p. 285 | WISCONSIN CAMP-MEETING by I. Sanborn

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Michigan · May 5, 1885

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 62, No. 18

WISCONSIN CAMP-MEETING.

By I. Sanborn

This meeting will be one of the most important ever held in this Conference; therefore every one that loves this precious cause should make a special effort to attend. The Spirit of God has shown how Satan counsels his angels concerning our camp-meetings. He says: “Until the great decisive blow shall be struck, our efforts against commandment-keepers must be untiring. We must be present at all their gatherings. In their large meetings especially our cause will suffer much, and we must exercise great vigilance, and employ all our seductive arts to prevent souls from hearing the truth and becoming impressed by it.”—“Great Controversy,” Vol. IV., p. 340.

Let us all go to the meeting, and take our children, and induce as many as possible of our neighbors to go with us. Let us go with the preparation of heart that the Spirit of God recommends us to make before we go.

“While preparing for the camp-meeting, each individual should closely and critically examine his own heart before God. If there have been unpleasant feelings, discord, or strife in families, it should be one of the first acts of preparation to confess these faults one to another and pray one for another. Humble yourselves before God, and make an earnest effort to empty the soul temple of all rubbish, all envyings, all jealousies, all suspicions, all fault findings.

“The Lord speaks; enter into your closet and in silence commune with your own heart; listen to the voice of truth and conscience. Nothing will give such clear views of self as secret prayer. He who seeth in secret and knoweth all things, will enlighten your understanding and answer your petitions; plain, simple duties that must not be neglected will open before you. Do not carry this undone, work to the camp-meeting. If it is not done at home, your own souls will suffer, and others will be greatly injured by your coldness.

“For your soul’s sake, for Christ’s sake, and for the sake of others, work at home. Pray as you are not accustomed to pray; let the heart break before God. Set your house in order. Prepare your children for the occasion. Teach them that it is not of so much consequence that they appear with fine clothes as that they appear before God with clean hands and pure hearts.”—“Testimony” No. 31, pp. 159, 160.

May the Lord help all to heed his counsel, and prepare to come to the camp-meeting to be blessed, and to help others to receive this great salvation.

I. SANBORN.