Highways and Byways
43
fields must receive earnest, determined labor. The sons of God, earnest,
true, unselfish, must use all the knowledge they possess in managing
this important work.—
Manuscript 141, 1899
.
Country People More Easily Reached—The people who live
in the country places are often more easily reached than are those
who dwell in the thickly populated cities. Here among the scenes
of nature Christian character is more easily formed than amid the
wickedness of city life. When the truth takes hold of the hearts of the
simplehearted, and the Spirit of God works upon their minds, leading
them to respond to the proclamation of the Word, there will be some
raised up to help support the cause of God both by their means and
their labors.—
Manuscript 65, 1908
.
To All Classes—Men and women in the highways and byways
are to be reached. We read of Christ’s labors: “Jesus went about all
the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the
gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease
[47]
among the people.” Just such a work as this is to be done in our cities
and villages, in the highways and hedges. The gospel of the third
angel’s message is to be carried to all classes.—
Manuscript 7, 1908
.
Sounding the Call in New Places—Our Saviour’s work was to
warn the cities and to ordain workers to go out of the cities to places
where the light had never yet been given, and to lift up the standard
of truth in new localities....The light is given me that we must not
have special anxiety to crowd too many interests into one locality, but
should look for places in out-of-the-way districts and work in new
places. Thus people may be reached and converted who know nothing
of the precious, testing truths for this time. The last call should be
made just as important in new places in this country as in distant
lands. This word was spoken concerning some localities that have not
had the message brought to them. The seeds of truth are to be sown
in uncultivated centers....It will cultivate a missionary spirit to work
in new localities. Selfishness in respect to keeping large companies
together is not the Lord’s plan. Enter every new place possible and
begin the work of educating in vicinities that have not heard the truth.
Why did our Saviour labor to sow the seed in out-of-the-way
places? Why did He travel slowly away from the villages which had
been His places for communicating light by opening the Scriptures?
There was a world to hear, and some souls would accept the truth who