p. 93 | THE CAMP-MEETINGS by Roswell Fenner Cottrell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 14, 1869

THE CAMP-MEETINGS.

By Roswell Fenner Cottrell

THESE are important meetings for the church. We need the benefit they are designed to give. But the danger is, that they who most need the help of these meetings will fail, for want of interest to attend, and earnestness in seeking God, to receive the benefit. Our interest heavenward must be increased, and our interest earthward diminished. But the danger is, that those whose affections are on the world and its perishing treasures, can find no time nor means to attend the meetings; and this very thing may eventuate in their final ruin.

There are crises in our religious life, upon the turning of which our future course is shaped, and our prospects of finally overcoming, brightened or beclouded; and our decision in one of these critical periods may decide our final destiny. And I have been thinking, this morning, before taking the pen, that the final crisis—that which will be the turning point in regard to the thrilling question of future and final salvation—will pass, with many, in connection with the opportunities of the present season, especially depending upon the decisions that are made whether to receive or reject the benefit of these meetings.

Those who are positively too poor to afford the means of attending, can, if their hearts are in the work, have grace to move forward to the overcomer's reward, without being present at these meetings. But there are those who can command the means and the time, who are so deeply swallowed up with the world, and driven by necessity, as they suppose, to work every moment of their time to save them from poverty and starvation, that they cannot find a week in the whole year in which to seek God, and attend to the interests of his cause. My friends, you are deceiving yourselves. If you think that for worldly gain, you could afford the time and means, and you could not afford to lose the benefit which God designs that you should have—the benefit of a little time spent in the special seeking of God, hearing religious instruction and exhortation, and showing an interest in the work of the Lord, and a willingness to labor for the benefit of fallen humanity on the very verge of perdition.

If the proffered benefits of the present season are rejected, the next year will find you with no less attachment to the world, and no more inclination to engage with all your heart in the service of the Lord. To-day is passing; and the present decision is telling upon the final issue. You have a good show for the necessity of attending to your worldly business; but search your motives, and you will find that gain, gain, worldly gain, is the motive of your heart. You have no cause to fear poverty and starvation, as the result of giving a week to the service of God, even though it be in seeding time. “Fear not, little flock.” God's providence will not desert those who serve and honor him. But this is the difficulty, my friend, you have taken your case out of the hands of God, and you must attend to it yourselves. If this is the case, you will have enough to attend to the little time you have left. Work on, then; strive on for the world. You have a hard time this year; it will be no better next. You are truly to be pitied.

O brother, sister, arouse! Make one mighty effort to awake and get into the work of the Lord—an effort that shall not slack till the Master shall come. To-day, TO-DAY, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

R. F. COTTRELL.