PROGRESS OF THE WORK by Stephen N. Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 10, 1878

PROGRESS OF THE WORK.

By Stephen N. Haskell

About eleven years ago I asked Eld. Stephen Pierce when he thought the Lord would come. His reply was: “I can’t tell. The truth must go among the various nations, and we must have publications in the different languages, and there must be facilities for educating the French, Danes, Swedes, &c.” I thought his ideas were strange, that this never would be, and that the Lord would come first. I do not say that he was inspired to speak prophetically, but it was a prediction that has been literally fulfilled. And now, upon further knowledge of the Scriptures, we have become very sanguine on the spread of the truth among many nations, tongues, and peoples, from the king upon his throne to the humblest peasant, wherever there is a heart that fears God. Rev. 10:11.

The prophet, on the Isle of Patmos, uses striking figures to illustrate the final triumph of the gospel: “I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.” Rev. 18:1. Again he compares the closing message to the “rising sun,” Rev. 7:2 (Macknight’s rendering), implying that as the rays of the sun shine everywhere, so the light of truth will shine upon every civilized nation throughout this earth.

God has given us evidence that the time has come for this work to spread as never before among nations that have never received a tract or paper from S. D. Adventists. Germans, Danes, Swedes, French, Dutch, and some of other nationalities, besides those speaking the English language, have been led to embrace present truth, and to rejoice in its light. This they have been led to do by reading the Bible. A great work lies before us. Our ministers are very few. To every one is committed at least one talent, to be put out at usury. In the reckoning day our salvation will depend upon whether the talents committed to us have increased or not. The slothful servant brought to the Lord the talent he had received. He had kept it laid up in a napkin. He said, “Lo, there thou hast that is thine.” But of him it was said, “Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

The apostle Paul teaches the same principle when he says, “I am a debtor both to the Greeks, and to the barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.” Rom. 1:14. Again: “Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel.” 1 Cor. 9:16. There is therefore an individual responsibility resting upon those who have been recipients of God’s grace and truth to impart the same to others. The minister has his calling and his place to fill in the promulgation of God’s truth, while each and every one has a part to act in the plan of salvation. We are to be co-workers with Christ, to gather with him, to co-operate with angels, and finally to be sharers in the glory which is to be revealed.

S. N. Haskell.