The Season of Prayer by Editor

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 7, 1865

The Season of Prayer.

By Editor

THE days set apart as appointed in the last Review, two weeks since, for prayer, have passed; but the work inaugurated by them has not ceased, and the result of this season we are confident will be felt upon the cause, to the close of the message.

We can of course, at this time, only speak for the church in Battle Creek; but with us it has been a special season. Meetings have been held as requested in the Review; and they have been meetings of deep and increasing feeling to the present time. We think we can safely say that no more profitable meetings have ever been held in this church. A work of humiliation, self-examination, and consecration has been commenced, just such as we have long been aware must be accomplished ere our expectations could be realized in respect to the rise of the message, the power of the truth in our own hearts, and its progress among the people.

We have long been talking of the loud voice of the third message; and the zealous friends of the truth have for years been looking forward with longing anticipations to the time when it should go with power; and now when we have indications, both from what we feel and what we see, that that time is at hand, it causes new courage and a lively hope to spring up in our hearts.

But perhaps a more particular account of each day's meeting, may be of interest. The first day, after reading the article in the Review containing the call for these meetings, Bro. White gave us a discourse founded on the last five verses of the book of James. Instruction appropriate for the occasion was given, on the duty of confessing our faults one to another, humiliation on the part of the church, the efficacy of prayer, and God's readiness to listen to such as are offered up in fervency and faith.

After this an opportunity was given for the brethren and sisters to bear their testimony. But when the church began to try to work, it became evident that we were not in a condition to enter into the spirit of the occasion as we should. A spirit of testimony was rolled upon Bro. White for the church; of reproof for their lack of energy and zeal, and want of interest in the work, and of earnest exhortation to arouse and recover from this fearful position. It told powerfully upon the congregation. At the conclusion of this meeting, all entered into a solemn covenant to spend all the time possible, before the next meeting in self-abasement and prayer before the Lord.

At the second meeting, it was evident that a great advance had been made. Brethren and sisters were ready to confess their backslidings and bring in their testimony with feeling and tears. The Lord blessed, and all were encouraged.

The third meeting was mostly occupied with remarks by Bro. White upon the crisis in our national affairs, our position in reference to the troubles in our land, and the transaction of some business matters pertaining thereto. At the conclusion of this meeting, to make the work more general and effectual in the church, a number of committees were appointed to visit, inquire into the standing of, and assist, some who seemed to be upon the back-ground and in need of help.

Sabbath, A. M. further remarks by Bro. White on Rev. vii, 1-3. The remaining meetings, Sabbath evening and Sabbath afternoon, were prayer and conference meetings, resulting in a still further advance on the part of the church.

Several times during the meetings Sr. White bore a pointed and stirring testimony, and both Bro. and Sr. W. were led out in a remarkable and powerful manner in prayer, to which all hearts responded.

The meetings have resulted thus far in great good to the church, all seeming to feel that prayers to God for help, to be effectual, must be accompanied by humiliation and consecration on our part. But yet we feel that the work is but just commenced; and the meetings will therefore be resumed on Monday evening and continue every evening through the week.

In conclusion we would say that we are strengthened in the position that has been taken on Rev. vii, 1-3. We are confident that in accordance with that position, God has indicted prayer and heard it from his holy temple. And he will answer, in restraining the winds, and speeding to its glorious end his work in the earth.

We have been reminded by these meetings of Ezekiel's vision of the holy waters that issued out from the threshold of the Lord's house. At first they were to the ankle, then to the knees, then to the loins, and finally a river that could not be passed over, but wherein one could swim. So with us. We have made a commencement. We have got out where it is ankle deep, and we say, Let the work go on till we can strike out into the broad river of God's love and power.