58
The Publishing Ministry
let all those who profess to be Christians depart from all iniquity, all
dishonesty. For Christ’s sake, for your own soul’s sake, I urge you to
reform. Let there be a solemn consideration of your privileges and
responsibilities. Let there not be found among you a selfish, earthly
ambition for place and position or money-getting. This spirit prevails
to a large extent, and the religion of Christ is brought down to a low,
common level. There is great need that the converting power of God
may be felt throughout the office, that all may realize that the words
of Christ are to be fulfilled in life and character. Every day Jesus is
in that office taking note of every worker in every department and
line of work. The voice of God speaks to all who are there employed,
warning and reproving them in His Word, and through the testimonies
of His Spirit. But these warnings are first neglected, then despised,
then stubbornly resisted and assailed.—SpTPW 158, 159.
Strange Fire Mingled With the Sacred—I presented before
those present [at a ministers’ council in the Battle Creek Taberna-
cle church] the sacred responsibilities connected with the office of
publication, telling them that those who accept these responsibilities
should be men of faith, men of piety and deep experience. Jesting and
joking should not be sanctioned in the office, neither should harshness
or sourness be shown to those employed or those seeking counsel.
There are those who do not discern the sacredness of the work,
who will surely bring in principles that are not correct. They will
work to secure wages, and then think their duty is done. They will
bring in a selfish, grasping spirit, which will result in robbery of God.
Strange fire will be mingled with the sacred fire. Others will catch
this spirit, for the plague spot of selfishness is as contagious as the
leprosy.—
Manuscript 19, 1891
.
Satan Urging False and Unscriptural Principles—I have been
shown that Satan and his angels who are doing his bidding, clothed
[71]
in garments of light, are walking through every room in the office,
looking with eager interest upon every branch of the work, urging the
workers to present false principles and bring a cheapness into the work,
and to destroy, if possible, the sacred, elevating, ennobling principles
of the truth.
The hearts of many of the workers are imbued with the same spirit
that Satan cherished before his fall and which led to the rebellion in
heaven. And he knows just how to bring this about now. For some