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Testimonies for the Church Volume 1
had discernment to know that they were bringing sacred things down
upon a level with common. The burden of selling our publications
should not rest upon ministers who labor in word and doctrine. Their
time and strength should be held in reserve, that their efforts may be
thorough in a series of meetings. Their time and strength should not
be drawn upon to sell our books when they can be properly brought
before the public by those who have not the burden of preaching the
word. In entering new fields it may be necessary for the minister to
take publications with him to offer for sale to the people, and it may be
necessary in some other circumstances also to sell books and transact
business for the office of publication. But such work should be avoided
whenever it can be done by others.
Ministers have all that they ought to do to preach the word, and after
they have urged solemn truth upon the people they should maintain a
humble dignity as the preachers of exalted truth and as representatives
of the truth presented to the people. After their labored effort they
need rest. Even selling books upon present truth is a care, a tax to the
mind, and a weariness to the body. If there are those who still have a
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reserve force and can be taxed without injury to themselves, there is
important work for them to do, and it has but just commenced when
they have spoken the truth to the people. Then come the exemplary
preaching, the watchful care, the seeking to do good to others, the
conversation, and visiting at the fireside from house to house, entering
into the condition of mind and the spiritual state of those who listened
to the discourse from their lips; exhorting this one, reproving that
one, rebuking another, and comforting the afflicted, suffering, and
desponding. The mind should be as free from weariness as possible
that they may be minutemen, “instant in season, out of season.” They
should obey the injunction given by Paul to Timothy: “Meditate upon
these things; give thyself wholly to them.”
The responsibility of the work rests very lightly upon some. They
feel that after they leave the desk their work is done. It is a burden
to visit, a burden to talk; and the people who are really desirous of
getting all the good there is for them, and who wish to hear and learn
that they may see all things clearly, are not benefited and satisfied.
Ministers excuse themselves because they are weary, and yet some
exhaust their precious strength and spend their time in work which
another could do just as well as they. They should preserve moral