Conference Department by R. O. Saunders

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 30, 1867

Conference Department.

By R. O. Saunders

Exhorting one another, and so much the more as ye see the day approaching. Heb. x. 25.

This Department is designed to fill the same place in the paper that the Conference or Social Meeting does in the worship of God. Speak often one to another to comfort, edify and aid each other in the way of holiness and true Christian experience.

From Sister Saunders.

DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: I have often thought, when reading the cheering testimonies in the Review, that I would tell you some of my experience. It has been two years since I decided to go with the remnant to Mount Zion. I love the holy Sabbath, and am glad to be numbered with the people that are trying to keep it according to the commandment, though I have always observed the seventh day, having in different places belonged to three Seventh-day Baptist churches.

“In holy duties let the day In holy pleasures pass away. How sweet a Sabbath thus to spend In hope of one that ne’er shall end.”

I love the Health Reform. It has done much for me as an individual; and I believe it is just what this people need to fit them for translation. May we obey the truth in all its points, knowing that we are not our own, but that we have been bought with a price, even the precious blood of Christ.

We are truly living in the last days, even in the sifting time when those that are not rooted and grounded in the truth will be led astray through the temptations that are thickening around us. “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” Oh! I long to be free from sin and sorrow. Hasten, welcome day, when the trump shall sound which will awake the righteous dead. Then shall we meet our loved ones whom cruel death has torn from our embrace. I hope to be there having been sanctified through obeying the truth.

I feel that the work is rising, the church is giving heed to the straight testimony, and is trying to get out of the lukewarm state we have been in so long. We have just enjoyed one of the best Quarterly Meetings we have ever had here. Brn. Cottrell and Fuller were with us, filled with the fruits of the Spirit, and as Bro. C. spoke to us Sabbath morning from the text found in Rom. xiii, 11–14, which is a sermon of itself, it was meat in due season. Professing, as we do, to believe that we are living in the last days, when the last message of mercy is being proclaimed, is it not high time that we all awake and buckle on the whole armor? But truly the dark night of sin and sorrow is far spent, and I do rejoice that the day is at hand. Yes, that glad day will soon come when hope will be changed to glad fruition, when the Just One shall come to take his redeemed ones home.

Bro. Fuller, in the afternoon, spoke to us of the covenant which the children of Israel entered into, found in 2 Chron. xv, 12, 13. The church have been coming up for a few weeks past, and it seemed that they were ready to enter heartily into the covenant to seek the Lord with all the heart. I trust that while the most of the church solemnly covenanted together, they will make sure work of it for the judgment; for our individual cases must soon pass in review before the great Judge of all the earth; and now is our time to secure Jesus as our advocate by giving him the whole heart, and showing our love to God by keeping all his commandments, and walking in the ordinances of the Lord’s house blameless.

Two were added to the church and as a large company met to attend to the ordinances, we felt to rejoice that our blessed Saviour left us the example of humility of which he says, “If ye know these things, happy

are ye if ye do them.” The sweet Spirit of God rested upon us while we remembered him who was a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief; who was rich but for our sakes became poor, and died the ignominious death of the cross, that we might be saved through his atoning blood. He said, “As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come.” And in order that we do not eat and drink unworthily, we must by faith discern the Lord’s body. Let us remember Jesus’ words, “Except ye eat of the Son of man and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.”

First-day morning at nine o’clock we met for prayer and conference. For two hours and a half the time was well improved. While the melting Spirit of God rested down, our hearts were made tender and with many tears the brethren and sisters confessed their heart-wanderings; and as we expressed a determination to return, the Lord met us a long way off. How good the Lord is! Oh, that men would praise him for his wonderful works to the children of men! All seemed ready to still seek the Lord. We truly had a refreshing season and felt it was the very gate of Heaven to our waiting souls.

We were led to rejoice in the rock of our salvation, and to praise God to see the youth making new resolves to be on the Lord’s side. May the dear youth all through our ranks see to it that they have a daily experience that will tell to their spiritual advancement in the cause of truth. Is not eternal life worth more than the pleasures of this transitory world? Are we not willing to wear the yoke of Christ and bear the cross, that by the assistance of God, we may overcome all the besetments of life and finally have right to the tree of life.

R. O. SAUNDERS. Jeff. Co., N. Y., April, 18, 1867.