Chapter 11—Words to the Workers in Africa
Summer Hill, Sydney
June 18, 1900
God’s ministers, God’s missionaries, are to unite with Him. If they
put their trust in Him, and commit the keeping of their souls to Him
as unto a faithful Creator, He will keep that which is committed unto
Him against that day. He will honour those who honour Him.
The Lord has a great work to be done. Changes are continually
taking place. In our association with those of different nationality,
education, and experience we shall find that it is a life and death
struggle to bear forward the gospel in all its purity. We are not to enter
into confederacy with human agencies which will prove a snare.
Race is nothing in the sight of God. Christian experience and
sanctification through the truth is everything in His estimation.
Venture nothing in business transactions unless the God of heaven
signifies that such a venture will not prove a thorn in the religious life.
I tell you that there is a life and death struggle before us, a contest
with human agencies who are not abiding in Christ, who are in no sense
God’s stewards. Men of strong temperament and almost unsubduable
character will make propositions which God has shown me it will not
be best to accept. Enter not into a confederacy with them.
The only safety for the strong temperaments in Africa is to begin
an entirely new chapter in their experience. Hearts must be softened.
They must accept Christ’s yoke, else they will never enter the kingdom
of heaven. A strong spirit bears sway in Africa, which needs to be
surrendered to the spirit of God. There are those there with strong
passions, which are easily excited. They lose control of themselves,
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and become unreasonable. God’s people must wait on Him. The
welfare of the cause of God needs careful consideration. It must not,
with its possibilities and probabilities, be bought or sold. We have one
Master, even Christ.
The presentation before me is not encouraging. Divine foresight is
needed to see the result of business transactions between parties that
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