A Few Words by Chas. P. Whitford

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 18, 1875

A Few Words

By Chas. P. Whitford

TO THE MEMBERS OF THE TRACT AND MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF VERMONT.

DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS:—The cause in which we have enlisted is everything or it is nothing. If this third angel's message of Rev. 14 be the truth of God, then our all is at stake. We should bend all our energies to act well our part for its advancement. The world must be warned of the nearness of the advent of Christ, and be taught the true preparation for that great event.

Never was a greater responsibility committed to a body of men than that which God has given to us. When God caused this great truth to be brought to our knowledge he made us debtors to our fellow-men, to make known to them what he had given to us. This vast indebtedness is upon us, and can only be discharged by faithful, self-sacrificing efforts; and unless we make these efforts without growing weary in our work, we will find that the blood of souls is upon us in the final reckoning. When Jesus was about to ascend on high, he pointed to the harvest fields, and said to his followers: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel.” “Freely ye have received, freely give.”

Are we faithful to our trust? God requires our earnest efforts. The world has the utmost need to understand that the advent of the Saviour is swiftly approaching, and that it will very soon be witnessed. Upon us rests the responsibility of proclaiming this truth to the world. Our time to work is short. Are we watching every opportunity to help spread a knowledge of this truth by means of our books, tracts, and papers? Are we sacrificing our love of ease by going out, with the truth burning in our hearts, to induce others to read our publications? Shall the late call for six hundred new subscribers for The Voice of Truth, and The Health Reformer be responded to, and the names immediately forwarded to the Office? At our late State quarterly meeting, it was voted that we respond to this call. As yet not quite three hundred names have been forwarded to the Office. If each individual member of the tract Society had obtained two names, the number assigned us would have been furnished before this date. There are two districts in the State that have not furnished a dozen names. If all felt the responsibility resting upon them, we should have a power in our midst that would make the world tremble.

Dear brethren, we must set ourselves to this work as those who labor to save the perishing, and who think not of their own ease, or convenience, or comfort. God calls us to labor, and not to faint. Let us respond to the call.

To the active worker, Christ has addressed these words: “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Who that reads these lines will resolve to deny self, and work for God, that the wasting harvest may be gathered?

CHAS. P. WHITFORD.