Untitled article by R. F. Cottrill

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · July 23, 1867

MEETINGS AT ROCHESTER, N. Y.

By R. F. Cottrill

This Quarterly Meeting being on my way to my new field of labor, I arranged to attend it by the way. Was happy to meet again with those made nigh by the blood of Christ, and by a long acquaintance and experience in the vicissitudes of our earthly pilgrimage endeared to me. We had the privilege also of meeting Bro. Andrews again, and hearing from him words of admonition, exhortation and comfort. Our social meetings were deeply interesting, and I trust the church here are making some advancement in the great work of preparation for those labors and trials that lie before us. On first-day the financial interests of the cause were taken into consideration, Bro. Andrews stating the present condition of the publishing interests and the Health Institute, and showing very clearly how there is an opportunity to honor the Lord with our substance and the first-fruits of our increase. And there was generally an interest, a deep interest, manifested among the few that were present, to act the part of faithful stewards in the use of the means the Lord has put into their hands. Stock was taken in the Health Institute to the amount of twenty nine shares or $725.00, and this mostly from those who had liberally subscribed before, doubling or more their former subscriptions. And I am happy to believe that the yearly dividends of the Institute were not so much the moving power in this, as a desire in the final reckoning to hear it said, as Christ said of the woman in the gospel, “She hath done what she could.”

May all the church of God take hold of the work of transferring their treasures to heaven, so that when they leave the earth they may feel they are going to, and not going from, their treasures. Brethren and sisters, there is a way open to invest means in a way that God approves. And in doing so you show your faith in the present teachings of the Spirit of God. Those who, with no sordid motive, but a pure purpose to glorify God, invest means in this cause, will not regret it. You can now, before your gold and silver is cankered, and the rust of them becomes a witness against you, provide you bags that grow not old, a treasure in the Heavens that never faileth. But the time is coming when the stock-books in Heaven, if I may so speak, will be closed, and it will be too late to transfer our interests thither. In so saying, I wish not to excite or alarm, but to impress our minds with the truth, that now we may offer an acceptable sacrifice, and that the time is at hand when we cannot do it. Let us be zealous in following the light fully. R. F. COTTRILL.