Cut off from his Base

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 10, 1866

Cut off from his Base.

A FORMER resident in B——was on a visit to that place, and had many inquiries to make about his former acquaintances, and especially those with whom he had been associated in efforts to promote the cause of Christ.

"Mr. Shearer is alive and well, I trust," said he.

"Yes, he enjoys very good health."

"He is as active as ever in doing good, I hope."

"Yes, he is as active as ever. It is his nature to be active; but he is cut off from the base of his supplies, I think."

"You don't mean that he has failed in business?"

"No; his property has greatly increased within the last two or three years."

"And his spirituality decreased in proportion—is that what you mean? If so, I am sorry to hear it; he was one of the most zealous and useful men in the township."

"He is a zealous man still, but not as efficient in doing good as he once was. About three years ago he built a large factory, and soon after became connected with a railway. His time thus became greatly occupied, and his mind taken off from spiritual things. He did not neglect the prayer meeting, nor intermit any of his usual efforts to do good; but there soon came to be less heart in them, as it were. His prayers in the prayer meeting became somewhat formal and his exhortations had less weight. A change has come over him. One can scarcely point out any difference in him, but one feels that there is a difference. I conclude that his extended business has caused him to neglect his closet. That is what I mean by his being cut off from his base of supplies."

"To be thus cut off is fatal to one's efficiency in doing good."

"As fatal as for an army to be cut off from its supplies."

The neglect of prayer is the great cause of unfruitfulness among Christians. This neglect is not always caused by the pressure of business. It is sometimes caused by great activity in doing good. A man became deeply interested in the welfare of sinners. He prayed long and earnestly for a revival. At length the blessing came. He was constantly employed in attending meetings, in visiting from house to house, in counseling the anxious, and in warning the careless. He neglected his closet, and brought leanness upon his soul, even in the midst of sincere efforts to do good to the souls of others.

Slight events have often great influence in causing a neglect of secret prayer. A young man was very regular in his secret devotions, and was remarkable for his consistent piety. A friend, who was not a professor of religion, occupied the same sleeping apartments with him for a few nights. The consequence was a neglect of prayer, which, though it wrought no change visible to others, seriously affected his Christian progress.

The skillful soldier is careful not to allow himself to be cut off from the base of his supplies. The Christian should be still more careful to the same end.

The daring soldier may sometimes cut himself off for a time, in order to make a forced march or perform some great exploit. In this, he may not be imitated by the Christian. He may never intermit prayer in order that he may do some good thing for Christ. He is shorn of all strength to do good when his connection with the throne of grace is interrupted.

—N. Y. Observer.