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Appeal to Ministers
301
God calls for humiliation of soul and humble confessions from
the ministers whose works have not been wrought in Him. I was
cited to men who engage in worldly enterprises. They know that if
they would gain their object they must suffer fatigue. They sacrifice
ease and love of home, and endure privations; they are persevering,
energetic, and ardent. Our ministers do not all manifest half the zeal
shown by those who are securing earthly gain. They are not as intent
upon their purpose, nor as earnest in their efforts; they are not as
persevering, and are not as willing to deny themselves, as those who
engage in worldly pursuits.
Compare these two enterprises. One is certain, eternal, enduring
as the life of God; the other is a thing of this life, changeable,
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perishable, and if men succeed in their ambitious pursuits, that
which they gain frequently stings like an adder, and drowns them in
perdition. Oh, why should there be so great a contrast in the efforts
of those who are engaged—the one class in a worldly enterprise,
the other in a heavenly? the one laboring for a treasure here that is
perishable, and in the effort suffering much pain for that which is
frequently a source of great evil, the other putting forth efforts for
the salvation of precious souls, which will be approved of Heaven
and rewarded with heavenly riches. There are no risks to run here,
no losses to be sustained, the profits are sure and immense.
Those who are in Christ’s stead beseeching souls to be reconciled
to God should by precept and example manifest an undying interest
to save souls. Their earnestness, perseverance, self-denial, and spirit
of sacrifice should as far exceed the diligence and earnestness of
those securing earthly gain as the soul is more valuable than the
trash of earth and the subject more elevated than earthly enterprises.
All worldly enterprises are of trifling importance compared with
the work of saving souls. Earthly things are not enduring, although
they cost so much. But one soul saved will shine in the kingdom of
heaven throughout eternal ages.
Some of the ministers are asleep, and the people are also asleep;
but Satan is wide awake. There is but little sacrificing for God or the
truth. Ministers must set the example. In their labors they should
show that they esteem eternal things of infinite value and earthly
things as nothing in comparison. There are ministers preaching
present truth who must be converted. Their understanding must be