Cautions for Aging Persons
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are tempted to think that you are left out; and for this reason you easily
become impatient.
The love of Christ must be an abiding principle in the soul. At
your age, after your life of toil, can anything be more desirable than
quietude, love, peace, restfulness, and time in which to prepare to
meet your Lord in peace when He shall come? You are worn, and
do not view things aright. To ask you to remain in the position of a
trainer of the youth would be to bring upon you too great a burden.
It would be a mistake to place you, with tired nerves, in a position
full of perplexity. In the management of children you often manifest a
species of severity.
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Can there be any power so great as the power of love? Love to God
and love to your neighbor—this is the whole duty that God requires of
you. Do not spoil the good work that you have done. Withdraw from
the turmoil of battle, and seek rest and peace in following God’s way.
Doors of usefulness will open to you. Brother S, take up the work that
God has given you as an evangelist.
Brother and Sister S, the testing question now comes to you, Will
you seek for rest and peace, cultivating all your powers for the future,
immortal life? The Lord regards you with the greatest tenderness.
Both of you need to have less responsibility in the school work. The
Lord desires both of you to stand free from the burdens that you have
hitherto carried....
Neither of you is to feel as if you were divorced from the work.
As it progresses, you should feel an interest in it, and be thankful that
there are others who can carry it forward successfully. One laborer is
adapted to one line of work, and another laborer to another line; all are
to move forward together, advancing the work harmoniously. A Paul
may plant, an Apollos water, but God gives the increase. The Lord
uses some men to plow the field and to sow the seed, and others to
reap; and He causes both those who sow and those who reap to rejoice
together in the time of harvest. This is the way the Lord has always
worked. He has given to every man his work. Let us do our best. If
the Lord is with us, we shall be prospered....
As you read this letter, I desire you to regard me as your best friend.
I respect you both for your past faithfulness. You have a work to do for
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the Lord. But you are to bear less responsibility than you have borne
in the past. The reason for my speaking especially of Sister S’s being