Labors in Central Europe
229
principle, you will find, as did Daniel, a present helper and deliverer
in the God whom you serve. Now is the time to cultivate integrity of
character. The Bible is full of rich gems of promise to those who love
and fear God.
“To all who are engaged in the missionary work I would say, Hide
in Jesus. Let not self but Christ appear in all your labors. When
the work goes hard, and you become discouraged and are tempted to
abandon it, take your Bible, bow upon your knees before God, and
say, ‘Here, Lord, Thy word is pledged.’ Throw your weight upon His
promises, and every one of them will be fulfilled.”
Historical Sketches
of the Foreign Missions of the Seventh-day Adventists, 153
.
When the discouraging reports of the colporteurs had reached
a climax, she would urge that notwithstanding all these difficulties,
the workers must have faith that success would attend their labors.
Repeatedly she assured that disheartened colporteurs that it had been
shown her that books could be sold in Europe in such a way as to give
support to the workers, and bring to the publishing house sufficient
returns to enable it to produce more books.
The Training of Colporteurs
Encouraged by her assurance that special help would be given
those who would persevere in faith, a number of young men were
persuaded to make another effort to do self-supporting work in the sale
of literature, but they pointed out that they must be furnished with a
better supply of salable books.
Elder J. G. Matteson testified that he had made every effort to
encourage and train colporteurs, and that they had succeeded in selling
[286]
the periodicals and smaller books; but the returns were not sufficient
to support them properly, and he was in great perplexity to know
what could be done to bring better results. He said that, with the
encouragement received from Mrs. White, he was resolved to try once
more.
Accordingly, during the winter of 1885-86 special efforts were
made in Scandinavia to educate and train colporteurs. Training schools
were held in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. The school in Stockholm
continued four months. Twenty persons were in attendance. Six
hours in the middle of the day they spent in canvassing; the mornings