Untitled article | AdventAI

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, August 6, 1867

Energy.

Who ever became a man of influence by sitting under the harrow of dependency? What idle man ever benefited the world, his friends or himself? There is nothing like action coupled with cheerfulness. We see it every where. Who is he, sitting on that empty barrel on the wharf? A man with no energy—a prey to grief. He does not know what to do nor how to start. Who is that man with folded arms, standing in the market place? A lazy, do-little sort of a vagabond, who hardly earns his bread and butter. Do you wish not to become such a character? Then arouse yourself! away from the arm chair! up from the gutter! out of the downy bed! Move your arms, kick your feet, and stir about; give your blood a chance to circulate through your veins, and the air of Heaven to circulate through your lungs. Seize the first job presented, and dispatch it at once; up for the pay, and get another forthwith; you will soon earn enough to purchase a wheel-barrow or hand-cart, and then you will begin to live. Who knows what you may become? Energy is half omnipotent. Small beginnings end in large gains; a penny well turned begins a fortune. Resolve, then, to do something, and you will soon bless us for preaching thus faithfully to you.