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take in more than merely me and mine. They should have hearts that
will glow with love for the dear youth, whether they are members of
their own families or children of their neighbors. They are members
of God’s great family, for whom Christ had so great an interest that
He made every sacrifice that it was possible for Him to make to save
them. He left His glory, His majesty, His kingly throne and robes of
royalty, and became poor, that through His poverty the children of men
might be made rich. He finally poured out His soul unto death that
He might save the race from hopeless misery. This is the example of
disinterested benevolence that Christ has given us to pattern after.
In the special providence of God many youth and also those of
mature age have been thrown into the arms of the Battle Creek church
for them to bless with the great light God has given them, and that,
through their disinterested efforts, they might have the precious privi-
lege of bringing them to Christ and to the truth. Christ commissions
His angels to minister unto those who are brought under the influence
of the truth, to soften their hearts and make them susceptible of the
influences of His truth. While God and His angels are doing their
work, those who profess to be followers of Christ seem to be coolly
indifferent. They do not work in unison with Christ and holy angels.
Although they profess to be servants of God they are serving their
own interest and loving their own pleasure, and souls are perishing
around them. These souls can truly say: “No man careth for my soul.”
The church have neglected to improve the privileges and blessings
within their reach, and through their neglect of duty have lost golden
opportunities of winning souls to Christ.
Unbelievers have lived among them for months, and they have
made no special efforts to save them. How can the Master regard such
servants? The unbelieving would have responded to efforts made in
their behalf if the brethren and sisters had lived up to their exalted pro-
fession. If they had been seeking an opportunity to work for the interest
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of their Master, to advance His cause, they would have manifested
kindness and love for them, they would have sought opportunities to
pray with and for them, and would have felt a solemn responsibility
resting upon them to show their faith by their works, by precept and
example. Through their instrumentality these souls might have been
saved to be as stars in the crown of their rejoicing. But, in many cases,
the golden opportunity has passed never to return. The souls that were