Encouragement from the Bath Conference
By Sarah Griggs
DEAR BRO. WHITE: We were disappointed in not seeing you at the conference in Bath, yet the Lord was with us, and we were encouraged and strengthened in meeting with the dear saints, by hearing their testimonies to the truth, and work of God, and the faithful labors of Bro. Baker in declaring the third angel's message, and the glorious truths connected with it. Light shone very clear on the shut door, and cleansing of the Sanctuary in heaven, where our great High Priest has entered to finish the work of atonement. Ye servants of the living God, who are seeking out and feeding the lost sheep of the house of Israel with "meat in due season," be of good courage. "Fear not the reproach of men, neither be afraid of their revilings for great is your reward in Heaven. My heart is joyful in anticipation of the time when our Father's children will all be gathered home: then the conflicts of this life will have passed away, and ye who have followed the example of Christ in his humiliation will be exalted to inherit the kingdom he has gone to prepare. O praise to God for the increase of faith and strength he gives me. Though now we are scattered abroad, and are pilgrims in a strange land, we have the same spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba Father, and angels as ministering spirits to guard us from evil, and comfort our hearts while toiling here amid trials and afflictions: yet nothing that we may be called to endure is worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed. Let us therefore gird on the whole armor of light that we may be able to resist the influence of dark spirits by which we are surrounded, and stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and take heed that we are not entangled with the cares of this life, and the spirit of worldly mindedness, which is one of the snares of these perilous times, by which the enemy will strive to divert our minds from the truth, and that preparation we must have in order to stand without an intercessor when Jesus comes out of the Sanctuary, having laid aside the garments of the priest's office, and taken the garments of vengeance, to render a just recompense to his adversaries. Let us be clothed with humility and grieve not the Holy Spirit whereby we are sealed unto the day of redemption, nor rest short of the hourly witness in our hearts that we please our Father in Heaven, and are covered with the covering of his Spirit, that we may be hid in the pavilion of the Almighty in the time of trouble. Enoch before he was translated had this testimony that he pleased God, and this abiding testimony must we have to obtain final de88liverance. O, my Saviour, grant us that preparation we must have to live in this mortal state and be accepted of God without a mediator. I want the preparation now and dare not put it off, expecting to receive it at the descent of the latter rain. I know that my Redeemer is mine and I am his, and am willing to do or suffer anything for his sake. Yours in hope of Eternal life, SARAH GRIGGS.
Avoca, (N. Y.), Jan. 14th, 1852.