Public Evangelist
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Daily Conversion for a Sacred Work—God has shown me your
case so fully I dare not let you go on in deception as to your true
condition. I greatly fear that you will fail of everlasting life, that after
you have preached to others upon the binding claims of God’s law you
will fail to carry out in your own life the holy principles of the law of
God, and will make shipwreck of faith.
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You are so much swallowed up in yourself that unless you are
consecrated to God and have a living daily faith in God and obtain
His grace and power, you will be a hindrance to the advancement of
the truth. I cannot see the cause of God marred and suffer through
your inefficiency or through your blind mistakes. You must be a daily
converted man or you are unfit for the sacred work in which you are
engaged. I know more of your peculiar temperament and your dangers
than others can.
Appeal to Women for Sympathy—Your trouble with the sisters
has come in consequence of your drawing upon their sympathies. You
relate your trials and enlist their pity for you whom they think a great
sufferer. You then yield to your feelings, put on an appearance as
though you were enduring almost martyrdom. You lead them out
to give you care and attention which is not really proper, and bring
yourself in a position where you are easily tempted. You should have
learned by your trials in the past to shun anything which has the least
appearance of familiarity with the sisters, married or unmarried. Let
your affections center upon God. Rely upon Him for support rather
than on human sympathy.
You are very weak in this direction, but the cause of God must not
be marred with your weakness and indiscretion. This is your danger,
and you are overcome, and then a wound is brought upon the cause of
God that can never be fully healed.—
Letter 53, 1876
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Attitude of the Evangelist After Loss of His Credentials—Dear
Sir: I have been troubled exceedingly in regard to your case, and yet
have not known what to say to you. I was very reluctant to say a word
to discourage you, for I know what terrible sadness discouragement
brings to the soul. I thought when your credentials were not renewed
you would quietly settle down and be willing to be retired, that you
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would know if it was among the possibilities consistent with reason
and religion in the great need we are of laborers, you would have
received credentials. I could not use my influence in favor of this.