Wisconsin Tent by D. Downer

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 17, 1872

Wisconsin Tent.

By D. Downer

We write to acknowledge the goodness of God in blessing our feeble efforts here. We have now labored six weeks in this place. Our congregation is not decreasing in interest or number. We have held three Sabbath meetings. The Lord certainly met with us. Thirty-six testimonies were given, many of which were such as to cause tears to flow. Some wept for past sins, others for joy. Sixty-five arose, testifying that they would keep all God’s commandments. Eight who are keeping the whole law were not present. As it rained in the morning, they were prevented, as they had from eight to eleven miles to come. There are very many who are waiting for others to move out and obey God; then they will follow.

There is, as is usually the case, bitter opposition on the part of some who, unwilling to see their fabric fall, resort to slander and meanness, to prop up a crumbling faith and destroy our influence. Their pulpit oratory has entirely failed to turn people’s ears away from the truth. The ministers tell their flocks we are not competent men to teach, because we do not point with pride to high birth and theological schools as the source of our strength, but to Daniel’s God, who, being changeless, answers the prayer of faith no less readily than when he brought his children through the furnace of fire, and shut the lions’ mouths to his own glory. We are confirmed in our former belief that opposition cannot be successful where the opposing party resort to slander. Then let us always fight our foes with truth.

There are, in every place, some who readily embrace new theories. Such are astonishingly few here. Many had firmly planted themselves in infidelity, and bid defiance to theological reasoning to overthrow their positions. Nearly all of this class have found in our exposition of prophecy truth too plain for honest men to deny, and have been among the first to adopt our faith. Others, who have been members of other churches from ten to thirty years, and acknowledged by all as honest people, have gone earnestly to keeping all God’s commandments. Some say, Why should old Bro. M., a faithful old Methodist, leave? He can’t be any better by joining the Adventists. We answer, He has heeded the cry, Come out of her my people, and with many others, can only express his joy with broken words and tears.

Ministers cry aloud, Adventism a humbug! But their best members are embracing it. How do they account for that? They say they have gone crazy, or are deluded, and will soon return again.

Those who have taken hold of the truth here are now anxious to build a church. We are to meet to-morrow night to arrange for this purpose. Several hundred dollars have been already offered.

But Satan always opposes when God works. There is much more of interest that I should like to give to encourage your hearts. But for want of space I forego the pleasure. Permit me to say to the dear scattered saints, Tears fill our eyes often when we think of you as you toil on. We say, Be encouraged. God is certainly moving in a special manner this year among his patient saints. Brethren on the walls of Zion, let us give the last loud call to perishing men, daily agonizing with God for more strength with which to battle Satan’s hosts. What may we not expect if we keep humble and maintain a close walk with God.

The fast ripening fields are calling for more laborers. We now have five especial calls for help. Oh! that our young men would move out to the rescue of perishing men. If your brother was drowning, you would plunge into eminent danger to rescue him. Then will we stand gazing out into the harvest of perishing souls, unmoved as they go down to ruin before our eyes? Will we let Satan surround us and peaceably become captive, with the two-edged sword rusting in our hands? He that can, is not a fit soldier for the army of the Lord. Better

by far lose some battles than never appear on the field to offer your life for the cause which cost Jesus his precious blood. Do we really know, shall we ever know, what God would do if we all would work in complete unity? Some will not work because they cannot wield a sword as large as Goliath did. But let us all pray for more Davids, with sling and pebble in hand, and God to direct, and in this our last struggle we will soon join our voices in the great choir in singing praise to our great Deliverer.

Brethren, is not your very being inspired with glory as we near the promised land? Yes, you all say, yes, we will suffer, bear, and endure a little longer. Bring in your tithes. Fill up God’s store house. Don’t rob God and spend money for that which is not bread. Read but do not forget Bro. White’s advice in REVIEW, No. 10. Move out and let us bring in reports at the end of 1872 that will prove our humble walk with God, and compel our opposers to acknowledge our work as being of God.

D. DOWNER.

Mount Hope, Aug. 28, 1872