p. 42 | Untitled article by W. T. Ernst

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, December 31, 1867

Conference Department.

By W. T. Ernst

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. Ernst.

DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: It is with great pleasure that I again converse with you through the Conference Department of our highly-prized Review. How thankful we should be that the Lord, amidst the perils of the last days, has given his people the means of communicating their thoughts to each other. How it cheers my drooping spirits to read the testimonies of the dear brethren and sisters. Although the forms and faces of most of you would be strange to me at sight, I know that if we prove faithful to the grace already given, we shall soon see the King in his beauty, and clasp glad hands of joy in the everlasting kingdom. Yes! fellow-pilgrim in this world of sin, soon, very soon, will Jesus with all the blood-washed throng stand on Mount Zion. Reader, will you be there? Shall I be there? Let us strive earnestly, make it a daily work to overcome our sins and set good examples before those with whom we associate; for precious souls all around us are perishing for want of the right counsels of God; and we shall have to give an account of our stewardship.

Dear brethren and sisters, let us pray earnestly for the prosperity of the cause of truth. Let us take hold of this work as people of the world do worldly matters, and get all our energies to work. And let us follow on to know the Lord, whom to know aright is life, joy, and peace in the earth made new. God will hear and answer our prayers if we humble ourselves as we should, and stand ready to say, “Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth,” and then be willing to do the Lord’s bidding, whether it comes from the operations of his Spirit, or from his servants at the head of the work. Though we have a small gift, we are just as responsible if we do not use what we have, as if we had more. Then let us use our abilities in the fear of God. As God has given so let us distribute. If we can write a sermon, let us write; if an exhortation, let us exhort. If we can encourage by our testimonies, let us testify to the glory of God. If we are blessed with worldly means, let us give liberally, that the cause of our blessed Master may move onward. Then let the Review and Youth’s Instructor be filled with original matter and lighten the burden of the editors. And, above all, pray earnestly for more of the spirit of the blessed Saviour. W. T. ERNST.

Branch Co., Mich.