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Signs of the Times, Book 1 - Ellen G. White

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should also be united in larger divisions, with suitable men appointed in each<br />

to help to <strong>the</strong> utmost <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir ability, <strong>the</strong> ones placed under <strong>the</strong>ir charge. Men<br />

should not be chosen for this work who have so much sermonizing to do, to<br />

exhibit <strong>the</strong>mselves, that <strong>the</strong>y are no help to <strong>the</strong> people. The leaders appointed<br />

should be carefully taught how to labor to secure <strong>the</strong> best results. The wisest<br />

generalship is in seeing, not how much we can do ourselves, but how much<br />

we can lead <strong>the</strong> people to do. This is <strong>the</strong> education which <strong>the</strong>y need in order<br />

to grow in grace and <strong>the</strong> knowledge <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> truth. They must be taught, not so<br />

much by long sermons as by personal effort, how to secure <strong>the</strong> blessing <strong>of</strong><br />

God, <strong>the</strong> true conversion.<br />

Our camp-meeting should be as a training-school to our younger<br />

ministers. Here is <strong>the</strong> very place for <strong>the</strong>m to be educated as to <strong>the</strong> best<br />

manner <strong>of</strong> labor. They should learn that all <strong>the</strong>ir duty is not comprised in<br />

preaching. They need to know how to conduct wisely <strong>the</strong> social meetings,<br />

how to teach <strong>the</strong> people to work, that <strong>the</strong>re be no idlers in <strong>the</strong> vineyard <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Lord. While preaching is one <strong>of</strong> God's instrumentalities, <strong>the</strong>re are o<strong>the</strong>r<br />

agencies that must be set in operation to prepare <strong>the</strong> way <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Lord. The<br />

church must be made to feel her accountability before <strong>the</strong> Lord will revive<br />

his work.<br />

The preacher himself, must be alive; he must have <strong>the</strong> earnestness <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Spirit; he must labor through Christ; he must make direct appeals; he must<br />

sound <strong>the</strong> alarm to careless and world-loving pr<strong>of</strong>essors, though <strong>the</strong>y should<br />

be displeased because <strong>the</strong>ir ears tingle with <strong>the</strong> close application <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

truth,--"Thou art <strong>the</strong> man." It is too late to daub with untempered mortar.<br />

There must be plain and faithful dealing. The people must be aroused to do<br />

<strong>the</strong> work which God enjoins upon <strong>the</strong>m, to take up <strong>the</strong> stumbling-blocks and<br />

clear out <strong>the</strong> rubbish, that <strong>the</strong> Spirit <strong>of</strong> God may come in. The guilt as well as<br />

<strong>the</strong> danger <strong>of</strong> backsliding must be faithfully pointed out. Follow up <strong>the</strong> word<br />

with personal effort. General appeals are <strong>of</strong>ten made with little effect. Come<br />

close to hearts, stirring up all to act a part. Let not one day be lost. Engage<br />

1402

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