CAMP-MEETINGS by J. Clarke

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 18, 1879

CAMP-MEETINGS

By J. Clarke

Can I go to this camp-meeting? Can I leave home so long? Who will see to the farm, the stock, etc.? Better reverse the order, and say, Can I miss this camp-meeting? Can I stay away? Can I afford to lose my interest in the present truth, and probably lose my hold on God? Can we not trust our temporal affairs in the hands of the Lord, while we join the company of those who go up to seek him? Many a village, city, town, and hamlet was left alone when the good old Israelites went up to keep the passover; yet no thief or armed band molested their homes at such times. Perhaps sickness or misfortune may come upon such as stay away from the meeting; and staying away from the meeting to see to home interests may result in temporal as well as spiritual loss. Bro. Luke-warm tried the excuse of home cares, and absented himself; but he was prostrated by illness during the whole time of the meeting. He thinks that to slight such privileges results in great loss.

As soon as the subject is introduced we should begin to prepare for the meeting, and pray to God to remove whatever may hinder, and to supply whatever we may need. We may confidently say, I will go if the way is opened; and we should absent ourselves for none but good reasons. J. CLARKE.