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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, October 1, 1867.

FromReview and Herald, Vol. XXX, No. 16

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OUR PRESENT DUTY.

By Adolphus Smith

“The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.” Matt. ix, 37, 38.
The above-quoted words of our Saviour were not exclusively applicable to the time of the apostles; but to us, even to us, on whom the ends of the world are come, may the injunction, “Pray ye,” be most fittingly applied.
That there is now a great scarcity of laborers in the Lord’s vineyard, is evident from the oft-repeated calls for help from all parts of the land, which only meet with a denial, or a qualified promise of aid at some future and indefinite time. And not only this, but our messengers, also, are frequently bringing the above text to the notice of our people, in many cases, I fear, only to command a passing notice. There is not that united, earnest, agonizing prayer of faith to God that will call down the blessing of Heaven while yet we speak.
“The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain; and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.” James v, 16–18.
When the angel of God wrestled with Jacob and prevailed not, he said “Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he [Jacob] said, I will not let thee go except thou bless me.” So the angel blessed him and called his name Israel, “For,” said he, “as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.” Gen. xxxii, 26–28. In answer to prayer the dead have been raised to life; the sick healed; the lame made to leap for joy, and the blind to see.
Said the angel to Cornelius, “Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.” And forthwith the apostle Peter was sent to expound to him and his house the word of the Lord.
Fresh in the minds of the Lord’s chosen people are the four days of fasting and prayer that God so signally answered, by staying the ravages of war. Are we now to the best of our ability improving the short respite of peace that precedes the day of wrath? Manifestly we are not. It is evident that the latter rain will not be poured out till the people of God feel the need of, and ask for it. See Zech. x, 1.
He who qualified his humble Galilean followers so to preach the word that all who heard it marveled, can also raise up and qualify whom he may choose for the gospel ministry.
Dear brethren, let us examine ourselves, and purge out the old leaven that God may pour out upon us his blessing. A Rachel may hide her idols; or an Achan cause the people to fall before their enemies; but if we as a body turn to the Lord with all our heart, he will purge away our dross, and cause the pure gold to remain.
ADOLPHUS SMITH.
Ottawa Co., Mich.