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Life Sketches of Ellen G. White
it upon their hearts. These truths of vital importance are to test the
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world; and yet in our own country there are cities, villages, and towns
that have never heard the warning message. Young men who feel
stirred by the appeals that have been made for help in this great work
of advancing the cause of God, make some advance moves, but do not
get the burden of the work upon them sufficiently to accomplish what
they might.
If young men who commence to labor in this cause would have the
missionary spirit, they would give evidence that God has indeed called
them to the work. But when they do not go out into new places, but
are content to go from church to church, they give evidence that the
burden of the work is not upon them. The ideas of our young preachers
are not broad enough. Their zeal is too feeble. Were the young men
awake and devoted to the Lord, they would be diligent every moment
of their time, and would seek to qualify themselves to become laborers
in the missionary field.
Young men should be qualifying themselves by becoming familiar
with other languages, that God may use them as mediums to commu-
nicate His saving truth to those of other nations. These young men
may obtain a knowledge of other languages even while engaged in
laboring for sinners. If they are economical of their time, they can be
improving their minds, and qualifying themselves for more extended
usefulness. If young women who have borne but little responsibility
would devote themselves to God, they could quality themselves for
usefulness by studying and becoming familiar with other languages.
They could devote themselves to the work of translating.
Our publications should be printed in other languages, that foreign
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nations may be reached. [
When these words were penned, in 1871,
only a beginning had been made in the preparation and publication
of denominational literature in the various languages of Europe and
of other lands.
] Much can be done through the medium of the press,
but still more can be accomplished if the influence of the labors of the
living preachers goes with our publications. Missionaries are needed
to go to our nations to preach the truth in a guarded, careful manner.
The cause of present truth can be greatly extended by personal effort.
When the churches see young men possessing zeal to qualify
themselves to extend their labors to cities, villages, and towns that
have never been aroused to the truth, and missionaries volunteering