GRATITUDE TO GOD by George I. Butler

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 4, 1877

GRATITUDE TO GOD.

By George I. Butler

NEVER did I feel more grateful to God for the present truth than I do this season. Never before did the REVIEW seem so full of encouraging reports as during the present season. I have been taking it for about twenty years, and it has always seemed precious to me, and full of interesting matter, so much so that I could hardly wait for its weekly visits. But this season it has seemed specially precious. And when the “Special Notice” appeared in the last issue, stating that there would be no paper for two weeks while the faithful workers on it take a little rest and attend the camp-meeting, I said to myself, How can I wait two weeks before seeing another paper? The reports from all parts of the field of openings for the introduction of the truth, of the work in foreign lands, of the hundreds embracing the Lord’s Sabbath, of the stir among the masses in the eastern field, fill my heart with joy and gratitude to God. The cause does move, the doubters cannot deny it. I know I love this cause, because nothing makes me so happy as its prosperity.

I feel like praising the Lord specially for what he is doing in old New England. A long time ago, in some of the old Testimonies, statements were made that God would yet greatly bless his work in New England. There was not much outward evidence of this being true; for that has seemed to be about the hardest field in which to convert souls to the truth that could be found in the whole country. Very little fruit seemed to follow the labor bestowed there. The Advent doctrine has been preached there so much that it seemed as if the whole country was burnt over, and little could be done. I have waited years, wondering if those statements would ever be verified. And now one of our most experienced lecturers states that he has never seen such an interest to hear as in this very hard field of labor. Nowhere else have such crowds turned out to our camp-meetings, and nowhere have they paid better attention. These things show that the angels of God are troubling the waters.

Another most interesting point to me in this connection is the evidence this furnishes of God’s willingness to work with us when we work. For years the brethren and sisters of New England have been taking the lead in the tract and missionary work. They have done far more in proportion to their numbers and means than any other Conference in scattering tracts, giving for the benefit of our institutions, and in personal efforts generally. I very well know they have labored under many discouragements in trying to work for God. For a long time their labor seemed largely fruitless. In my weak faith I almost began to doubt if any special results ever would be seen. But the result shows God will vindicate the faithful, sacrificing efforts of his people. He will always work when we work. I greatly rejoice at these manifest evidences of God’s favor in New England. How good it seems to hear from our faithful missionaries in Europe. How evident it is becoming that the prophesying “again to peoples, nations, tongues, and kings” is now in progress. The third angel’s message is rising. My heart says, Praise the Lord; for his work is moving on. It will triumph gloriously.

Though laboring in a field where everything seems behind, where many have not even interest enough to take the paper, where there is a great lack of faith in the instrumentalities God has used in other places to build up his work, and where the battle seems to go rather hard for the present, yet I will have faith that we shall see better days, and show my faith by working to that end.

Brethren and sisters, everywhere, let us thank God and take courage, because his work is moving onward. Let us work while the day lasts; for the night soon cometh when no man can work.

Brethren and sisters in Missouri, let us make a special effort to heal our divisions, close up the ranks, enter anew into the work of God, and keep pace with this glorious message. We can see prosperity here as well as elsewhere if we “watch, pray, and work.”

Above all, may gratitude fill our hearts for what the Lord is doing. GEO. I. BUTLER.