260
The Publishing Ministry
for books received, but prompt remittal is the only successful way of
conducting business.
The loose manner in which some canvassers have performed their
work shows that they have important lessons to learn. Much haphazard
work has been presented before me. By laxness in secular affairs
some have formed habits of carelessness and slackness, and they have
brought this deficiency into the Lord’s work.
God calls for decided improvement in the various branches of the
work. The business done in connection with His cause should be
marked with greater precision and exactness. There must be firm,
decided effort to bring about essential reforms.—
Testimonies for the
Church 7:175
.
Study to Protect Colporteurs’ Income—Canvassing is an im-
portant work, a work equal in importance to the ministry of the Word.
[299]
Matters must be so arranged that canvassers shall have enough to live
on without overdrawing. This door of temptation must be closed and
barred. However honest a canvasser may be, circumstances will arise
in his work which will be a sore temptation to him. Let the barn be
locked before the horse is stolen. This is the best way....
It is our work to bar every path that leads to temptation. The Lord
desires us to close the door against Satan’s entrance. I fear that we
do not always remember the wiliness of the foe with whom we have
to contend. He has a masterly mind and a keen insight. Let us in our
work remember the harm it is in his power to do if we give him the
opportunity.—
Letter 10, 1901
.
Encourage Honesty Among Literature Evangelists—The work
of colporteurs and canvassers is an important work. It is no child’s play.
Some have engaged in canvassing for other books than those bearing
on present truth. They had a very low standard of righteousness and
honesty. Because they professed to be Christians they were trusted.
Confidence was placed in them because they professed to be Seventh-
day Adventists, and it was not thought necessary to place them under
regulations.
Some took advantage of this confidence and made false statements;
they committed forgery, robbery, and theft. They squandered the
money taken for books, money that belonged to their employers, and
several who carried on this business considered it a good chance for
them, and laughed one with another over the matter. The arrangements