p. 344 | The Missionary by Stephen Nelson Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jul 29, 1880

The Missionary.

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

OUR COLPORTERS.

The work of the colporter is not one of modern invention. In every religious reform there have been men and women who have visited families and devoted their talents to God by introducing publications and engaging in personal labor to bring their fellowmen to the knowledge of the truth. It was so in the apostles' time. It was so in Luther's time. It is so now. This work should not be entered upon in a careless manner, but those engaging in it should be men of prayer, men of piety; such as have a living connection with Heaven. They should feel that God holds them responsible for the impression they make and the influence they exert upon those for whom they labor. The responsibility cannot be put on and taken off as one does a garment.

There are many who have entered this work without a true sense of its importance; and when a little disappointment occurs, because their labor is not appreciated, or because weariness is connected with it, or from some other trivial cause, their burden leaves them and they retire from the field. When we can have even a slight comprehension of what Jesus has done for us, we shall feel a responsibility to do all we can for him. The life of Christ was spent in devising plans for our salvation; for while we were enemies to God he pitied us and came from Heaven to suffer, the just for the unjust. He died and rose again from the grave to show his followers the way of life from the dead. He now stands before the Father as our great High Priest and advocate, pleading our cause, and presenting our feeble progress with his infinite grace, before the Father. He forgives our transgressions, and by imputing unto us his righteousness, he links us to the Infinite. We need not be destitute of his Spirit or lacking of his power, but, "Strengthened with all might according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness."

In the heavenly courts our Saviour now stands and graciously invites us to him. Come ye weary, ye poor, ye hungry; come ye burdened, ye heavy laden sin-sick souls, come; and whosoever will let him come and partake of the water of life freely.

Can we be too earnest or self-sacrificing in our efforts to set the truth before the world? Shall we plead for ease and the pleasures of this life? Shall we complain of hardships and deprivations, and seek to enjoy our pleasant homes and the society of our families and friends, and let others do the work which must be done in warning the world? Shall we plead that we cannot have success, and so become discouraged? Shall we offer the excuses of those invited to the supper? One of them had bought him a piece of ground and must needs go and see it; another bought five yoke of oxen and must go to prove them; another had married a wife and therefore could not go. These all begged to be excused. Shall we not rather gird on the armor anew with cheerfulness, hope, and faith, and like valiant soldiers be willing to engage in the thickest of the fight, war the good warfare, share the glorious victory and receive the eternal reward? S. N. HASKELL.