Your ShelfYour Projects

CONFERENCE ADDRESS

4%

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 2, 1868

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 31, No. 24.

Read the full edition

CONFERENCE ADDRESS.

By John Nevins Andrews; James White; D. T. Bourdeau

The General Conference which has just closed has been a season of great interest and profit. Harmony and union pervaded all our meetings for the transaction of business; solemnity and devotion those which were especially set apart for worship. The meetings of the several associations that convene in connection with the Conference were also of a very encouraging character.
Dear Brethren and Sisters: We are living in the days which immediately precede the coming of the Son of man. Every thing indicates the swift approach of the great time of trouble. Human probation is drawing to a close. Our work, whether well or illy performed, will soon be closed up forever. It becomes us therefore to thoughtfully consider the ground we occupy, and the duties that devolve on us.
Our Advent experience is set forth in the three proclamations of Rev. xiv. The third of these solemn messages is now addressed to mankind. Its awful warning shows that the time of trouble described in the conclusion of chap. xiii is to be experienced before the final deliverance of the saints. The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus constitute the banner under which the people of God are to rally in this period of their patience. We are living in the period of time following the termination of the 2300 prophetic days of Dan. viii. It is this period which marks the hour of God's judgment. Chap. xiv, 6. We understand, therefore, that the opening work of the Judgment and the cleansing work of our High Priest are embraced in the work denominated the cleansing of the sanctuary. The closing message of mercy and the concluding work of our Lord as High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary, admonish us that the night is at hand, when no man can work.
Unclean spirits are actively engaged in their work of deception, and they are making great progress in its accomplishment. Evil men and seducers are waxing worse and worse. Iniquity abounds, and the love of many has grown cold. The mighty powers of darkness are manifestly gathering for the final conflict. The remnant who keep the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus, or spirit of prophecy, will yet have to meet the dreadful onset.
We should be the most devoted people in the world. We have the most responsible work to do, the most solemn warning to give, the most complete preparation to make. Others may be indifferent in the service of God. We dare not yield to such a spirit, no, not for an hour. Others may eagerly seek for earthly treasures. We cannot cherish such feelings without losing the favor of God. We cannot live to please ourselves, nor to consult our own convenience, or worldly interests. Our bodies are required as a living sacrifice, and all our dearest interests are in God's purpose subordinate to the interests of his sacred cause.
The grace of God must have its perfect work in us. It is not enough that we have taken some of its first lessons. We must follow on to know the Lord until we know his going forth prepared as the morning. We need a new consecration to the service of God. In fact, if we would earnestly seek each day for a new conversion to God, we should always possess the spirit and temper of young converts, and we should be steadily progressing in the great preparation for the Judgment.
We must occupy a higher and more sacred plane of action. We must not live in time to come in such an atmosphere of selfishness, shut up to our own convenience, our own profit, or own advancement. The character of Christ was one of entire unselfishness. Those only are Christians who are like Christ.
Alas! how great unlikeness to him in this respect exists in ourselves. How few of us feel for the woes of others. Some of us may weep when we see our own friends in distress, but who takes that practical interest in behalf of the suffering children of God that the law and the prophets, not less than the gospel of Christ, imperatively demand at our hands? Who have ever studied as they should the parable of the good Samaritan? Who of us is so rich in good works that, like the worthy widow in 1 Tim. v, we have trained up orphan children in the fear and service of God? Have any of us properly studied our Lord's account of the final settlement in Matt. xxv, 31–46.
These questions made so deep an impression upon the brethren assembled in the Conference that a benevolent association was formed, designed, with as little expense as possible, to enable us to reach after and aid effectually those who should be helped. We invite the hearty co-operation of the people of God everywhere. The objects and nature of this society and its organization are set forth in the REVIEW of last week. Do not fail to do what you can in aid of this worthy enterprise.
Our attention has also been called to the duty that we owe to those who have erred from the truth, or who are far on the background. The parable of the lost sheep sets forth the tender care of the Good Shepherd, and the intense interest felt by the angels of God in behalf of those who have been ensnared by the adversary of souls. How little of this spirit have we had in our own breasts. How lacking have we been of that untiring labor that sends the shepherd into the wilderness to travel weary journeys in search of the one lost, perishing sheep. How little have we realized that he that converteth one that has erred from the truth shall save a soul from death and hide a multitude of sins.
The Son of God left his glory to come down and die for us. He made this sacrifice, and endured this dreadful anguish, that he might seek and save that which is lost. How much of this tender spirit for the erring and the lost do we have in our own breasts? Are we not ready to inquire whether we shall even forgive seven times? And when our Lord says not seven times, but seventy times seven, do we not need to pray that our faith may be increased, before we can do this?
We may have all that spirit of forgiveness and long-suffering taught us by our Lord, and yet stand firm in God and his truth. We must, with tender hearts, and humble boldness, speak the truth in love. We, as a people, should also seek to carry out church discipline in all its strictness and perfection, while we exercise the greatest care not to offend one of Christ's little ones. To do this we need a new conversion, and entire consecration to the will and work of God.
As to the question of brethren changing their location, where such changes endanger the prosperity of small churches, the Conference thought best to rescind a former action, lest a wrong interpretation and use of that action be made, to the injury of some. We exhort you, dear brethren, to commit all your ways to the Lord, who orders the steps of the good man. Let Christ and the interests of his cause be your first object to serve. There are a few brethren and sisters who would be benefited by changing their location. A milder climate and a more productive soil would improve the condition of some. There are young men and young women, especially in New England, who have to work to disadvantage with first-day people, while in Michigan there are as many brethren who have to hire to disadvantage young men and young women who do not keep the Sabbath. This is more or less true of all the West. These eastern laborers, generally, are the best kind of help for our western brethren. A change of the location of these might prove advantageous to both them and the families of western brethren. But let every one ponder their steps well, and not move without prayer and counsel.
But we feel it our duty to speak decidedly against that spirit of restlessness which leads some of our people to move from place to place without any good reasons for so doing. Much time and means is expended in this way to no profit. But what is worse, these persons frequently do this to get rid of heavy burdens. They lose their consecration, and become a burden instead of a blessing to the cause. They not only cease to be a help to others, but become a living curse to the cause.
Some have regarded Battle Creek a place before all others where they would be comparatively free from trials and burdens. Too many have moved to Battle Creek with such views and feelings. Such are sometimes sadly disappointed after spending a few months in Battle Creek. All should understand that the burdens and trials on the Battle Creek church are great, and none should move to this place only real burden-bearers. Already the church is too large, unless there be a greater proportion of real working, burden-bearing hands. There are those at Battle Creek who should either consecrate themselves to the work of God, or move to some less-important post. We plead that the life of this church be not crushed out by dead weights from other places.
We would suggest that the time may have fully come for the fast mentioned by the prophet Joel. This calls for solemnity, and searching of heart, by the people of the Lord, and strong cries with weeping from the ministers of the Lord, that he may spare his people, and not give his heritage to reproach.
Isa. lviii sets forth this fast, and contrasts that which is an offense to God with one that would be acceptable. One is outward and formal, while the heart is not moved to the performance of merciful acts to the needy. The other is a rending of the heart, and a drawing out of the soul to the oppressed and the needy, to break every yoke, to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, and to take the cast-out stranger home.
In doing those things to the Lord's suffering poor, we do it to Jesus. In making a home for such homeless ones, we make a home for our Lord. And can we not cheerfully do this for a few days, or months, or years, for him who has gone to prepare an eternal home for us? If we shut Jesus in the person of his saints from our homes here, will he take us to an eternal home in glory? Never. Then we exhort you, dear brethren, Be not deceived in this matter. If you give your whole time and strength to gain, and neglect your duty to Christ, he will reject you. If you live for this world, it, when lying in ruins, devastated by the last plagues, will be your only portion. We entreat of you to do good to Jesus Christ in the person of his needy ones, and lay up a treasure in Heaven.
We would speak to you definitely in reference to the Health Institute. The entire Conference, and as far as we could learn of its friends everywhere, were in favor of conducting it on the same liberal, benevolent plan as that of the Publishing Association. Stock in the Institute is rapidly being transferred to such a plan, and all will soon be invited, by the Secretary, to make this change, who will give full explanation of the matter. Now is the time for those who have stood back from helping freely in this enterprise, objecting to the former plan, to come nobly up to the work. Efforts are being made to place all matters pertaining to the Institute upon the most favorable ground, such as terms to patients, efficiency of physicians, helpers, &c., and a spirit of devotion to the cause by all connected, that the blessing of God may be upon the efforts made for the recovery of health.
The liberal circulation of our tracts and other publications is a matter which ranks with those of the first importance. Prices at the office of publication, especially of those gratuitously circulated, are placed at actual cost. This will induce many, we trust, to purchase these publications to distribute gratuitously, and also to contribute to the fund, that they may be sent out from the office, and handed out by our ministers, free of charge.
Finally, brethren, be not weary in well-doing. It is work that is called for in our Master's vineyard. In due time you will reap if you faint not. Since the close of the Conference, several ministers, and others, have assembled each day in the house of prayer to seek God earnestly for help and grace in this time of need, and as they have labored to draw near to the Lord by confessions, humiliation, acts of benevolence and fervent prayer, they have felt the Lord drawing previously near to them. We recommend to you a similar course. And may we all seek more earnestly to know our duty and perform it in the love and fear of God, and finally reap the gracious reward of well-doing.
J. N. ANDREWS, } Gen. JAMES WHITE, } Conf. D. T. BOURDEAU, } Com.