BE DILIGENT by L. F. Davis

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 4, 1879

BE DILIGENT.

By L. F. Davis

“Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully, [margin, negligently].”

“The fields are all ripening, and far and wide The world now is waiting the harvest tide; But reapers are few, and the work is great, And much will be lost should the harvest wait.”

Shall we fold our hands, while this mighty work is before us? God might, if he chose, carry on this work without any assistance from us; but he gives man the exalted privilege of giving of his time and means to advance the work, and to lead precious souls from the darkness which surrounds them into the light of truth.

Let us awake. Let us put on the whole armor. The time has come for the sheaves to be gathered. If we cannot proclaim the truth to the multitudes, if we cannot visit from house to house, yet one channel of usefulness remains open before us,—we can send forth the silent messengers, and much can be accomplished in this way. After reading your papers, don't lay them aside as useless; fold and direct them neatly, and scatter them far and wide, for many are desiring to know the truth.

Brethren and sisters, bring in your reports. Don't excuse yourselves because you have done but little. This is a glorious enterprise, and demands our best talents; and if we have done but little in the past, let us consecrate ourselves anew, and sow the seed beside all waters; for we know not which shall prosper, this or that. L. F. Davis.

Ipswich, Mass.