General Conference Bulletin, vol. 4

A TESTIMONY Given to the Ministers at General Conference, April 17

I Want to say a few words. God has left a few of the old pioneers who know something of the fanaticism which existed in the early days of this message. Here is Brother Prescott; he knows something about it. He is acquainted with phase after phase of the fanaticism which has taken place. Here is Brother Haskell. He knows something about it, and there are various ones of our older brethren who have passed over the ground, and they understand something of what we have had to meet and contend with. Then there is Brother Corliss; I speak of him because he knows something about fanaticism, not only in the early days, but in our later experience. GCB April 23, 1901, page 426.2

Let every one of us remember the men of gray hairs. Do not set them back in corner, and say, We do not need you, because you are too old to be active workers. If on only one occasion these men of experience can stand and tell you what the right way is, it is worth to the cause of God more than you would pay a dozen laborers who have had little or no experience in this work. God wants us to come to our senses. I thank God that there are a few who know what we have passed through in the beginning of the history of this work; God wants you to cherish them, and I want you to cherish them. God wants you to feel that it is a sacred duty to look after them, and not to ignore them or put them out of eight. GCB April 23, 1901, page 426.3

You may think that they have made mistakes. Have you made any? May God let his melting Spirit come into our hearts. May God come to us with his comforting power. What we want is not hearts of steel, but hearts of flesh. I hope that not a soul will go away from this meeting until he can say for himself, I know that I am Christ’s in God. GCB April 23, 1901, page 426.4

When persons are in our midst who are moved by the Spirit of God, through whom the great treasures of his word are unfolded to us, increasing in every phase, let us not take the position that we know all that is worth knowing, and what we do not know is not worth knowing, hindering the very ones who are digging for the truth as for hidden treasure. The word of God is opening more and more to us. Just as long as we live on the earth, we shall be able to find a whole treasure house of beautiful things. Some will see beauty in one truth, some in another, and some will look at it in another way. We are not all constituted alike. But some think that what they have is all there is to acquire. They say of others, Do not let him come into our meetings; we do not want him here. He does not believe as we do. I wish to say, Hands off. Let God work through human instrumentalities according to his will. GCB April 23, 1901, page 426.5

Read the seventeenth chapter of John, and you will see that God has given us the privilege of being united in Christian love, brethren with brethren, all being bound together by the golden chain of love which has been led down from heaven to unite the believers. God wants you to be like himself. He wants to keep you unspotted from the world, to forgive your sins, and to draw you to himself, that you may step off the ladder into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. GCB April 23, 1901, page 426.6

I wish to say to you to-day, The Lord wants you to be converted. At great expense to myself, in sickness and feebleness. I have come a long way to bear this testimony before the congregation which was presented to me before I left Cooranbong. If this had not been presented to me. I should not have been here today. But I am here, in obedience to the word of the Lord, and I thank him that he has given me strength beyond my expectations to speak to the people. I want you all, for Christ’s sake, to heed his injunction to love one another. Thus you will bear witness to the world that God sent his Son to save sinners. Let not the enemy come in to break up the unity which should exist between brethren and sisters. Christ wants his people to be one. Why?—That the world may see that God loves his people even as he loves his Son. GCB April 23, 1901, page 426.7

Let us at this meeting humble our hearts before God. Night after night since coming here, I have been unable to sleep past one o’clock. I have pleaded with God to enter among us and work mightily upon hearts and minds. He is willing to do this. He declares, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” If he does not enter, it is because the door is closed against him. Shall we not let him in, that we may enjoy a heavenly feast with a heavenly Guest? God grant that at this meeting you may so consecrate yourselves to his service that you may go forth as did the disciples, bearing the message with such power from on high that thousands will be converted. GCB April 23, 1901, page 426.8

“Get ready,” is the word sounded in my ears. “Get ready, get ready. He that is to come, will come and will not tarry. Tell my people that unless they improve the sacred opportunities given them, unless they do the work I have given them, Satan will come upon them with the stealthy tread of a thief, to deceive and allure them.” God wants us to be wide awake, that when he shall come, we shall be ready to say, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us.” He is coming to us by his Holy Spirit to-day. Let us recognize him now; then we shall recognize him when he comes in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. God calls upon you to get ready to meet him in peace. GCB April 23, 1901, page 426.9

I leave this message with you, asking you, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, to love one another as he has loved you. Thus the world will see and recognize the amazing power of redeeming grace. GCB April 23, 1901, page 426.10