190
Testimonies for the Church Volume 3
The reason there has been so little accomplished by those who
preach the truth is not wholly because the truth they bear is unpopu-
lar, but because the men who bear the message are not sanctified by
the truths they preach. The Saviour withdraws His smiles, and the
inspiration of His Spirit is not upon them. The presence and power of
God to convict the sinner and cleanse from all unrighteousness is not
manifest. Sudden destruction is right upon the people, and yet they are
not fearfully alarmed. Unconsecrated ministers make the work very
hard for those who follow after them and who have the burden and
spirit of the work upon them.
The Lord has moved upon men of other tongues and has brought
them under the influence of the truth, that they might be qualified to
labor in His cause. He has brought them within reach of the office of
publication, that its managers might avail themselves of their services
if they were awake to the wants of the cause. Publications are needed
in other languages to raise an interest and the spirit of inquiry among
other nations.
In a most remarkable manner the Lord wrought upon the heart
of Marcus Lichtenstein and directed the course of this young man to
[206]
Battle Creek, that he might there be brought under the influence of
the truth and be converted; that he might obtain an experience and be
united to the office of publication. His education in the Jewish religion
would have qualified him to prepare publications. His knowledge of
Hebrew would have been a help to the office in the preparation of pub-
lications through which access could be gained to a class that otherwise
could not be reached. It was no inferior gift that God gave to the office
in Marcus. His deportment and conscientiousness were in accordance
with the principles of the wonderful truths he was beginning to see
and appreciate.
But the influence of some in the office grieved and discouraged
Marcus. Those young men who did not esteem him as he deserved,
and whose Christian life was a contradiction to their profession, were
the means that Satan used to separate from the office the gift which
God had given to it. He went away perplexed, grieved, discouraged.
Those who had had years of experience, and who should have had
the love of Christ in their hearts, were so far separated from God by
selfishness, pride, and their own folly that they could not discern the
special work of God in connecting Marcus with the office.