Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.
Paul gave this testimony in farewell to the elders of the Ephesian church gathered to him at Miletus, calling them to witness that day to his manner of life among them. To be pure from the blood of all men is to be free from guilt and accountability before God for the spiritual ruin and loss of any soul through unfaithfulness. He could speak so because from his first day in Asia he served with humility amid tears and trials, kept back nothing profitable, taught publicly and from house to house repentance toward God and faith toward Christ, warned everyone night and day for three years, and did not shun declaring all the counsel of God while laboring with his own hands for his support. Freedom from the blood of others is gained only by declaring the whole counsel without withholding, softening, or concealing truth to avoid offense or gain favor, by fearlessly warning and reproving sin, and by preaching the Word fully and clearly including the binding claims of God's law in harmony with the gospel. Whoever faithfully warns and does his part is clear of the loss of souls, while neglecting to warn, pray, and labor leaves their blood upon his garments, so ministers, teachers, and all believers must do earnest public and private work, visit families house to house, live a sanctified life that practices what is preached, and watch for souls as those who must give account.
Words and Setting
Paul's words are a farewell testimony spoken to the elders of the Ephesian church who had gathered to him from Miletus, taking them to record this day what he declares about himself. In that setting he appeals to their own knowledge of his manner of life as proof that his claim is true. He bears no guilt for the ruin of any person because from his coming he served with humility, tears, trials and faithfulness to finish testifying the gospel of the grace of God, not counting his life dear. His freedom from guilt rests on keeping back nothing profitable, teaching publicly and from house to house, testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith toward Jesus Christ, not shunning to declare all the counsel of God, and warning everyone night and day with tears for three years. Such complete, faithful speaking removes a minister's responsibility for souls and stands as the pattern for those who would be doers of the Bible and not readers only, and as the ground for charging overseers to feed the flock. His confidence that he is not responsible for anyone's loss comes from having faithfully carried out his duty to share the truth. The claim also rests on self-supporting labor, for he coveted no man's silver or gold or apparel but worked with his hands as a tentmaker to supply his own necessities and those with him, showing that manual work is not shameful and does not lower the work of the ministry.
To be pure from the blood of all men is to be free from guilt and responsibility for anyone's spiritual ruin and loss. Paul regarded himself as accountable to God for his ministry, knowing that if people were lost through his unfaithfulness God would hold him responsible. He could make this declaration because he had not withheld from them any part of God's counsel or anything profitable or needed, but had faithfully proclaimed the truth to all in public and from house to house, calling people to repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ. The verse stands as the standard for ministers, that they must labor earnestly and devote themselves thoroughly in public and private to teaching the whole counsel of God, so they are not answerable for neglecting those entrusted to them, since their work will soon be weighed in the investigative judgment.
The verse belongs to Acts 20:17-35, which outlines the character of one Christian minister who faithfully performed his duty. There Paul stands as an all-round minister and a Christian gentleman of the highest type. His example shows that mechanical and honorable manual toil does not necessarily lessen anyone's influence, and that working with the hands in any line of honorable labor should not make a man coarse and rough and uncourteous, though it is not obligatory upon ministers to do in all respects as Paul did. This faithful gospel teaching is joined to humble labor to support himself and his companions and to caring for the weak.
Paul's Faithful Ministry
Paul could declare himself clear because from the first day he came into Asia he had served the Lord with all humility of mind amid many tears and temptations and trials from the lying in wait of the Jews. In that service he learned the meekness and lowliness of Christ, enduring rather than seeking an easy, comfortable course. He did not count his own life dear, that he might finish his course in testifying the gospel of the grace of God.
He kept back nothing that was profitable, but showed and taught publicly and from house to house. To both Jews and Greeks he testified repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. That warning was needed because God's law had been transgressed, and rebellion shuts men out of heaven.
He did not shun declaring all the counsel of God. For three years he warned everyone night and day with tears. On that ground of complete, faithful speaking he charged the overseers to take heed to themselves and to feed the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood, as shepherds set by the Holy Ghost, laboring to support the weak and remembering that it is more blessed to give than to receive.
His claim rested also on self-supporting labor, for he coveted no man's silver or gold or apparel. With his own hands as a tentmaker he supplied his own necessities and those who were with him. By this he showed that honorable manual toil is not shameful and does not lower the work of the ministry. He stands as an all-round minister and a Christian gentleman of the highest type, proving that working with the hands need not lessen anyone's influence nor make a man coarse and rough and discourteous, though ministers are not bound to do in all respects as he did.
Declaring the Whole Counsel
Freedom from the blood of others comes only by declaring the whole counsel of God and withholding nothing profitable or needed for souls ready to perish. To conceal any part of the truth leaves its warning ungiven, dishonors God, and lays the responsibility for lost souls upon the one who hid it. Faithfulness therefore refuses to hold peace, to clip the truth, to daub with untempered mortar, or to soften and withhold the entrusted message from fear of grieving hearers. It refuses to withhold truth to avoid offense, to gain approval, or to gain support and success.
It requires fearlessly teaching the whole truth with instruction, warning, reproof, exhortation, and correction that may cause pain, rather than choosing only what pleases hearers. When sin is cherished, those in danger must be warned and instructed from God's word and pointed to the One who can save them. If people are neglected and become ensnared, the one who failed to warn them is not guiltless but shares guilt for the neglect. Faithful ministry thus teaches every part of the Christian faith needed to present every man perfect and to prepare people to stand in the day of God.
It requires preaching the Word fully, clearly, and fearlessly, rightly dividing the truth as a shepherd overseer feeding the church, not pleasing men but God. It requires telling the binding claims of God's law with clearness and declaring all that God has shown and revealed, presenting law and gospel in harmony. Plain, straight testimony is to be given without excuse or apology for why it is given. Such faithfulness may bring suffering and turn hearers into enemies, yet holding back brings God's curse and leaves no excuse in the judgment, while faithfulness leaves the messenger clear and sustained by grace unto eternal life.
When all the warnings God has given have been delivered and the whole counsel declared without shunning, leaving no needed word unspoken, the speaker's work for those hearers is done and the soul is clear of their blood. Responsibility then rests on the hearers themselves to form a character for heaven, to gain an individual experience, to feel individual responsibility, to repent diligently before God, to confess wrongs, to feel truth's influence on heart and life, and to choose between the way of discipleship and the broad road to death. Testimony need not be kept where unbelief rejects it, just as mighty works could not be done where unbelief prevailed, and whatever course is then pursued cannot reflect on the one who warned in the fear of God.
Accountability for Blood
To be pure from the blood of all men is to be clear of responsibility for the loss of others because warning has been faithfully given and every part in sharing salvation has been done. Neglect to warn those who are perishing for want of light and knowledge, to pray with and for them, and to make earnest efforts to present the truth leaves the blood of souls upon the garments. Selfishness, laziness, and shame of Christ that keep a person at ease and irresponsible after contact with perishing souls bring guilt for their loss and must be answered for as unfaithfulness. Responsibility grows with contact and closeness, so that greater nearness to those met brings greater accountability, and no child of God is excused from taking part in Christ's work of saving others. Those who disregard God's warnings and fail to live up to the work entrusted to them not only imperil themselves but harm others through their influence and bear responsibility for souls lost thereby.
Ministers, teachers, and overseers are accountable for the flock entrusted to them and will be called to strict account for their care and influence. Freedom from the blood of others comes only after faithfully declaring all of God's counsel, warning sinners, pleading for their salvation, and warning the world of the coming judgment with spiritual strength and consecration. Harsh dealing with those under charge cannot be excused by appeal to rules, for overseers must care for students and flock rather than deal harshly or lead amiss. An unfaithful minister who neglects this duty through self-indulgence and impulsive, discouraging conduct may undo the good of his work, bear the guilt of souls harmed by neglect, and be condemned by those he sought to save when they confront him with his guilt at the Judgment. The same guilt rests upon those whose willfulness and lack of consecration hinder sinners and undermine the ministers' work.
Bloodguilt is also incurred by obstructing and turning people away from truth so that they do not receive a saving message. Those who mislead people, weaken their faith, withhold or conceal truth to gain support or success, and cause dissension and confusion leave needy souls without warning, dishonor God, and must answer to Him for the harm done. Flattery and praise of human ability that foster pride and bring harm defile the garments, for care with words requires helping the meek retain humility while still recognizing true worth rather than exalting one another unto ruin. A minister who fails to live by the truths he preaches weakens their effect, soothes the conscience of the unrepentant, brings contempt upon the ministry, and has the blood of souls upon his garments instead of being clear. Selfishness, lack of consecration, unconsecrated life and defects of character that obstruct the work share this guilt, even to companions of messengers whose conduct undermines their husbands' influence.
The same cleansing was expressed by Miller, who hoped he had cleansed his garments from the blood of souls and as far as possible freed himself from guilt for their condemnation. His confidence rested on having preached what he honestly understood to be duty and having dutifully warned people as the messenger entrusted with the warning, even though disappointment followed. The message he gave led many to study Scripture and find reconciliation with God.
Living Free from Blood
To be pure from the blood of all men is the minister's standard, met only by earnest, thorough, well-directed labor in teaching the whole counsel of God, withholding nothing profitable, in public and in private, because that work will soon be weighed in the investigative judgment. No one is excused from gaining by personal effort and thorough conversion the qualifications of an able minister, with sound speech that cannot be condemned, coming up to God's pure and elevated standard rather than raising a lower standard for self, so as to stand acquitted in the day of God, free from the blood of souls, having done all duty in the fear of God. The faithful under-shepherds who so labor through travail for souls, self-denial and self-sacrifice, suffering and wearing labor, anguish of spirit against opposition, chastening before God, and weeping between the porch and the altar, will hear, Well done, good and faithful servant, receive the crown of glory, enter into the joy of their Lord in beholding the redeemed saved through their efforts, and be satisfied in the fruits of their labors.
Purity from blood requires faithful home missionary work after Paul's example, serving with humility, tears and endurance under trial, keeping back nothing profitable, teaching publicly and from house to house, testifying repentance toward God and faith toward Jesus Christ, and feeding the church God purchased with His own blood. It is not enough to preach sermons in the house of God; families must be visited in their homes, members known whether converted or without God and without hope, preaching followed with personal labor and helpful, encouraging words, which does more for the well-being of God's people than preaching alone. Preaching from the desk is futile unless supported out of the desk by well-directed personal labor that visits and warns every man house to house and comes into close sympathy with people in order to present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. That contact both helps others and is a means of grace to the minister himself, while shunning or neglecting house-to-house work from inclination or indolence is sore neglect that greatly injures the work of saving souls, lets spirituality decline, and imperils Christian experience.
Cleanness so that the blood of souls is not found upon the garments requires feeling the truth with weight, handling the Word honestly, carrying the burden of souls continually, and living a sanctified life that practices what is preached, rather than showing burden in the pulpit while living destitute of spirituality outside it. It requires Christ formed within, the hope of glory, putting away vanity and foolish speaking, being sanctified through the truth, constantly gaining wisdom and knowledge from God as the branch draws nourishment from the living vine, with His Spirit resting upon the worker, taking Jesus into the heart, thinking and talking of Jesus and doing His work wherever one is, following Christ not merely in outward form but in purity, self-denial, meekness and love, which is the only way to work successfully in these last times. No laborer has excuse for choosing selfish indulgence, levity, love of pleasure, sporting, jesting, and cheap, common talk, which is strange fire; he must daily offer the holy fire, the incense of prayer, before God, with the Holy Spirit mingling with his prayers to give them efficiency, trusting in Jesus' merits alone to make prayer acceptable, walking humbly with Him in meekness and lowliness of mind, knowing his weakness and that of himself his prayers would go no higher than his head, coming with reverent spirit and humbling himself before God, dying to self and sin and living to God and honoring Him daily, not trusting in self or mere arguments on Bible truth but securing the Lord's presence through holy living and earnest, fervent prayer like Christ pouring out His soul with strong crying and tears, so angels prepare the way to hearts and the living Jesus imparts power to work with the worker. Freedom from guilt for the loss of precious souls depends on keeping in God's love, separating from the world, and having a right sense of the exalted character of the work, so that special blessing rests, light shines round about, and influence for good is felt in every branch and every part of the field, while failing to meet God's mind turns influence and example into a terrible curse that does harm and only harm and leaves guilt upon the garments; and those who know present truth incur bloodguilt when their lives fail to show its virtue, for living the truth, including honoring God through Sabbath observance, is part of the witness by which others are reached.
A Christian minister is pure from blood only when he has fully done his duty, serving with all humility of mind, learning the meekness and lowliness of Christ, keeping back nothing profitable, teaching publicly and from house to house, testifying repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ, not shunning to declare all counsel, taking heed to self and to the flock the Holy Ghost made overseers to feed, laboring to support the weak and remembering that it is more blessed to give than to receive, which condemns an easy, comfortable ministry that only partly copies others and calls ministers to self-examination and alarm over responsibility. Purity requires faithful, consecrated, self-denying labor under accountability as much more important than any temporal trust as eternal things exceed temporal, ever at the watchman's post watching for souls as one that must give an account, preserving vigor of mind and body to put the whole being into God's work without reserve, and carrying out in life the principles of the sacred truths presented. If inclination rules rather than duty, if self is indulged at expense of spiritual strength, if the worker is fitful, impulsive and unconsecrated, building up then tearing down, disheartening, distressing and discouraging the very souls the truth converted and losing their confidence, or if self-indulgence and discouraging conduct undo the good, souls will rise in the judgment to condemn him and the blood of souls will be found on his garments. Each person bears great individual responsibility for neighbors and friends in peril and must work with untiring energy, tact and zeal as Christ worked, presenting truth as it is in Jesus in entire dependence and trust in God, knowing nothing can be done without His grace and power, and speaking earnestly for salvation in the fear of God, even to strangers who may not be met again until the Judgment, so as to be free from their blood.
The call reaches all, for one who has failed to use influence and opportunities to lead others to Christ cannot claim freedom when they die without Christ, and greater closeness brings greater responsibility, so that neglect can leave the blood of souls on the garments. Being free requires warning those perishing for want of light and knowledge, praying with and for them, and making earnest efforts to present truth to them, for those who come in contact with perishing souls yet feel at ease and irresponsible, never warning them, will have blood on their garments. One who has received light about danger must make every effort to warn of the impending conflict over God's law, and when faithful warning and teaching have discharged the owed duty the worker is free and responsibility rests on the hearers. That whole duty done means faithfully exhorting souls to make sure work for eternity, telling each to have individual experience and feel individual responsibility, warning that worship at the shrine of fashion and pride and worldliness in dress bars discipleship to the meek and lowly Jesus, praying and warning faithfully with many tears and love even when despised, speaking in the fear of God to those who may not be met again till the judgment, after which hearers must form character for heaven or choose the broad road to death, while the worker keeps deep interest and labors with all possible effort because time is short.
Paul gave this testimony in farewell to the elders of the Ephesian church gathered to him at Miletus, calling them to witness that day to his manner of life among them. To be pure from the blood of all men is to be free from guilt and accountability before God for the spiritual ruin and loss of any soul through unfaithfulness. He could speak so because from his first day in Asia he served with humility amid tears and trials, kept back nothing profitable, taught publicly and from house to house repentance toward God and faith toward Christ, warned everyone night and day for three years, and did not shun declaring all the counsel of God while laboring with his own hands for his support. Freedom from the blood of others is gained only by declaring the whole counsel without withholding, softening, or concealing truth to avoid offense or gain favor, by fearlessly warning and reproving sin, and by preaching the Word fully and clearly including the binding claims of God's law in harmony with the gospel. Whoever faithfully warns and does his part is clear of the loss of souls, while neglecting to warn, pray, and labor leaves their blood upon his garments, so ministers, teachers, and all believers must do earnest public and private work, visit families house to house, live a sanctified life that practices what is preached, and watch for souls as those who must give account.
Words and Setting
Paul's words are a farewell testimony spoken to the elders of the Ephesian church who had gathered to him from Miletus, taking them to record this day what he declares about himself. In that setting he appeals to their own knowledge of his manner of life as proof that his claim is true. He bears no guilt for the ruin of any person because from his coming he served with humility, tears, trials and faithfulness to finish testifying the gospel of the grace of God, not counting his life dear. His freedom from guilt rests on keeping back nothing profitable, teaching publicly and from house to house, testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith toward Jesus Christ, not shunning to declare all the counsel of God, and warning everyone night and day with tears for three years. Such complete, faithful speaking removes a minister's responsibility for souls and stands as the pattern for those who would be doers of the Bible and not readers only, and as the ground for charging overseers to feed the flock. His confidence that he is not responsible for anyone's loss comes from having faithfully carried out his duty to share the truth. The claim also rests on self-supporting labor, for he coveted no man's silver or gold or apparel but worked with his hands as a tentmaker to supply his own necessities and those with him, showing that manual work is not shameful and does not lower the work of the ministry.
To be pure from the blood of all men is to be free from guilt and responsibility for anyone's spiritual ruin and loss. Paul regarded himself as accountable to God for his ministry, knowing that if people were lost through his unfaithfulness God would hold him responsible. He could make this declaration because he had not withheld from them any part of God's counsel or anything profitable or needed, but had faithfully proclaimed the truth to all in public and from house to house, calling people to repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ. The verse stands as the standard for ministers, that they must labor earnestly and devote themselves thoroughly in public and private to teaching the whole counsel of God, so they are not answerable for neglecting those entrusted to them, since their work will soon be weighed in the investigative judgment.
The verse belongs to Acts 20:17-35, which outlines the character of one Christian minister who faithfully performed his duty. There Paul stands as an all-round minister and a Christian gentleman of the highest type. His example shows that mechanical and honorable manual toil does not necessarily lessen anyone's influence, and that working with the hands in any line of honorable labor should not make a man coarse and rough and uncourteous, though it is not obligatory upon ministers to do in all respects as Paul did. This faithful gospel teaching is joined to humble labor to support himself and his companions and to caring for the weak.
Paul's Faithful Ministry
Paul could declare himself clear because from the first day he came into Asia he had served the Lord with all humility of mind amid many tears and temptations and trials from the lying in wait of the Jews. In that service he learned the meekness and lowliness of Christ, enduring rather than seeking an easy, comfortable course. He did not count his own life dear, that he might finish his course in testifying the gospel of the grace of God.
He kept back nothing that was profitable, but showed and taught publicly and from house to house. To both Jews and Greeks he testified repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. That warning was needed because God's law had been transgressed, and rebellion shuts men out of heaven.
He did not shun declaring all the counsel of God. For three years he warned everyone night and day with tears. On that ground of complete, faithful speaking he charged the overseers to take heed to themselves and to feed the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood, as shepherds set by the Holy Ghost, laboring to support the weak and remembering that it is more blessed to give than to receive.
His claim rested also on self-supporting labor, for he coveted no man's silver or gold or apparel. With his own hands as a tentmaker he supplied his own necessities and those who were with him. By this he showed that honorable manual toil is not shameful and does not lower the work of the ministry. He stands as an all-round minister and a Christian gentleman of the highest type, proving that working with the hands need not lessen anyone's influence nor make a man coarse and rough and discourteous, though ministers are not bound to do in all respects as he did.
Declaring the Whole Counsel
Freedom from the blood of others comes only by declaring the whole counsel of God and withholding nothing profitable or needed for souls ready to perish. To conceal any part of the truth leaves its warning ungiven, dishonors God, and lays the responsibility for lost souls upon the one who hid it. Faithfulness therefore refuses to hold peace, to clip the truth, to daub with untempered mortar, or to soften and withhold the entrusted message from fear of grieving hearers. It refuses to withhold truth to avoid offense, to gain approval, or to gain support and success.
It requires fearlessly teaching the whole truth with instruction, warning, reproof, exhortation, and correction that may cause pain, rather than choosing only what pleases hearers. When sin is cherished, those in danger must be warned and instructed from God's word and pointed to the One who can save them. If people are neglected and become ensnared, the one who failed to warn them is not guiltless but shares guilt for the neglect. Faithful ministry thus teaches every part of the Christian faith needed to present every man perfect and to prepare people to stand in the day of God.
It requires preaching the Word fully, clearly, and fearlessly, rightly dividing the truth as a shepherd overseer feeding the church, not pleasing men but God. It requires telling the binding claims of God's law with clearness and declaring all that God has shown and revealed, presenting law and gospel in harmony. Plain, straight testimony is to be given without excuse or apology for why it is given. Such faithfulness may bring suffering and turn hearers into enemies, yet holding back brings God's curse and leaves no excuse in the judgment, while faithfulness leaves the messenger clear and sustained by grace unto eternal life.
When all the warnings God has given have been delivered and the whole counsel declared without shunning, leaving no needed word unspoken, the speaker's work for those hearers is done and the soul is clear of their blood. Responsibility then rests on the hearers themselves to form a character for heaven, to gain an individual experience, to feel individual responsibility, to repent diligently before God, to confess wrongs, to feel truth's influence on heart and life, and to choose between the way of discipleship and the broad road to death. Testimony need not be kept where unbelief rejects it, just as mighty works could not be done where unbelief prevailed, and whatever course is then pursued cannot reflect on the one who warned in the fear of God.
Accountability for Blood
To be pure from the blood of all men is to be clear of responsibility for the loss of others because warning has been faithfully given and every part in sharing salvation has been done. Neglect to warn those who are perishing for want of light and knowledge, to pray with and for them, and to make earnest efforts to present the truth leaves the blood of souls upon the garments. Selfishness, laziness, and shame of Christ that keep a person at ease and irresponsible after contact with perishing souls bring guilt for their loss and must be answered for as unfaithfulness. Responsibility grows with contact and closeness, so that greater nearness to those met brings greater accountability, and no child of God is excused from taking part in Christ's work of saving others. Those who disregard God's warnings and fail to live up to the work entrusted to them not only imperil themselves but harm others through their influence and bear responsibility for souls lost thereby.
Ministers, teachers, and overseers are accountable for the flock entrusted to them and will be called to strict account for their care and influence. Freedom from the blood of others comes only after faithfully declaring all of God's counsel, warning sinners, pleading for their salvation, and warning the world of the coming judgment with spiritual strength and consecration. Harsh dealing with those under charge cannot be excused by appeal to rules, for overseers must care for students and flock rather than deal harshly or lead amiss. An unfaithful minister who neglects this duty through self-indulgence and impulsive, discouraging conduct may undo the good of his work, bear the guilt of souls harmed by neglect, and be condemned by those he sought to save when they confront him with his guilt at the Judgment. The same guilt rests upon those whose willfulness and lack of consecration hinder sinners and undermine the ministers' work.
Bloodguilt is also incurred by obstructing and turning people away from truth so that they do not receive a saving message. Those who mislead people, weaken their faith, withhold or conceal truth to gain support or success, and cause dissension and confusion leave needy souls without warning, dishonor God, and must answer to Him for the harm done. Flattery and praise of human ability that foster pride and bring harm defile the garments, for care with words requires helping the meek retain humility while still recognizing true worth rather than exalting one another unto ruin. A minister who fails to live by the truths he preaches weakens their effect, soothes the conscience of the unrepentant, brings contempt upon the ministry, and has the blood of souls upon his garments instead of being clear. Selfishness, lack of consecration, unconsecrated life and defects of character that obstruct the work share this guilt, even to companions of messengers whose conduct undermines their husbands' influence.
The same cleansing was expressed by Miller, who hoped he had cleansed his garments from the blood of souls and as far as possible freed himself from guilt for their condemnation. His confidence rested on having preached what he honestly understood to be duty and having dutifully warned people as the messenger entrusted with the warning, even though disappointment followed. The message he gave led many to study Scripture and find reconciliation with God.
Living Free from Blood
To be pure from the blood of all men is the minister's standard, met only by earnest, thorough, well-directed labor in teaching the whole counsel of God, withholding nothing profitable, in public and in private, because that work will soon be weighed in the investigative judgment. No one is excused from gaining by personal effort and thorough conversion the qualifications of an able minister, with sound speech that cannot be condemned, coming up to God's pure and elevated standard rather than raising a lower standard for self, so as to stand acquitted in the day of God, free from the blood of souls, having done all duty in the fear of God. The faithful under-shepherds who so labor through travail for souls, self-denial and self-sacrifice, suffering and wearing labor, anguish of spirit against opposition, chastening before God, and weeping between the porch and the altar, will hear, Well done, good and faithful servant, receive the crown of glory, enter into the joy of their Lord in beholding the redeemed saved through their efforts, and be satisfied in the fruits of their labors.
Purity from blood requires faithful home missionary work after Paul's example, serving with humility, tears and endurance under trial, keeping back nothing profitable, teaching publicly and from house to house, testifying repentance toward God and faith toward Jesus Christ, and feeding the church God purchased with His own blood. It is not enough to preach sermons in the house of God; families must be visited in their homes, members known whether converted or without God and without hope, preaching followed with personal labor and helpful, encouraging words, which does more for the well-being of God's people than preaching alone. Preaching from the desk is futile unless supported out of the desk by well-directed personal labor that visits and warns every man house to house and comes into close sympathy with people in order to present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. That contact both helps others and is a means of grace to the minister himself, while shunning or neglecting house-to-house work from inclination or indolence is sore neglect that greatly injures the work of saving souls, lets spirituality decline, and imperils Christian experience.
Cleanness so that the blood of souls is not found upon the garments requires feeling the truth with weight, handling the Word honestly, carrying the burden of souls continually, and living a sanctified life that practices what is preached, rather than showing burden in the pulpit while living destitute of spirituality outside it. It requires Christ formed within, the hope of glory, putting away vanity and foolish speaking, being sanctified through the truth, constantly gaining wisdom and knowledge from God as the branch draws nourishment from the living vine, with His Spirit resting upon the worker, taking Jesus into the heart, thinking and talking of Jesus and doing His work wherever one is, following Christ not merely in outward form but in purity, self-denial, meekness and love, which is the only way to work successfully in these last times. No laborer has excuse for choosing selfish indulgence, levity, love of pleasure, sporting, jesting, and cheap, common talk, which is strange fire; he must daily offer the holy fire, the incense of prayer, before God, with the Holy Spirit mingling with his prayers to give them efficiency, trusting in Jesus' merits alone to make prayer acceptable, walking humbly with Him in meekness and lowliness of mind, knowing his weakness and that of himself his prayers would go no higher than his head, coming with reverent spirit and humbling himself before God, dying to self and sin and living to God and honoring Him daily, not trusting in self or mere arguments on Bible truth but securing the Lord's presence through holy living and earnest, fervent prayer like Christ pouring out His soul with strong crying and tears, so angels prepare the way to hearts and the living Jesus imparts power to work with the worker. Freedom from guilt for the loss of precious souls depends on keeping in God's love, separating from the world, and having a right sense of the exalted character of the work, so that special blessing rests, light shines round about, and influence for good is felt in every branch and every part of the field, while failing to meet God's mind turns influence and example into a terrible curse that does harm and only harm and leaves guilt upon the garments; and those who know present truth incur bloodguilt when their lives fail to show its virtue, for living the truth, including honoring God through Sabbath observance, is part of the witness by which others are reached.
A Christian minister is pure from blood only when he has fully done his duty, serving with all humility of mind, learning the meekness and lowliness of Christ, keeping back nothing profitable, teaching publicly and from house to house, testifying repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ, not shunning to declare all counsel, taking heed to self and to the flock the Holy Ghost made overseers to feed, laboring to support the weak and remembering that it is more blessed to give than to receive, which condemns an easy, comfortable ministry that only partly copies others and calls ministers to self-examination and alarm over responsibility. Purity requires faithful, consecrated, self-denying labor under accountability as much more important than any temporal trust as eternal things exceed temporal, ever at the watchman's post watching for souls as one that must give an account, preserving vigor of mind and body to put the whole being into God's work without reserve, and carrying out in life the principles of the sacred truths presented. If inclination rules rather than duty, if self is indulged at expense of spiritual strength, if the worker is fitful, impulsive and unconsecrated, building up then tearing down, disheartening, distressing and discouraging the very souls the truth converted and losing their confidence, or if self-indulgence and discouraging conduct undo the good, souls will rise in the judgment to condemn him and the blood of souls will be found on his garments. Each person bears great individual responsibility for neighbors and friends in peril and must work with untiring energy, tact and zeal as Christ worked, presenting truth as it is in Jesus in entire dependence and trust in God, knowing nothing can be done without His grace and power, and speaking earnestly for salvation in the fear of God, even to strangers who may not be met again until the Judgment, so as to be free from their blood.
The call reaches all, for one who has failed to use influence and opportunities to lead others to Christ cannot claim freedom when they die without Christ, and greater closeness brings greater responsibility, so that neglect can leave the blood of souls on the garments. Being free requires warning those perishing for want of light and knowledge, praying with and for them, and making earnest efforts to present truth to them, for those who come in contact with perishing souls yet feel at ease and irresponsible, never warning them, will have blood on their garments. One who has received light about danger must make every effort to warn of the impending conflict over God's law, and when faithful warning and teaching have discharged the owed duty the worker is free and responsibility rests on the hearers. That whole duty done means faithfully exhorting souls to make sure work for eternity, telling each to have individual experience and feel individual responsibility, warning that worship at the shrine of fashion and pride and worldliness in dress bars discipleship to the meek and lowly Jesus, praying and warning faithfully with many tears and love even when despised, speaking in the fear of God to those who may not be met again till the judgment, after which hearers must form character for heaven or choose the broad road to death, while the worker keeps deep interest and labors with all possible effort because time is short.