REPORT FROM CALIFORNIA by D. T. Bourdeau

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 23, 1869

REPORT FROM CALIFORNIA.

By D. T. Bourdeau

During the past four weeks, I have been laboring in Petaluma, and have endeavored to raise the believers in practical piety, preparatory to entering upon church organization. Bro. Loughborough has assisted me in this work when not engaged in defending the truth in Windsor.

I have considered this part of the work as having an important bearing on the prosperity of the cause in California, and have greatly desired to see it so executed that it can have the sanction of the great Head of the church. If we start this work aright, we have something to build upon, something to represent and exhibit the truth, and attract others to the message, epistles read and known of all men, lights in this dark world, and waymarks to the kingdom. And we have the promise that this spiritual building will increase. Others, in seeing our good works, will be led to glorify our Father who is in Heaven.

But if this work starts wrong, if those who come out on the truth, embrace it only nominally and formally, without being converted by it, then will they fail to represent the cause of truth, and others will not be attracted by the truth, but will be turned away from it by those who profess it, and the glorious cause, that we profess to love, will be hindered, and souls will be lost, who might have shone forever as bright orbs in the kingdom of God.

This throws a great responsibility on the preacher. But he cannot do the whole work. Paul may plant, and Apollos may water; but God must give the increase; and the church must co-operate with God. They must cleanse themselves, that the Spirit of God may dwell in them, and work for them, and through them. And this building that is being erected must pass through the winds and tempests of these last days, which are represented by the apostle as perilous: 2 Tim. iii, 1, etc. Satan will make dreadful attacks against it. He has come down in wrath, knowing that his time is short, and will bring the combined powers of hell and earth to bear against it, to demolish it. How important, then, that we build on a sure foundation, and that we build aright. How important that we overcome all our sins, in order to pass through the time of trouble without a Mediator, and to be without spot and blameless at Christ's coming. We are safe only as we put away our sins, and draw near to God. Satan may annoy us, but he cannot harm us if we do that which is right. He knows this, therefore he is constantly striving to have us deviate from the right, and to hinder us in putting away our sins, that he may have avenues by which to reach us. He works by rule.

The closeness of the work of preparation to meet the Lord is not only seen in the many passages of Scripture which warn us, and exhort us to a state of thorough consecration to God with reference to the coming of Christ, and the day of the Lord, but it is also clearly illustrated in the preparation enjoined on ancient Israel to meet Jehovah at the promulgation of the law on Sinai, and then to enter into the land of promise. They must repent thoroughly of their sins, and reform. They must cleanse themselves physically as well as spiritually. And is God less particular now than he was then? Can we meet the Lord when he comes in the glory of the Father, and with all the holy angels, without cleansing ourselves of all filthiness of the flesh and spirit? without overcoming those habits that are injurious to both body and mind? Will God change the wrong habits of those who shall never taste of death, but shall be translated alive to the heavenly Canaan, without their co-operation? Those who have this rich promise held out for their encouragement, have a work of self-denial to do; and they can well afford to perform it with cheerfulness.

And in view of this great work, when we are about to formally unite in church fellowship to help one another in carrying out the principles of the message, we feel it our duty to raise up the standard of holiness, that they may understand the work that is before us. Not that we would intimate that we must be perfect in order to organize. The leading object of organization is to help in perfecting the church. But as we enter into simple organization we should do it with such a sense of sacredness and thoroughness of the character of the work for these last days, as will help us to start aright, and as will follow us in overcoming till we shall reach the pinnacle of perfection. We cannot, we dare not, lower the standard. It must be exalted in love, and we would affectionately and patiently invite our brethren and sisters to rally around it. If we were to yield the truth on one point to gratify some, the way would be opened to yield on another point to gratify others, and what would become of the truth? What would become of the special work of preparation to meet the Lord at his coming? And would we be any better for having the truth, even if we retained it? We would be even worse than those around us who have less truth than ourselves.

We are happy to be able to report some progress here in the right direction. The brethren and sisters generally are growing stronger in the truth. Some are designing to move forward in the ordinance of baptism, and some are overcoming the use of tobacco, tea, and coffee. May God help them in this noble work. They have our sympathies and our prayers. We would not censure them; but help them. Some have a battle before them; but they will obtain a rich experience in fighting it, if they fight wisely and in the strength of the Lord. They will learn a lesson of self-denial and self-control, which will be of great benefit to them in future conflicts, when they will be called upon to suffer privation. What a blessing then not to be slaves to unhealthy, unclean, and expensive habits. What a blessing to have learned the art of drawing strength from God by living faith, to overcome, that when almost everything is against them, they may live by faith.

We are now in the midst of the rainy season, and the roads are very bad, so that some of those from the country do not meet with us often. The rainy season here is hard on those who have a tendency to lung complaints. But we would trust in God. We are thankful for the assistance from the brethren East, in point of means, and especially that we share in their sympathies and prayers. The Lord is also raising us true friends in California, who, though few in number, manifest a willingness to sacrifice for the truth. As a family, we are trying to consecrate ourselves more fully to the Lord.

Bro. Loughborough left on horseback this morning to commence a series of meetings in a school-house on Santa Rosa Creek, sixteen miles from here, and between this place and Windsor. I expect to join him to-morrow. D. T. BOURDEAU.

Petaluma, Cal., Jan. 31, 1869.