Pastoral Evangelism
301
God has entrusted to mortals precious treasures of truth. These
treasures may be likened to beautiful fruit, which is to be presented to
the people in vessels that are clean and pure and holy, so that they will
accept this fruit and enjoy it, to the glory of God.—
Manuscript 127,
1902
.
Visit Every Family—As the shepherd of the flock he [the minis-
ter] should care for the sheep and the lambs, searching out the lost and
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straying, and bringing them back to the fold. He should visit every
family, not merely as a guest to enjoy their hospitality, but to inquire
into the spiritual condition of every member of the household. His own
soul must be imbued with the love of God; then by kindly courtesy
he may win his way to the hearts of all, and labor successfully for
parents and children, entreating, warning, encouraging, as the case
demands.—
The Signs of the Times, January 28, 1886
.
Come Close to Hearts—Come close to your brethren; seek for
them, help them; come close to their hearts as one touched with the
feelings of their infirmities. Thus we may achieve victories that our
small faith has not grasped. The members of these families should
be given some labor to perform for the good of souls. Mutual love
and confidence will give them moral force to be laborers together with
God.—
Manuscript 42, 1898
.
Thorns Must Be Uprooted and Cast Out—Many who profess
to be Christians are so engrossed with earthly cares that they have
no time for the cultivation of piety. They do not regard true religion
as of the first importance. A man may seem to receive the truth, but
if he does not overcome his un-Christlike traits of character, these
thorns grow and strengthen, killing the precious graces of the Spirit.
The thorns in the heart must be uprooted and cast out, for good and
evil cannot grow in the heart at the same time. Unsanctified human
inclinations and desires must be cut away from the life as hindrances
to Christian growth.—
Letter 13, 1902
.
Reprove and Exhort—There is pastoral work to do, and this
means to reprove and exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine;
that is, he should present the Word of God, to show wherein there
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is a deficiency. If there is anything in the character of the professed
followers of Christ, the burden should certainly be felt by the minister,
and not that he should lord it over God’s heritage. To deal with human