"Awake! Awake! Put on Strength."
By Stephen N. Haskell
WE have but to open our eyes to see that the Lord has gone out before his people to prepare the way to accomplish a great work in a brief space of time. There are many things that distinguish this age of the world from all others. It presents advantages for carrying forward the work of God that no previous generation has ever enjoyed. What could be accomplished in our missionary enterprise without the art of printing? Truly our publishing work is the right arm of our strength. Within less time than it would have taken in our Saviour's time to distribute the New Testament in Palestine, we could, by a united effort, send the truth throughout this entire country, including Canada and the British possessions on the north. In less than two weeks every State and Territory could be flooded with reading matter. This to a certain extent is true in the Old World. The means of traveling is such that every principal nation on the earth could be visited, and with the aid of co-laborers in these nations, every portion of them could be reached by personal labor within six months. Truly we are living in an age of wonders with respect to traveling facilities, and the means of communication. The low rates of postage bring the opportunity of taking a part in the spread of the truth within the reach of all, in the most direct manner. By the telegraph the different parts of the whole world are in direct communication with one another. The daily papers of to-day give us the news of yesterday, not only from different parts of this country, but from other countries. This affords an opportunity for disseminating light and truth which no other period has ever had. We shall be held responsible to God for the improvement that we make of these privileges. Surely, if we do not make good use of our time and talents, we shall be without excuse. More will be required of this generation than of any that has ever lived. God invites us to enter his vineyard and labor; yes, more, he tells us to go and labor, and whatsoever is right he will give us. Now is the time to do this; soon, very soon, the opportunity will be past. It is God's providence that has so favorably opened the way before us. It is a time of comparative peace throughout the world, but it will not long remain thus. Already we can see the war cloud arising. Nation is arraying itself against nation, and when the winds are loosed from the unseen restraining influences that are upon them, the present opportunities for doing good will be at an end. There never has been a time since man fell, when God has placed within the reach of his people such facilities for accomplishing a great work as now. There never was a time when means could be used to greater advantage than now, or when it would go as far in warning men and women of the Judgment. For those who ever expect to appropriate means to the cause of God, now is the time to do it. Men can afford to sacrifice on their property in order to help when the help will count most. If the amount of good which can now be accomplished by putting means into the cause is properly taken into account, those who have the burden of the work upon them will feel that they can make some reduction from the estimate they formerly placed on their property. If the present is not the time to use our talents to the best advantage, then we would like to know when that time will come. Will it be when we can not buy or sell? Will it be when the angels of God loose their hold of the four winds, and the Lord raises up a whirlwind from the coasts of the earth, when the slain of the Lord is from one end of the earth to the other? We appeal to our friends everywhere to improve the present opportunities for doing good. This present year will witness important advance moves, such as we have not seen in the past. God is encouraging his servants in Europe. They have special indications of God's power in their work. New missions are to be opened. God will go before his people in every enterprise to carry forward his precious cause; he has gone out before us, and bids us follow, and will we do it? How many will this present year give themselves to God in a special manner to work for him? How many will transfer their substance to the other shore by selling and giving alms? We believe that there are many who will do this. And while the way is opening before God's work, there are those who will not only see, but experience largely of the salvation of God. Is it not reasonable that men who have means should apply the same principle, to some extent, in estimating the value of their property, that God gave to his people anciently? As they approached the year of jubilee, God instructed them to decrease the estimate which they placed upon their property. The nearer they were to that time, the less it was worth. Should we reason from this standpoint, we think that there would be more of an anxiety to dispose of lands, before they shall be rendered worthless by the things that are coming upon the earth. Those who hold mortgages and bank stock would be anxious to have them invested in the cause at the time when it would receive the most benefit from them. The time will come when the treasures of earth will be thrown to the moles and the bats; now they will yield a large interest in the cause of Christ. We have looked to see who would come to the help of the Australian Mission. The first man who pledged any large amount was a person who is not a believer in the truths which are so precious to us, and that was on conditions that a printing office be established in that distant land. If this be done he will help in the enterprise to the amount394of $2,000. The next man who made a public pledge of a large sum was in no wise connected with us as a people. He gave $1,000. Since then some of our brethren have done the same. Will the cause in connection with this particular enterprise go forward? We have faith to believe that it will. There are men and women who will step into these openings and help, not only those who will give one or two thousand dollars, but five or ten thousand. It is not from the stingy, or those who would be distressed by giving, that offerings are wanted, but from the willing who have their property on the altar, waiting God's providence. The cloud is rising from one end of the earth to the other. God by his providence is saying to his people, "Go forward." We are of good courage in the work, and are looking forward with happy anticipation to see what God will do next for his people. In the language of another we wish to say, "Have courage in God." Expect that God will do great things, and work to that point. He will not leave those who put their trust in him. Have courage, therefore, in God, and look to him for his help. It will come.
S. N. H.