Chapter 36—Favors to Be Received as Well as
Imparted
Just as long as we are in this world, and the Spirit of God is striving
with the world, we are to receive as well as to impart favors. We are to
give to the world the light of truth as presented in the Sacred Scriptures,
and we are to receive from the world that which God moves upon them
to do in behalf of His cause. The Lord still moves upon the hearts of
kings and rulers in behalf of His people, and it becomes those who
are so deeply interested in the religious liberty question not to cut off
any favors, or withdraw themselves from the help that God has moved
men to give, for the advancement of His cause.
We find examples in the word of God concerning this very matter.
Cyrus, king of Persia, made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom,
and put it into writing, saying: “Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The
Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and
He hath charged me to build Him a house at Jerusalem, which is in
Judah. Who is there among you of all His people? his God be with
him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the
house of the Lord God of Israel.” A second commandment was issued
by Darius for the building of the house of the Lord, and is recorded in
the sixth chapter of Ezra.
The Lord God of Israel has placed His goods in the hands of
unbelievers, but they are to be used in favor of doing the works that
must be done for a fallen world. The agents through whom these gifts
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come, may open up avenues through which the truth may go. They
may have no sympathy with the work, and no faith in Christ, and
no practice in His words; but their gifts are not to be refused on that
account....
I have repeatedly been shown that we might receive far more fa-
vors than we do in many ways if we would approach men in wisdom,
acquaint them with our work, and give them an opportunity of doing
those things which it is our privilege to induce them to do for the ad-
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