The Fast by Mary P. Maxson

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 20, 1864

The Fast.

By Mary P. Maxson

DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS : Sabbath, Aug. 27th, will long be remembered by the little band of believers here. Bro. Taylor was with us, and spoke in the morning, upon the subject of fasting and prayer. In the afternoon we had a season of prayer, and about fifty joined in the earnest petition, "Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach." We felt that it was good to afflict our souls, and humble ourselves before the Lord, in view of our wants as a people. We also felt thankful that a day of fasting and prayer had been appointed; and our hearts filled with grateful love and trust as we realized that thousands

of earnest prayers were ascending to God in behalf of his cause and people. Oh, I am glad that

the God of Israel still heareth prayer; and though faith has almost died out of the earth, yet there are a humble few who still plead and prevail with him.

The Lord has worked for us hitherto, and we will still trust him. He has always, in all ages, guided and delivered his people when they cried to him in faith, and he is "the same yesterday, to day, and forever." His children are as dear to him now as they were in the days of ancient Israel. And "though the sea may be before us, the enemy in our rear, and mountains on either side of us," yet we will joyfully go forward, trusting in the mighty God of Israel.

After spending about two hours in prayer, we retired to the water's side, where three found a grave for their sins, and, I trust, have risen to walk in newness of life. We found that it was sweet to be buried with Christ by baptism, and as we entered the liquid stream, we felt from our hearts to say,

We love thy name, we love thy laws, And joyfully embrace thy cause; We love thy cross, the shame, the pain, O Lamb of God for sinners slain. We sink beneath the mystic flood; O bathe us in thy cleansing blood; We die to sin, and seek a grave, With thee, beneath the yielding wave.

After baptism, we repaired to the house of a brother where the ordinances were administered. Language fails to describe the precious season we here enjoyed. We felt that the blessed Jesus was walking through our midst, "though unseen by human eye." And by faith we heard him whisper, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you;" and we realized that "his peace" is not as the world giveth. And though this heavenly treasure may be bestowed upon us, yet we must not expect at all times to be happy, for he was often bowed beneath a weight of woe which he could not sustain, until strengthened by angels. And if "his peace" is given to us, we too must expect to hear burdens, and to feel deep anguish of soul for the salvation of perishing sinners.

I feel to praise the Lord for the sacred institutions of his house, and I am glad there are those who are willing to humble themselves, and wash the feet of their Saviour in the person of his disciples. This humbling duty is just what we need to melt and subdue our proud hearts; and while we were performing it, the blessing of the Lord descended upon us "like dew up the mountains of Zion," and we felt, as a brother remarked, "That the translating power was among us—that we were enjoying drops of the latter rain."

As we were closing this holy ordinance and preparing to partake of the emblems of our Saviour's love, the clouds which had been gathering during the day, broke away, and the golden beams of the setting sun streamed into the room, shedding a mellow, holy light upon us; and we thought, What a fitting emblem of the truth which is casting its bright rays o'er our pathway. As we near the end, as time is sinking into the arms of eternity, the holy light of truth from the Sun of Righteousness, is resting upon us with glorious effulgence. And like the departing rays of the summer's sun, its light sheds a heavenly, holy influence upon our hearts and lives. Praise God for this precious light!

After commemorating the sufferings and death of our dear Saviour, "we sung a hymn and went out." And as we parted we felt to praise God that we had been permitted to "sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus," and we thanked him too, for these bright spots in our pilgrimage, which are foretastes of the joy that will be ours when we "change our cross of anguish, for a bright, unfading crown." Our hearts have been greatly cheered, and we feel a renewed determination to press on "in the way that is narrow," and we earnestly ask your prayers, dear brethren and sisters, that we may ever be found walking "in all our Lord's appointed ways," and at last be among the jewels that will be gathered home when Jesus shall come.

Yours in the bonds of Christian love.

MARY P. MAXSON.

Adams' Center, N. Y.