32
The Retirement Years
avoid all physical exertion as far as possible and confine themselves to
their books.
Ministers of age and experience should feel it their duty, as God’s
hired servants, to go forward, progressing every day, continually be-
coming more efficient in their work, and constantly gathering fresh
matter to set before the people. Each effort to expound the gospel
should be an improvement upon that which preceded it. Each year
they should develop a deeper piety, a tenderer spirit, a greater spiri-
tuality, and a more thorough knowledge of Bible truth. The greater
their age and experience, the nearer should they be able to approach
the hearts of the people, having a more perfect knowledge of them.
Men are needed for this time who are not afraid to lift their voices
for the right, whoever may oppose them. They should be of strong
integrity and tried courage. The church calls for them, and God will
work with their efforts to uphold all branches of the gospel ministry.—
Testimonies for the Church 4:269, 270
.
[42]
Last Days May Be the Best
[
Written to a 68-year old physician who was leading out in the
establishment of a medical institution in Australia.
]
Do not speak words that will irritate or offend. The Lord desires
you to guard every point in your character. You can be a blessing in
communicating to others your knowledge of the truth and of health
reform....
The Lord loves you, and He desires you to do with power the
work given you. When speaking to the people, do not seek to present
something original and new. Give short talks, right to the point, on
practical subjects. Thus you can feed starving souls.
I feel anxious that in our old age we who have known the truth for
so long shall become mellow in spirit and in our methods of labor;
that we shall understand the simple, yet important and comprehensive
truths of the third angel’s message; and that we shall receive these
truths in the love of God, and impart them to others.
My brother, you need not feel that you are too old to train your
voice. You talk in too low a tone. Open your mouth and use your
abdominal muscles in sending forth the sound. Just now you are
excellently situated for learning to talk clearly and distinctly. When