p. 109 | REPORT OF MEETINGS by N. Fuller

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 4, 1868

REPORT OF MEETINGS.

By N. Fuller

We met at Niles Settlement, July 4, according to appointment, and many of us could have said as did Peter upon the mount, “Lord, it is good for us to be here.” That was the best Monthly Meeting I ever attended in Allegany County. Sinners trembled, backsliders came confessing their way back to God. The church was free. In our conference meeting, Sabbath morning, forty-five bore testimony in fifty-four minutes. It seemed that we could almost see the angels around us in the house. The place was solemn, and yet glorious. I spoke at eleven, and again in the afternoon. There was a growing interest in each meeting. We came together in the evening, and the Lord seemed to guide that we should have conference meeting. The Lord led that meeting by his Spirit. I tried several times to close but could not. The very heavens seemed to open upon us, and such a shower of the blessing of God as is rarely witnessed came rushing upon us. It was a foretaste of the latter rain.

Our conference meeting commenced at 9 A. M. on first-day and continued until 10 A. M. I then spoke from the words of God in Gen. vii, 1: “Come thou and all thy house into the ark.” This was just the subject. The Lord gave great freedom in setting forth the truth. At the close of my remarks, while turning the leaves of my hymn book, a sister arose and gave such a testimony as the Lord directed by his Spirit, and one after another followed in quick succession, until each one had done what the Lord had for them to do.

This was a very singular meeting; especial messages were delivered to quite a number, and burdens rested upon the church for all but one individual present. This was a man by the name of Joel G. Sanders, who has burdened the church, and caused them much sorrow, until they were obliged to disfellowship him. He has since proved by his conduct that it was right to take just the course we did with him. He was reproved of the Lord, and pretended to accept the testimony, but in his heart he never did. Now the Lord has taken all burden from the church and laid it wholly upon himself, and he feels it. But in all probability his unsubdued will will prove his utter ruin. I will here say, he has a good companion, and good children. May God save them from the dreadful influence they are under.

The 11th and 12th, we met with the friends at Roulette, according to appointment. The blessing of God attended that meeting also. Our conference meeting was good, and nearly all took part in it. At 11, I gave a discourse on the subject of Faith. At 3, sister Lindsey spoke from the words, “Say ye to the righteous that it shall be well with him; for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe unto the wicked! It shall be ill with him; for the reward of his hands shall be given him,” and in a clear manner showed that the threatenings of God were against the sinner, but that God, in mercy, would at last give the meek eternal life.

First-day morning, after our conference meeting, which was good, I gave a discourse showing the harmony of the law and the gospel, and that there would have been no need of the gospel if men had not violated the law; that the gospel was to save men from sin, and sin was the transgression of the law; that the principles of the law of God were immutable; that they emanated from Jehovah himself, and to change them would destroy the constitution of Heaven, by which men were to be brought into Judgment, and hence the Judgment would be a failure, without the law as a rule.

Two Freewill Baptist ministers were present, one of whom was to preach at 11½. He endorsed what I had preached, heartily, and said he would make it stronger if he could. He said it was our duty to keep all the law, and then by the gospel we might be saved. He repeated time and again that “we must keep the commandments of God” if we would have salvation. He then left the meeting for me to close. I then took an expression by asking those to arise who would commence to keep all the commandments of God just as they were written, referring to the fact that it was just what the minister and myself had preached. A large portion of those present arose, but to the astonishment of those present the speaker did not arise. “Let us do as they say, not as they do.”

Among those who arose was one Capt. Simpson from Middlesex Co., Ct., a very intelligent appearing man, who, being on a visit to Bro. L. Lyman’s, happened to attend the meeting. By the way, he had had some light on the Sabbath question before. His wife was also present. May God give him strength to bear the cross.

We then repaired to the Allegany river, where seven were baptized and came forth, as we trust, to walk in newness of life. Not having time to repair to the house, I spoke a few minutes, on the bank of the river, to those who had witnessed the scene, on the probability of a final separation of families at the great and last day. Two were deeply convicted, and wept about two hours; sometimes they sobbed aloud. We had a season of prayer for them, and they found the Saviour. Then both bore testimony that Christ has power on earth to forgive sins.

Brethren in the ministry, go on in the work. All Heaven is interested in the salvation of men.

Yours in hope, N. FULLER.

Wellsville, N. Y., July 20, 1868.