p. 9 | MISSIONS by Anon.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 15, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 50.

MISSIONS

By Anon.

"And those who have wisely taught shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and those who have turned many to righteousness, as the stars forever and ever." Dan. 12:3 (Boothroyd).

MISSIONARY DEBTS.

Men said:

We would give to the Lord if He gave us more, But the times are hard, and the world wants war; The mouths of our cannon are yawning for gold; The Lord must wait till the ships are coaled. His armies must shift for themselves this year, For our own boys need us, and they are near; Our taxes are rising, and profits fall; The news and the noise and the bugle call Have made us deaf to the still, small voice. The debts must stand; it is not our choice.

God said:

My world is larger than yours this day; My armies march when yours delay. Where the smoke is thickest the light shines clear, And My captains know not the name of fear. Are your pleasures greater than black men's pain? Is your ease the price of a dark world's stain? Must you wear soft raiment and have your pleasure, And lavish on silken flags your treasure, While My prophets lack for the needs of life, And My flag droops tattered above the strife? There are left some faithful stewards still That heed not the passing good or ill, But serve Me steadily day by day; I can call on them in your long delay. If one yields her life to set you free, Will you take light heart in the year to be, And take your ease as you long have done, Waiting once more till the year is gone? Or shall this gift, of life and death, Shame your neglect and quicken faith? See, your debts are lifted and you are free; Then live like men in the year to be.