Testimonies for the Church Vol 1 - Lansing SDA Church

Laborers in the Office 545will be less and less affected by the truth and work of God, until theyfind themselves destitute of the emotions of the Spirit of God, dead tothe heavenly impress of truth. Eternal things will not be discerned bythem, but will be placed upon a low level with common things. This, Isaw, had been the case with some connected with the office, and allhave been remiss in this respect to a greater or lesser degree.I saw that the work of present truth should engage the interest ofall. The publication of truth is God’s ordained plan as a means ofwarning, comforting, reproving, exhorting, or convicting all to whosenotice the silent, voiceless messengers may be brought. Angels ofGod have a part to act in preparing hearts to be sanctified by the truthspublished, that they may be prepared for the solemn scenes beforethem. None in that office are sufficient of themselves for the importantwork of discreetly managing matters connected with the publication [591]of the truth. Angels must be near them to guide, to counsel, and torestrain, or the wisdom and folly of human agencies will be apparent.I saw that angels were frequently in the office, in the folding room,and in the room where the type is set. I was made to hear the laughing,the jesting, the idle, foolish talking. Again, I saw the vanity, the prideand selfishness exhibited. Angels looked sad and turned away grieved.The words I had heard, the vanity, pride, and selfishness exhibited,caused me to groan with anguish of spirit as angels left the room indisgust. Said an angel: “The heavenly messengers came to bless, thatthe truth carried by the voiceless preachers might have a sanctifying,holy power to attend its mission; but those engaged in this work wereso distant from God, they possessed so little of the divine, and wereso conformed to the spirit of the world, that the powers of darknesscontrolled them, and they could not be made susceptible of divineimpressions.” At the same time these youth were deceived and thoughtthey were rich and increased in goods and had need of nothing, andknew not that they were poor and miserable, blind and naked. Thosewho handle precious truth as they would sand know not how manytimes their heartless indifference to eternal things, their vanity, selflove,and pride, their laughing and senseless chatting, have driven themessengers of heaven away from the office.In deportment, words, and acts all in that office should be reserved,modest, humble, and disinterested, as was their Pattern, Jesus, the dearSaviour. They should seek God and obtain righteousness. The office is