The Review and Herald
June 1, 1876
The Sparta Camp-Meeting
(Concluded.)
At 8 o'clock A. M. on the Sabbath, prayer and conference meeting commenced. RH June 1, 1876, par. 1
A brother said, “My course is onward and upward. I have been benefited since I came here. If we have a burden of sins, we may take them to Jesus, and he will give us peace and rest.” RH June 1, 1876, par. 2
A brother said, “I am thankful for this privilege. The Lord is good to me. He strengthens me to do my duty. I realize the goodness of God to me more fully than I have in the past.” RH June 1, 1876, par. 3
A sister said, “I feel unworthy of this privilege. Since I have embraced the truth the Spirit of the Lord has been striving with me, impressing me with the belief that I ought to tell my brethren in Sweden these great truths. I am afraid the Lord will take away his blessing from me if I resist his power and neglect his voice.” RH June 1, 1876, par. 4
A sister said, “I am thankful for this privilege. I feel encouraged when I hear the testimonies of God's commandment-keeping people. I want to keep pace with the truth.” RH June 1, 1876, par. 5
A sister said, “It is a great cross for me to speak here. I love the truth. I have not had one doubt in regard to it since I first embraced it. If our fellowship below is so sweet, what heights of rapture shall we realize when we meet around the great white throne to praise God and the Lamb forever.” RH June 1, 1876, par. 6
A sister said, “I give God the praise for the blessing I have felt at this meeting. I want a deep work of grace in my heart and to live right in the sight of the Lord every day.” RH June 1, 1876, par. 7
A brother said, “The Lord is good. I feel great interest in the work. I do not feel anxious for merely a happy flight of feeling, but I want a solemn sense of the importance of this sacred work.” RH June 1, 1876, par. 8
A sister said, “I feel weak and unworthy; I want to be strong in overcoming every defect in my character. Notwithstanding my weakness and unworthiness, I believe Jesus loves me and will help me to live aright.” RH June 1, 1876, par. 9
A young sister said, “I do feel determined to overcome my sins and meet you on Mount Zion.” RH June 1, 1876, par. 10
A sister said, “I feel thankful for the privilege of this meeting; I want to be an overcomer and share in the certain reward at last. I praise my Heavenly Father for the light of truth. I want to walk humbly before God, doing every duty.” RH June 1, 1876, par. 11
A sister said, “I feel that it is my privilege to claim more blessings from the Lord. I can and must step out by faith into a clearer knowledge of the truth and a deeper love of God.” RH June 1, 1876, par. 12
A brother said, “This is the first camp-meeting I have attended. I have anticipated this blessed privilege for several weeks, and have felt great joy in coming here to meet with the Lord's people. I feel thankful for the blessing which has been poured out upon this people. I want to shout glory when I shall see the Lord coming with power and majesty in the clouds of heaven.” RH June 1, 1876, par. 13
A brother said, “I rejoice in God today that he has permitted me to see the light of the truth. It has been but a little time that I have kept the commandments of God. I have not for one moment felt a doubt of the truth.” RH June 1, 1876, par. 14
A sister said, “I am thankful that God sent the truth to me. I am determined to overcome by the grace of God and have a home in the kingdom.” RH June 1, 1876, par. 15
A sister said, “Praise the Lord! I want to be a meek follower of my Saviour, and know for myself how to perform every duty. Jesus loves me. I love the truth. I want, through grace, to overcome all my sins and be right with God and have the crown of life.” RH June 1, 1876, par. 16
A brother said, “I have strayed from my Heavenly Father and earnestly desire to return and overcome my evil ways.” RH June 1, 1876, par. 17
A sister said, “I thank God that I see so many witnesses for the truth. I love you all. I love the truth. I love my Heavenly Father. Praise his holy name! ‘Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.’” RH June 1, 1876, par. 18
A brother said, “I came to this meeting with the expectation of receiving a great blessing. The second sermon I heard here I felt belonged to me. I could not get rid of the impression. I prayed to the Lord in the grove and found relief. Nothing has delighted me so much as these meetings. The testimonies of my brethren have strengthened me. I feel happy this morning. God has heard and answered my prayers.” RH June 1, 1876, par. 19
A sister said, “I feel truly thankful for the truth. It has done a great work for me.” RH June 1, 1876, par. 20
A sister said, “I feel to praise God, looking unto Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith. We need a blessed, holy, purifying work at the hands of God. Precious grace is always ready for us when we really desire it to help us in our work.” RH June 1, 1876, par. 21
A brother said, “I feel almost discouraged sometimes, but I am convinced that if I go to God in faith and ask him to help me, he will not refuse. I felt sure this morning of the Spirit of God in my heart. I have not felt so deeply for years. Good angels are around us now. While here at this meeting the current runs smoothly, but when we go home, we again take up our daily labors and we must row against the stream. We must get much of the Spirit of God to carry with us and help us on our way. We know that Jesus loves us and will assist us each day. Watch unto prayer. Every action should be performed with an eye single to the glory of God.” RH June 1, 1876, par. 22
A sister said, “I feel very thankful for the privilege of this meeting. I have not kept the Sabbath long. I have received light upon the health reform for which I praise God.” RH June 1, 1876, par. 23
A sister said, “Praise God this morning for the precious truth! I hope to be ever steadfast, clinging to the unchanging word of God. I want to develop a holy character, and be guided by God's Holy Spirit. I feel that angels are around us. God has blessed us. I love to be with his dear people, refreshed with them by showers of grace.” RH June 1, 1876, par. 24
A brother said, “I can truly say my heart rejoices in God. I have enlisted in a good cause. I trust in my Saviour. Thank God that he has caused me to see the light and beauty of the truth. Today is the holy Sabbath of the Lord. This the word of God plainly declares. I want to give the world a bright example by living out the truth every day.” RH June 1, 1876, par. 25
A sister said, “We are alone in Kilbourn, but we desire to so watch and exert a right influence that others may take knowledge of us that our daily walk accords with our profession.” RH June 1, 1876, par. 26
A brother said, “I am thankful for the goodness of God; I have received a blessing on this camp-ground. I have thought it was useless for me to try to overcome, but I dared not give up the effort. Now I am determined to serve the Lord, and will watch and pray that I may resist the temptations of the enemy.” RH June 1, 1876, par. 27
A sister said, “The first sermon I heard from Bro. Smith, I felt that now was the time to waken out of sleep. This first sermon roused me and did my soul good. The second one I heard from sister White was from the text, ‘Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of Heaven.’ This discourse seemed to apply to me. I needed it, and I am trying to improve according to its precepts by humbling my heart before God.” RH June 1, 1876, par. 28
A sister said, “This is a blessed privilege for me. I have been among the lonely ones for fourteen years, trying to do my duty without the encouragement of mingling with the people of God. I have never heard the truth preached before. I feel to rejoice that at last I have had that blessed privilege. The Lord has blessed me abundantly. I want to do his will, overcome, and finally wear the crown of immortal life.” RH June 1, 1876, par. 29
Another sister said, “I am truly thankful for this blessed privilege. One year ago the Lord sent his precious truth to me. I praise his name that I ever received this light. I want to be faithful in every duty and receive the reward at last.” RH June 1, 1876, par. 30
Still another sister said, “I feel thankful to God for the light of truth and for his presence here. I feel that my wisdom is all weakness, but I pray God to make my influence such as will lead others to a knowledge of the truth. The Lord has blessed me with his Holy Spirit, and my heart is made glad by the promise of eternal life.” RH June 1, 1876, par. 31
A German brother said, “I am thankful for this precious privilege of meeting with the people of God. I want to be a doer of the word and not a hearer only. I feel happy in the love of God, and the knowledge that Jesus pleads even for unworthy me. If I should keep my seat, not offering my testimony here, I feel that I should be denying Christ, and slighting the opportunity to speak of his mercies to me. My brother cannot do my duty for me. I must acknowledge the truth on my own account, and the goodness of God in my behalf. I cannot express my feelings as some can, but God knows my heart and will accept my humble efforts if I do the best I can in his service. A few years ago one hundred Sabbath-keepers met at Battle Creek. Today I am astonished at the prosperity of the cause. We see around us a multitude taking hold of the truth. I want to work for my countrymen. I want to do something for this glorious cause which God will approve and accept.” RH June 1, 1876, par. 32
A sister said, “I rejoice to see and feel the saving Spirit of God in this meeting. I am glad of this opportunity. My sands of life are running out. I thought I might live till Jesus came in the clouds of heaven. It may be I shall yet live to see that day; for I believe in the soon coming of the Saviour of the world. I have experienced much toil and pain and sorrow in my life, but the blessed hope of a future life has sustained me through all my tribulations. By the grace of God I hope to sing the new song of praise and deliverance over on the other shore.” RH June 1, 1876, par. 33
A brother said, “My mind for some time past has been upon the things of this world; but I feel that this will not do, that I am thereby periling my chance of eternal life, and I am determined to be more zealous in the service of the Lord. I praise God for the great blessing that has been given me at this meeting. I feel that I am unworthy of so great a privilege. Praise the Lord for his mercies unto me!” RH June 1, 1876, par. 34
Another brother said, “It is encouraging to hear what the Lord is doing for his people. I came out from the scoffing world and embraced this precious truth, and have never had cause to regret so doing; for I have found great peace and happiness in the path to immortal life.” RH June 1, 1876, par. 35
Still another said, “I am thankful to God for his many blessings. I am trying to overcome, that I may meet the saints of God in his everlasting kingdom.” RH June 1, 1876, par. 36
And another said, “I am rejoiced to see so many of God's people obeying his truth. The Lord looks down upon his children and loves them. He cares for his people and will shield them from calamity. Let us work out our salvation with fear and trembling, looking forward to the reward of the faithful.” RH June 1, 1876, par. 37
A sister said, “I love God. He has done great things for me. Christ has made known to me my duty. Two years ago I felt that I ought to change my course and strive to subdue my stubborn heart, but I would not yield to obey the truth till one year ago when I began to live a Christian life. The prayers offered in my behalf were answered. Thank God, I could be hard and stubborn no longer. I had been long enough a sad stumbling-block in my husband's way, but I trust now to help and comfort him.” RH June 1, 1876, par. 38
A brother said, “Thank God for his blessing which rejoices my heart. The good testimonies borne here have strengthened and encouraged me. Praise God for his love and favor! Four years ago I commenced to keep the Sabbath. I believe in the soon-coming of my Saviour. I do not want to look backward, but forward toward immortal life. Between thirty and forty years ago my mother began to keep the fourth commandment, and has kept it ever since that time and will keep it while she lives.” RH June 1, 1876, par. 39
A sister said, “I want to overcome every sin in myself and try by my conversation and example to lead sinners to God.” RH June 1, 1876, par. 40
A brother said, “I thank God for this privilege. I am rejoicing in the pardoning grace of God. I have been pleading with the Lord in the grove, and I have been greatly blessed. I have tried to serve God for thirty-five years, but I have been careless in reading his word, and have not seen the Sabbath and kept it. To shun the appearance of evil I have kept Sunday as the Lord's day. In regard to the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, I thought with Paul, “Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.” I commenced to search the word of God, to see for myself the evidences upon the Sabbath, not for the purpose of opposing any doctrine or faith, but to gather the facts. In consequence of this earnest study, I became settled upon the Sabbath question, and now I keep the commandments of God, and my soul is happy. I feel that I have gained a great victory, and I praise the Lord for His grace that has permitted me to see and understand the truth.” RH June 1, 1876, par. 41