Laborers in the Office
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will be less and less affected by the truth and work of God, until they
find themselves destitute of the emotions of the Spirit of God, dead to
the heavenly impress of truth. Eternal things will not be discerned by
them, but will be placed upon a low level with common things. This, I
saw, had been the case with some connected with the office, and all
have been remiss in this respect to a greater or lesser degree.
I saw that the work of present truth should engage the interest of
all. The publication of truth is God’s ordained plan as a means of
warning, comforting, reproving, exhorting, or convicting all to whose
notice the silent, voiceless messengers may be brought. Angels of
God have a part to act in preparing hearts to be sanctified by the truths
published, that they may be prepared for the solemn scenes before
them. None in that office are sufficient of themselves for the important
work of discreetly managing matters connected with the publication
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of the truth. Angels must be near them to guide, to counsel, and to
restrain, or the wisdom and folly of human agencies will be apparent.
I saw that angels were frequently in the office, in the folding room,
and in the room where the type is set. I was made to hear the laughing,
the jesting, the idle, foolish talking. Again, I saw the vanity, the pride
and selfishness exhibited. Angels looked sad and turned away grieved.
The words I had heard, the vanity, pride, and selfishness exhibited,
caused me to groan with anguish of spirit as angels left the room in
disgust. Said an angel: “The heavenly messengers came to bless, that
the truth carried by the voiceless preachers might have a sanctifying,
holy power to attend its mission; but those engaged in this work were
so distant from God, they possessed so little of the divine, and were
so conformed to the spirit of the world, that the powers of darkness
controlled them, and they could not be made susceptible of divine
impressions.” At the same time these youth were deceived and thought
they were rich and increased in goods and had need of nothing, and
knew not that they were poor and miserable, blind and naked. Those
who handle precious truth as they would sand know not how many
times their heartless indifference to eternal things, their vanity, self-
love, and pride, their laughing and senseless chatting, have driven the
messengers of heaven away from the office.
In deportment, words, and acts all in that office should be reserved,
modest, humble, and disinterested, as was their Pattern, Jesus, the dear
Saviour. They should seek God and obtain righteousness. The office is