My First Adventist Meeting.
By J. R. Purinton
THROUGH the kind providence of our dear Lord, I have been permitted, for the first time, to look upon the countenances of a few of those whom I believe to be the chosen people of God. Through an invitation from Bro. Wm. Cottrell, elder of the little company of Seventh-day Adventists at Bowersville, I attended their quarterly meeting, held Sabbath and first-day, June 26 and 27. Such a profitable season I never before enjoyed; but through the help of Jesus, I expect to increase in love, knowledge, and pure, heart-felt religion. I expect to become more like the people of God, and that my past joys will seem as nothing; for as God, who is all love, fills our hearts with love from on high, we can love our brother as ourselves. God always opens his store-house for those who love him and keep his commandments, and supplies them with a joy and peace that commandment-breakers know nothing of, neither can they know until they respect the commandments of God more than the traditions of man. There was a people once who all cried out saying, “Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas.” Those people will cry, in the last day, for the rocks and mountains to fall upon them, to hide them from the wrath of Him whom they condemned. To-day we have people all around us who are by their actions, saying louder than the Jews of old, Away, away, with the commandments of God, and release unto us the sweet traditions from the honeyed lips of the man of sin. These also will cry in the last day, Rocks and mountains, fall upon us. But let me tell you, my friends, before it is too late, your cries will be all in vain. It will be impossible to flee the wrath of our soon-coming Lord. Oh! that my friends would understand that in order to gain a home in the earth made new they must keep both the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus! I shall never forget what I have learned by meeting with the dear brethren and sisters at Bowersville. I have learned that those who keep the commandments of God, and love his appearing, think it no trouble to take their families over one hundred miles in a wagon to spend a Sabbath with their brethren and sisters in prayer and praise to God. I have learned that it is possible to love God with all our heart and our neighbor as ourselves. I have learned that the people of God can forsake father or mother, sister or brother, for the love of Him who died to save them from the agonies of the second death. Their faith is my faith, their God is my God. Pray for me, dear brethren and sisters at Bowersville, pray for the lonely stranger, who loves you with love deep and unchangeable. J. R. Purinton.