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Cause in Vermont
587
who of us will have the inexpressible joy of seeing the sheaves we
have gathered, as a recompense of our fidelity and our unselfish use
of the talents the Lord has placed in our hands to use for His glory?
With many in Vermont there has been a decided failure to come
up to the requirements of God. Some have fallen into a cold and
lifeless condition spiritually because they are unfaithful servants.
The love of the world has so filled their hearts that they have lost
their relish for heavenly things and have become dwarfs in spiritual
attainments. The state has been deprived of the right kind of labor.
Bordoville has been the center of attraction. All the large gatherings
have been held in one locality, which has been like putting light
under a bushel; its rays have not benefited the people of the state at
large. Many are still in darkness who might now be rejoicing in the
knowledge of the truth. The talents and special efforts have been
drawn to one locality. This is not as the Lord would have it. He
designs that the warning, testing message should be given to the
world, and that His people, who are the light of the world, should
be scattered as witnesses amid the moral darkness of the world; that
their lives, their testimony, and their example may be a savor of life
unto life or of death unto death.
The Brethren D will need to be guarded, that they do not thwart
the purposes of God by plans of their own. They are in danger of
narrowing down the work of God, which is deep and extended.
Brother D will be in danger of taking too narrow views of the
work. God has given him an experience which will be of value if he
makes the right use of it. But there is danger that his peculiarities
will shape that experience and that other minds will become affected.
[670]
Brother D’s usefulness as a laborer is not what it otherwise would
be if he were not so prone to concentrate the strength of his mind
upon one idea. He dwells upon incidents and upon thoughts that he
has had, and repeats them at length, when they are unimportant to
others.
His mind was aroused in reference to the subject of his health.
He concentrated the strength of his mind on this point. He and
his symptoms were the principal subjects of conversation. He was
particular to go through with the course he had established in his
mind; and, when seeking his own accommodation, he failed to
consider how inconvenient he made it for others. His mind has been,