Testimonies for the Church Volume 1 - A New You Ministry

We wanted an opportunity to speak of the precious love of God that animated oursouls. I particularly wished to tell of the Lord’s goodness and mercy to me. So great achange had been wrought in me that it seemed my duty to improve every opportunityof testifying to the love of my Saviour.When my turn came to speak, I stated the evidences I enjoyed of Jesus’ love, andthat I looked forward with the glad expectation of meeting my Redeemer soon. Thebelief that Christ’s coming was near had stirred my soul to seek more earnestly for thesanctification of the Spirit of God. Here the class leader interrupted me, saying: “Youreceived sanctification through Methodism, through Methodism, sister, not throughan erroneous theory.” I felt compelled to confess the truth, that it was not throughMethodism that my heart had received its new blessing, but by the stirring truthsconcerning the personal appearing of Jesus. Through them I had found peace, joy,and perfect love. Thus my testimony closed, the last that I was to bear in class with myMethodist brethren.Robert then spoke in his meek way, yet in so clear and touching a manner thatsome wept and were much moved; but others coughed dissentingly and seemed quiteuneasy. After leaving the class room, we again talked over our faith, and marveledthat our Christian brethren and sisters could so ill endure to have a word spoken inreference to our Saviour’s coming. We thought if they loved Jesus as they should, itwould not be so great an annoyance to hear of His second advent, but, on the contrary,they would hail the news with joy.We were convinced that we ought no longer to attend the class meeting. The hopeof the glorious appearing of Christ filled our souls and would find expression when werose to speak. This seemed to kindle the ire of those present against the two humblechildren who dared, in the face of opposition, to speak of the faith that had filled theirhearts with37