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Evangelism
and talent, and make far more wise, determined, God-fearing efforts
than have hitherto been made, to win them to the truth.
But in order to do this all the workers will have to keep themselves
up to a high level of intelligence. They cannot do this work and sink
down to a low, common level, feeling that it does not much matter
how they labor or what they say, since they are working for the poor
and ignorant classes. They will have to sharpen up, and be armed
and equipped in order to present the truth intelligently and to reach
the higher classes. Their minds must rise higher, and show greater
strength and clearness....
One reason why efforts have not heretofore been made for the
higher classes as I have presented before you, is a lack of faith and
real courage in God.—
Manuscript 14, 1887
.
With a Hook Properly Baited—The intelligent, the refined, are
altogether too much passed by. The hook is not baited to catch this
class, and ways and methods are not prayerfully devised to reach them
with truth that is able to make them wise unto salvation. Most generally
the fashionable, the wealthy, the proud, understand by experience that
happiness is not to be secured by the amount of money that they
possess, or by costly edifices, and ornamental furniture and pictures.
They want something they have not. But this class are attracted toward
each other, and it is hard to find access to them; and because of this
many are perishing in their sins who long for something that will give
them rest and peace and quietude of mind. They need Jesus, the light
of righteousness.
There is a certain round of labor performed in a certain way that
leaves a large class untouched....
The rich left alone without any effort to save them become shut
[557]
up more and more to their own ideas. Their own train of thoughts
and associations lose eternity out of their reckoning. They grow more
proud and selfish, hardhearted and unimpressible, suspicious that every
one wants to get money, while the poor are envious of the rich, who
need pity rather than to be envied. Bring these all under the power of
saving truth, and the work of the upbuilding of the kingdom of God
will go forward with much greater success.—
Manuscript 66, 1894
.
Charmed by Scripture Truth—Men in high positions of trust
in the world will be charmed by a plain, straightforward, Scriptural
statement of truth.—
Letter 111, 1904