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The Publishing Ministry
Brethren and sisters, the Lord will be pleased if you will take hold
heartily to sustain the publishing institution with your prayers and your
means. Pray every morning and evening that it may receive God’s
richest blessing. Do not encourage criticism and complaining. Let no
murmurs or complaints come from your lips; remember that angels
hear these words. All must be led to see that these institutions are
of God’s appointment. Those who disparage them in order to serve
their own interests must render an account to God. He designs that
everything connected with His work shall be treated as sacred....
Every institution will have to battle with difficulty. Trials are
permitted in order to test the hearts of God’s people. When adversity
befalls one of the Lord’s instrumentalities, it will be shown how much
real faith we have in God and in His work. At such a time let none view
matters in the worst light and give expression to doubt and unbelief.
Do not criticize those who carry the burdens of responsibility. Let
not the conversation in your homes be poisoned with criticism of
the Lord’s workers. Parents who indulge this criticizing spirit are
not bringing before their children that which will make them wise
unto salvation. Their words tend to unsettle the faith and confidence
not only on the children, but of those older in years. All have little
enough of respect and reverence for sacred things. Satan will unite
most zealously with the criticizer in fostering unbelief, envy, jealousy,
and disrespect. Satan is always at work to imbue men with his spirit, to
quench the love which should be sacredly cherished between brethren,
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to discourage confidence, to excite envy, evil surmisings, and the strife
of tongues. Let us not be found acting as his co-workers. One heart
open to his suggestions may sow many seeds of disaffection. Thus
may be wrought a work whose results in the ruin of souls will never
be fully manifest until the great day of final judgment.
Christ declares: “Whoso shall cause one of these little ones which
believe on Me to stumble, it is profitable for him that a great millstone
should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be sunk in the
depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of occasions of stum-
bling! for it must needs be that the occasions come; but woe to that
man through whom the occasion cometh!”
Matthew 18:6, 7
, R.V. A
great responsibility is here placed upon the members of the church.
Let them beware lest through inattention to the souls of those young