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Review and Herald, Vol. 78, No. 3.

CANVASSERS AS GOSPEL EVANGELISTS

Review and Herald

Jan 15, 1901

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 15, 1901

CANVASSERS AS GOSPEL EVANGELISTS

By Ellen G. White

MRS. E. G. WHITE
The work of God is to go into all the world, vindicating the claims of Christ, and writing His name on hearts. As laborers together with Him, we must never get above the simplicity of His work; for unless we walk humbly with God, the Holy Spirit can not attend our efforts.
The canvassing work is an important field of labor, and will do much toward carrying the gospel to all the dark corners of the world. The intelligent, God-fearing, truth-loving canvasser should be respected; for he occupies a position equal to that of the gospel minister. Many of our young ministers and those who are fitting for the ministry would, if truly converted, do much good by entering the canvassing field. They would there obtain an experience in faith. Their knowledge of the Scriptures would greatly increase, because as they endeavored to impart to others the light given them, they would receive more to impart. By meeting people and presenting to them our publications, they would gain an experience that they could not gain by simply preaching. As they go from house to house, they should converse with those with whom they meet, carrying with them the fragrance of Christ's life. The most precious ministry that can be performed is by ministers working in the canvassing field.
All our ministers should feel free to carry books with them, to dispose of wherever they go. Wherever a minister goes, he can leave a book in the family where he stays, either selling it or giving it to them. Much of this work was done in the early history of the message. Ministers acted as canvassers and colporteurs, using the money they obtained from the sale of books to help in the advancement of the work in places where help was needed. These can speak intelligently regarding this method of work; for they have had an experience.
Let none hold the impression that it belittles a minister of the gospel to canvass; for by doing this work, he is doing the very work as did the apostle Paul, who says: “Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews; and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, and have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” The eloquent Paul, to whom God manifested himself in a wonderful manner, went from house to house with all humility of mind, and with many tears and temptations.
All who wish an opportunity for true ministry, and who will give themselves unreservedly to God, will find in the canvassing work opportunities to speak upon many things pertaining to the future immortal life. The experience thus gained will be of the greatest value to those who are fitting themselves for the work of the ministry. It is the accompaniment of the Holy Spirit of God that prepares workers, both men and women, to become pastors to the flock of God. As they cherish the thought that Christ is their Companion, a holy awe, a sacred joy, will be felt by them amid all their trying experiences and all their tests. They will learn how to pray as they work. They will become educated in patience, kindness, affability, and helpfulness wherever they may be. They will practice true Christian courtesy, bearing in mind that Christ, their Companion, will not approve of harsh, unkind words or feelings. Their words will be purified. The power of speech will be regarded as a precious talent, lent them to do a high and holy work. The human agent will learn how to represent the divine Companion with whom he is associated. To that unseen, holy One he will show respect and reverence because he is wearing His yoke, and is learning His pure, holy ways. Those who have faith in this divine Attendant will develop. They will be gifted with a power to clothe the message of truth with a sacred beauty.
There are some who are adapted to the work of a colporteur, and who can accomplish more in this line than by preaching. If the Spirit of Christ dwells in their own hearts, they will find opportunity to present His word to others, and to direct minds to the special truths for this time. Men suited to this work undertake it; but some injudicious minister flatters them that their gifts should be employed in the desk, instead of in the work of the colporteur. Thus they are influenced to get a license to preach, and the very ones who might have been trained to make good missionaries to visit families at their homes, to talk and pray with them, are turned away from a work for which they are fitted, to make poor ministers, and the field where so much labor is needed, and where so much good might be accomplished for the cause, is neglected. The canvassers in the field, if consecrated to God, will learn every day by practice how to reach the souls for whom Christ has died.
May the Lord help every one to improve to the utmost the talents committed to his trust. May He help all to study the Bible as they should, that its teachings may have a practical bearing upon their lives. Whatever your work may be, dear brethren and sisters, do it for the Master, and do your best. Do not overlook present golden opportunities, and let your life prove a failure, while you sit idly dreaming of ease and success in a work for which God has never fitted you. Do the work that is nearest you. Do it, even though it may be amid the perils and hardships of the missionary field; and when tempted to complain of hardship and self-sacrifice, look at Christ, and behold the sacrifice that He has made that the light of the gospel might shine into benighted minds.
The preaching of the word is a means by which the Lord has ordained His warning message to be given to the world. In the Scriptures the faithful teacher is represented as a shepherd of the flock of God. He is to be respected, and his work appreciated. Genuine medical missionary work is bound up with the ministry, and the canvassing work is to be a part both of the medical missionary work and of the ministry. To those who are engaged in this work, I would say: As you visit the people, tell them you are a gospel evangelist, and that you love the Lord. Do not seek a home in a hotel, but stay at a private house, and become acquainted with the family. Christ sowed the seeds of truth wherever He was; and as His followers, you can witness for the Master, doing a most precious work in fireside labor. In thus coming close to the people, you will often find those who are sick and discouraged. If you are pressing close to the side of Christ, wearing His yoke, you will daily learn of Him how to carry messages of peace and comfort to the sorrowing and disappointed, the sad and broken-hearted. You can point the discouraged ones to the word of God, and take the sick to the Lord in prayer. As you pray, speak to Christ as you would to a trusted, much-loved friend. Maintain a sweet, free, pleasant dignity, as a child of God. This will be recognized.
Canvassers should be able to give those with whom they stay instruction in regard to the way to treat the suffering. They should be educated in regard to the simple methods of hygienic treatment. Thus they may work as medical missionaries, ministering to the souls and bodies of the suffering. Now, just now, this work should be going forward in all parts of the country, that many might be blessed by the prayers and instruction of God's servants.
We need to realize the importance of the canvassing work as one great means of finding out those who are in peril, and bringing them back to Christ. The truth must go forward. The Church militant is not the Church triumphant. Canvassers should never be prohibited from speaking of the love of Christ, from telling their first experience in their service for the Master. They should be perfectly free to speak or to pray with those who are awakened. The simple story of Christ's love for man will open doors for them, even to the homes of unbelievers. Of all the gifts that God has given to man, none is more precious than the gift of speech, if it is sanctified by the Holy Spirit. It is with the tongue that we convince and persuade: with it we offer prayer and praise to God, and with it we convey rich thoughts of the Redeemer's love.
Those who are fitted to enlighten minds will often have opportunity to read from the Bible or from books that teach the truth, and thus bring the evidence to enlighten souls. When canvassers discover those who are interestedly searching for truth, they should hold Bible readings with them. These Bible readings are just what the people need. God will use in His service those who thus show a deep interest in perishing souls. Through them He will impart light to those who are ready to receive instruction.
Some have a zeal that is not according to knowledge. Such should not attempt this work; they should not try to converse with those whom they meet; for they would be unable to enlighten them. Because of the lack of wisdom on the part of some, because they have been so much inclined to act the minister and theologian, restrictions have almost had to be enforced upon our canvassers. When the Lord's voice calls, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” the divine Spirit puts it into hearts to respond, “Here am I; send me.” But bear in mind that the live coal from the altar must first touch your lips. Then the words you speak will be wise and holy words. Then you will have wisdom to know what to say, and what to leave unsaid. You will not try to reveal your smartness as theologians. You will be careful not to arouse a combative spirit or excite prejudice, by introducing indiscriminately all the points of our faith. You will find enough to talk about that will not excite opposition, but that will open the heart to desire a deeper knowledge of God's word.
The Lord desires you to be soul-winners; therefore, while you should not force doctrinal points upon the people, you should “be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” Why fear?—Fear lest your words should savor of self-importance, lest unadvised words be spoken, lest your words and manner should not be after Christ's likeness. Connect firmly with Christ, and present the truth as it is in Him. Hearts can not fail to be touched by the story of the atonement. As you learn the meekness and lowliness of Christ, you will know what you should say to the people; for the Holy Spirit will tell you what words you ought to speak. Those who realize the necessity of keeping the heart under the control of the Holy Spirit, will be enabled to sow seed that will spring up unto eternal life. This is the work of the gospel evangelist.

THOUGHTS ON GALATIANS 4:21-30

By W. H. Granger

W. H. GRANGER (Canton, Ohio)
“Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the Mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar . . . and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.”
There are two classes of people in the earth who can claim Abraham as their father: (1) those who are the natural descendants after the flesh; (2) those who are the children of promise. The first are citizens, or children, of earthly Jerusalem; the second are children of Jerusalem which is above. The first, are born servants of sin, and are in bondage under the elements of this world. The second are freeborn. They know the truth, and the truth has made them free. They are not the servants of sin; “for sin shall not have dominion over you.”
This latter class, the children of the freewoman, are those who are “heirs according to the promise.” “For it is written . . . Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” The inheritance promised to Abraham and his seed embraced the world (Rom. 4:13), not “this present evil world,” but “the world to come,” “the new earth,” “the kingdom of God.” And bear in mind that no person of whatever nation or race he may be, can claim heirship in that kingdom by right of natural birth, after the flesh. This is where the Hebrew nation stumbled to their ruin. They supposed themselves to be the seed of Abraham, to whom the promise was made, simply because they were the descendants of Abraham after the flesh. Hence imagine the astonishment of Nicodemus when the Saviour said to him: “Except a man be born again, he can not see the kingdom of God.” We must be “born of the Spirit.” We become rightful heirs to that kingdom by the new birth, by being children of faith (Gal. 3:7, 29), by being adopted into the family of God as sons; “for if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” Gal. 4:5-7. We are not of the earth earthy; but our “citizenship is in heaven; from whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.” We are the seed, begotten to Abraham, as was Isaac, by the direct power of God. We obtain the inheritance, not by works, but by right of birth, even the new birth.
Again: you will notice that Gal. 4:27 is quoted from Isa. 54:1, and proves that Jerusalem which is above is the mother of the children who are heirs according to the promise. In this verse we have the two cities represented as two women. Paul gives us a key to this chapter, by telling us that one represents Jerusalem which is above, and the other, earthly Jerusalem with her children, who are the seed of Abraham after the flesh.
Jerusalem which is above is represented as a woman in mourning because of having no children. However, she is bidden by the Lord to rejoice; for in the end she is to have many more children than has earthly Jerusalem. She is bidden to enlarge the place of her habitation in order to make room to receive them. This will be very plain when we understand the fact that Jerusalem which is above is the original home of Adam and Eve, the garden of Eden, enlarged and beautified to accommodate the nations of them which are saved. It is the kingdom prepared for us from the foundation of the world. Matt. 25:34. In Isaiah 54 we have the promise of what God will make Eden. In Revelation 21 we have, by the seer of Patmos, a description of her glory when she shall receive her children. In Isa. 54:15, 16, we have the gathering of the wicked together against her at the end of the one thousand years, and their destruction. For further study on that thought, see “Patriarchs and Prophets,” pages 61, 62; “Great Controversy,” pages 646-648.
Eden, or Jerusalem which is above, has been robbed of her children by Adam’s fall. For had man proved faithful to God, every child who should have been born into the world would, by right of birth, have been an heir of Eden and the kingdom it represented; but man sinned and forfeited his right to the inheritance. He was driven from Eden before a single child was born who would have been heir to it by right of birth.
Therefore it is clear that of all the family of Adam who have been born after the flesh, not one is heir according to the promise. Thus has Eden been bereaved of her children. But, thank God, the One who made her has espoused her cause (Isa. 54:5), and through the plan of redemption, by the new birth, there is begotten to her many more children than has earthly Jerusalem.
It is written, “I have made thee a father of many NATIONS.” These “many nations” are the seed of Abraham, those who are of faith, children of Jerusalem which is above. They are none other than the nations of them which are saved, who walk in the light of the holy city, and inherit the new earth. Rev. 21:24. These nations are twelve in number. The twelve apostles of Christ reign as kings over these nations in the earth made new. Matt. 19:27, 28.
Thus the distinction between the two classes of Abraham’s seed is clearly seen: One class are the natural descendants of Abraham after the flesh. “These are not the children of God.” They are the children of earthly Jerusalem, and are in bondage, and shall not be heir with the children of the freewoman. Gal. 4:27-29. The others are the children of promise, begotten to Abraham, as was Isaac, by the direct power of God. They are born of the Spirit, born from above. They are citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem. These are to be many more than the former; yea, as many more as twelve nations are more than one. The seed of Abraham after the flesh have never composed but one rightful nation, while his seed to whom the promises are made are to be a “multitude of nations.” Gen. 17:4, margin.
By this truth it is also certain that the popular theory of a temporal millennium, during which the Hebrew nation is to be re-established in the land of Palestine, with Christ reigning over them as king on the throne of David, in fulfillment of the promises made to Abraham and his seed, is a delusion which can end only in disaster and disappointment to all who court it.

A STARTLING RECORD

By A. E. Scofield

A. E. SCOFIELD
(Battle Creek, Mich.)
THE following is gathered from dispatches and local items in one small Battle Creek daily paper during the month of December, 1900; and by glancing at the State and Chicago papers, I find that the figures could have been doubled:— Number of persons killed by the cars, 32; by firearms, 23; by accident, 66; in a row, 4; in the mines, 5; from football, 1; by drowning, 260; by suicide, 24; by murder, 288; by boiler explosions, 19; by powder explosions, 2; by lynching, 4; by poison, 8; number beheaded, 21; number burned to death, 52.

More of Thee

By Ellen G. White

“GIVE, and it shall be given unto you;” for the word of God is “a fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.” The heart that has once tasted the love of Christ, cries out continually for a deeper draught, and, as you impart, you will receive in richer and more abundant measure. Every revelation of God to the soul increases the capacity to know and to love. The continual cry of the heart is, “More of Thee.”—Mrs. E. G. White.

CHRIST THE STAR OF HOPE

By H. W. Reed

H. W. REED (Madison, Wis.)
A perfect world, a perfect man, In perfect peace and joy; But sin, alas, and pain and woe Cast in their base alloy. Then followed darkness, deep and dense, Where man might vainly grope, Had not a radiant light appeared,— The fair, bright star of hope. It promised life instead of death, A gift from heaven above, And bade man ever rest secure In God's undying love.

Man Turns from God, Not God from Him

“MAN turns from God, not God from him.”

SUGGESTIONS ON MATTHEW 24 AND 25

By S. N. HASKELL

S. N. HASKELL
(Concluded)

THE FOUR PARABLES

The Saviour then gives four parables, which show the importance of watching. The first one states plainly that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. The goodman of the house is not a hypocrite, nor an unbeliever, nor a sinner, in the general sense of the term. But as the Lord did not come as soon as he expected, he had ceased to watch. His case would come up before God in the investigative judgment when he was not ready. This parable shows the importance of watching.
The second parable is of the faithful and wise servant, illustrating those whom God has called to give the trumpet a certain sound. If the servant is faithful in this, the Lord will make him ruler over His goods.
But another class, which the Lord called the evil servant, is developed by the message. This servant does not proclaim, in words, “My Lord delayeth His coming,” but says it in his heart. He shows his unbelief by smiting his fellow servants, and by eating and drinking with the drunken. Instead of selling, and giving alms, he is adding farm to farm. He is absorbed in the things of this world. He has forgotten that God has said that He could make twenty acres as productive as one hundred acres. He professes one thing and lives another. “The Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for Him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” This parable refers to those who teach and profess the truth, but whose lives contradict their profession.
The parable of the ten virgins is next given by the Saviour. Many truths are taught by this parable, one important one being the proportion of those looking for Christ to come who will fail of the kingdom of God. Five of the virgins were wise, and five were foolish. Their foolishness is seen in their possessing no genuine experience in the things of God. This experience is gained by conscientiously living the truth. “To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.”
Their religion was of a surface nature; for when probation ended, they found that they were not prepared. They lacked the experience necessary to stand without an intercessor. Their sins were not confessed; their character was not perfected. They called unto the wise, “Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out.” But the wise could not give of their experience to those who had not obtained an experience for themselves; all they could say was, “Go to them that sell, and buy for yourselves”—obtain the experience necessary, so that you may be able to stand. But while they were seeking, the Bridegroom came, and they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage; they were accepted by God; and the door was shut. “Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But He answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.”
Then comes the exhortation, “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” Their condition is further revealed in Matt. 7:22: “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name have done many wonderful works?” They have had a zeal, but not according to knowledge. Their religion has been more theoretical than practical. They prophesied, or taught the prophecies, in the name of the Lord; they claimed that they had cast out devils, and done many wonderful works; and these wonderful works, and their zeal in preaching, they took as an evidence that they were saved. The answer comes back from heaven, “I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” A large proportion will be of this number. These two phases stand out prominently in this parable: First, the proportion that will be lost of those who are looking for Christ to come; second, they are lost because they lack an experience in living out the truth.
The fourth parable is one of talents. Every one who enters the service of God has received talents; all receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, which sanctifies their natural and acquired ability, and enables them to use their talents. To some He has given money; but each one's talent includes his opportunities, and whatever means he may have of giving the light to others. The reward is not according to the number of talents possessed, but according to the faithfulness in putting out the talents to usury; and this reward is an entrance into “the joy of the Lord.”
The joy of the Lord is the joy of saving souls. Said the apostle, “What is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For ye are our glory and joy.” The salvation of souls is the joy of the Christian. If he has no interest in the saving of souls, he will have no interest in the world to come. This parable explains what it is to watch. It is not a state of inactivity, but it is a state of activity. It is putting out to the exchangers the talents that God has given.
But here is a class representing those who used for their own personal interest the talents God gave them. He that received the one talent buried it in the earth, but he brought it back again. He had not invested it in the cause of Christ, and it had brought no other talent. When required to return it, he said, “Thou art an hard man.” The talent was taken from him, and given to the one that had five talents. To the one who makes a faithful use of his talents, more will be given. If he bears responsibilities where others refuse, if he supplies what others lack, he will receive the reward that they might have obtained. This unprofitable servant is cast to one side. His very complaint that God required something at his hand, was an acknowledgment of God's claims: “Thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.”
The thirty-first verse and onward give a revelation of the decision that has been made in the courts of heaven with reference to the persons in the preceding parables. Those who have fed the hungry, given drink to the thirsty, taken in the stranger, clothed the naked, and visited those who were sick or in prison are the ones whom the Lord commends. To them He says: “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” But to the others, he says: “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” To feed those who are physically hungry, to give drink to the physically thirsty, etc., is but a figure of the higher and more exalted work of caring for the spiritually destitute. If the lesser is neglected, the greater will surely be.
Thus closes this remarkable discourse written for the special benefit of God's people living in the last days. The end of probation is coming, and soon each case will be decided in the courts of heaven. Those who are laboring for the salvation of souls, who feel a burden to relieve the oppressed, and are seeking to impart to others the precious light that God has given them, who carry upon their hearts a burden of souls, will never know when probation is to end, but they will realize that some change has taken place when Christ ceases to plead for the sinner in the heavenly courts. He that has a daily connection with heaven, in his own heart realizes that Christ has changed His position in the heavenly court. It is in his heart, and not by outward manifestations, that he has any realizing sense of a change.
Those who are engaged in trafficking in this world, buying and selling, eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, without the fear of God before them, will have no knowledge concerning what has taken place, and will be destroyed by the seven last plagues. As the wicked begin to fall upon them, they seek God for protection, but no answer of deliverance comes. They then realize that they are lost.
The prophet tells us what some will say who have known the truth, whose conscience at times has been aroused: “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” Another class have also heard, and have thought that at a more convenient season they would give time to investigate these solemn subjects. During this period, after the watchmen have left the walls of Zion, this class is thus described: “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: and they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, and they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.” See Amos 8:9-14.
There is still another class who have believed the truth, but trusted more to religious fervor, and outward manifestations, which to them appeared to be the power of God, than to inward piety and a firm reliance upon the word of God. They are described in Isa. 50:11; Matt. 7:22.
But the nations of earth will rush on in their mad career; the miser will be counting his gold; the farmer will be planting his crops and sowing his grain; the business man will be buying and selling—each and all, amid the judgments of God that are falling upon the earth, hoping for better times to carry on their business, till the wrath of God takes them all away.
The only safety is in heeding the instruction of our Saviour in the parables of these chapters. Among which class shall we be found?

Worldly Conformity and Attachments Forbidden

ALL the abilities which men possess belong to God. Worldly conformity and attachments are emphatically forbidden in His word. When the power of the transforming grace of God is felt upon the heart, it will send a man, hitherto worldly, into every pathway of beneficence. He who has in his heart a determination to lay up treasure in the world, will “fall into temptation and a snare, . . . for the love of money is the root of all evil.”—“Testimony for the Church,” No. 32.
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