Who is Sufficient for These Things?
THIS must have been the question weighing heavily on the mind of every one as he left the Tabernacle, Sabbath, October 12. The theme was the consideration of the necessity for missionary training schools to fit up workers for the present time. We are face to face with a crisis which we must meet, whether we will or not. That crisis is the greatest the world has ever been called to face. It is no less than the closing up of the gospel work, and the second coming of Christ, in this generation. Elder W. W. Prescott was the principal speaker. He referred to the work of John the Baptist, whose mission was to bear witness to the truth, and prepare the way of the Lord. This work we are to do in the present generation in reference to the second advent. John bore testimony to the truth by saying, “I am not the Christ,” when the way was open to him to follow his ambition, and pose as the Messiah, whom everybody was expecting. Christ proclaimed himself the light, the truth, and the way. He was such, simply because He was all these qualities and perfections incarnated, or clothed with human flesh. So, to be like Him, we must have these qualities enshrined in us, and show them forth to the world. There was one problem the speaker said he could not solve, and therefore would make no effort to do so; and that is how a people having the light that we have, and admitting the magnitude of the crisis on our hands, can treat the situation with the utter indifference that prevails. We ought now to be in the kingdom instead of here, and might have been if we had lived for it. Now the question is, How much time shall we spend here, battling with sin, when We ought to be in the kingdom, sharing its glories? It is not a question of dates, of a year, month, day, or hour; but a question of a certain degree of experience; for just as soon as the way is prepared for the Lord, He will come. Brother Prescott's discourse was well supplemented and bound off by remarks by Brother A. G. Daniells, on the necessity and utility of missionary training schools. Where one worker can be furnished, O that we had facilities by which we could turn out thousands immediately! and if, said he, we had a company of a thousand before us, composed of ministers, Bible workers, canvassers, physicians, medical missionaries, nurses, business agents, etc., they could all be placed, before one week is ended, in fields which have been reaching out imploring hands for help. What are we doing, and what shall we do, to answer these imperative calls? The word that belongs to us now, is, “Awake thou that sleepest, . . . and Christ shall give thee light.” “Now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” What are we doing to prepare the way of the Lord? Who is sufficient for these things? The Lord's arm alone can carry the work through, and give us the victory.