284
Testimonies for the Church Volume 6
stirred His servants to write. God desires us to be faithful in educating
those who accept the truth, that they may believe to a purpose and
work intelligently in the Lord’s way. Let inexperienced persons be
connected with experienced workers, that they may learn how to work.
Let them seek God most earnestly. These may do a good work in
canvassing if they will obey the words: “Take heed unto thyself, and
unto the doctrine.”
1 Timothy 4:16
. Those who give evidence that they
are truly converted, and who take up the canvassing work, will see that
it is the best preparation for other lines of missionary labor.
If those who know the truth would practice it, methods would be
devised for meeting the people where they are. It was the providence
of God which in the beginning of the Christian church scattered the
saints abroad, sending them out of Jerusalem into many parts of the
world. The disciples of Christ did not stay in Jerusalem or in the cities
near by, but they went beyond the limits of their own country into the
great thoroughfares of travel, seeking for the lost that they might bring
them to God. Today the Lord desires to see His work carried forward
in many places. We must not confine our labors to a few localities.
We must not discourage our brethren, weakening their hands so
that the work which God desires to accomplish through them shall not
[331]
be done. Let not too much time be occupied in fitting up men to do
missionary work. Instruction is necessary, but let all remember that
Christ is the Great Teacher and the Source of all true wisdom. Let
young and old consecrate themselves to God, take up the work, and
go forward, laboring in humility under the control of the Holy Spirit.
Let those who have been in school go out into the field and put to a
practical use the knowledge they have gained. If canvassers will do
this, using the ability which God has given them, seeking counsel from
Him, and combining the work of selling books with personal labor for
the people, their talents will increase by exercise, and they will learn
many practical lessons which they could not possibly learn in school.
The education obtained in this practical way may properly be termed
higher education.
There is no higher work than evangelistic canvassing, for it involves
the performance of the highest moral duties. Those who engage in
this work need always to be under the control of the Spirit of God.
There must be no exalting of self. What have any of us that we did
not receive from Christ? We must love as brethren, revealing our love