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Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers
Position and Responsibility
Those who occupy positions of trust in the work of God should
ever bear in mind that these positions involve great responsibility.
The right performance of the solemn work for this time and the
salvation of the souls connected with us in any way depend in a
great degree upon our own spiritual condition. All should cultivate a
vivid sense of their responsibility; for their own present well-being
and their eternal destiny will be decided by the spirit they cherish.
If self is woven into the work, it is as the offering of strange fire in
the place of the sacred. Such workers incur the displeasure of the
Lord. Brethren, remove your hands from the work, unless you can
distinguish the sacred fire from the common.
Those who have stood as representative men are not all Chris-
tian gentlemen. There is prevalent a spirit that seeks the mastery
over others. Men regard themselves as authority, they express their
opinions and pass resolutions about matters of which they have no
experimental knowledge. Some who are connected with the pub-
lishing house at-----pass through the office, speaking with different
ones, giving directions which they suppose it proper for them to
give, when they do not understand what they are talking about.
Injustice and Dishonesty
Great injustice and even dishonesty have been committed in the
board meetings in bringing matters before those who have not an ex-
perience that will enable them to be competent judges. Manuscripts
have been placed in the hands of men for criticism, when the eyes
of their understanding were so blinded that they could not discern
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the spiritual import of the subject with which they were dealing.
More than this, they had no real knowledge of bookmaking. They
had had neither study nor practice in the line of literary productions.
Men have sat in judgment upon books and manuscripts unwisely
placed in their hands when they should have declined to serve in any
such capacity. It would have been only honest for them to say: “I
have had no experience in this line of work, and should certainly do
injustice to myself and to others in giving my opinion. Excuse me,
brethren; instead of instructing others, I need that someone should
teach me.” But this was far from their thoughts. They expressed