Testimonies for the Church Vol 1 - Lansing SDA Church

478 Testimonies for the Church Volume 1[519][520]Those connected with the office cannot endure the amount of careand labor that my husband has borne for years. They have not theconstitution, the capital to draw upon, which my husband had. Theycan never endure the perplexities and the constant, wearing laborwhich have come upon him and which he has borne for twenty years.I cannot endure the thought that any in the office should sacrificestrength and health through excessive labor, so that their usefulnessshould prematurely end and they be unable to work in the vineyard ofthe Lord. It is not merely the gatherers of the fruit that are the essentiallaborers; all who assist in digging about the plants, watering, pruning,and lifting up the drooping, trailing vines, and leading their tendrilsto entwine about the true trellis, the sure support, are workmen whocannot be spared.The brethren in the office feel that they cannot leave the work for afew days for a change, for recreation; but this is a mistake. They canand should do so. Even if there were not as much accomplished, itwould be better to leave for a few days than to be prostrated by diseaseand be separated from the work for months, and perhaps never be ableto engage in it again.My husband thought it wrong for him to spend time in socialenjoyment. He could not afford to rest. He thought that the work inthe office would suffer if he should. But after the blow fell upon him,causing physical and mental prostration, the work had to be carriedon without him. I saw that the brethren engaged in the responsiblelabor in the office should work upon a different plan and make theirarrangements to have change. If more help is needed, obtain it, and letrelief come to those who are suffering from constant confinement andbrain labor. They should attend convocation meetings. They need tothrow off care, share the hospitality of their brethren, and enjoy theirsociety and the blessings of the meetings. They will thus receive freshthoughts, and their wearied energies will be awakened to new life, andthey will return to the work far better qualified to perform their part,for they will better understand the wants of the cause.Brethren abroad, are you asleep to this matter? Must your heartsbe made faint by the fall of another of God’s workmen, whom youlove? These men are the property of the church. Will you suffer themto die under the burdens? I appeal to you to advise a different orderof things. I pray God that the bitter experience that has come upon us