Unprecedented Harvest
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Literature Reaches Prejudiced Hearts—We have no time to
lose. Important work is before us, and if we are slothful servants
we shall certainly lose the heavenly reward. But few have broad
and extensive views of what can be done in reaching the people by
personal, interested efforts in a wise distribution of our publications.
Many who will not be induced to listen to the truth presented by the
living preacher will take up a tract or a paper and peruse it; many
things they read meet their ideas exactly, and they become interested to
read all it contains. Impressions are thus made upon their minds which
they cannot readily forget. The seed of truth has in some cases been
buried for years beneath the rubbish of the world, and the pleasing
fables that deceived ones have enjoyed. After a time some earthly
sorrow or affliction softens their hearts, and the seed springs up and
bears fruit to the glory of God.
Again, many read these papers and tracts and their combativeness
is aroused, and they throw the silent messengers from them in a pas-
sion. But ideas all new to them have, although unwelcome, made
their impression, and as the silent messenger bears the abuse without
retaliation there is nothing to feed the anger which has been excited.
Again the hand takes up the neglected paper or tract, and the eye is
tracing the truthful lines, and again in passion it is thrown from them
as their path is crossed. But the mind is not at rest; the abused paper
is at last perused, and thus point after point of truth commences its
convicting work; step by step the reformation is wrought, self dies, and
the warfare and antagonism to the truth is ended. The despised paper
or tract is henceforth honored as the means of converting the stubborn
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heart and subduing the perverse will, bringing it in subjection to Christ.
Had the living preacher spoken as pointedly, these persons would have
turned from him, and would not have entertained the new and strange
ideas brought before them. The papers and tracts can go where the
living preacher cannot go, and where if he could go he would have no
access to the people, because of their prejudice against the truth.
I have been shown that but few have any correct idea of what
the distribution of papers and tracts is doing. The missionary work,
in circulating the publications upon present truth, is opening doors
everywhere, and preparing minds to receive the truth, when the living
preacher shall come among them. The success which attends the
efforts of ministers in the field is not due alone to their efforts, but