Another Word from the New York Camp-Meeting.
By Isadore Green
It has been my privilege to attend our late camp-meeting which has but just closed. In the providence of God it was a very interesting occasion, notable for the searching of heart. “Our sins like mountains rose before us.” The testimonies borne, with hardly an exception, showed that the Spirit was in our midst, causing us to see our departures and neglects. Tears and confessions gave evidence of returning to God, and the promise was verified, “Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts.” Each one felt to heed the admonition not to confess the sins of others, but to discharge individual responsibility; and, thank God, each one felt convicted of his own errors. May this spirit abide with us at our homes, then will the servants of God be saved many trials and burdens, and the church come up in the favor of God. If we faithfully search out our sins, and exterminate them fully from our hearts, it will make room for a spirit of labor and self-sacrifice, and we will be enabled to help swell the loud cry of the third message, and share at last in the blessings of the redeemed. We then can see a literal answer to the cry for laborers, yet in a far different manner than many of us anticipated. Truly, how wise is God in all his purposes, especially in transmitting to us all a sphere in which to labor. The Tract and Missionary Society recommends itself to every believing heart. It was set before us in a very acceptable manner by Bro. Haskell, and made very interesting by his relating a part of the life of sister H. More, showing, from personal acquaintance, her devotion and unremitting labor. And again was the mirror of life held up before us by Bro. Butler in giving us the biography of Job. I think the view presented to each one of us, as we beheld our murmurings and lack of the Christian grace that sustained him through so many trials and deep calamities, was anything but flattering to us. As he expatiated on his virtues, his unprecedented patience, while suffering in the hands of Satan, clad in garments of humility, literally covered with sores and clothed with worms and clods of dust, bereft of every earthly blessing, and forsaken by the wife of his bosom, and annoyed by false accusers and the contempt of the children in the streets; yet he retained his integrity. No greater rebuke is chronicled in the Sacred Book than the life of Job and the question asked by God of Satan, if he had “considered Job that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil,” reflecting upon the author of all sin his past course, his rebellion and fall, his untiring efforts to destroy precious souls. I say again, thinking I speak safely, We all felt ashamed, and saw ourselves as never before. The mirror was true to its design, reflecting our utter unworthiness. Now, let it not be truly said of us that we are like unto a man who beholds his face in a glass, and straightway forgetteth what manner of person he is, but let us try to get a view each day, scrutinizing each act in the light of the Judgment. Our hearts were inspired to hope, and were encouraged, by the love and esteem that Christ maintains toward those who do the will of his Father. The family ties and bonds of love that exist in the hearts of brother and sister, the undying and unselfish love of the maternal heart, were most beautifully and aptly illustrated by the speaker. Again were our hearts re-animated and cheered on Sabbath between the hours of public service to be assured beyond a doubt that the gifts, placed in the church as a wise provision from God, yet remain to bless his people, and will, until the last days. If any present had ever suffered from doubts, they must have been banished, as the evidence produced made this point in our faith invulnerable. The application made to this people made an impression. We could plainly see our neglect in reading and meditating. Our meeting closed Monday evening with a social meeting which was by many considered the best, and thus was another yearly gathering closed, making one the less, and adding to us new responsibilities. Who of us will improve them, or attend the next, or, more to be desired than all this, who will be gathered with the saints upon Mount Zion? Sackett's Harbor, Jefferson Co., N. Y.