p. 8 | A CALL TO BIBLE STUDY by William Warren Prescott

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 7, 1902

A CALL TO BIBLE STUDY.

By William Warren Prescott

WHEN the time came for the message of the coming of the Lord to be given to prepare the way for His first appearance upon this earth, “the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.” This was the inspiration and the power for his work. It is evident that the Spirit of God stirred his mind in the study of the prophecies concerning the coming of the Saviour, and made so clear to him his personal relation to that event that, with a heart aroused and quickened by his own message, he went forth to be the voice of the prophets. Thus the word came with life and power to the people. After an interim of about four hundred years, during which the voice of the prophets was silent, and the spirit of true religion had been largely lost, the spirit of prophecy was revived, not in new revelations, but in the right understanding of the old revelations, and so the message was again given “in the spirit and power of Elijah.”

Just that same experience needs to be repeated to-day. The word of God must come to the hearts of the messengers. The call of the hour is for ministers of the gospel who will not “leave the word of God, and serve tables,” but will give themselves “continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” A great work is to be done in a short time. The message must be given with a new power. Men must have a new experience with the word of God. The spirit of prophecy must be revived in the understanding of truths long since uttered by the prophets, but which ought now to be proclaimed to the world. There ought to arise now a whole army of young men to whom God could give “knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom,” as He did to Daniel and his companions, as they apply themselves earnestly and prayerfully to the study of the truth as it is in Jesus. Then they would learn for themselves that “there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets,” and the preaching of the prophecies would become much more than a mere repetition of the words of the prophets; the spirit of the seer would be in the heart of the preacher.

It is because of the sense of this great need in the ministry that special opportunities are being offered during the present winter for young ministers and licentiates to get help for their work by spending a term at Emmanuel Missionary College. Elder J. A. Brunson is now giving his whole time to the Bible work there. Elder A. G. Daniells is planning to spend a portion of the winter term at the college, and will conduct Bible studies while there. I have also been requested by the Board of Trustees to assist in this work, and shall do all I can consistently with other demands upon my time. This ought to be the beginning of a new experience in our ministry. The younger workers, who have had some experience in the public teaching of the word, but

realize the need of new inspiration and new power, are earnestly invited to avail themselves of this opportunity. The winter term begins January 8, and continues ten weeks. Further information as to terms, etc., may be obtained by addressing Emmanuel Missionary College, Berrien Springs, Mich.

W. W. PRESCOTT,

Chairman of Trustees.