Communications to Elder Hull
403
out a people who are peculiar. He will cleanse and purify them, and fit
them for translation. Every carnal thing will be separated from God’s
peculiar treasures until they shall be like gold seven times purified.
I saw that it was a cruel position for Brethren A and B to be in, to
be serving the purposes of Satan by suffering their minds to run just as
he would lead them in the channel of unbelief. Their greatest sin was
in talking out these dark doubts, this midnight unbelief, and drawing
other minds into the same dark channel.
God’s people will be sifted, even as corn is sifted in a sieve, until all
the chaff is separated from the pure kernels of grain. We are to look to
Christ for an example and imitate the humble pattern. You do not feel
reconciled to the discipline you need and do not exercise and practice
that self-denial which Christ requires of those who are truly heirs of
salvation. Those who are engaged in the work of saving souls are
co-workers with Christ. His was a work of disinterested benevolence,
of constant self-sacrifice. Those who have had so great a sacrifice
made for them that they might become partakers of His heavenly grace
should in their turn sacrifice and deny self to aid in the great work of
bringing others to the knowledge of the truth. Self-interest should be
laid aside; selfish desires and self-comfort should not now stand in the
way of God’s work in saving souls. God’s ministers are laboring in
Christ’s stead; they are His ambassadors. They are not to study their
ease, comfort, pleasure, desires, or convenience. They must suffer for
Christ, be crucified with Him, and rejoice that they can in every sense
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of the word know the fellowship of the sufferings of Christ.
I saw that ministers who labor in word and doctrine have a great
work before them; a heavy responsibility rests upon them. In their
labor they do not come close enough to hearts. Their work is too
general, and often too scattered. Their labor must be concentrated to
the very ones for whom they are laboring. When they preach from the
desk, they only commence their work. They must then live out their
preaching, ever guarding themselves, that they bring not a reproach
upon the cause of God. They should illustrate by example the life of
Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:9
: “For we are laborers together with God.”
2 Corinthians 6:1
: “We then, as workers together with Him, beseech
you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.” The minister’s
work is not done when he leaves the desk. He should not then throw
off the burden and occupy his mind with reading or writing unless