Conference Department

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 5, 1870

Conference Department.

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 Sr. Austin.

BRO. SMITH: I have asked while looking over the pages of the Review, and seeing so many selections, and so few names in the Conference Department. Why is it so? Are there not enough who have a real love for this cause, and in whose hearts this truth lives and burns, to furnish at least half a dozen testimonies weekly, that shall cheer the hearts of all who read, and especially those who cannot hear in any other way from those of like “precious faith”?

Those who can get together and speak words of encouragement, know how sweet and strengthening it is to be cheered along over the roughness of the way, by words of hope, and songs of praise, from fellow pilgrims who are toiling to reach the same blest home with themselves; and as they recount blessings enjoyed, victories gained, and help received from our “Bountiful Father,” who watches with a loving eye, every effort of his striving children to live so that they can honor his glorious name, it inspires them with new courage to press on in the narrow way that leads to life, although it may separate them from earthly friends, and loved ones almost as dear as life itself.

And next to hearing others is reading from their pens; and are there not many silent pens which might and should be used to speak such words of cheer as should cause bright hope to spring up in the heart of some lone pilgrim, or call a song of praise from some saddened soul, which the angels would hear, and the echo be returned laden with bright rays of glory, to light up the darkness, and disperse the gloom that Satan labors so hard to envelop us in as we near the golden city of our God.

Have we not reached a point in this message where we need put on the whole gospel armor, and such a consecration to God as shall enable us to say, “I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me”?

When we attain this position in our Christian experience, where Christ truly lives in us, there will be seen by angels and men earnest, faithful, laborers in the vineyard of the Lord; and this message will rise, and the last note of warning for a drowsy church and an ungodly world, will then be heard with a loud voice, and the latter rain will strengthen the tempted and tried children of God, and prepare them to stand amid the awful scenes of earth's closing history.

I thank God for the light that shines on our pathway, for the evidences of the soon coming of the glorious Lifegiver, for the precious promises made to those that seek the Lord with their whole hearts, and the spirit of love for perishing souls, that goes with the third angel's message. It was this spirit that prompted our dear Redeemer to leave all the glory of his heavenly home, and walk this vale of tears in sorrow and agony, to bring us to his Father's house on high. And shall we go contentedly along alone, satisfied if only ourselves are saved? If ever we plant our glad feet on the sea of glass, shall we not want to see near us a little company, or at least one, whom we have loved here, that has been assisted to reach the place where the victor's song shall be sung, by our helping hand, reached out for them through the power of that life which Christ lives in us?

I believe with all my heart that soon, soon, we shall be there if faithful to the end; and what we do for ourselves or others must be done quickly. May God arouse his people to more earnestness, and strengthen the lonely ones to trust in him, and labor on, remembering that those that sow in tears, shall come with rejoicing, bringing their sheaves with them.

Yours, hoping soon to meet and have a name and place with all the good and pure of earth,

C. R. AUSTIN.

Berkshire, Vt.