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Testimonies to Southern Africa
We are glad to report that our school has thus far proved a success.
We pray the Lord to work in a manifest manner for the school that
men and women may be qualified to go forth as missionaries, and be
enabled to work in the various lines.
We feel that much has been lost in many ways in the past history of
Seventh-day Adventists because they have not heeded the testimonies
given them of God for the last thirty years. These testimonies have
plainly pointed how the children should be educated; that they are
God’s property, and should wisely improve the ability and talents that
God has entrusted them. This should be their subject of thought and
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conversation—the heathen nations who are in darkness and the nations
who have received the gospel. Every missionary meeting should be
alive with interest, every one who loves Jesus carrying to the meeting
a spirit of zeal enthused with the Spirit of Christ. The necessities of
those who have not the truth should be upon the naked soul and we
present them to God and say, “Here am I, send me.” But there are fields
already ripe for the harvest in civilized countries who need the truth
for this time. We must not close the eye and the mind to the necessities
of the world. The spirit of Paul, the great apostle to the Gentiles, was
stirred, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. How was it that
Jesus wept over Jerusalem? It was when He drew near and beheld the
city.
There is work for every one to do who has named the name of
Christ. Will he do it? If we would be duly impressed with the value of
souls we must oft look to Calvary and see the dying Son of the infinite
God giving up His life for a lost world. We must look, and contemplate
how He estimated man. We must be imbued with His spirit. The sight
of our eyes, the contemplation of the mind will certainly affect the
soul, and set in operation practical effort to save the perishing. Thus
the missionary work will be placed upon its proper basis.
In every family, especially where there are children, there is a want
of deeper piety, of the sanctifying grace of Christ brought into the
home. Missionary endeavour should consist more in imparting than in
receiving. The question is, Are not home duties—home missionary
work—neglected? I answer, Yes, Were the love and fear of God
circulating through every household, the children and youth instructed
as they should be, the conversation of an educational character, that
they should feel their accountability to use their intellect and hearts to