AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT by J. H. WAGGONER

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

AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT.

By J. H. WAGGONER

“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths,” Prov. iii, 6.

I wish to acknowledge the Lord before all his people, and what he has done of late. When I came to Battle Creek, it was with a desire to recruit my wasted energies by a change of labor, and by freedom from the burden of meetings. But my labor here was still taxing to the mind; and meetings of importance were held from night to night, and Sabbaths I went out to preach, or spoke here; so that, at the commencement of the Conference, I was about prostrated. I never entered upon the labors of such an occasion in a more exhausted state; in a word I dreaded it as a task that I did not feel able to pass through. In addition to this there seemed, in some respects, to be a reacting influence abroad, and sadness rested on many hearts, and could be seen in their countenances. When Bro. and Sr. White came and met with the church, it was evident to all that the Spirit of the Lord was with them, and hope soon began to revive. The meetings were unusually harmonious; yet they were laborious to many, and at their close there was a consequent lack of buoyancy of feeling; some being almost overcome with physical weariness and infirmity. A series of morning and evening prayer-meetings was decided upon, that we might seek a more special blessing from Heaven, before separating for our fields of labor. These were precious seasons to all; not marked with much elevation of feeling, but with a spirit of humiliation and confession; a calm and settled reliance on the promises of God; an earnest desire to be consecrated anew to the service of God, and to be baptized anew into the spirit of the gospel. To his praise I can say, the Lord’s blessing was vouchsafed, especially in prayer for Bro. White. Manifest as was the divine presence, we yet felt that our victory did not so much consist in present feeling, or present enjoyment, as in a firm, abiding faith that the Lord will go with his people, and be their strength in time of need.

But what has been very cheering to me, of which I wish to make particular mention, is, that a sweet spirit of union has prevailed these efforts throughout. I have confidence that perfect union exists between the servants of the Lord, such as has not, perhaps, existed for years. Especially have all hearts been drawn out toward those afflicted and toil-worn servants of God, and of his people, Bro. and Sr. White. We have a renewed assurance that the Lord is with them; that he is leading them, and giving them a precious message of present truth for the churches.

For myself, I can only say, “My leanness, my leanness.” My weakness, my errors of judgment and action are often causes of discouragement to me. Dear brethren, I feel unworthy of the place the Lord has given me in this great work—unworthy of the degree of confidence you have given me in the past. “Who can understand his errors?” I fear that I have but a slight sense of mine. I want you to forgive where I have erred against you, or before you, and to pray for me, that I may walk tremblingly before the Lord, and live only to his glory.

J. H. WAGGONER.