotting out of sins from these words: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and he shall send Jesus Christ,” &c. Acts iii, 19, 20. We stated that conversion meant change, and proved that in genuine conversion there was a turning of the soul from its former state of sinful action and pursuit, into a new and holy way, a change in the mind, affections and conduct from sin to holiness, a radical reform; that conversion was effected through “repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ;” that repentance, to be genuine, must include, 1st, A knowledge of sin; 2d, Conviction of sin; that sin affects us; that we are guilty; 3d, Sorrow for sin; 4th, Self-loathing and abhorrence of sin; 5th, Confession of sin; and 6th, Turning away from sin by reform and true righteousness. We stated that though all these points are included in repentance, yet we might come up to the first five and not accomplish that repentance that God accepts. Some are satisfied with a knowledge of sin in general, as it affects others, without being themselves convicted of sin; while others are deeply convicted, but fail to thoroughly reform. They come short of that godly sorrow and abhorrence of sin which work repentance. They are convicted of sin, but they still love sin and carnality. And some are hindered in repentance by not confessing their sins. They smother their convictions, and the work that grace has commenced in their hearts, dies. They do not bring forth fruits meet for repentance, and cannot be said to repent in the Bible sense of the term. We stated that the law of God was the great instrument used by the grace of God in repentance and conversion; that by it is the knowledge of sin, of which we have to repent, and from which we turn away in conversion; that conversion, like sanctification, is a progressive work. We here referred to Peter’s case. Though he had undergone a sufficient change to be deemed worthy to take a part in preaching the gospel, yet at the betrayal of Christ he was not sufficiently converted to strengthen his brethren. Hence Christ then tells him, “When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” We also referred to our own case. Though we were converted at the age of eight years, and have enjoyed the grace of God more or less ever since; yet when the Sabbath truth came up, we had to be converted again. And even when we had embraced the Sabbath, the Spirit of God, through the gift of prophecy said to us, “When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” We have tried to be converted, and by the grace of God, have succeeded in some respects. But the work is not yet accomplished; and we cannot stop here. The law of God is the grand mirror in which we should look to see ourselves. Some do not like to look into this mirror in the searching light of present truth, because their deeds are evil, and they love darkness rather than light. Such can be compared to a man looking at his person in a glass in a comparatively dark room. He sees some of the defects of his person and removes them, and says, “Now I am all right.” But just then a person comes in with a light, and says, “Now look in the glass.” He looks until he discovers more defects in his person, and then turns away from the glass, saying, “I have seen all I need to see; I am all right.” We then pointed to the healing fountain, to the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world, showing that faith was too much dwelt upon to the exclusion of the law of God. But the order of the gospel was, first repentance toward God, and then faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. First show men that they are sinners, and then show the remedy for sin. The preaching of many at the present time is well represented by one who would try to convince his neighbor that he should send for a physician before he realizes that he is sick. And this is why converts at the present time so easily backslide. They have not seen sin, and after the excitement, they pursue their former course with more than their usual relish and alacrity. Especially did we feel solemn when pointing forward to the latter rain for the time of the blotting out of sins. What a solemn work is now going on in the sanctuary above, while the cases of the dead saints are, one after another, coming before God and thousands of angels, while the books are opened and are being examined. What a solemn thought, that those who do not now repent will not have their sins blotted out in the time of refreshing just before us; but their sins will remain in the heavenly records, to come up against them in the second judgment, when “the saints shall judge the world.” Those who are indifferent in regard to their own cases in this solemn time, need conversion. Those whose affections are set on earthly treasures, need conversion. Those who are ambitious of worldly fame, and are easily bewitched by vain fashion, need conversion. Those who attend to their own selfish interests first, and neglect the interests of God’s cause, need conversion. Those who have no burden and labor for the salvation of their children and souls around them, need conversion. Those who are close and dishonest in their deal with God, their brethren or unbelievers, need conversion. And so we might continue examining ourselves in the light of God’s law, and see that a great work needs to be done for us. Last Sabbath and first-day were days long to be remembered by the church in Sandyville. In the forenoon, we gave another close discourse on the nature and teachings of the grace of God which bringeth salvation; and in the afternoon our subject was Testimony for the Church No. 11, the reading of important parts of which was followed by a solemn appeal to parents and children to make a move in the direction of further reform. The confessions that followed were startling, yet moistened by the heavenly endorsement. Such a heart-searching time I have not often witnessed. Some confessed to their children in tears; others said they had been too worldly-minded; one remarked that he had been asleep for three years, etc. Amidst this heart-searching work, and under the movings of the Holy Spirit, the children began to feel and move. One spoke, and then another, and another, until nine had decided to serve the Lord. And thus the meeting closed. Sunday morning we attended a business meeting in which two were disfellowshipped for having wronged their brethren and unbelievers in deal, and thus brought the precious cause into disrepute, without showing signs of reform or a determination to make restitution. Others who were on the background were kindly reminded of the relations they sustain to the church and truth, and the duties growing out of those relations, and were affectionately invited to reform, and cherish a spirit of nearness to the brethren, who love them. Eight shares were also pledged for the Health Institute; and advice and counsels were given to those who had started for the kingdom, and to the church. They will now prosper, and others will be added to their numbers, if they carry out their convictions, confessions and resolutions. But how easy it will be for them to lose what they have gained, if they give way to indifference, and to those things by which they were blinded. Their safety is in persevering, in watching unto prayer, in strictly and punctually attending to their private and public duties toward God and man. They cannot always expect to have such powerful times as we had last Sabbath. God then moved them out, as they commenced to work for themselves, giving his endorsement to his own word and work. But now they will be left to still move out on the truths which were then so clear and forcible to their minds; and they will, if faithful, have those blessings which will be best adapted to their advancement in piety and virtue. We will rest a few days, and then go to Knoxville. Our danger is that we shall overdo, there is so much to be done. Brethren, pray for us, that we may be kept on this point, and that God may still be with us, for without his aid, we can do nothing. And we are strong when we have your prayers to follow us.