The Lord has often given me a view of the situation and wants
of the scattered jewels who have not yet come to the light of
the present truth, and has shown that the messengers should speed
their way to them as fast as possible, to give them the light.
Many all around us only need to have their prejudices removed
and the evidences of our present position spread out before them
from the Word, and they will joyfully receive the present truth.
The messengers should watch for souls as they that must give account.
Theirs must be a life of toil and anguish of spirit, while the
weight of the precious but often-wounded cause of Christ rests
upon them. They will have to lay aside worldly interests and comforts
and make it their first object to do all in their power to advance
the cause of present truth and save perishing souls.
They will also have a rich reward. In their crowns of rejoicing
those who are rescued by them and finally saved will shine as
stars forever and ever. And to all eternity they will enjoy the
satisfaction of having done what they could in presenting the
truth in its purity and beauty, so that souls fell in love with
it, were sanctified through it, and availed themselves of the
inestimable privilege of being made rich, and being washed in
the blood of the Lamb and redeemed unto God.
I saw that the shepherds should consult those in whom they have
reason to have confidence, those who have been in all the messages,
and are firm in all the present truth, before they advocate new
points of importance, which they may think the Bible sustains.
Then the shepherds will be perfectly united and the union of the
shepherds will be felt by the church. Such a course I saw would
prevent unhappy divisions, and then there would be no danger of
the precious flock being divided and the sheep scattered without
a shepherd.
I also saw that God had messengers that He would use in His cause,
but they were not ready. They were too light and trifling to exert
a good influence over the flock and did not feel the weight of
the cause and the worth of souls as God's messengers must feel
in order to effect good. Said the angel, "Be ye clean that
bear the vessels of the Lord. Be ye clean that bear the vessels
of the Lord." They can accomplish but little good unless
they are wholly given up to God and feel the importance and solemnity
of the last message of mercy that is now being given to the scattered
flock. Some who are not called of God are very willing to go with
the message. But if they felt the weight of the cause and the
responsibilities of such a station, they would feel to shrink
back and say with the apostle, "Who is sufficient for these
things?" One reason why they are so willing to go is that
God has not laid upon them the weight of the cause. Not all who
proclaimed the first and the second angel's message are to give
the third, even after they fully embrace it, for some have been
in so many errors and delusions that they can but just save their
own souls, and if they undertake to guide others, they will be
the means of overthrowing them. But I saw that some who have formerly
run deep into fanaticism would be the first now to run before
God sends them, before they are purified from their past errors;
having error mixed with the truth, they would feed the flock of
God with it, and if they were suffered to go on, the flock would
become sickly, and distraction and death would follow. I saw that
they would have to be sifted and sifted, until they were freed
from all their errors, or they could never enter the kingdom.
The messengers could not have that confidence in the judgment
and discernment of those who have been in errors and fanaticism
that they could have in those who have been in the truth and not
in extravagant errors. Many, also, are too apt to urge out into
the field some who have but just professed the present truth,
who have much to learn and much to do before they can be right
in the sight of God themselves, much less point out the way to
others.
I saw the necessity of the messengers, especially, watching and
checking all fanaticism wherever they might see it rise. Satan
is pressing in on every side, and unless we watch for him, and
have our eyes open to his devices and snares, and have on the
whole armor of God, the fiery darts of the wicked will hit us.
There are many precious truths contained in the Word of God, but
it is "present truth" that the flock needs now. I have
seen the danger of the messengers running off from the important
points of present truth, to dwell upon subjects that are not calculated
to unite the flock and sanctify the soul. Satan will here take
every possible advantage to injure the cause.
But such subjects as the sanctuary, in connection with the 2300
days, the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, are perfectly
calculated to explain the past Advent movement and show what our
present position is, establish the faith of the doubting, and
give certainty to the glorious future. These, I have frequently
seen, were the principal subjects on which the messengers should
dwell.
If the chosen messengers of the Lord should wait for every obstacle
to be moved out of their way, many never would go to search for
the scattered sheep. Satan will present many objections in order
to keep them from duty. But they will have to go out by faith,
trusting in Him who has called them to His work, and He will open
the way before them, as far as it will be for their good and His
glory. Jesus, the great teacher and pattern, had not where to
lay His head. His life was one of toil, sorrow, and suffering;
He then gave Himself for us. Those who, in Christ's stead, beseech
souls to be reconciled to God, and who hope to reign with Christ
in glory, must expect to be partakers of His sufferings here.
"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth
forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come
again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." Ps.
126:5, 6.