Untitled article by Wm. Johnston

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, August 27, 1867

Conference Department.

By Wm. Johnston

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 Bro. Johnston.

BRO. SMITH: Since I last wrote to you, I have delivered two of the four lectures I compiled on the prophetic chart, to the entire satisfaction of nearly all that attended at the Bethel to hear them. I should ere this have given them all, if I had not attended the Ohio State Conference at Lovett’s Grove. The delivery of the lectures has caused quite a stir. Some of them think (or say they do) that “the old doctor is getting crazy.” Hence, they do not call on brother Johnston to “lead us in prayer” as they used to do. Nevertheless, the truth is steadily gaining ground; and one young man of good parts, and sterling integrity, has laid hold of the subject with a determination to make himself thoroughly acquainted with all the points of truth embraced in the third angel’s message. There are also several aged men, of high standing in society, who stand aloof from all denominational organizations, that are very anxious to hear a course of lectures by some of the approved ministers of the S. D. A. brethren. I hope their desires may soon be gratified.

As stated above, I attended the Conference at Lovett’s Grove, where I got well paid for my time and expenses, in gospel measure, “pressed down, shaken together, and running over.” There I found our divine Advocate more precious than gold, yea, more precious than the golden wedge of Ophir. There were several lone ones present, who with me could say,

“My willing soul would stay, In such a frame as this; And sit and sing herself away, To everlasting bliss.”

Oh! “it was good to be there,” to hear the jewels of my Master tell the kind dealing of the Lord with them, and what great things he had done for them.

The preaching, too, was plain, practical, pointed. Bro. Waggoner delivered a discourse on the law, such as I never heard before. Oh! “that it was written in a book!” Bro. Loughborough gave us a physiological discourse on Temperance, appropriate and timely. I hope to receive the substance of it shortly when his work on that subject is ready for delivery. And Bro. Van Horn proved himself “a workman, that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth, and giving to each a portion in due season.” May the Lord bless these dear brethren, and send them down into these dark regions. Oh! that they may come, in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of peace.

Then the testimonies of the brethren and sisters were soul-cheering, encouraging, and refreshing. Oh! if we can enjoy such happiness while worshiping together in this vale of tears, what will it be when we meet in God’s everlasting Kingdom on the earth made new, where we shall see the King in his beauty, where sickness, sorrow, pain and death, shall be feared and felt no more! The thought of such amazing bliss, should constant joys create. Oh, that we may ever remember the Saviour’s promise, “He that overcometh shall sit down with me on my throne” as I have overcome and am set down with my Father on his throne.” May the Lord enable us to be overcomers, and commandment-keepers, so that we may have a right through Jesus to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city that hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Yours in hope of everlasting life. WM. JOHNSTON. Wayne Co., Ohio.