Neglected Warning
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has become congested. For a long time the warning has been given,
but it has not been heeded. The reason for this disobedience is that the
hearts and minds of many in Battle Creek are not under the influence
of the Holy Spirit. They do not realize how much work there is to do.
They are asleep.
When Seventh-day Adventists move into cities where there is
already a large church of believers, they are out of place, and their
spirituality becomes weaker and weaker. Their children are exposed
to many temptations. My brother, my sister, unless you are absolutely
needed in carrying forward the work in such a place, it would be wise
for you to go to some place where the truth has not yet been proclaimed,
and there strive to give proof of your ability to work for the Master.
Make earnest efforts to arouse an interest in present truth. House-to-
house work is effectual when conducted in a Christlike manner. Hold
meetings, and be sure to make them interesting. Remember that this
requires something more than preaching.
Many who have lived so long in one place are spending their time
criticizing those who are working in Christ’s lines to convict and
convert sinners. They criticize the motives and intentions of others, as
if it were not possible for anyone else to do the unselfish work they
themselves refuse to do. They are stumbling blocks. If they would
go to places where there are no believers, and work to win souls to
Christ, they would soon be so busy proclaiming the truth and helping
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the suffering that they would have no time to dissect character, no time
to surmise evil and then report the results of their supposed keenness
in seeing beneath the surface.
Let those who have lived so long in places where there are large
churches of believers go out into the harvest field to sow and reap for
the Master. They will forget self in the desire to save souls. They will
see so much work to do, so many fellow beings to help, that they will
have no time to look for faults in others. They will have no time to
work on the negative side.
Bringing so many believers together in one place tends to en-
courage evil surmising and evilspeaking. Many become absorbed in
looking and listening for evil. They forget what a great sin they are
committing. They forget that the words they speak can never be unsaid
and that by their suspicions they are sowing seeds that will spring up
to bear a harvest of evil. How great this harvest is no one will know