20 Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the Seventh-day Adventists
work a miracle to bring them out of this position, they would go right
to work to bring about another similar state of things. Such do not feel
the necessity of counseling with God; they prefer to follow their own
inclination and judgment.
Some have made it a point never to let temporal matters come
between them and the work of God, and they have lost much in con-
sequence of this. But what of that? What are temporal things when
compared with the eternal? We have enlisted in the army of the Lord,
and now let none of us create such a condition of things that we shall
have to desert it.
I appeal to you, my brethren in the ministry. Connect yourselves
more closely with the work of God. Many souls that might be saved,
will be lost, unless you strive more earnestly to make your work as
perfect as possible. There is a great work to be done in Europe. It
may seem to move slowly and hard at first; but God will work mightily
through you if you will only make an entire surrender to him. Much
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of the time you will have to walk by faith, not by feeling.
I do not know but all present have infirmities of some kind upon
them. If so, do not gratify the enemy by standing in the desk and telling
of those infirmities; but talk of the mighty power of Christ to bless all
who come unto him. Jesus lives. Move out by faith, and claim the
promises of God. Do you not remember the woman that came behind
Jesus and touched the hem of his garment and was made whole? Hers
is the kind of faith that you need. Many have the casual touch, but
there are few who are closely connected with Christ by living faith.
Wherever you are, however trying your circumstances, do not talk
discouragement. The Bible is full of rich promises. Can you not
believe them? When we go out to labor for souls, God does not want
us to go a warfare at our own charges. What does this mean? It means
that we need not go in our own strength, for God has pledged his word
that he will go with us.
As workers, let us seek the Lord together. Of our own selves we
can do nothing; but through Christ we can do all things. God intends
that we shall be a help and blessing to one another, and that we shall
be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. In the hour of
our deepest trial, Jesus will be our “bright and morning star.” There
is in life much sorrow of our own creating. Satan works up distrust
and discouragement. But God lives and reigns; and he will give us all