CAUSE IN THE WEST by James White

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 8, 1858

CAUSE IN THE WEST.

By James White

We still feel deeply interested for the cause in the West, partly because of its misfortunes in consequence of the treacherous part acted by some who have turned its enemies, and the unfaithfulness of some who have moved West, and partly, because it is a field of successful labor. The Lord is evidently moving on the hearts of the people in the West, and if his people hope for success they should move in concert with their Lord.

We have no less interest in the salvation of souls in the East and should we yield to our own feelings, would prefer to labor in good old New England. But having labored all the way from Maine to Iowa, we are prepared to decide in our own mind where labor will accomplish most at present. We feel anxious that much labor at present should be bestowed upon Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota, only because we believe this to be the will of God, and will prove the salvation of most precious souls.

Says Bro. M. Hull, of Iowa, "Brethren, cannot we have a Tent in Iowa? I do think this State is the best field in the West. I am certain that two good humble men with a Tent in this State can do much good for the cause of truth. Will the brethren act upon it immediately?"

Could one of our brethren who has had experience in holding Tent-meetings join Bro. Hull in Iowa with one of our Tents, we might hope for great success. But it would require from three to five hundred dollars to sustain such an enterprise in a manner to accomplish the most good.

Where are the brethren who are ready with their hundreds, their fifties, their twenty-fives, or their tens? Where? Satan seems to have the control of the purses of the church, with very few exceptions. Repeated disappointments are saddening and discouraging our preachers. They have generally moved out expecting to be sustained by their brethren in their arduous work; but their brethren have often failed to do their duty. They have looked on apparently unmoved, and have seen one after another of our preachers break down in health through over labor, and deprivation for want of means, while they have continued to hug their earthly treasures to their hearts. Disappointment has been the sad lot of our preachers, and now several of them are much sunken down under poverty, broken down health and discouragement. We suggest to our preaching brethren that it might be best to avoid taking responsibilities which the church should bear. Let the brethren feel the responsibilities which justly rest upon them. Spare your strength and health. When the church furnishes Tents, Tent-masters, and help enough and means to sustain the enterprise, then you "Preach the word." God does not require you to enfeeble your constitution in over labor in that which is not your calling.

Should the Church freely hand out to sustain the cause the amount of the annual taxes on their property, there would be in the Lord's treasury double the amount wanted to sustain the cause in all its departments. Were Jesus on earth, would he not say to this people as a body, Ye hypocrites! for ye profess to believe in my soon coming, that ye are having the last message, and that all is on the altar, while your covetous works deny your profession? Let those who have any knowledge of the state of the cause answer this question, and reflect seriously upon it.

The Lord is preparing the hearts of the people to hear and receive the truth; yet our books remain in the Office, because the Church does not purchase them and circulate them, and some of our preachers remain at home, because they are not sustained in the work. Will not the people of God arise, and sacrifice a little of this world's goods to carry forward the work of God? Will they do it now? or must the cause suffer on?

Says Bro. M. Hull, March 22d, "I have just closed a meeting at Decatur City, (Iowa,) and notwithstanding the dragon spirit was manifested, thirty-five bold soldiers enlisted in the army of Commandment keepers, who are rejoicing in the belief of the Third Message, and are striving to obtain the tried gold. May God help them to stand. I could have sold more than $200 worth of publications in the past three months if I had had them."

Bro. John Walker of Victoria, Daviess Co., Missouri, writes, "Bro. Hull of Iowa was over here and delivered five discourses. It has created great excitement and reading to see if these things are so." This brother sends for books, which we send, also the Review.

Language will not express the anguish of spirit we feel as we pen these lines. We look over the vast harvest-field in the West, where in almost every school district may be found two or three, or perhaps a score or two who are ready to receive the truth; and the body of those to whom God has committed the last message, and who are responsible for its spread, is stupid, worldly, covetous, and almost inactive.

Dear brethren, we warn you to arouse, and act for God and the truth while you may. Jesus will soon spue the lukewarm out of his mouth. Your only hope is to awake and act now. You who have repeatedly and in the most solemn manner been warned of your danger, how much longer will Jesus bear with you? Do you not see in yourselves evidence that Jesus is leaving you? spuing you out of his mouth? Be not deceived. You have no reason to suppose that this act of our Lord will be marked by any outward sign, or judgment from him. No, he will leave those who do not heed his counsel. They will fall into a careless, unfeeling state, and imagine their condition quite good. This is the condition of most of those who profess the last message. We solemnly fear that but few will escape the snare of the enemy.

What more can God do for this people? The threatenings of his word have been plainly set before them by his servants. The last message has been sounded in their ears. The rebuking testimony from Jesus to the Laodiceans has come home to their hearts, condemning their love of this world, and their distance from God. He has, as it were, talked to them face to face. O what can he do to draw this people in from the world, near the bleeding side of Jesus? Despair this moment rushes over us! Our only hope is that the Lord will call out from this people those who have a mind to work, who will in truth and honesty consecrate themselves and all they have to his cause, and will leave the body to their idols. Solemn thought! In this way the lukewarm will be spued out of his mouth.

J. W.