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Cause in Vermont
565
Brother G might have pursued a course to help Brother H and at
the same time help himself; but selfishness deprived Brother H of
advantages, and Brother G himself was disadvantaged through fear
that he would advantage others. Brother G has not loved his neighbor
as himself, and his supreme selfishness in many things has deprived
him of good and shut away from him the blessing of God. In the
end, it does not profit any man to be selfish; for God marks it all
and will render to every man according to his works. “Whatsoever a
man soweth, that shall he also reap.” “He which soweth sparingly
shall reap also sparingly.”
I have mentioned these persons to represent the true state of
many in the church at Bordoville whose cases are similar. The
many congregated at that place have brought burdens and cares upon
Brother D to keep them straight. Had they been free from jealousy,
and kept themselves in the love of God, they would have stayed up
his hands, comforted his heart, and sent him forth to labor for the
salvation of souls, while their prayers would have followed him as
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sharp sickles in the harvest field. Their lack of consecration and
devotion to God has weakened their own faith, weakened the hands
of Brother D, destroyed his courage, and made his labors in the
gospel field nearly useless. Church trials at home have crippled his
efforts both at home and abroad, and kept his labors confined, in a
great measure, to the locality of his place. This confining of the labor
mostly to one locality has a withering influence upon the spiritual
interest and zeal of a minister of Christ.
In order to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth,
laborers must have a varied experience. This will be best acquired
in extended labor in new fields, in different localities, where they
will come in contact with all classes of people and all varieties of
minds, and where various kinds of labor will be required to meet
the wants of many and varied minds. This drives the true laborer to
God and the Bible for light, strength, and knowledge, that he may be
fully qualified to meet the wants of the people. He should heed the
exhortation given to Timothy: “Study to show thyself approved unto
God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the
word of truth.” “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom
his Lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their