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watch, and pray. A close connection with Jesus will increase your
power of accomplishing good, your intellect will be strengthened. The
time that will try men’s souls is just before us. We shall then have no
advocate to rebuke the devil, and plead in our behalf.—
The Review
and Herald, September 22, 1896
.
Every member has a work to do—This time demands that ad-
vance moves be made, that resolute, persevering faith be exercised,
that a patient, self-denying, long-suffering spirit be manifested by
every member of our churches, and that each one who professes to
follow Christ shall become a worker in his moral vineyard. The God-
fearing members of the church can do more good by devoted, personal
effort than our ministers can accomplish when they feel no burden
to labor from house to house. Our ordained ministers must do what
they can, but it must not be expected that one man can do the work
of all. The Master has appointed unto every man his work. There are
visits to be made, there is praying to be done, there is sympathy to be
imparted; and the piety—the heart and hand—of the whole church is
to be employed, if the work is to be accomplished. You can sit down
with your friends, and in a pleasant, social way, talk of the precious
Bible faith.—
The Review and Herald, August 13, 1889
.
[148]
God is displeased with ease-loving dispositions—The laborers
together with God will be aroused to do their work for the Master.
Instead of doing so little, they must do very much more, and act as
if they were plucking souls as brands from the burning fires. God is
displeased with the ease-loving dispositions of those who have the light
of truth. Time is golden. Lay hold of God by living faith, and exert
your powers to their very utmost, having your testimony so vitalized
by the Spirit of God that sinners will feel and sense their danger. Let
faith be woven into your experience. Let every believer in the truth be
thoroughly alive to the danger of this time. Let them awake from their
stupor and feel that the delegated ministers are not the only ones to be
workers together with God. Every soul must have a part in this. Says
Christ, “Ye are the light of the world.” This not only applies to the
ministers, but to every soul to whom Christ has revealed Himself. In
your several churches you are to be active, living, Christian workers.
Are you acquainted with your neighbors? Have you labored for those
close by your own homes? Have you the love of Jesus? If so, you will
feel an interest for the souls for whom Christ died. Pure religion and