144
Testimonies for the Church Volume 5
go up to the meeting, and their light and presence will press back the
darkness of evil angels. Even unbelievers will feel the holy atmosphere
as they enter the encampment. Oh, how much is lost by neglecting
this important work! You may be pleased with the preaching, you may
become animated and revived, but the converting, reforming power
of God will not be felt in the heart, and the work will not be so deep,
thorough, and lasting as it should be. Let pride be crucified and the
soul be clad with the priceless robe of Christ’s righteousness, and what
a meeting will you enjoy. It will be to your soul even as the gate of
heaven.
The same work of humiliation and heart-searching should also
go on in the church, so that all differences and alienations among
brethren may be laid aside before appearing before the Lord at these
annual gatherings. Set about this work in earnest, and rest not until it
is accomplished; for if you come up to the meeting with your doubts,
your murmurings, your disputings, you bring evil angels into the camp
and carry darkness wherever you go.
I have been shown that for want of this preparation these yearly
meetings have accomplished but little. The ministers are seldom
prepared to labor for God. There are many speakers,—those who can
say sharp, crank things, going out of their way to whip other churches
and ridicule their faith,—but there are but few earnest laborers for God.
These sharp, self-important speakers profess to have truth in advance
of every other people, but their manner of labor and their religious zeal
in no way correspond with their profession of faith.
I looked to see the humility of soul that should ever sit as a fitting
garment upon our ministers, but it was not upon them. I looked for
the deep love for souls that the Master said they should possess, but
they had it not. I listened for the earnest prayers offered with tears and
anguish of soul because of the impenitent and unbelieving in their own
[166]
homes and in the church, but heard them not. I listened for the appeals
made in the demonstration of the Spirit, but these were missing. I
looked for the burden bearers, who in such a time as this should be
weeping between the porch and the altar, crying, Spare Thy people,
Lord, and give not Thine heritage to reproach; but I heard no such
supplications. A few earnest, humble ones were seeking the Lord.
At some of these meetings one or two ministers felt the burden and
were weighed down as a cart beneath sheaves. But a large majority of