p. 160 | A Short Appeal

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 29, 1872

A Short Appeal

TO THE BRETHREN IN MINNESOTA.

Dear Brethren:—God has smiled upon us, and given a bountiful harvest to Minnesota of which few other States can boast.

And now, brethren, what are we going to do with this blessing? Are we selfishly going to heap the avails into our own bosoms? Have we houses and barns to build? Do we need things more convenient? Are there so many necessities that we hardly know which way to turn first? Must many debts be paid? All this is true more or less with all, no doubt. But I wish to say in regard to buildings, There is a building above, “a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens,” and it is so arranged that man can have a building there, and we do not want to build too much here. As to things convenient, what is more convenient than to know that one has a title to the eternal inheritance. And please tell me what is, or will be, more necessary than a covering in the day of God's wrath? And what debt is to be compared with the debt we owe for the price that was paid for us, even the price of the blood of God's dear Son? and not only this, but the vows we vow to God.

Now, dear brethren, look about you, and in your decisions of this subject do not be selfish. I would not use this term were it not a fact that the human heart is deceitful above all things, and very selfish.

It is not that the cause of God is languishing for means that we urge upon you the necessity of doing something, for the Lord will not forget the needs of those who labor for him; but we “desire fruit that may abound to your account.” We cannot expect to share in the eternal riches unless we are faithful in what is here committed to our trust, and the more we can transfer to the bank of Heaven the better.

Now there is considerable labor bestowed in Minnesota this season. Bro. Canright is laboring with all his might. Bro. Grant is doing no less. There are Bro. Russell and Eld. Long, who have helped us. Bro. John Matteson has done a good work among his