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WILL VERMONT COME UP?

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

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

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WILL VERMONT COME UP?

By A. O. Burrill

It is with deep gratitude that we recount the many mercies and blessings bestowed upon our Conference during the last few months. It is but a short time since Bro. Hutchins stood pleading in our General Conference for help to go to the Green Mountain State, and the sound of his voice had hardly ceased when the Lord began to raise up helpers to assist him in the work. Now there are a goodly number, with the prospect that at the close of the school term in May a number more will unite their efforts to aid in the good work. In proportion to the number of believers, Vermont will be as well supplied with laborers as almost any Conference among our people. The Lord has been stirring up individuals to give themselves to his work in almost every branch of it, and shall old Vermont be behind?
With this corps of laborers will come an increase in expenses. The apostle says, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we should reap your carnal things?” 1 Cor. 9:9–11. These statements of inspiration show that those who have been receivers of the spiritual blessings are made responsible to supply the laborer with temporal things; and since there is duty in it, all who neglect it will do so at the peril of their souls. What made the church of Corinth inferior to the church of Philippi? Paul answered, “For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong.” 2 Cor. 12:13.
We all want to see the work in Vermont make rapid strides, and this it will do if all will faithfully do their duty. The majority of Christians part with their means very reluctantly. Many are careful not to give even one-twentieth of their increase to God, and some far less than that; while many rob God of all their tithes and offerings, and still others give only a tithe. If all the tithes and offerings among our people flowed into the treasury of the Lord, great blessings would be poured out upon them both temporally and spiritually, God would be greatly honored, and every branch of his work would be fully supplied.
Why should we wait until some thrilling appeal is made before doing something? There will be no stirring appeal for the gates of the city to open at last. No; only those will enter who have willing and obedient hearts. A few days ago, while consulting with the Conference Committee, it was thought best to send to every family of our people in the Conference the pamphlet, “Honor Due to God,” an appeal, and a pledge to be signed by every one, the pledge, when signed, to be returned to the State treasurer, A. S. Hutchins, Irasburgh, Vt. Who will be first in this good work?
A. O. Burrill.