Two Ways
19
would know what trouble is. It is a fearful thing to murmur against
God. They do not bear in mind that the way they are traveling is a
rugged, self-denying, self-crucifying way, and they must not expect
every thing to move on as smoothly as though they were traveling in
the broad road.
I saw that some of the messengers are so easily discouraged, self
is so quickly hurt, they imagine themselves slighted and injured when
it is not so. They think their lot hard. Such realize not how they would
feel should the sustaining hand of God be withdrawn, and they pass
through anguish of soul. Their lot, they then would see, would be
ten-fold harder than it was before, while they were employed in the
labor of God, suffering trials and privations, yet withal having the
approbation of God. Some that are laboring in the cause of God know
not when they do have an easy time. They have had so few privations,
have hardly known any thing of want or wearing labor, or burden of
soul, that when they have an easy time, their lives almost entirely free
from anguish of spirit, are favored of God, they know it not, and think
their trials great. I saw that unless such have a spirit of self-sacrifice,
and are ready to labor cheerfully, not sparing themselves, God will
release them. He will not acknowledge them as his self-sacrificing
servants; but will raise up those who will labor, not slothfully but in
earnest, and will know when they have an easy time. God’s servants
must feel the burden of souls, and weep between the porch and the
altar, and cry, “Spare thy people, Lord.”
[17]
Some of the servants of God have given up their lives, to spend and
be spent, for the cause of God, while their constitutions are gone, and
they are almost worn out with mental labor, incessant care, toil, and
privations, while others have not had, and would not take, the burden
upon them. Yet just such ones think they have a hard time, because
they never have experienced hardships. They never have been baptized
into the suffering part, and never will be as long as they manifest so
much weakness, and so little fortitude, and love their ease so well. Let
these servants feel the woe upon them if they preach not the gospel,
and it will be enough; but all do not feel this.
I was shown the conformity of some professed Sabbath-keepers to
the world. Oh, I saw it was a disgrace to their profession, a disgrace
to the cause of God! They give the lie to their profession. They think
they are not like the world, but they are so near like them in dress,