Camp Meeting Address Boulder, Colorado, September 25, 1881
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These momentous events are nigh at hand, yet many who profess
to believe the truth are asleep. They will surely be numbered with
the unfaithful servant who saith in his heart, “My Lord delayeth His
coming,” if they remain in their present position of friendship with the
world. It is only to those who are waiting in hope and faith that Christ
will appear, without sin unto salvation. Many have the theory of the
truth who know not the power of godliness. If the word of God dwelt
in the heart, it would control the life. Faith, purity, and conformity to
the will of God would testify to its sanctifying power.
Responsibility of Ministers
A solemn responsibility rests upon the watchmen. How care-
ful should they be rightly to understand and explain the word of
God. “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of
this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein.” Says
the prophet Ezekiel: “The word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them,
When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a
man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: if when he seeth
the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the
people; then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh
not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be
upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not
warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall
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deliver his soul. But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow
not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and
take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity;
but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand. So thou, O son
of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore
thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from Me. When
I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost
not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die
in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless,
if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn
from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy
soul.”