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Appeal to the Church
411
selfish. They feel high above the lowly and humble poor, such as
Jesus says He has called. They are forever trying to secure position,
to gain applause, to obtain credit for doing some great work that
others cannot do. But it disturbs the fine grain of their refined organ-
ism to associate with the humble, the unfortunate. They mistake the
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reason altogether. The reason why they shun any of these duties not
so agreeable is found in their supreme selfishness. Dear self is the
center of all their actions and motives.
I was pointed to the Majesty of heaven. When He whom angels
worshiped, He who was rich in honor, splendor, and glory, came
to the earth, and found Himself in fashion as a man, He did not
plead His refined nature as an excuse to hold Himself aloof from
the unfortunate. In His work He was found among the afflicted, the
poor, distressed, and needy ones. Christ was the embodiment of
refinement and purity; His was an exalted life and character; yet in
His labor He was found not among men of high-sounding titles, not
among the most honorable of this world, but with the despised and
needy. I came, says the divine Teacher, “to save that which was lost.”
Yes; the Majesty of heaven was ever found working to help those
who most needed help. May the example of Christ put to shame the
excuses of that class who are so attracted to their poor selves that
they consider it beneath their refined taste and their high calling to
help the most helpless. Such have taken a position higher than their
Lord, and in the end will be astonished to find themselves lower than
the lowest of that class whom their refined, sensitive natures were
shocked to mingle with and work for. True, it may not always be
agreeable to unite with the Master and become co-workers with Him
in helping the very class who stand most in need of help; but this is
the work which Christ humbled Himself to do. Is the servant greater
than his Lord? He has given the example, and enjoins upon us to
copy it. It may be disagreeable, yet duty demands that just such a
work be performed.
Faithful and picked men are needed at the head of the work.
Those who have not had an experience in bearing burdens, and who
do not wish to have that experience, should not, on any account, live
there. Men are wanted who will watch for souls as they that must
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give an account. Fathers and mothers in Israel are wanted at this
important post. Let the selfish and self-caring, the stingy, covetous