Untitled article by H. C. Miller

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, August 13, 1867

CONVOCATIONS.

By H. C. Miller

Long time ago there was on the other side of the sea of Tiberias a convocation of people seeking Jesus, whom when they had found they hailed, calling him “Master.” They were ignorant of their own hearts. They thought they were true disciples. But our Lord discerning their motives answered them, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labor not for the meat that perisheth, but for that meat that endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you.” The account of this meeting is found in John, chapter six. In consequence of the straight testimony there given we read that “from that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” Let us take heed to ourselves lest love of the loaves and fishes so occupy our hearts that we stumble at the word of Jesus.

The season of our convocation meetings is near at hand, and a few thoughts relating thereto suggest themselves. First, let us who intend going to those meetings examine ourselves that we may know the motives which lead us to go. Whether curiosity, pleasure, gratification of appetite, &c., may not be what leads us; or whether we are going sincerely desiring the word of the Lord, the bread of life. Let us settle this before we start, lest the testimony we hear when there cause us to go back and cease from following Jesus.

Again, secondly, Our meetings are not for the purpose of having a picnic. Therefore let our preparations for the body be of the most simple kind. In the past I have noticed the food most commonly brought and eaten. Rich pies, cakes made of fine flour, sugar, eggs, butter, saleratus, &c., saleratus biscuits, fine flour bread, cheese and such like, composing the bill of fare, and being partaken of heartily. Now I do believe that pies and preaching will not do well together. I do believe that the good word has failed to reach the heart in the past because the senses were clogged as the effect of eating such—I was about to say food,—unnecessary and unwholesome articles. Let us therefore, as I said before, make our preparations in this respect with simplicity, with an eye single to the glory of God and the actual wants of our bodies.

A suggestion or two may not be out of place. Hard and soft graham bread and crackers will keep sweet and good longer than any other bread, and is the most wholesome and nutritious. Let the bread then be of this kind. This, with the addition of fruits of some kind, will be amply sufficient to sustain the body. We might refer to the example in the chapter where Jesus, having compassion on the multitude because they had continued with him “three days and had nothing to eat,” would “not send them away fasting lest they faint in the way,” and fed them with bread and fish, of which we read “they did all eat, and were filled” (satisfied, Gr. chortazo). Matt. xiv, 32–39. Let us in the fear of God be thus simple in attending to our bodily wants. Let us come so hungering for the word of life that we may forget the body in a measure, and Jesus will feed us so that when we return we may go in the strength of that food to meet our temptations, and to do the will of God even like Elijah, until our work here is done,—return with body rested, not wearied and worn, and soul refreshed. Again I would say, Let us be temperate in these things. Let our convocations be a feast of unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Let us repent and put away all our lusts, and get ready for the Lord’s coming.

H. C. MILLER.

Monroe, Wis.