Missionary Work
191
If those who are connected with the office had been awake and not
spiritually paralyzed, Brother I would long ago have been connected
with the office and might now be prepared to do a good work which
much needs to be done. He should have been engaged in teaching
young men and women, that they might now be qualified to become
workers in missionary fields.
Those engaged in the work have been about two thirds dead be-
cause of yielding to wrong influences. They have been where God
could not impress them by His Holy Spirit. And, oh, how my heart
aches as I see that so much time has passed, and that the great work
that might have been done is left undone because those in important
positions have not walked in the light! Satan has stood prepared to
sympathize with the men in holy office and to tell them that God does
[207]
not require of them as much zeal and unselfish, devoted interest as
Brother White expects; and they settle down carelessly in Satan’s easy
chair, and the ever-vigilant, persevering foe binds them in chains of
darkness while they think that they are all right. Satan works on their
right hand and on their left, and all around them; and they know it not.
They call darkness light, and light darkness.
If those in the office of publication are indeed engaged in the sacred
work of giving the last solemn message of warning to the world, how
careful should they be to carry out in their lives the principles of the
truth they are handling. They should have pure hearts and clean hands.
Our people connected with the office have not been awake to
improve the privileges within their reach and to secure all the talent and
influence that God has provided for them. With nearly all connected
with the office there is a very great failure to realize the importance
and sacredness of the work. Pride and selfishness exist to a very great
degree, and angels of God are not attracted to the office as they would
be if hearts there were pure and in communion with God. Those
laboring in the office have not had a vivid sense that the truths that
they were handling were of heavenly origin, designed to accomplish
a certain and special work, as did the preaching of Noah before the
Flood. As the preaching of Noah warned, tested, and proved the
inhabitants of the world before the flood of waters destroyed them
from off the face of the earth, so the truth of God for these last days
is doing a similar work of warning, testing, and proving the world.
The publications which go forth from the office bear the signet of the