VIGILANT MISSIONARY WORK.
By S. N. Haskell
THERE is no branch of the missionary work which, considering the talent brought into exercise, accomplishes more than the vigilant societies or committees. The amount of labor one can perform in this department, if the heart is imbued with the true missionary spirit, and the life devoted to the interests of the cause of Christ, is almost incredible. One brother with whom I am acquainted receives not far from one hundred and fifty copies of the Signs, of which one hundred and twelve are the twelve-page edition, making an aggregate of from five to six hundred papers per month, besides forty copies of Good Health; still he is praying that the Lord will open the way so that he can use more. He not only finds addresses for his own use, but he is able to supply others also; and this he does in addition to six days’ manual labor each week. He has more or less correspondence among all the civilized nations of the world. I am personally acquainted with some less than twenty who, in their past experience, have given evidence that they could properly manage as large a number of periodicals as this brother; and in every Seventh-day Adventist church in the land there are men and women who are now doing comparatively nothing, to whom nature has given as much ability to do this work as those above referred to possess, or even more. There are many families living alone, that, if they would take five or ten copies of this pioneer paper, and judiciously use them for missionary purposes, would receive as a reward joy and peace here and eternal happiness in the kingdom of God. The apostle asks the important question, “What is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing?” and then answers it, “Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? for ye are our glory and joy.” It was this hope of seeing souls saved in the kingdom of God which sustained the apostle in his arduous labors. The idea of divorcing faith from works in the Christian religion is an invention of the devil, designed not only to destroy souls, but to bring into his service talents which would otherwise help to advance God’s work upon the earth. “Faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” Our Saviour in his life gave us an illustration of these works which are so important. Efforts to benefit humanity, to place the light of truth before those who sat in darkness, occupied his life. May God bless the efforts now being made to place the truth before those who sit in darkness, is my prayer.