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The Publishing Ministry
perseverance, His indomitable energy, that will tell for time and for
eternity.
The tract and missionary work is a good work. It is God’s work.
It should be in no way belittled, but there is continual danger of per-
verting it from its true object.—
Testimonies for the Church 4:602,
603
.
Tract and Missionary Work Reduced to a Form—I fear greatly
[329]
that there has not been a full understanding of the true state of the tract
and missionary work. I tell you from what God has shown me, it had
become worked up so minutely that it became intricate.... You should
see it as it is, and as it has been overdone and [has] swallowed up other
important interests.... You should see it as it was presented to me, that
time, labor, and money have been spent in the mechanical working
that reduces it to a system and form almost destitute of true godliness.
I speak the things I know, that while time has been devoted to this
work, it has been at the neglect of other work just as important....
Your study, your planning to such an extent [as] to make the tract
and missionary work successful, has deprived the people of the very
help they should have from you.—
Letter 1, 1881
.
Scheming, Self-interest Mars the Work—Brother G: In my last
vision your case was shown me. I saw that you love the truth which
you profess, but you are not sanctified through it. Your affections
have been divided between the service of God and of mammon. This
division of affection stands as a barrier in the way of your being a
missionary for God. While professedly serving the cause of God,
self-interest has marred your work and greatly injured your influence.
God could not work with you, because your heart was not right with
Him.
So far as words go, you have been deeply interested in the truth;
but when it comes to showing your faith by works, there has been a
great lack. You have not correctly represented our faith. You have
injured the cause of God by your manifest love of gain; and your love
to trade and bicker has not been for your good, nor for the spiritual
health of those with whom you are brought in contact. You are a sharp
man in trade, and you often overreach. You have peculiar tact for
looking out for the best end of the bargain, watching for your own
good rather than that of others. If a man would cheat himself, and
you were to be advantaged thereby, you have let him do it. This is not