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Testimonies for the Church Volume 1
most difficult. Many who have no experience would have no idea of
the magnitude of the enterprise and would want things to go according
to their ideas. Some would wonder why the poor could not come and
be treated for nothing, and would be tempted to think that it was a
money-making enterprise after all; and this one and that one would
wish to have something to say, and would have just about so much
fault to find, let matters go as they might; for I was shown that some
would consider it a virtue to be jealous and stand out and oppose.
They pride themselves on not receiving everything just as soon as
it comes. Like Thomas, they boast of their unbelief. But did Jesus
commend unbelieving Thomas? While granting him the evidence he
had declared that he would have before believing, Jesus said unto him:
“Thomas because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed: blessed are
they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”
I was shown that there is no lack of means among Sabbathkeeping
Adventists. At present their greatest danger is in their accumulations
of property. Some are continually increasing their cares and labors;
they are overcharged. The result is, God and the wants of His cause
are nearly forgotten by them; they are spiritually dead. They are
required to make a sacrifice to God, an offering. A sacrifice does
not increase, but decreases and consumes. Here, I was shown, was a
worthy enterprise for God’s people to engage in, one in which they can
invest means to His glory and the advancement of His cause. Much of
the means among our people is only proving an injury to those who
are holding on to it.
Our people should have an institution of their own, under their
own control, for the benefit of the diseased and suffering among us
who wish to have health and strength that they may glorify God in
their bodies and spirits, which are His. Such an institution, rightly con-
ducted, would be the means of bringing our views before many whom
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it would be impossible for us to reach by the common course of advo-
cating the truth. As unbelievers shall resort to an institution devoted to
the successful treatment of disease and conducted by Sabbathkeeping
physicians, they will be brought directly under the influence of the
truth. By becoming acquainted with our people and our real faith,
their prejudice will be overcome and they will be favorably impressed.
By thus being placed under the influence of truth, some will not only