p. 173 | The N. Y. Conference by Mary F. Maxson

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 25, 1864

The N. Y. Conference.

By Mary F. Maxson

DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: Our Conference has just closed, and, by request, I will try to give an account of the religious exercises. Meetings of worship commenced with the Sabbath. Bro. Fuller gave a discourse from the text, "Preach the word." His remarks were addressed, first, to those "who labor in word and doctrine," and then to us who are not called to stand upon the walls of Zion to sound the alarm, but to "preach the word" by our lives and conversation. His words were timely and heart-searching, and the Spirit of the Lord sent them home to our hearts with great power. Dear brethren and sisters, do we realize that by every word and act we unconsciously but surely preach the truth, or deny its sanctifying, saving power? May God help us to fully understand the responsible position we occupy.

Sabbath morning we had a social meeting, and many glad testimonies were given in behalf of God and his precious truth. While listening to the prayers and exhortations of our dear brethren and sisters, we felt to praise God that the time was so near at hand, when > "Hope shall change to glad fruition, > Faith to sight, and prayer to praise!"

After the conference meeting had closed, Bro. White gave a discourse upon the subject of sanctification. His remarks were founded upon 2 Pet. i, 1, 2. He dwelt particularly upon the necessity of being temperate in all things, in order to be sanctified, and fit for our Master's use. In the afternoon Bro. Andrews occupied a few moments in speaking upon the same subject, and sister White followed him with a very interesting and instructive testimony. She showed the importance of having a healthy body, if we would have a healthy, happy mind. May God bless and sustain our dear Bro. and sister White, in their endeavors to point out to us those things wherein we come short of the glory of God. And may God help us to begin a thorough reformation immediately. Let us not look at these things afar off, and resolve that at some future time we will reform; but let us, in the strength of God, commence now, remembering that we must work fast in order to overcome all our sins, and be prepared to meet the Lord when he shall come. The injunction, "Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, so that day come upon you unawares," applies particularly to us, and may God help us to heed it.

Sunday morning Bro. White gave a discourse from those ever-cheering and precious words, "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Oh, how our hearts were cheered, as he portrayed to us the glories of the city of God. By faith we saw the pearly gates, the golden streets, the jewel-decked walls, and garnished foundations. We heard the joyful shout of victory from the ransomed throng, as the "everlasting doors" were lifted up, and they entered in glad triumph into the city prepared for them from the foundation of the world. For a moment we half imagined that "our tears were ended, and our sorrows all gone," and we were forever saved in the "glory-gilt" mansions of our Father's house. But "recollection at hand" soon hastened us back to this dark world, and we realized keenly that we were still pilgrims in a stranger land, and that many long weeks and months would elapse, ere the bright escort of angels would be sent to conduct us home.

Oh, what heavenly rapture fills the soul as we contemplate the glorious reward so soon to be given to the faithful. And as I think of the "star-gemmed crowns" that will deck their brows, I am led to ask, Who, oh, who, would not yield cheerful obedience to the requirements of God? Who would not delight in his holy law, and keep all his commandments, that at last, when the heavens shall depart as a scroll, and the elements melt with a fervent heat, they may be found with the happy throng that shall have an abundant entrance into the kingdom of God.

In the afternoon, Bro. Andrews gave a deep and powerful discourse from Heb. xi, 13. He showed the relation the Sabbath sustains to creation, that it is a memorial of the great work of God in forming the world by his word. And those who disregard this holy day, though they profess to believe "that the things which are seen, were not made of things which do appear," virtually deny their faith, by refusing to keep the day which God has given as a memorial of that great event.

After the discourse, sister White again gave her testimony, and oh, how exceedingly precious the Christian's hope looked to us as we listened to her words of heavenly comfort and cheer. She had great freedom in speaking, and the falling tear, the fervent "amen," and "glory to God," told plainly that the Spirit of the Lord accompanied her words with power. I bless God that I was permitted to hear that exhortation. The memory of it will be sweet and precious to me as long as life shall last. It was just what we needed, and it contained food for every hungry, fainting soul.

We enjoyed the Conference more than words can express. But when the hour of parting with our dear brethren and sisters arrived, our hearts were filled with sadness; yet our sorrow was mitigated with the thought that > "Beyond the parting and the meeting, > We shall be soon; > Beyond the farewell and the greeting, > We shall be soon."

Praise God for this blessed hope! As we gathered at the depot too early for the cars, we joined in singing that grand, and soul-thrilling hymn, > "On Jordan's stormy banks I stand, > And cast a wishful eye > To Canaan's fair and happy land, > Where my possessions lie."

And as we sung the chorus, > "We'll join the pilgrim band, > And then to glory go. > We're traveling to a better land, > My home is not below," we felt like shouting praises to God that we had ever been permitted to join the despised band that are seeking a home "beyond the withering blast of time." And, glory to God, that beautiful home will soon be ours. We are almost there.

Our meetings are over; but the memory of them will ever linger with us, and we shall love to look back upon them as one of the green spots of our toilsome journey.

We love the cause of God, and rejoice to see it advancing in this State, as well as in other portions of the wide harvest-field. And we feel a deep anxiety that its progress should not be hindered for a lack of means to carry on the great work. May God help us

to realize that time is short, and that thousands are starving for the truth, and will perish unless the bread of life is carried to their fainting souls. Oh, let us awake, and get our hearts fully engaged in our Master's service, and as we feel the Spirit of our divine Lord pervading our hearts, the arms of love will encircle poor sinners, and we shall feel that no self-denial, no sacrifice, is too great to make, in order to carry the precious truth to them. Let us give liberally, according as God hath prospered us; remembering that "he which soweth sparingly, shall reap sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully." Let us give "not grudgingly, or of necessity," but willingly "for God loveth the cheerful giver." Let us get our hearts where they should be, and then we will feel that it is a sacred pleasure to give back to the Lord that which he has entrusted to our keeping.

May God bless and sustain those upon whom the burden of the work is laid. And let us, dear brethren and sisters, uphold them by our means, our prayers, and by living blameless before the world. And at last, when the angels shall be sent to gather the redeemed, God grant that we may be among the happy number that shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air, and so be forever with the Saviour we adore.

Yours in love. MARY F. MAXSON. Adams' Center, N. Y.