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Testimonies for the Church Volume 1
the cause of God. Murmurers and complainers should remain at home,
where they will be out of the way of temptation, where they cannot
find food for their jealousies, evil surmisings, and faultfindings, for
the presence of such is only a burden to the meetings; they are clouds
without water.
Those who feel at liberty to find fault with and censure those whom
God has chosen to act an important part in this last great work would
better seek to be converted and to obtain the mind of Christ. Let them
remember the children of Israel who were so ready to find fault with
Moses, whom God had ordained to lead His people to Canaan, and to
murmur against even God Himself. All these murmurers fell in the
wilderness. It is easy to rebel, easy to give battle before considering
matters rationally, calmly, and settling whether there is anything to
war against. The children of Israel are an example to us upon whom
the ends of the world are come.
It is easier for many to question and find fault in regard to matters
at Battle Creek than to tell what should be done. Some would even
venture to take this responsibility, but they would soon find themselves
deficient in experience and would run the work into the ground. If
these talkers and faultfinders would themselves become burden bearers
and pray for the laborers, they would be blessed themselves and would
bless others with their godly example, with their holy influence and
lives. It is easier for many to talk than to pray; such lack spirituality and
holiness, and their influence is an injury to the cause of God. Instead
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of feeling that the work at Battle Creek is their work, and that they
have an interest in its prosperity, they stand aside more as spectators,
to question and find fault. Those who do this are the very ones who
lack experience in this work and who have suffered but little for the
truth’s sake.
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