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of God, present to Him serviceable Christians who have a true sense
of their responsibility and will do their appointed work. The proper
labor and instruction will result in bringing into working order those
men and women whose characters are strong and their convictions
so firm that nothing of a selfish character is permitted to hinder them
in their work, to lessen their faith, or to deter them from duty. If the
minister has properly instructed those under his care, when he leaves
for other fields of labor the work left will not ravel out, for it will be
bound off so firmly as to be secure. Unless those who receive the truth
are thoroughly converted and there is a radical change in their life and
character, the soul is not riveted to the eternal Rock; and after the labor
of the minister ceases, and the novelty is gone, the impression soon
wears away, the truth loses its power to charm, and they exert no holier
influence, and are no better for their profession of the truth.
I am astonished that with the examples before us of what man may
be, and what he may do, we are not stimulated to greater exertion to
emulate the good works of the righteous. All may not occupy a position
of prominence; yet all may fill positions of usefulness and trust, and
may, by their persevering fidelity, do far more good than they have any
idea that they can do. Those who embrace the truth should seek a clear
understanding of the Scriptures and an experimental knowledge of a
living Saviour. The intellect should be cultivated, the memory taxed.
All intellectual laziness is sin, and spiritual lethargy is death.
Oh, that I could command language of sufficient force to make
the impression I wish to make upon my fellow laborers in the gospel!
My brethren, you are handling the words of life; you are dealing
with minds that are capable of the highest development, if directed
in the right channel. But there is too much exhibition of self in the
discourses given. Christ crucified, Christ ascended into the heavens,
Christ coming again, should so soften, gladden, and fill the mind of
the minister of the gospel that he will present these truths to the people
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in love and deep earnestness. The minister will then be lost sight of
and Jesus magnified. The people will be so impressed with these all-
absorbing subjects that they will talk of them and praise them, instead
of praising the minister, the mere instrument. But if the people, while
they praise the minister, have little interest in the word preached, he
may know that the truth is not sanctifying his own soul. He does not