MONTEREY TENT-MEETING by James White

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 19, 1856

MONTEREY TENT-MEETING.

By James White

THE second Meeting in the Michigan Tent for this season was held in Monterey, June 7th and 8th. We reached the place of meeting the 6th, and found Brn. Cornell, Lowree and Green on the ground, with the Tent erected in a pleasant and safe location on the farm of Bro. Wilcox.

Sabbath-keeping according to the commandment is quite a new thing in Monterey, it having been introduced there by Bro. Cornell early the present year. But there are now about forty intelligent believers in the Sabbath of the Fourth Commandment, immortality through Christ to be given at his soon coming, and the true inheritance of the saints. The investigation of Bible truth has made sale for a goodly number of Bibles in the place, which have been "searched," has stirred up the ire of the Dragon, the Methodist minister leading off, manifesting a large share of it, which has worked well in manifesting the honest, decided friends of truth.

The social meetings in the Tent were very free and reviving, and the word spoken during the Sabbath and First-day, had free course. The evidences of Christ's very soon coming, and the hope of the gospel were dwelt upon with great freedom.

Early Second-day morning, according to appointment, the school-house was filled with brethren and friends, who assembled to consider the subject of Baptism, which was briefly noticed as follows:—

1. By baptism we show forth our faith in the burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the resurrection of the just at his second coming. "Buried with him by baptism into death." "Planted together in the likeness of his death." Rom. vi, 4, 5.

2. By the burial of baptism we profess to be dead. Burial should follow death. These are the figures used by the Holy Spirit to illustrate baptism and the necessary preparation for the ordinance. First, die to the world and to sin, then be buried. How many poor children have been buried in the water alive.

3. The law of God is the instrument to convince of sin and slay the sinner. Rom. vii. Therefore it is highly proper that those who embrace the Commandments of God, and the Faith of Jesus in the Third Message, and experience a Bible death, should have a Bible burial by baptism.

4. It is a subject which should be treated with candor and the greatest care. Most believers are not now satisfied with their former baptism, as it was not received understandingly, according to God's plan. All should be left free to act in the fear of God; while it is a most solemn duty to require evidence of Bible death before administering Bible baptism.

Spirited and affecting testimonies were borne by several. It was a heart-searching, weeping season. At 9 o'clock A. M. the congregation repaired to the water where thirty-three were baptized. It was a solemn yet delightful season. The aged and the youth joined to follow in the footsteps of Christ, and seal their faith in the hope of the gospel.

And here we may be allowed to acknowledge the goodness of God to us. The past Spring Mrs. W. has been afflicted with bad cough, attended with raising of blood. She has been very feeble. And it was with fear for the result that we started in a private carriage to the meeting. But by the blessing of God her restoration to health and strength was so rapid, that she spoke several times during the meeting with ease, and returned home almost entirely free from cough and pains of the lungs.

Brn. Waggoner and Cornell design laboring with the Tent this season. It was next to be pitched in a town where the present truth had not been preached and continue principally in new fields. Other brethren volunteered to go with the Tent. The enterprise is one of sacrifice, especially if the Tent goes in new fields. All the real friends of the cause in Michigan will esteem it a pleasure to act a part, more or less, in an enterprise so noble and so important

as the presentation of Bible truth before the people of Michigan. Brethren, let your prayers go up to God for success, while you stand ready with your means to meet the expenses of the season campaign as the Lord hath prospered you. J. W.