WHAT CAN WE EACH DO TO ADVANCE THE CAUSE OF GOD? by Stephen Nelson Haskell

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 28, 1868

WHAT CAN WE EACH DO TO ADVANCE THE CAUSE OF GOD?

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

FIRST, living out the truth by a strict conformity to it; a decided, conscientious, uncompromising course, yet a life of real meekness, will do much in recommending the truth. We are a peculiar people, and are becoming more and more so. The health reform makes us appear very odd in the eyes of many, and is the cause of many questions being asked, and remarks being made; and, How shall we best recommend it? is the question. To move just right is important. The question with us should be, What is right? What is the rule given? Not, How far can we deviate from the rule and pass? Then if the question is asked why we dress thus, we can meekly answer, We think it is for our health. Then just put into the inquirer's hands the tract on dress. Every Sabbath-keeping family should have them on hand. If asked why we discard such and such food, and live on a plain diet, we also can say, We think it is for our health; and then for an explanation of our course, lend them “How to Live,” or the Health Reformer (many times a subscriber may be obtained); and so it is in relation to the Sabbath, and other points of our faith. Let every brother and sister have tracts on hand for this purpose, and make it our daily business to thus recommend the truth. This course will have much to do in removing prejudice, and preparing minds for the reception of the truth. We should be “zealous of good works.”

Again, our conversation has much to do in recommending the truth. Let it be holy and chaste; not altogether upon worldly interests, our bad feelings, our trials, abuses we have received, &c., but upon God and his truth, the time in which we live, and things pertaining to the kingdom. In short, have our conversation in Heaven, from whence we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, ever remembering that “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Both in private and in public our words should be few and well chosen. Keep constantly before our minds eternity, the Judgment, and the solemn fact that a faithful record is kept of our words, and that for “every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account thereof in the day of Judgment; for by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”

By pursuing this course we shall not only benefit ourselves by forming habits which will shape our character for the kingdom, but will also benefit others, and help forward the cause of God.

S. N. HASKELL.