Charging Along the Whole Line.
By George I. Butler
Oftentimes when a battle is raging after long and serious fighting, the general commands a movement along the whole line, hoping to overwhelm the enemy, and sweep the field. It is self-evident that in every important contest, those who are fighting for principle should use their utmost efforts to advance the cause of truth and righteousness. Life is short and uncertain. Time must be drawing to a close. The great day of God hastens apace. What we do must be done quickly. We have but a short time to work. We have a mighty work to do. Our manifest duty is, then, to work to our utmost. Work while it is called to-day. The night approaches when no man can work. Precious souls are to be saved to all eternity or lost forever. The truth is most plain, and the people anxious to hear it. The fields are white for harvest. There is a feeling of dissatisfaction in the minds of many people with the popular religion of the day. They seem to want something better, and are pleading earnestly for help and for light and truth, beseeching us to come to their assistance, many times without avail. Satan’s work seems to be making rapid advancement. Mediums of the devil are multiplying on every hand, luring souls to darkness and ruin. Publications advocating fatal errors are scattered broadcast over the land. A formal church is talking of the millennium, and taking rapid steps to bring about a virtual union of church and State, which will bring those who keep the Sabbath of the Lord into close places. Never was there a more favorable time to make converts to the truth than now. There is no bloody war in progress among the civilized nations to distract the attention of the people. A spirit of inquiry is among them. How could there be a more favorable time? Our publications contain the truth plainly brought out in just that form which is adapted to the wants of the people. It is doubtful if they can be improved very much. There are no very great questions to be solved which stand in the way of the progress of the truth. It is clear and plain. The great thing needed among us is devotion to the truth, and a spirit of earnest sacrifice in its propagation. Why are we so dilatory, so slow in moving forward, when everything is favorable for a general movement upon the enemy’s works? Many of our ministers seem to be far more asleep than awake. Their movements are faint and lifeless. They act as though they had a very long age to work in and as if they need not hurry. Some of our Conferences are doing nothing really, though there are men in their midst who might do much good in the work. In short, we are not doing one-twentieth of what we might do in advancing the truth. There are scores of young men, in various Conferences who ought to be rapidly preparing themselves for usefulness, attending school, disciplining their minds, learning other languages, and acting as though the truth was a living reality. Some of them are waiting till they get everything in readiness to their hands so that they can go out without much sacrifice. But while they wait, souls may perish. Many of our people seem to be asleep. Now we have a favorable time to bring the truth before the people. We never can have one more favorable. What a terrible thing it would be to fail to improve it. It cannot be said, Well done, to those who neglect their duty. We ought to be looking in all directions for openings. Our tents are starting out the present season, and we hope the laborers will go out full of the life and power of the truth. They should avail themselves of every opportunity to bring the truth before the people. If they act as if their work was unimportant they will be sure to make the people think so, too. It is impossible to accomplish much without earnestness. When tents go into any community the laborers should act just as if their work was an all-important theme. Teachers of error convince thousands that they are right if they are earnest. How much more important with those who have the truth, and such a truth as this. If our preachers act as if they were ashamed of the doctrines they teach, how can they expect to convince others that they are true. When a man is fully convinced himself of his being right, and acts accordingly, there is a power goes with him which reaches hearts almost like the electric spark, which carries conviction to the hearts of the hearers as nothing else can. This is one of the reasons why young men who commence to preach the truth, are often so successful. They lack experience and many other valuable qualifications which older ministers possess, and yet they are oftentimes more successful. Why is this? Because they throw themselves into the work with ardor, and make the people believe they mean what they say, because they believe what they preach themselves. Let us look to the Source of light and strength, and make up our minds to quit looking at darkness and weakness and infirmity, looking with suspicion and faultfinding toward others; but gird up our loins like men of war and march upon the enemy. Let us thunder the truth upon the people in no uncertain tones. And if we die, let us die for God and his truth, die doing our utmost to advance it. Where is there a better cause to die for than the cause of God? It is said to be sweet to die for one’s country, to pour out one’s blood for liberty and home. But the man who labors in the cause of God, to save his fellow-men for all eternity, and wear out doing so, dies for an object as much higher than the other as eternity is more important than time. He dies for God and humanity. His death bears a resemblance to that of the Saviour himself. For such a man endless joys are held in reserve. Why should he repine? Can he find a better cause in which to wear out? Away, then, forever with repining, and grumbling, and talking of discouragements. What good does it do us or others to talk discouragement? Let us die at our posts if necessary, rather than go halting along. Let us make a general advance upon Satan’s works, and gather souls from his dark domains to life and glory forever. Then we shall not have lived in vain. Newton, Iowa, June 10, 1874.