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Cause in Vermont
583
the work of their dear Redeemer, and they should labor to save the
purchase of His blood, at any sacrifice. What are money, houses,
and lands in comparison with even one soul?
Christ made a full and complete sacrifice, a sacrifice sufficient to
save every son and daughter of Adam who should show repentance
toward God for having transgressed His law, and manifest faith in
our Lord Jesus Christ. Yet notwithstanding the sacrifice was ample,
but few consent to a life of obedience that they may have this great
salvation. Few are willing to imitate His amazing privations, to
endure His sufferings and persecutions, and to share His exhausting
labor to bring others to the light. But few will follow His example
in earnest, frequent prayer to God for strength to endure the trials
of this life and perform its daily duties. Christ is the Captain of
our salvation, and by His own sufferings and sacrifice He has given
an example to all His followers that watchfulness and prayer, and
persevering effort, were necessary on their part if they would rightly
represent the love which dwelt in His bosom for the fallen race.
Men of property are dying spiritually because of their neglect to
use the means God has placed in their hands to aid in saving their
fellow men. Some become aroused at times and resolve that they
will make to themselves friends with the unrighteous mammon, that
they may finally be received into everlasting habitations. But their
efforts in this direction are not thorough. They commence, but, not
being heartily and thoroughly in earnest in the work, they make a
failure. They are not rich in good works. While lingeringly retaining
their love and grasp of their earthly treasures, Satan outgenerals
them.
[665]
A flattering prospect may be presented to invest in patent rights or
some other supposed brilliant enterprise around which Satan throws
a bewitching enchantment. The prospect of getting more money,
fast and easily, allures them. They reason that, although they had
resolved to put this money into the treasury of God, they will use it in
this instance, and will greatly increase it, and will then give a larger
sum to the cause. They can see no possibility of a failure. Away goes
the means out of their hands, and they soon learn, to their regret,
that they have made a mistake. The brilliant prospects have faded.
Their expectations are not realized. They were deceived. Satan
outgeneraled them. He was more shrewd than they, and he managed