Testimony No. 20: Counsel on Meetings, Sabbath, and Daily Life
By John Nevins Andrews
Like all the previous numbers, this Testimony contains matter of the highest practical importance both for preachers and for people. It contains no flattering words. But men and women who are closing up their work for the Judgment need nothing of that kind. What they need is to have the evils of their own hearts laid open to their view as in the light of Heaven, and this they will find to a large extent in this work. Here also are found most excellent counsels concerning many practical matters in the work of the Christian minister, and in the duties of every day Christian life. The counsel concerning the manner of conducting meetings seems to me admirable. If all would read, ponder, and regard it, we should have fewer lifeless meetings. Indeed, I do not see how they could ever be other than seasons of interest. What is said concerning the proper observance of the Sabbath is worthy of particular attention. The Sabbath is a delight when it is observed as God designed that it should be. He commands us to call it a delight, and he does not ask us to speak a falsehood. Here are given instructions that will render the Sabbath a delight to our families, so that while they obey God in its observance, they shall not feel that the duty is irksome. Here also are excellent remarks upon Christian recreation. And here is a most impressive dream concerning the narrow path before us. What is said concerning the conducting of camp-meetings should be read by every one. The dream on pages 42–49 makes a very solemn impression on my mind. It is a warning to us to regard the light already given, and a reproof for having made too little use of it. By all means let us repent of this neglect, not simply being sorry for our wrong, but changing our conduct. What is said to ministers, as to their proper deportment in the house of God, and their proper conduct in their work, is worthy of the most serious attention on the part of every one. And then the personal testimonies, so solemn, so faithful, so searching in their character, come home in some things to every one. We need not ask who are the ones intended. Wherever the sin described is to be found, there belongs this reproof. Let not the reader give it all to the person originally addressed. More or less of the same sins are found upon us, and the publication of these personal testimonies is that we and all like us may be reproved. In one word they come home to every one and it becomes us to be faithful with our own souls. And I would most earnestly commend the daily perusal of the Testimonies by all our people, and especially by our ministers. They are admirably adapted to instruct the minister of Christ in his work, and the private Christian in his. You will not think less of the Bible, nor will you read it less for heeding this advice. J. N. A.