410
Gospel Workers 1915
with our brethren, a fragrant influence will attend our work wherever
we go.
The workers in the large cities must act their several parts, making
every effort to bring about the best results. They are to talk faith and
to act in such a way as to impress the people. They are not to narrow
the work down to their own particular ideas. In the past too much of
this has been done by us as a people, and it has been a drawback to
the success of the work....
No human being is to seek to bind other human beings to himself,
as if he were to control them, telling them to do this, and forbidding
them to do that, commanding, dictating, acting like an officer over
a company of soldiers. This is the way the priests and rulers did in
Christ’s day, but it is not the right way. After the truth has made
the impression upon hearts, and men and women have accepted its
teachings, they are to be treated as the property of Christ, not as the
property of man. In fastening minds to yourself, you lead them to
disconnect from the Source of their wisdom and sufficiency. Their
dependence must be wholly in God; only thus can they grow in grace.
[485]
However large may be a man’s claim to knowledge and wisdom,
unless he is under the teaching of the Holy Spirit, he is exceedingly
ignorant of spiritual things. He needs to realize his danger and his
inefficiency, and to place entire dependence upon the One who alone
is able to keep the souls committed to His trust, able to imbue them
with His Spirit, and to fill them with unselfish love for one another,
thus enabling them to bear witness that God has sent His Son into
the world to save sinners. Those who are truly converted will press
together in Christian unity. Let there be no division in the church of
God, no unwise authority exercised over those who accept the truth.
The meekness of Christ is to appear in all that is said and done.
Christ is the foundation of every true church. We have His unal-
terable promise that His presence and protection will be given to His
faithful ones who walk in His counsel. To the end of time Christ is
to be first. He is the source of life and strength, of righteousness and
holiness. And He is all this to those who wear His yoke and learn of
Him how to be meek and lowly.
The duty and delight of all service is to uplift Christ before the peo-
ple. This is the end of all true labor. Let Christ appear; let self be hidden