GERMANY by J. Ertzenberger

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 20, 1876

FromThe Review and Herald, Review and Herald, Vol. 48, No. 4.

GERMANY

By J. Ertzenberger

The lectures in Langenberg are progressing, and the Spirit of God is moving upon the hearts of the people. I have now spoken five times on the soon coming of the dear Saviour in glory, and have shown from the accomplishment of the prophecies that this sublime event is at hand. This important subject awakened a great interest to hear. The number of attentive listeners has been steadily increasing, and day before yesterday about three hundred persons were present. At my first lecture I had about one hundred and fifty hearers. Many tears were shed, and hearts were touched. It is the Lord's work; to him be all the praise.

Doubtless an article which appeared in one of the newspapers of that city, soon after my first lecture, has led some to attend. It was written by the gentleman of whom I spoke in my last report. I give the substance of it, as it may be of some interest to the reader; and if it did not speak of myself, I would be the more free to do so.

“LANGENBERG, MAY 29.

“The first lecture which was held yesterday in the hall of Mr. H., in this place was favored with a large attendance. Mr. Ertzenberger, missionary, spoke about one hour and a half on the coming of Christ. The speaker tried to show by many proof-texts from the Bible that the second and personal appearing of Christ to this earth is near. He exhorted the people to be converted to God while there is yet a little time left. Mr. E. knows how to speak to the hearts, and to keep up the interest from the beginning to the end of the long lecture. Similar lectures will be held hereafter by Mr. E. in the same hall every Wednesday at 8 o'clock and every Sunday at 5 o'clock P. M. Mr. E., a Swiss, is a missionary from a devoted Christian society in America.”

After the lecture of last Sunday, I accepted an invitation from a few Christian friends, who took me to one of their dwellings. There were six men and two women there. We all took seats around a table. Very soon five of the men commenced smoking. I was much pained. What! professed followers of Christ smoking! Is this the way of sanctification as set forth in Holy Writ? Is smoking the manner in which to exemplify our divine Pattern? I bore a decided testimony against this great evil. I showed them from science and from the Bible the terrible effect of using tobacco, and its great sinfulness. I also spoke on using liquors and coffee. These friends were much impressed by the facts laid before them. Conviction struggled with them for a moment for this sinful practice, and every one at once laid away his cigar or pipe as though ashamed of its use. They even expressed their gratitude for the good instruction they received, as they said. Afterward we had a very profitable season together.

I went to another family. There I met with a dozen adults, men and women. Three men were present who had been at the other house, consequently there was no smoking. Here also we took seats around the family table, and I asked for a Bible. Before reading in it I inquired of the gentleman of the house, “Do you read the Bible each day?” to which he replied: “I read the Bible, but not each day.” “But, my dear friend,” said I, “if you do not read daily in the Bible, if you do not seek diligently to understand the word of God, your spiritual life will suffer even as your body must suffer if you neglect daily nourishment. Now I counsel you to do better, and I exhort you all to read your Bibles diligently.”

Having spoken some on the first verses of Ps. 146, I asked them whether we could unite in prayer before separating. They were willing to do so. “Do you kneel when you pray, my friends?” I asked. “We have never done so,” they responded. “But why not? Is it wrong to do so?” “Oh, no!” “When we read in the Bible of several examples in this direction, and especially that Christ has done so, why not follow in this? Shall we not do the same?” “Oh, yes, we will,” was their reply. “You who are parents,” said I, “ought to give your children a good example in everything. I pray you to do it, and you will enjoy the blessing. May the Lord help you!”

At my simple, “Now let us pray,” they knelt, and united in prayer. It was the first time for them. But we all felt the sweet blessing of God. It was a precious season. Hearts were melted. May God be praised for his help and blessing in the lectures and in these visits. To him be all the honor. And may my feeble efforts in his vineyard bring forth fruit for life everlasting.

Although I have seen the need of visiting from house to house heretofore, yet I now realize the great importance of this more than ever in the past. Much good can be done in this way. I wish to honor my Lord! I earnestly desire to advance his precious cause. May I have grace to do his will here, and be received into glory hereafter. Pray for me.

J. ERTZENBERGER.

Vohwinkel, near Elberfeld, Prussia, June 13.