p. 45 | The Cause by Editor

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 6, 1863

The Cause.

By Editor

In these times, when almost everything is trembling and shaking to pieces, it is a matter of the greatest encouragement to be connected with, and laboring in a cause that gives evidence of being specially sustained by the hand of God. The cause of present truth is onward, because the hand of the Lord is in the work.

The efficient ministers among us are few, and some of them have entangled themselves in worldly cares, while some others have lost the missionary spirit and are beset with skepticism which threatens to destroy them. In this direction things at present look dark. But viewing the subject with a firm faith that God has a special and glorious work to accomplish with the third message, the prospect brightens. Should our present number of laborers decrease we may expect the Lord to raise up others more faithful and worthy to fill their places. If the cause needs them he can raise up and qualify ten to one. The work of the faithful is to discharge their duty, and in faith leave those things which lie beyond their agency with the great Author of the message.

The Macedonian cry is heard from Ireland, "Come over and help us!" It seems to us that somebody will be stirred by it. The experience of the past two months with those who have gone out in Michigan is that the Lord has turned his hand to build up his people, and convert our entire Sabbath-Schools to himself. The youth, and children, and backsliders are turning to the Lord. Never had we such evidences of the hand of God in this work, as now. In every place where the message has been lived out by those who have professed it, and the testimonies, which God in mercy has sent have been received, to the putting away of idols, we may now expect a precious ingathering of souls. In this God seems to be setting his seal to the work of his faithful servants in this cause. From all parts of the free States we hear the call, "Come over and help us!" These calls will stir somebody. If those who have been teaching the message do not move out with the true missionary spirit, God will call from other positions in life those who will be stirred by such calls.

Our churches are awake and true every time. They adopt systematic benevolence generally, which, if fully carried out by all, would meet the wants of the cause. But if more means are wanted to carry forward any enterprise, such as raising ten thousand dollars to place the publishing department where it now is, they will not stop with the sums which systematic benevolence calls for; but they will open their hands wide to meet every want. We do not believe there is another people on earth who are so ready for acts of benevolence in the fear of God.

Looking out upon the so-called Christian world at the present time, we see two extremes; one is a people carrying out systematic benevolence in a prompt, liberal, godfearing manner which has not its parallel; the other extreme is, their ministers, with few exceptions, are destitute of the missionary spirit. The way is fully prepared for them. Our brethren stand ready with their means in their hands to send them where duty may call; the Publishing Association can spare faithful missionaries who need, one or two hundred dollars in books without feeling it, the present truth is brought out so clear from the word of God that it may be presented with an irresistible force, and the cry comes up from north, south, east, west, "Come over and help us!" O God, stir up these men, if necessary, as an eagle stirreth up her nest!

There are five of our ministers who have their headquarters in Battle Creek. These men, thus huddled together, work to great disadvantage. What but the want of the missionary spirit and devotion to the cause of truth keeps them from centering abroad where they can labor to the best possible advantage? The Battle Creek church does not need their labors. There are those in the church who have never preached a sermon who would accomplish more by far should they go forth to labor for the salvation of souls than some of these spell-bound ministers. There is too much of a disposition to sit down and eat up the loaf while others all around are crying for spiritual bread.

Think of the poor missionary who has gone with his family to distant and unhealthy lands to sow the gospel seed in heathen soil. He must learn their language, and then establish schools, toil on in loneliness for years without meeting one congenial spirit. Perhaps he there buries his children, and his wife, and after exhausting his constitution in laboring to elevate a few beclouded minds to a degree to be able to receive some rays of Christian light, he returns to his native land an invalid.

Now the plenteous golden harvest waves everywhere in Christian lands, and the way is fully prepared for our ministers to go forth and reap. Let them enter the newest field, and a few evening lectures are enough to bring to their assistance congenial spirits, who open their doors to freely entertain them, and in a few weeks they may gather around them a company firm in the message, and strong in the Lord. Should our ministers, under such circumstances, talk of sacrifice, hardships, privations? Yet they do, and we can safely say that the lack of the true missionary spirit in some of them, to say the least, cannot find a parallel in the Christian world. And what seems most frightful is, some of them under their present rusting position are losing their faith, and becoming infidel in their feelings.

Contrast the spirit of self-sacrifice in the heart of the foreign missionary's wife, with that in those women who would hold their minister husbands huddled together in point of headquarters, simply because a certain location is more pleasant while surrounded by relatives, old friends, good school for the children, &c., &c.

If this is the order of the times, then let us colonize and hide our light under a bushel, and let sinners go to perdition. But if God calls men to "go out quickly" with the last message, and compel them to the highways and hedges to come in, then let them go forth in the name of the Lord, claiming all the blessings promised in the original commission to sustain them ever. God wants room to work for these men and their companions in life, to make them mighty in him. If they shrink back content with a few friends, and cling to the poor comforts and blessings of this life, as if these were their only heaven, God cannot do much for them. If they strike out with that love for sinners which the gospel call gives every true minister, their course will be onward and still onward to form new acquaintances, made doubly dear by being instrumental in bringing them to the truth. Here are comparative hardships, fatigues, cares, burdens, for those who put their entire being into the work; but with these there is happiness exceeding that of kings and nobles. These glory in the cross of Christ, and covet to suffer with him that they may reign with him.

What the cause most needs at the present time is a devoted, self-sacrificing, active ministry. What if they suffer cold, hunger, and sickness? look at the poor soldier. None of our ministers have suffered as many of them have. What if they, like Paul, desire to spend and be spent in the cause of Christ, and through incessant labors fall in the battle and sleep in Jesus till the trumpet sounds? look at the poor, suffering soldier led forth to battle to be shot down, stripped and buried like a dog by rebels, with no hope of a resurrection to eternal life.

We have borne a plain testimony to our people in regard to sacrificing for the cause, so has Mrs. W. This testimony has been received and acted upon, and our ministers have gladly received the benefits; and now that we see a far greater lack on the part of our ministers, we will not hold our peace until we see ministers and people, like a well-disciplined army, ready for the great battle of the closing work of the third message. Then will the cause move on gloriously.