Is Canvassing for Our Books an Honorable Business?
Every person choosing any business employment should select one that is honorable. There is a satisfaction in knowing that our avocation is one upon which we can claim God’s blessing; one that will honor God and benefit humanity. That employment is most honorable in which a person can do the most real good. The glory of God and the good of mankind are the highest objects for which men can labor. When we consider the nearness of Christ’s coming, the immense importance of salvation, the terrible doom of the wicked, the possibility of our being able to rescue some from the pains of the second death, and the command of God to let our light shine, we may be sure that the dissemination of the light of present truth is the most important work in which we can engage. There are several methods of doing this, all of which are very important. The work of the living preacher is one of God’s agencies absolutely necessary in order to carry out the plan of God in man’s salvation. Going from house to house canvassing and praying with the people and reading the Scriptures with them, is an important part of the work of the ministry as originally designed when Christ ordained it. Indeed, it would seem that Christ and Paul and other apostles labored in this manner fully as much as in giving public discourses. We call this “colporter work.” It was anciently “ministerial work.” And we think it may clearly be shown that all missionary work is a part of ministerial work, as anciently practiced. Indeed, the specimens of ancient sermons we have on record in the Bible, are more like talks called out by the occasion than like modern sermons from set texts of Scripture. The dissemination of printed matter is a modern work growing out of the invention of the art of printing. We have no question but that God designed this as a special means for the warning of the world of Christ’s second coming. The general advance of education, seen in the fact that nearly all are taught to read, the extent of the business of printing, and the general circulation of the Bible and religious books, make it possible to warn the world in a comparatively short time. There are thousands who could act a part in circulating the truth through reading matter, who never could do it successfully in any other way. There are many also who could begin to work in this way, who might in time learn to work in other ways. By this means the very best thoughts of able men, the most forcible productions from their pens, and the ablest presentation of truth which can be made, may be almost infinitely multiplied, and brought before millions upon millions of minds; whereas if it were not for this means, they could be known to but comparatively few. All would say that for an able preacher to give a forcible, masterly presentation of divine truth to a congregation of one thousand people, by means of which twenty should be converted to God, would be a noble, most honorable work. Can any one tell us why the work would not be as honorable and noble if the same words were written out and circulated among a hundred thousand people, and a hundred times as many persons were brought to the truth? Such a step is perfectly practicable if we employ the printing press and the canvasser to scatter the truth. And in this case, can any one deny that those who thus contribute to help in scattering these precious thoughts of our able men, are engaged in just as honorable work as the minister who speaks from the stand? They simply extend the radius of his words and his influence reach; and all the field of influence of the minister’s words over that which he would have been able to reach unaided, belongs to the canvasser or missionary worker. Let us illustrate this point. Our dear Brother Smith, for example, has long been one of our leading men and ministers. He goes out to preach the word of God, and does much good in explaining the wonderful prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation from the pulpit. He reaches a few hundreds of people by so doing. He writes out these, with many other valuable thoughts, in a book, and by means of others’ assistance his words may reach a hundred times as many people. And these may be presented through his book from this time till the Lord comes; whereas if he should speak these words in the oral discourse, they could only be heard for a short time, and would perhaps soon be forgotten. Here we see a great extension of truth and enlightenment, by means of the words of Bro. Smith and the help of others in causing them to reach many thousands of people. Suppose these good thoughts are the cause of the salvation of hundreds or thousands of people, is not the work of Bro. Smith in speaking and writing them an honorable and noble one, if so many are thereby saved, and thus obtain eternal life? How can we deny that the work of extending the influence of these words, by means of canvassing for them, is just as honorable and noble, if it result in the salvation of others who would not have known the truth but for this canvassing work? The same principle applies to all the work of canvassing for present truth, when the motive is the salvation of souls. Of course it does not apply to it as a matter of money making. The testimonies of the Spirit teach that there is no work more important than the circulation of our reading matter. Away with the idea that the canvassing for such a work as “Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation” is not honorable and noble work. It is all of that, and in which we desire to see hundreds engaged in the world.