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Cause in Vermont
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can Brother J plead before God when the Master shall bid him give
an account of his stewardship? He has been led by the unconsecrated
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minds of his children and has not felt the necessity of seeking counsel
and advice from God’s servants who were standing in the light. He
has been led by a perverted sympathy and has failed in judgment. He
has been moving like a blind man. His course has injured himself
and the cause of God.
It is not preachers merely, to go among the churches and pray and
exhort occasionally, that Vermont needs. A cry for laborers could
be consistently raised among God’s people in Vermont. Earnest,
zealous workmen are needed to strengthen the things that remain by
ministering to the spiritual wants of the people. The cause of God
everywhere, especially in Vermont, needs burden bearers. Men go
over and over the same ground, but accomplish very little, if anything.
They have a good visit with their brethren, and this is frequently all
that is accomplished; and yet they expect to be remunerated for their
time.
The case of Brother and Sister K comes before me as I write.
They have not practiced caring for others. They have not felt the
responsibility resting upon them to be burden bearers. Brother K
was shown me among others who have felt that they had a work
to do for the Lord. Indeed he has, and so have very many others,
if they will do it. There are thorough workmen in the cause of
God, who have an experience in the work and who devote their
time and strength to the service of God. These should be liberally
sustained. But those who are merely starting out to visit the churches
occasionally—especially those who have no families to provide for
and who have a competency themselves—should not draw upon the
treasury of the Lord.
Neither Brother nor Sister K has an experience in sacrificing for
the truth, in being rich in good works, laying up their treasures in
heaven. Their sympathy, care, and patience have not been called
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into exercise by dependent, loving children. They have consulted
their own selfish convenience. Their hearts have not been a well-
spring sending forth the living streams of tenderness and affection.
In blessing others by kindly words of love and acts of mercy and
benevolence, they would realize a blessing themselves. They have
been too narrow in their sphere of usefulness. Unless such become