I HAVE for some time been burdened on account of the temporal embarrassments of the dear saints who have borne the burden in the heat of the day, and are still willing to do so. Willing though they are, I am not willing they should do so alone. I know there are those who are willing to do what they can, while others are not. To be consistent with our profession, and position, we should have all on the altar. But if we will hold on to what God has lent us, and refuse to render him his due, we shall not only experience leanness, but God will permit it to be taken from us by force, and converted to another use.
Do we not yet understand that God has the control of our affairs? and can cause means to flow to us, or from us, as he sees we will improve them, or need them? How long shall we be learning to do our whole duty and trust God? Will we still leave the dear servants of God to struggle with pecuniary embarrassments, not for themselves but for us?
They have spared no labor, pains nor expense to comprehend the word of God, and having comprehended, to place it before us and ours. Will we withhold the means necessary to defray the expense already incurred, and necessary to be incurred that the truth may still come to us and others? I fancy I hear you respond, I will not withhold: I will begin (if not begun) the work of self-retrenchment. If I had in my heart to buy articles, either food, dress, or furniture, to please or gratify myself, I will at once abandon it, and get only what I need for present use, and that the most simple and profitable, and let the surplus go for the cause.
The liberal soul deviseth liberal things—not for himself, but for the cause of truth. O my brethren, if we do these things, then may we with confidence look for light in our dwellings, and our bread and water shall be made sure. I love the dear saints scattered abroad. I know some of them are poor, and can do but little, and many of them nothing, but God accepteth according to what we have. May the great Shepherd guard us from evil, is the prayer of your sister in Christ. A. P. LAWTON.