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EASTERN TOUR

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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 20, 1861

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 18, No. 12.

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EASTERN TOUR.

By James White

WE were obliged to leave our beloved Bro. Sperry at North Parma very low, and pursue our journey on to Rochester, and to the conference at Roosevelt, which held Aug. 3 and 4.
Sabbath, the meeting-house was full. It was indeed a solemn assembly. A day of fasting, humiliation and prayer seemed most appropriate to the condition of this people. Several of the pioneers in the cause were in great affliction. Bro. Edson had been unable to labor for about a year and a half in consequence of failing strength. Our beloved Bro. Goodwin was in despair, and chose not to come into the congregation. Bro. I. C. Snow had also nearly sunken in despair; and a dreadful gloom seemed to rest upon the whole assembly.
We spoke in the morning from Rev. iii, 17. "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." We showed that from the plain language of the text the following facts were apparent:
1. Those addressed are in the greatest possible deception. They believe their condition to be what they say it is, namely, "rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing," while in fact they are "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked."
2. They are honest in the deception. They are vindicated from the charge of hypocrisy by these words in the text, "and knowest not that thou art," &c. Therefore,
3. There is the greatest necessity of self-examination, humiliation, fasting and agonizing prayer.
This state of terrible deception calls for the note of alarm from every true watchman. He should search out from God's treasury of truth those illustrations of self-deception and their results, found in Bible history. He should call to his aid all those cutting declarations of inspiration designed to meet the wants of this fearful time, and if possible arouse the deceived to their real condition. He who dabbles with the work of God and withholds, and stands opposed to, that testimony which the times require, takes upon himself a most fearful responsibility.
Such a responsibility Korah, Dathan and Abiram assumed when they stood opposed to the high standard of holiness sustained by Moses. "And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown. And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, YE TAKE TOO MUCH UPON YOU, SEEING ALL THE CONGREGATION ARE HOLY, EVERY ONE OF THEM, and the Lord is among them; wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?" Read the full account in Num. xvi, and there learn the deceived state and fate of those who were under the influence of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Their standard of holiness was not as high as that of Moses and Aaron, and hence the rebellion, and their own destruction. They regarded Moses' great care and anxiety for Israel superfluous, and a cause of trouble in the camp.
Elijah also, moving under the hand of God, was regarded as a trouble to Israel. "Art thou he that troubleth Israel?" said Ahab to Elijah. "And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalam." 1 Kings xviii.
Satan has been a deceptive liar from the beginning, and his principal mode of sinking men and women in perdition has been by his power to deceive. But the last days are perilous on account of the vigilance of Satan's forces to envelop all in his deceptive fogs. These hang over us most heavily as we near the heavenly shores, and render the entrance of the harbor dangerous. Even those who are professing to walk in the light of the third message are so far held in Satan's deception as to be worthy to be addressed in the language of the text, "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked."
With feelings of anguish we look forward to the day of recompense, when many will learn too late their sad mistake. "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Matt. vii, 22, 23. Not a few only, but many will awake to the deception when it will be too late for wrongs to be righted. And none will feel the agony of that hour so keenly as the unfaithful minister.
Sabbath afternoon we spoke upon the system of sanctification as set forth in 2 Pet. i. It was rather a refreshing season. Several spoke; then we had a season of special prayer for the afflicted and desponding among us, and for the return of the Holy Spirit to us as a people. We had been assembled seven hours without taking food, and the interest of the occasion was such that no one appeared to be faint or weary. God heard the united prayers of his afflicted people, and his Spirit came down upon them. Mrs. W. shared largely in this blessed refreshing, and was soon in vision, in which she had messages of comfort for the desponding and afflicted, and of correction for the wayward and erring.
J. W.