Testimonies for the Church Vol 1 - Lansing SDA Church

38 Testimonies for the Church Volume 1[37]roll swiftly round, and bring the welcome day when these vile bodiesshould be changed, and fashioned like unto Christ’s most gloriousbody. I also stated that when I lived nearest to the Lord, then I mostearnestly longed for His appearing. Here some present seemed to begreatly displeased.When the presiding elder addressed others in the class, he expressedgreat joy in anticipating the temporal millennium, when theearth should be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waterscover the sea. He longed to see this glorious period ushered in. Afterthe meeting closed, I was conscious of being treated with markedcoldness by those who had formerly been kind and friendly to me. Mybrother and I returned home feeling sad that we should be so misunderstoodby our brethren, and that the subject of the near coming ofJesus should awaken such bitter opposition in their breasts. Yet wewere thankful that we could discern the precious light and rejoice inlooking for the coming of the Lord.Not long after this we again attended the class meeting. We wantedan opportunity to speak of the precious love of God that animated oursouls. I particularly wished to tell of the Lord’s goodness and mercy tome. So great a change had been wrought in me that it seemed my dutyto improve every opportunity of testifying to the love of my Saviour.When my turn came to speak, I stated the evidences I enjoyedof Jesus’ love, and that I looked forward with the glad expectationof meeting my Redeemer soon. The belief that Christ’s coming wasnear had stirred my soul to seek more earnestly for the sanctificationof the Spirit of God. Here the class leader interrupted me, saying:“You received sanctification through Methodism, through Methodism,sister, not through an erroneous theory.” I felt compelled to confess thetruth, that it was not through Methodism that my heart had receivedits new blessing, but by the stirring truths concerning the personalappearing of Jesus. Through them I had found peace, joy, and perfectlove. Thus my testimony closed, the last that I was to bear in classwith my Methodist brethren.Robert then spoke in his meek way, yet in so clear and touchinga manner that some wept and were much moved; but others cougheddissentingly and seemed quite uneasy. After leaving the class room,we again talked over our faith, and marveled that our Christian brethrenand sisters could so ill endure to have a word spoken in reference to