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Testimonies for the Church Volume 4
Our brethren who bear responsibilities in devising plans for car-
rying forward this part of the work must keep in mind that while a
certain amount of education and training is essential in order to work
intelligently, there is danger of making this too great a matter. By
obtaining a most thorough education in all the minutiae, and leaving
vital principles out of the question, we become dry and formal workers.
The hearts that God has made willing by the operations of His grace
are fitted for the work.
God wants heartwork. The unselfish purpose, the pure, elevated
principle, the high and holy motive, He will accept. His grace and
power will work with these efforts. All who realize that it is the work of
God to prepare a people for His coming will find in their disinterested
efforts opportunities where they can do tract and missionary labor. But
there may be too much means expended and too much time occupied
in making matters so exact and minute that the heartwork is neglected
and a dry form preserved.
I tell you frankly that Jesus and the power of His grace are being
left out of the question. Results will show that mechanical working
has taken the place of piety, humility, and holiness of heart and life.
The more spiritual, devoted, and humble workers find no place where
they can take hold, and therefore they stand back. The young and
inexperienced learn the form and do their work mechanically; but
true love, the burden for souls, is not felt. Less dwelling upon set
forms, less of the mechanical, and more of the power of godliness are
essential in this solemn, fearful day of responsibilities.
There is order in heaven; and there should be system and order
upon the earth, that the work may move forward without confusion
and fanaticism. Our brethren have been working to this end; but while
some of our ministers continually bear the burden of souls, and ever
seek to bring the people up in spiritual attainments, those who are
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not so conscientious, and who have not carried the cross of Christ
nor felt the value of souls as reflected from Calvary, will, in teaching
and educating others in the mechanical working, become formal and
powerless themselves, and bring no Saviour to the people.
Satan is ever working to have the service of God degenerate into
dull form and become powerless to save souls. While the energy,
earnestness, and efficiency of the workers become deadened by the
efforts to have everything so systematic, the taxing labor that must be