Earlier text: **EXTRACTS** from the **TESTIMONIES**.

“We must live a two-fold life of thought and action, silent prayer and earnest work. All who have received the light of truth should feel it their duty to shed rays of light upon the pathway of the impenitent. They should be witnesses for Christ in our Offices as verily as in the church. God requires us to be living epistles, known and read of all men. The soul that turns to God for its strength, its support, its power, by daily, earnest prayer, will have noble aspirations, clear perceptions of truth and of duty, lofty purposes of action, and a continual hungering and thirsting after righteousness. By maintaining a connection with God, we shall be enabled to diffuse to others, through our association with them, the light, the peace, the serenity, that rule in our hearts, and set before them an example of unwavering fidelity to the interests of the work in which we are engaged.

“With many who are laboring in our Offices, there is an almost entire absence of the love and fear of God. Self rules, self controls, and God and heaven scarcely enter into the mind. If these persons could see that they are upon the very borders of the eternal world, and that their future interests will be determined by their present action, there would be a marked change in every hand employed in these Offices.

“But many of those who are engaged in the sacred work of God, are paralyzed by Satan’s deceptions. They are asleep on the enchanted ground. Days and months are passing, while they remain careless and unconcerned, as if there were no God, no future, no heaven, no punishment for neglect of duty, for shunning responsibilities. But the day is fast approaching when the case of every one will be decided according to his works. Many have a fearfully spotted record in the ledger of heaven.

“When these workers shall arouse to their own accountability, when they shall lay their polluted souls before God just as they are, and their earnest cry shall take hold on his strength, they will then know for themselves that God does hear and answer prayer. And when they do awake, they will see what they have lost by their indifference and unfaithfulness. They will then find that they have reached only a low standard, when, had the mind and capabilities been cultivated and improved for God, they might have had a rich experience, and might have been instrumental in saving their fellow-men. And even should they be saved at last, they will realize through all eternity the loss of opportunities wasted in probationary time.

Religious privileges have been too much neglected by those employed in the Offices. None should engage in the work of God who treat these privileges with indifference; for all such connect with evil angels, and are a cloud of darkness and a hinderance to others. In order to make the work a success, every department in these Offices must have the presence of heavenly angels. When the Spirit of God shall work upon the heart, cleansing the soul temple of its defilement of worldliness and pleasure-loving, all will be seen in the prayer-meeting, faithful to do their duty, and30 earnest and anxious to reap all the benefit they can gain. The faithful worker for the Master will improve every opportunity to place himself directly under the rays of light from the throne of God; and this light will be reflected upon others.

“And not only should the prayer-meeting be faithfully attended, but as often as once each week, a praise-meeting should be held. Here the goodness and manifold mercies of God should be dwelt upon. Were we as free to give expression to our thankfulness for mercies received as we are to speak of grievances, doubts, and unbelief, we might bring joy to the hearts of others, instead of casting discouragement and gloom upon them. The complainers and murmurers, who are ever seeing the discouragements in the way, and talking of trials and hardships, should contemplate the infinite sacrifice which Christ has made in their behalf. Then can they estimate all their blessings in the light of the cross. While looking upon Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, whom our sins have pierced and our sorrows have burdened, we shall see cause for gratitude and praise, and our thoughts and desires will be brought into submission to the will of Christ.”—Pages 104–108.

Testimony No. 31 contains these words:—

“Parents do not send their children to our College or to our Offices to commence a love-sick, sentimental life, but to be educated in the sciences or to learn the printer’s trade.”—Page 105.

In Testimony No. 32, published in 1885, under the heading of “The Publishing Work,” appears the following:—

“There are and ever will be many perplexities connected with the publishing Office at Battle Creek. The institutions31 established there are God’s instrumentalities for accomplishing his work in the earth. For this reason, Satan is on the ground, exercising his ingenuity to embarrass and hinder. He comes with his temptations to men and women connected with these institutions, whether in responsible positions or doing the humblest work, and if possible, he so ensnares them with his devices that they lose their connection with God, become confused in judgment, and are unable to discern between right and wrong. He knows that the time will surely come when the spirit that has controlled the life will be made manifest; and he is glad to have the lives of these persons testify against them, that they are not co-workers with Christ.”

“Those who stand in positions of trust in the publishing house have weighty responsibilities to bear; and they are not fitted for these places unless they are day by day gaining a deeper and more reliable Christian experience. Eternal interests should be made the first consideration, and every influence which would help in the divine life should be welcomed. Men to whom the Lord has given the charge of business matters connected with his cause should be spiritually minded. They should not neglect to attend religious meetings, nor consider it a task to speak often one to another of their religious life and experience. God will listen to their testimonies; they will be recorded in his book of remembrance; and he will favor his faithful ones, and “will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.”

“Those standing at the head of the publishing work should remember that they are an example to many; and they should be faithful in the public worship of God, just as they would have every workman in every department of the Office faithful. If they are seen in the house of worship32 only occasionally, others will excuse themselves on account of their neglect.”

“Business managers are needed in the Review Office, who will correctly represent Jesus and the plan of salvation. God is displeased when they use all their powers in worldly enterprises, or even in business relating to the publishing work, and do nothing for the strengthening of his church, the up-building of his kingdom. To labor for God and for the salvation of souls is the highest and noblest calling that men ever had or ever can have. The losses and gains in this business are of great importance; for the results do not end with this life, but reach over into eternity.”

“I have passed through the Office, and have been shown how the angels of God look upon the work done in the various rooms. In some the condition of things is better than in others; but in all there are wrongs that might be remedied. Loss, loss, is seen in many departments. The reckless way that many work results in loss to the Office, and is an offense to God. It is sad that it should be thus. Jesus has given us lessons in economy. ‘Gather up the fragments,’ he says, ‘that nothing be lost.’”

“I have been shown that in addition to the help now in the Office, competent men should be employed to assist in the management of the different departments of the work. Men should be employed who have experience in business, and who are wise managers. It would have been better years ago to have employed men who were thorough managers,—men who would have taught thoroughness, promptness, and economy,—even if double the wages that has been paid to foremen had been necessary.”

Very much is lost for want of a competent person, one33 who is efficient, apt, and practical, to oversee the different departments of the work. One is needed who is a practical printer, and is acquainted with every part of the work. There are some who understand printing, but utterly fail in generalship. Others do the best they can; but they are yet inexperienced, and do not understand the publishing work. Their ideas are often narrow. They do not know how to meet the demands of the cause; and, as a consequence, they are unable to estimate the advantages and disadvantages of enlarging their work. They are also liable to misjudge, to make wrong calculations, and to estimate incorrectly. There have been losses in consequence of a failure to make proper estimates and to improve opportunities of pushing the publishing work. In such an institution as this, thousands of dollars may be lost through the calculations of incompetent persons.”

“There should be some one to see that the youth, as they enter the Office to learn trades, have prompt and proper attention. A man should be employed for this work who is apt to teach, patient, kind, and discerning. If one man is not sufficient for this work, let others be employed. If it is done faithfully, it will save to the Office the wages of three men. These youth are forming habits that will affect their entire experience. They are, as it were, in a school; and if they are left to pick up their knowledge as best they can, marked defects will be seen all through their future work. The basis of thoroughness, honesty, and integrity must be laid in youth. The formation of correct habits in youth is of the utmost importance. If instead of being trained to obedience to rules and regulations, and to habits of punctuality, thoroughness, neatness, order, and economy, they are allowed to form loose, lax habits, they34 will be liable to retain these bad habits all through life. They may have talent to make a success in their business, and they should be taught the importance of making a right use of their powers. They should also be taught to be economical, to gather up the fragments that nothing be lost.”

“The youth should be taught to aim at perfection in whatever branch of labor they undertake. If there are persons at the head of any of the rooms who are not thorough, who are not economists, who are not diligent in the use of their time and careful of their influence, they mold others in the same way. If these do not change after being admonished, they should be removed, and more competent persons secured, even if it is necessary to try again and again. The workers ought to be far more efficient and faithful than they are at the present time.”

“Let those who have charge of these youthful workers remember that they have a great and solemn responsibility. Let them mold the plastic clay before it becomes hardened and insensible to impressions; let them train the sapling ere it becomes a gnarled and tangled oak; let them direct the course of the rivulet ere it becomes a swollen river. If they are left to choose their own boarding-house and their own companions, some will choose those that are good, and others will choose improper associations. If the religious element is not mingled with their education, they will become easy subjects of temptation, and their characters will be liable to become warped and one-sided.”

“The want of a religious influence is sadly felt in the Office; there should be greater devotion, more spirituality, more practical religion. Missionary work done here by God-fearing35 men and women would be attended with the very best results.”

“The Lord would have union among those who manage his work in different parts of the field. Those who manage his work on the Pacific Coast, and those who are engaged in his work on the east side of the Rocky Mountains, should be of the same mind and judgment,—one in heart, in plans, and in action. He would not have those at either Office think it a virtue to differ with their brethren at the other publishing house. There should be a comparing of notes, an interchange of plans and ideas; and if any improvements are suggested in either Office, let the managers consider the proposition, and adopt improved plans and methods.”

“The men connected with the work of God in the Office, the Sanitarium, and the College, can be accounted safe men only so far as they assimilate to the character of Christ.”

“In every department of the work it is essential to have the mind and spirit of Christ. You are God’s workmen; and you must possess courtesy and grace, else you cannot represent Jesus.”

“All who are employed in our institutions should realize that they will be a blessing or a curse. If they would be a blessing, they must renew their spiritual strength daily; they must be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

“In all our institutions there is too much of self, and too little of Christ. All eyes should turn to our Redeemer, all characters should become like his. He is the model to copy, if we would have well-balanced minds and symmetrical characters.”—Pages 163–177.

In the same volume, under “Business and Religion,” are found the following paragraphs:—

“Those employed in our various institutions,—our publishing houses, our schools, and our health institutions,—should have a living connection with God. Especially is it very important that those who have the management of these great branches of the work be men who make the kingdom of God and his righteousness the first consideration. They are not fit for their positions of trust, unless they take counsel of God and bear fruit to his glory. They should pursue a course of life that will honor their Creator, ennoble themselves, and bless their fellow-men.”

“The work of God should be carried forward by men who have a daily, living experience in the religion of Christ. ‘Without me,’ says Christ, ‘ye can do nothing.’ None of us are beyond the power of temptation. All who are connected with our institutions, our Conferences, and our missionary enterprises, may ever have the assurance that they have a powerful foe, whose constant aim is to separate them from Christ, their strength. The more responsible the position they occupy, the more fierce will be Satan’s attacks; for he knows that if he can move them to take an objectionable course, others will follow their example. But those who are continually learning in the school of Christ, will be able to pursue the even tenor of their way, and Satan’s efforts to throw them off their balance will be signally defeated. Temptation is not sin. Jesus was holy and pure; yet he was tempted in all points as we are, but with a strength and power that man will never be called upon to endure. In his successful resistance he has left us a bright example, that we should follow his steps.” —Pages 178, 179, 181, 182.

In No. 33, the last that has been issued up to date (Dec. 21, 1890), under the title, “Needs of our Institutions,” is found further testimony as follows:—

“Those who bear responsibilities must be men trained for the work,—men whom God can teach, and whom he can honor with wisdom and understanding, as he did Daniel. They must be thinking men,—men who bear God’s impress, and who are steadily progressing in holiness, in moral dignity, and in an understanding of their work. They must be praying men,—men who will come up into the mount, and view the glory of God, and the dignity of the heavenly beings whom he has ordained to have charge of his work. Then, like Moses, they will follow the pattern given them in the mount; and they will be on the alert to secure and bring into connection with the work the very best talent that can be obtained. If they are growing men, possessing sanctified intelligence; if they listen to the voice of God, and seek to catch every ray of light from heaven, they will, like the sun, pursue an undeviating course, and they will grow in wisdom and in favor with God.

“The publishing department is an important branch of God’s work, and all connected with it should feel that it is ordained of God, and that all heaven is interested in it. Especially should those who have a voice in the management of the work, have breadth of mind and sanctified judgment. They should not waste their Lord’s money by thoughtlessness, or lack of business tact; neither should they make the mistake of limiting the work by the adoption of narrow plans, and trusting the work to men of small ability.”

“Among those employed in our institutions, have been men who have not sought counsel of God, who have not38 conformed to the great principles of truth which God has laid down in his word, and who have consequently manifested marked defects of character. As the result, the greatest work ever committed to mortals has been marred by man’s defective management; whereas, if Heaven’s rules had been made the governing principle, there would have been a much nearer approach to perfection in all departments of the work.”

“If our institutions would be as prosperous as God designs they shall be, there must be more thoughtfulness and earnest prayer, mingled with unabating zeal and spiritual ardor.”

“I saw that unless the workers in our institutions were subject to the authority of God, there would be a lack of harmony and unity of action among them. If all will obey his directions, the Lord will stand as the invisible commander; but there must also be a visible head who fears God. The Lord will never accept a careless, disorderly company of workers; neither will he undertake to lead forward and upward to noble heights and certain victory, those who are self-willed and disobedient.”

“Our institutions are far beneath what God would have them be, because many of those connected with them are not in fellowship with him. They are not growing men. They are not constantly learning of Jesus; therefore they are not becoming more and more efficient. If they would come close to him, and seek his help, he would walk with them and talk with them; he would be their counselor in all things, and would grant to them, as he did to Daniel, heavenly wisdom and understanding.”

“If all that the Lord has spoken in reference to these things had been heeded, our institutions would to-day39 occupy a higher and holier position than they do. But men have been satisfied with small attainments. . . . As the result, they are far behind what they might be in intelligence, and in the ability to think and plan. . . . Let each go to work now with a firm determination to rise. The present need of the cause is not so much for more men, as for greater skill and consecration in the laborers.” —Pages 77, 79, 81, 82.