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Testimonies for the Church Volume 2
those who minister in word and doctrine have not the fruit of the
grace of God in their hearts and lives; they have not faith. This is
why there are so small results from their labor. Many who profess to
be ministers of Christ manifest a wonderful submission as they see
the unconverted all around them going to perdition. A minister of
Christ has no right to be at ease and sit down submissively in view
of the fact that his presentation of the truth is powerless and souls
are not stirred by it. He should resort to prayer, and should work
and pray without ceasing. Those who submit to remain destitute
of spiritual blessings, without earnest wrestling for those blessings,
consent to have Satan triumph. Persistent, prevailing faith is neces-
sary. God’s ministers must come into closer companionship with
Christ and follow His example in all things, in purity of life, in self-
denial, in benevolence, in diligence, in perseverance. They should
remember that a record will one day appear in evidence against them
for the least omission of duty.
Brother D did not discern that in thus encouraging brethren to
move to his place he was bringing burdens upon himself and into
the church; he did not see that it would require much time and labor
to keep them in a condition where they could be a help instead
of a hindrance. He thought that if he could collect families at his
place they would help compose a church and relieve him of care
and burdens. But it has proved at Bordoville as at Battle Creek;
the more the brethren moved there, the heavier were the burdens
which fell upon the laborers who had the cause of God at heart.
Men and women of varied minds and different organizations could
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cluster together and live in sweet harmony, if they would esteem
others better than themselves, if they would love their neighbors as
themselves, as Christ enjoined upon them.
But it is most difficult to deal with human minds that are not
under the special control of the Spirit of God and are exposed to
the control of Satan. Selfishness so possesses the hearts of men
and women, and iniquity is so cherished, even by some professing
godliness, that the clustering together of a large company should be
avoided; for they will not thus be the most happy.
Those whom Brother D really desired to have come to Bordoville
were those whom he considered the best of society, capable of
exerting a good influence. Just such men and women are wanted to