Young Men as Missionaries
Young men who desire to enter the field as ministers, colporteurs,
or canvassers, should first receive a suitable degree of mental training,
as well as a special preparation for their calling. Those who are
uneducated, untrained, and unrefined, are not prepared to enter a field
in which the powerful influences of talent and education combat the
truths of God’s word. Neither can they successfully meet the strange
forms of error, religious and philosophical combined, to expose which
requires a knowledge of scientific as well as Scriptural truth.
Those especially who have the ministry in view, should feel the
importance of the Scriptural method of ministerial training. They
should enter heartily into the work, and while they study in the schools,
they should learn of the great Teacher the meekness and humility of
Christ. A covenant-keeping God has promised that in answer to prayer
His Spirit shall be poured out upon these learners in the school of
Christ, that they may become ministers of righteousness.
There is hard work to be done in dislodging error and false doctrine
from the head, that Bible truth and Bible religion may find a place
in the heart. It was as a means ordained of God to educate young
men and women for the various departments of missionary labor, that
colleges were established among us. It is God’s will that they send
forth not merely a few, but many laborers. But Satan, determined to
overthrow this purpose, has often secured the very ones whom God
would qualify for places of usefulness in His work. There are many
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who would work if urged into service, and who would save their souls
by thus working. The church should feel her great responsibility in
shutting up the light of truth, and restraining the grace of God within
her own narrow limits, when money and influence should be freely
employed in bringing competent persons into the missionary field.
Hundreds of young men should have been preparing to act a part
in the work of scattering the seeds of truth beside all waters. We want
men who will push the triumphs of the cross; men who will persevere
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