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    May 15, 1889

    “The Camp Meeting. The Final Sermon on Church Government” The Topeka Daily Capital, 11, 115, p. 6.

    ATJ

    MRS. E. G. WHITE SPEAKS BEFORE A LARGE CONCOURSE OF PEOPLE

    Arrival of Elder O. A. Olsen From England; President of the General Conference—Large Audiences Present Since the Rain—Five Sermons and Lectures—Interes Increasing

    Special correspondence of the CAPITAL.

    CAMP MEETING GROUND, OTTAWA, KAN., May 14—Now that the sun shines down upon the camp once more and the wind is disappearing, the citizens of Ottawa attend the sermons and lectures in goodly numbers. Mrs. E. G. White delivered a fine address on the education of the young, and also spoke in the early morning meeting, and the afternoon praise meeting at the close of the final lecture on church government. The evening lecture on the evils of religious legislation, the particular subject being the recent bill introduced into congress proposing an educational amendment to the constitution, drew out a good audience. Among the new arrivals is Elder O. A. Olsen from England. He is president of the general conference.TDC May 15, 1889, page 6.1

    THE FINAL SERMON ON CHURCH GOVERNMENT

    (by A. T. Jones)

    1 Corinthians 13:4, is where our last lesson closed. In another place Paul says charity builds up, this is a building we are studying. In another lesson we read we were to seek the good of others. Thinketh no evil. Who stands blameless in this? None. Well if all the gifts are nothing to us without charity and charity thinketh no evil why wonder that the gifts are not among us? If all these gifts, with the gifts of God’s son, have developed in us so little appreciation in us how can we expect greater favor? What good would it do us? But if we desire charity, then when these gifts do come, it will do us good, and mark this, when we ask the Father for them He will give to us more abundantly than we can expect. But when we ask Him for the Holy Spirit we ask for the most precious thing the universe affords. Let us not ask them carelessly. The Saviour said all manner of sins should be forgiven, even the sins against the Father and Son, but that there should be no forgiveness for blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. So then when we came to the Lord asking for it, let us come appreciating what we ask for. It is perfectly right to ask for it, but let our minds realize more fully the sacredness of the thing we ask for that we may appreciate it more if it comes, else it would do us more harm than good, as in the case of those who had the gospel without appreciating it. Charity thinketh no evil, not only does not speak but does not think it. Charity is the bond of perfectness, but how natural it is to think evil, to put an evil construction on the words or acts of another. Let us rather strive to learn the burden they carry and help them then to exercise uncharitable thought in reference to them. “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” If you and I think evil of another, we are evil. If we have impure thoughts, we are impure. Rejoice not in iniquity. Take no delight in wild, wicked, slanderous stories. Rejoice in the truth. Charity never faileth. New abideth these three, faith, hope and charity. If we have charity, the love of God, then the virtue of that will show itself; the work of his spirit in our heart, if we will aim at that, the Lord will see to it that the gifts of God will follow. It does not follow that because a people have the truth that all these things must go with them. Nor does it follow that if the people have these gifts that Christ is with them? The day will come that some will say to him, “Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name done many wonderful works?” But Christ will not know them, although he does not say they did not do the works.TDC May 15, 1889, page 6.2

    If we have charity, the love of God growing in our hearts, all these gifts will follow and Christ will do his work through us, he being our head and controlling and guiding us. Let there then be that harmony and love among us that nothing else will bring except seeing Christ fully. Study him, and we shall see alike and all will act together in unity. We can not see all things at once at one time. Minds do not all act at the same rate or in the same way, but when one sees the light let him wait patiently until the others see it also. Be not uneasy about another. The Lord is over it all, and nothing can cause shipwreck to the cause of God, or prevent victory and salvation and a glorious triumph for the third angel’s message. Go calmly about your work in the peace that trust in Him gives, and all will come out well and perfectly. Lay all the burden and care upon Him, for He careth for you, and it will all come out just right. Why is it that the testimonies say so often to us: “We have a living Saviour”? It is because we fail to realize that He is alive and that we can go to Him at all times for council and help. Therefore if any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God. Let him ask not wavering. What the soul wants is stability, solidity of character, in full assurance of faith—a belief that God is, and that we can find Him, Hebrews 10:22. Do we believe this? If so let us act it out. He has said I will never leave thee or forsake thee. Then let us say it boldly, the Lord is my helper and I will not fear what man can do unto me, Hebrews 13:5-6. If we do not believe does that make His faithfulness of no effect? 2 Timothy 2:11-13. Have we not acted as though we could not tell how God would act. Let us believe He is not variable, but acts the same all the time, James 1:17.TDC May 15, 1889, page 6.3

    What are these words written for? That He cannot deny Himself. He is the Rock of Ages. If then we are anchored to Him, if the earth goes out from under us, why underneath are His arms—can anything hurt us? Then trust in Him for what He says. Let us understand then what it is to be joined to Him, that we may have a refuge—which hope we have as an anchor for the soul, sure and steadfast—that we may be as stable as the Rock of Ages itself. What does Paul say? Acts 22:22-24; Paul knew not what was to occur, but he did know that bonds and afflictions awaited him everywhere. What a condition! “Nevertheless none of these things move me.” There, brethren, was a man anchored to God. All he thought of was finishing his ministry and carrying the gospel. Why was he there? To be a pattern to all who after should believe on Jesus Christ. Then like him whatever awaits us let none of these things move us. Life is nothing. Jesus Christ is more than all. Now 2 Timothy 4:6-8. He says I am ready to be offered, his course was finished with joy. The Lord wants his people to be in such a condition of faith and unity that he can accomplish his work through them. Shall we look upon our church as the house of God? That we are temples of the Holy Ghost? Will you carry the feeling home and cheer each other in this way? Christ never failed or was discouraged, and if we find him for all he is, we shall never fail or be discouraged. We are Christ’s body and members of his body and his bones, he feeling pain more than these members we cause pain to, in the church. So if we love Christ we can not hate the brethren or cause them pain. Let us be tender and considerate to the weak and seek to lift them up. If one suffer let all suffer with him. If one rejoice, let all rejoice with him. The gifts are given according to the strength we have, and he asks returns according to the ability each has, and no other has the right to judge another in it. If he uses the ability Christ has called him to exercise in his place it is all acceptable to God. The Holy Spirit is given to each to profit with all to be exercised to the glory of God, Christ being in it all, and over all, and all the honor is to be given to Him. Over all the work of the church is charity coming from Christ, and He asks a return to His honor and glory. Brethren, let us be Christians. Let us have that faith that will make Jesus a personal, living Saviour to all of us. According to your faith be it unto you. Just so far as you exercise faith, just so much power of God will you have. For the gospel is the power of God unto salvation. This gospel, then is the greatest power known by man, because it brings to man the power of God, and it comes to us by faith.TDC May 15, 1889, page 6.4

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