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some draw back, saying, “The minister who brought us the truth did
not mention these things.” And they become offended because of the
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word. Some refuse to accept the tithing system; they turn away, and
no longer walk with those who believe and love the truth. When other
lines are opened before them, they answer, “It was not so taught us,”
and they hesitate to move forward. How much better it would have
been if the first messenger of truth had faithfully and thoroughly ed-
ucated these converts in regard to all essential matters, even if fewer
had been added to the church under his labors. God would be better
pleased to have six thoroughly converted to the truth than to have sixty
make a profession and yet not be truly converted.
It is part of the minister’s work to teach those who accept the
truth through his efforts, to bring the tithe to the storehouse, as an
acknowledgment of their dependence upon God. The new converts
should be fully enlightened as to their duty to return to the Lord His
own. The command to pay tithe is so plain that there is no semblance
of excuse for disregarding it. He who neglects to give instruction on
this point, leaves undone a most important part of his work.
Ministers must also impress upon the people the importance of
bearing other burdens in connection with the work of God. No one is
exempt from the work of benevolence. The people must be taught that
every department of the cause of God should enlist their support and
engage their interest. The great missionary field is open before us, and
this subject must be agitated, agitated, again and again. The people
must be made to understand that it is not the hearers, but the doers of
the Word, who will gain eternal life. And they are to be taught also
that those who become partakers of the grace of Christ are not only to
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communicate of their substance for the advancement of the truth, but
are to give themselves to God without reserve.
Some ministers are easily diverted from their work. They become
discouraged, or are drawn away by their home ties, and leave a growing
interest to die for want of attention. The loss sustained by the cause
in this way can scarcely be estimated. When an effort to proclaim
the truth is made, the minister in charge should feel responsible to
act his part in faithfully carrying it forward. If his labors appear to
be without result, he should seek by earnest prayer to discover if they
are what they should be. He should humble his soul before God in
self-examination, and by faith cling to the divine promises, humbly