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The Publishing Ministry
trust be given to experienced, God-fearing, proven men, men who will
bear the message of reproof sent by God.—
Letter 35, 1900
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Respect for Older Workers—In the office of publications at Bat-
tle Creek, a spirit is cherished that is an offense to God; there is
selfishness that God cannot tolerate; there is hardness of heart; a lack
of love and meekness, and it is manifested in words and deportment
that are entirely unchristian. The Lord has reproved the sins; He has
set them before the erring, and they still are cherished.
There are those connected with the office who did not share in the
sacrifices required to establish it and have not carried the burdens of
its upbuilding, and they show little interest or respect to those who did
share in these early labors and sacrifices and who have grown old and
gray in the work.—
Manuscript 16, 1890
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To Each a Work Appointed by God—Years ago I saw that our
people were far behind in obtaining that knowledge which would
qualify them for positions of trust in the cause. Every member of the
church should put forth efforts to qualify himself to do work for the
master. To each has been appointed a work, according to his ability.
Even now, at the eleventh hour, we should arouse to educate men
of ability for the work, that they may, while occupying positions of
trust themselves, be educating by precept and example all who are
associated with them.
Through a selfish ambition some have kept from others the knowl-
edge they could have imparted. Others have not cared to tax themselves
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by educating anyone else. Yet this would have been the very best kind
of work they could have done for Jesus. Says Christ: “Ye are the light
of the world,” and for this reason we are to let our light shine before
men.
If all that the Lord has spoken in reference to these things had
been heeded, our institutions would today occupy a higher and holier
position than they do. But men have been satisfied with small attain-
ments. They have not sought with all their might to rise in mental,
moral, and physical capabilities. They have not felt that God required
this of them, they have not realized that Christ died that they might do
this very work. As the result they are far behind what they might be
in intelligence and in the ability to think and plan. They could have
added virtue to virtue, and knowledge to knowledge, and thus have
become strong in the Lord. But this they have failed to do. Let each go