Lay Members to Go Forth
There is a much greater work devolving upon the individual mem-
bers of the church than they realize. They are not awake to the claims
of God. The time has come when every means should be devised that
can aid in preparing a people to stand in the day of God. We must be
wide awake, refusing to let precious opportunities pass unimproved.
We must do all that we possibly can to win souls to love God and
keep His commandments. Jesus requires this of those who know the
truth. Is His demand unreasonable? Have we not the life of Christ as
our example? Do we not owe the Saviour a debt of love, of earnest,
unselfish labor for the salvation of those for whom He gave His life?
Many of the members of our large churches are doing compar-
atively nothing. They might accomplish a good work if, instead of
crowding together, they would scatter into places that have not yet
been entered by the truth. Trees that are planted too thickly do not
flourish. They are transplanted by the gardener, that they may have
room to grow and not become dwarfed and sickly. The same rule
would work well for our large churches. Many of the members are
dying spiritually for want of this very work. They are becoming sickly
and inefficient. Transplanted, they would have room to grow strong
and vigorous.
It is not the purpose of God that His people should colonize or
settle together in large communities. The disciples of Christ are His
representatives upon the earth, and God designs that they shall be
scattered all over the country, in the towns, cities, and villages, as
lights amidst the darkness of the world. They are to be missionaries
for God, by their faith and works testifying to the near approach of the
coming Saviour.
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The lay members of our churches can accomplish a work which,
as yet, they have scarcely begun. None should move into new places
merely for the sake of worldly advantage; but where there is an opening
to obtain a livelihood, let families that are well grounded in the truth
enter, one or two families in a place, to work as missionaries. They
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