APPEAL TO VERMONT by I. E. Kimball

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Tuesday, February 17, 1885

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 62, No. 7

APPEAL TO VERMONT.

By I. E. Kimball

Dear Brethren of Vermont: I want to say a few words to you about work. There is no disguising the fact that Vermont is not a hard field of labor, that in comparison with other States she is well equipped with laborers, and that, if there is not something accomplished, there is lying somewhere at our door some evident wrong; for with God’s help truth is mighty to save. It will be accepted every time by the sincere, Christ-loving soul, if brought to bear upon him in all its forces, and in the right way.

We know we have the most glorious truth for this world that was ever committed to man, the most impregnable and convincing,—one calculated to stir the soul’s very depths; for it reveals the work of the final Judgment, of which the Saviour, and prophets, and apostles have given warning, with solemn voices ringing through all the ages. It is even now in progress, and almost finished. The furious final tempest is about to burst mercilessly upon a world spurning God’s grace and hardened in guilt and trespasses.

Now let me ask, How much is this truth worth to us? How much will it be worth to us in a little from this, when it will be our only shield and buckler? We shall soon wake up, either with joy and rejoicing or with grief and despair, to know its true value. But it is as necessary to others as to those who possess it already. Indeed, so startling and mighty a truth is most highly prized by those newly receiving it, and appreciated more if possible than by those who are accustomed to consider it. Such a flood of light can but bring joy.

Brethren, what does God require of us? How much is his blessing worth to us? How shall we lay up in store for ourselves a good foundation against the time to come, and lay hold on eternal life? Do good; “be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate.” Now if this truth is worth so much, if it is such a blessing to ourselves and others, if it is as potent as God’s truth has always been in the past, if it is our only hope in the days of adversity, when the pit is digged for the wicked, if it is a harbinger of life to those who hear, and a sentence of death to those who turn away their ears from it, and if God’s blessing is worth more to us than everything else in this world, would we not do well to heed the above exhortation of the apostle?

I have a list of more than twenty names of persons who have colporter’s licenses in this State. How many of them are in the field?—But a spare minority of three or four. Bro. Burrill has mentioned this as a good field for canvassers, and demonstrated it by his own experience. My former experience proved it satisfactorily to me; and since coming to Brattleboro my success is a confirmation of it. By a walk in the country of about eight miles, through a by no means thickly settled neighborhood, I succeeded yesterday in selling five copies of “Great Controversy,” Vol. IV., five copies of “Sketches from the Life of Paul,” one of “United States in Prophecy,” and took twelve names for the Signs for six weeks in connection with them. I have not one lingering doubt but that one quarter of this work accomplished every day, will prove more satisfactory here, and bring better returns at the Judgment, than the best, most effective preaching I could do at the present time.

“Sketches from the life of Paul” must be one of the best works to be read with the Signs. Necessarily it will give weight and importance to its teachings, and bring about a thorough investigation by every candid mind. Vol. IV. cannot fail to make the most solemn impression upon any person. Must not these precious, Heaven-sent works, with “United States in Prophecy” and the Signs, pave the way most effectively for lectures? We expect to see the most satisfactory results from it. With God’s help they could be placed in nearly half of the professedly religious homes of Vermont.

Brethren, if we should all seek God until our longing souls cried out to do something, then seek our fellow-men with reading matter, with ardent souls and a just estimate of the truth we bring to them, no man or woman in Vermont could fail to do a good work,—yes, a glorious one. But don’t underestimate God’s sacred truth, and present those works as though they were of but little consequence. Let us try to get our ideas wrought up to a sense of how much it is worth to death-sentenced souls. Brethren, put copies of these books in your overcoat pockets, and start out, continually praying for God’s guidance. It is the best time in the year for this work; and if every lover of the truth would do that which is but his duty,—that which before God we shall be held responsible for doing,—in a very short time we might hear the warning cry of the third angel ringing and reverberating through all the hills and mountains of Vermont.

We must go to work as though we were finishing up God’s business on earth. It is of more consequence than ours,—yes, of infinite consequence. He will not excuse us for continuing in stupid lethargy. Hearts are every day growing harder,—more encased in sin. It will be harder for the truth to dent into the minds of the people one year from now, and harder for us to shake off our stupor. Unless corrected, errors will thrive and flourish, and seed; and if not uprooted, God’s scythe will soon mow them down. The world rushes on faster and farther from God. Who will raise the warning? Who will cry aloud and spare not? Some of us, all of us, must do it. Are we to participate in the loud cry? Never, unless we cast about us and consider. Others will share that unspeakable refreshing; but God has said that now is the best time for labor. The very fact that that refreshing is now withheld from us, proves conclusively a lack on our part, and that if we put forth no greater efforts we shall never enjoy it. We are standing right in the way of the work of God.

There are some whom I would like to mention personally, who have the best gift for canvassing, and who have already made it a complete success. Who will put his hand to the plow without looking back? We need help at Brattleboro. Who shall it be? There will soon be an imperative demand for lectures and Bible-readings in this vicinity. I cannot say much for this large village of six thousand inhabitants. It has the most godless populace I ever mingled with. The working men have during the week but four days of eight hours each to labor. The oppressive times make it correspondingly hard to reach them with the reading. But farming communities and small villages feel it but little, and can be easily reached.

In conclusion let me call the attention of the church clerks to Bro. Butler’s article on church reports, etc., in REVIEW of Jan. 20. I have heard from but few. Send them in speedily.

I. E. KIMBALL.