224 Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the Seventh-day Adventists
love, piety, and faith be cherished in the heart, and the precious fruits
will appear in the life.
In many cases means which should be devoted to the missionary
work is diverted into other channels, from mistaken ideas of benevo-
lence. We may err in making gifts to the poor which are not a blessing
to them, leading them to feel that they need not exert themselves
and practice economy, for others will not permit them to suffer. We
should not give countenance to indolence, or encourage habits of self-
gratification by affording means for indulgence. While the worthy
poor are not to be neglected, all should be taught, so far as possible,
to help themselves. The salvation of souls is the burden of our work.
It was for this that Christ made the great sacrifice, and it is this that
specially demands our beneficence.
We shall be brought into strait places in our work. Trials will come.
God will test the strength of our faith; he will prove us to see if we
will trust him under difficulties. The silver and gold are the Lord’s,
and when his stewards have done their duty fully, and can do no more,
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they are not to sit down at ease, let things take their course, and let
the missionary work come to a standstill. It is then that they should
cry to God for help. Let those who have faith seek the Lord earnestly,
remembering that “the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the
violent take it by force.”
There are those in the church who have with open hand and heart
come forward to the work hitherto, and they will not be behind now.
We have confidence in their integrity. But the offerings of the church
have been in many instances more numerous than her prayers. The
missionary movement is far in advance of the missionary spirit. Earnest
prayers have not, like sharp sickles, followed the workers into the
harvest field. It is true there is an interest to see success attend the
efforts to unfurl the banner of truth in foreign lands, but there has been
a lack of heartfelt sympathy with the laborers, and real burden of soul
that the means invested may do its work.
This is the ground of our difficulties; this is the reason for the
pressure for means. The people must be called to reflection. There
must be a spiritual awakening. They must have a personal interest,
a burden of soul, to watch and pray for the success of the work. Let
every one who gives of his means, also send up his prayers daily that it
may bring souls to the foot of the cross. In every church there should