“With many who are laboring in our Offices, there is an almost entire absence of the love and fear of God. Self rules, self controls, and God and heaven scarcely enter into the mind. If these persons could see that they are upon the very borders of the eternal world, and that their future interests will be determined by their present action, there would be a marked change in every hand employed in these Offices.
“But many of those who are engaged in the sacred work of God, are paralyzed by Satan’s deceptions. They are asleep on the enchanted ground. Days and months are passing, while they remain careless and unconcerned, as if there were no God, no future, no heaven, no punishment for neglect of duty, for shunning responsibilities. But the day is fast approaching when the case of every one will be decided according to his works. Many have a fearfully spotted record in the ledger of heaven.”
“When these workers shall arouse to their own accountability, when they shall lay their polluted souls before God just as they are, and their earnest cry shall take hold on his strength, they will then know for themselves that God does hear and answer prayer. And when they do awake, they will see what they have lost by their indifference and unfaithfulness. They will then find that they have reached only a low standard, when, had the mind and capabilities been cultivated and improved for God, they31might have had a rich experience, and might have been instrumental in saving their fellow-men. And even should they be saved at last, they will realize through all eternity the loss of opportunities wasted in probationary time.
“Religious privileges have been too much neglected by those employed in the Offices. None should engage in the work of God who treat these privileges with indifference; for all such connect with evil angels, and are a cloud of darkness and a hindrance to others. In order to make the work a success, every department in these Offices must have the presence of heavenly angels. When the Spirit of God shall work upon the heart, cleansing the soul temple of its defilement of worldliness and pleasure-loving, all will be seen in the prayer-meeting, faithful to do their duty, and earnest and anxious to reap all the benefit they can gain. The faithful worker for the Master will improve every opportunity to place himself directly under the rays of light from the throne of God; and this light will be reflected upon others.
“And not only should the prayer-meeting be faithfully attended, but as often as once each week, a praise-meeting should be held. Here the goodness and manifold mercies of God should be dwelt upon. Were we as free to give expression to our thankfulness for mercies received as we are to speak of grievances, doubts, and unbelief, we might bring joy to the hearts of others, instead of casting discouragement and gloom upon them. The complainers and murmurers, who are ever seeing the discouragements32in the way, and talking of trials and hardships, should contemplate the infinite sacrifice which Christ has made in their behalf. Then can they estimate all their blessings in the light of the cross. While looking upon Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, whom our sins have pierced and our sorrows have burdened, we shall see cause for gratitude and praise, and our thoughts and desires will be brought into submission to the will of Christ.”—Pages 104-108.
The last of this series, No. 31, contains these words:—
“Parents do not send their children to our College or to our Offices to commence a love-sick, sentimental life, but to be educated in the sciences or to learn the printer’s trade.”—Page 105.