Testimonies for the Church Vol 1 - Lansing SDA Church

Chapter 80—Unconsecrated MinistersMinisters who preach the third message should labor because theyfeel that God has laid upon them the burden of the work. Our ministersare placed above want, if they exercise any degree of economy. If theylack, they will be in want in any position in which they may be placed.Give them the most favorable chance and they would spend all theyreceive. This has been the case with Elder Hull. Such need an almostinexhaustible fund to draw from in order to be satisfied.Those who fail to manage wisely in temporal matters, generallylack in spiritual things. They fail to build up the church. They maypossess natural talents and be called smart speakers, and yet lack moralworth. They may draw large congregations and raise considerableexcitement; but when the fruit is sought for, there is very little, if any,to be found. Such men frequently get above the work and lose theirlove for the simplicity of the gospel. They are not sanctified throughthe truths they preach. This has been the case with Elder Hull. He haslacked that grace which establishes the soul and elevates and ennoblesthe character of the man. It is a good thing that the heart be establishedwith grace. This is the ground of our steadfastness.In places where Elder Hull has given a course of lectures, thepeople have been pleased with his witticisms and his peculiar styleof preaching, yet but few have embraced the truth as the result of hislabors; and even of these quite a proportion soon renounce the faith.Many have been disappointed that there was so little fruit to be foundafter his labor. I was shown the reason. Humility, simplicity, purity,and holiness of life were lacking. He has thought that his smart laborwas invaluable, and that the cause would hardly exist if he should bedisconnected from it; but if he could have known the anxiety which thereal laborers in the cause, who have tried to help him, have suffered [439]on his account, he would not have had so high an estimate of his ownlabors. His course has been a continual burden to the cause, and itwould have prospered better without his influence. The anxiety of hisbrethren to save him from falling has led them to do too much for him409