p. 53 | Untitled article

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · January 7, 1868

LONGING TO SAVE SOULS.

It is said of the learned John Smith, “that he had resolved to lay aside all other studies and to travail in the salvation of men’s souls, after whose good he most earnestly thirsted.” Of Alleine, author of “Alarm to Unconverted Sinners,” it is said that “he was infinitely and insatiably greedy for the conversion of souls; and to this end he poured out his very heart in prayer and preaching.” Bunyan said, “in my preaching I could not be satisfied unless some fruits did appear in my work.” “I would think it a greater happiness,” said Matthew Henry, “to gain one soul to Christ, than mountains of gold and silver to myself. If I do not gain souls I shall enjoy all other gains with very little satisfaction, and I would rather beg my bread from door to door than not undertake this great work.” Doddridge, writing to a friend, remarked, I long for the conversion of souls, more sensibly than for anything besides. Methinks I could not only labor, but die for it with pleasure.”