BEWARE by H. NICOLA

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 9, 1876

BEWARE

By H. NICOLA

“CURSED be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully [negligently, margin].” Jer. 47:10. Ministers, elders, deacons, church-clerks, s. s. treasurers, directors, secretaries, librarians, this means you. Indeed, may it not mean all that have anything to do in the work of the Lord? and what servant is there that has not a part to act somewhere? But the attention of the above-named class is especially invited to this text. Read carefully; ponder well. I am fully satisfied, from personal observation and experience, that the greatest cause of stagnation and death in our churches is the sluggish, negligent manner in which these officers perform their duties. To accept any position of trust in the cause of God, let it be ever so small and then neglect to perform its duties as they should be done, at least to the very best of our ability, incurs a fearful responsibility. Doubtless all who fill these positions have much to learn, and many of us nearly everything.

The elders of some small churches (for churches with such elders always remain small) while attending meeting on the Sabbath permit their children to run around town. When the minister comes the elder takes a front seat, and while the burning truths of God's word are being poured forth from a burdened soul the elder takes a good nap, and wakes up just in time for the benediction. These things are very painful to one who visits the churches and labors for them.

I wonder how long a minister would have to preach to convert either the elder or any of his neighbors. May God pity the members of these churches and wake up the sleepy elders; and may all church officers and all God's dear people arouse and come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty, that the time may speedily come that tobacco-mongers and wine-bibbers will feel ill at ease in the assembly of the saints, and that the sinners in Zion may tremble, and fearfulness surprise the hypocrite. This is to apply to the Iowa and Nebraska Conference. H. NICOLA.