p. 125 | MEETINGS IN WISCONSIN by I. Sanborn

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 13, 1869

MEETINGS IN WISCONSIN.

By I. Sanborn

AFTER holding meetings here with the Sand Prairie church three weeks, I closed one week ago last Thursday, in order that I might attend the Baptist protracted meeting which commenced the next evening in their meeting-house, about 20 rods from the Advent meeting-house. In their seventh meeting, after the minister had spoken on Rom. viii, 4, and to show that the ten commandments, which, he admitted, were holy, were also dead, and that Christians are now married to Christ; and that Jesus had come to save his people from their sins, there being an opportunity offered for remarks after he got through, I was deeply impressed by the Spirit of God to make the following remarks, which brought the congregation to a breathless silence. As I arose, I quoted Matt. i, 21. “And the angel said to Joseph, Thou shalt call his name Jesus; and he shall save his people from their sins.” And when he commenced preaching, he said, “Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” God has told us what repentance is by saying, “When the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. Because he considereth and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; for I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord.” Eze. xviii, 27. This is Bible repentance. Peter on the day of Pentecost said to such penitents, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” Acts ii, 38, 39. Those who have thus repented, and have been baptized,

are in a proper condition to show their love to God; and John says to them, “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous.” 1 John v, 2, 3. “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 1 John ii, 3, 4. What! a man love God and be wedded to Jesus, living in idolatry, in blasphemy, lying, stealing, killing, adultery, covetousness, and SABBATH-BREAKING? Never, while the Lord lets the sun shine on the earth. Oh, come, sinner, repent, and turn to the Lord, and be saved.

I took my seat, and waited for the almost breathless silence to be broken by some one; but as no one spoke, I struck in and sung, “Alas! and did my Saviour bleed.” Many sung with me. When we got through, the minister, Eld. Ross, got up perfectly excited, and said I had insulted and abused them in their own house, and wanted to know if they could not have meetings in their own house without being interrupted, comparing me to a barking dog, &c. One of the leading members of the church then followed him with the same spirit, and they have kept it up, till last night their meetings closed, leaving a greater interest among the people to hear the truth, than ever. So I resume my meetings again this evening with a fair prospect of much good. Pray that the Lord may help me much.

I. SANBORN.

Sand Prairie, March 8, 1869.