Testimonies for the Church Volume 1 - A New You Ministry

that a portion of the family had been in the country for some time past, that none whoremained in the city had been absent from class meeting more than a few weeks, andthey were morally compelled to remain away because the testimonies they bore metwith such marked disapprobation. We also reminded them that certain persons whohad not attended class meeting for a year were yet held in good standing.It was asked if we would confess that we had departed from their rules, and if wewould also agree to conform to them in the future. We answered that we dared notyield our faith or deny the sacred truth of God; that we could not forego the hope of thesoon coming of our Redeemer; that after the manner which they called heresy we mustcontinue to worship the Lord. My father in his defense received the blessing of God,and we all left the vestry with free spirits, happy in the consciousness of right and theapproving smile of Jesus.The next Sunday, at the commencement of the love feast, the presiding elder readoff our names, seven in number, as discontinued from the church. He stated thatwe were not expelled on account of any wrong or immoral conduct, that we wereof unblemished character and enviable reputation, but we had been guilty of walkingcontrary to the rules of the Methodist Church. He also declared that a door was nowopen, and all who were guilty of a similar breach of the rules would be dealt with inlike manner.There were many in the church who waited for the appearing of the Saviour, andthis threat was made for the purpose of frightening them into subjection. In some casesthis policy brought about the desired result, and the favor of God was sold for a placein the church. Many believed, but dared not confess their faith, lest they should beturned out of the synagogue. But some left soon afterward and joined the company ofthose who were looking for the Saviour.At this time the words of the prophet were exceedingly43