An Appeal

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Dear Brethren: — As I read the reports of labor published in the Review, and our other denominational periodicals from week to week, my heart is rejoiced over the progress of the Third Angel’s Message in the home field and abroad. Our workers are having many remarkable experiences. The Lord is going before them, preparing the way, and the cause of present truth is making rapid advancement. This should be a source of profound gratitude to God. As we contrast the present prosperity of the work with the early years of poverty passed through by the pioneers of this cause, when our numbers were but few and our resources were limited, we can but exclaim, «What hath God wrought!»

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And yet there remains much to be done. In the past we have not been as diligent as we ought to have been in seeking to save the lost. Precious opportunities have been allowed to pass by unimproved. This has delayed the coming of our King. Had the people of God constantly preserved a living connection with Him from the beginning of the great advent movement; had they obeyed His word and advanced in all His opening providences, they would to-day be in the heavenly Canaan.

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We have done only a small part of the evangelical work that God desires us to do among our neighbors and friends. In every city of our land there are those who know not the truth. And out in the broad world beyond the seas, there are many new fields in which we must plow the ground and sow the seed.

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A few faithful missionaries are even now planting the standard of truth in fields far away. Publications are multiplying in many languages. These silent messengers are enlightening thousands. But as a people we come far short of moving forward as fast as the providence of God opens the way. Our General gives the command, «Go forward.» Thousands are thirsting for living truth. The Macedonian cry is coming to us from every direction, «Come over and help us.» We look about us, and inquire, «Who will go?» O that every follower of Jesus might respond: «Send me. I long to do something for my Master.»

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Time and again I have had presented before me a vision of people across the broad ocean, standing in perplexity, and pale with anxiety, earnestly inquiring, «What is truth?» They say: «We want the bread of life. Our churches are backslidden from God. We want to find the old paths. We want to come back to the simplicity of gospel religion.» My tears flow as I see this picture rising vividly before me. The voice from heaven pleads, «Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.» While so great a work remains to be done, shall not we, as Christ’s followers, arouse to a sense of our God-given responsibility, and be active in doing our part? Mrs. E. G. White. [To be continued.]

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The Example of Nehemiah.

When about to journey to Jerusalem with the hope of restoring the walls about the stricken city of his fathers, Nehemiah frankly told King Artaxerxes of the work he contemplated doing, and requested help to insure the success of the enterprise. He obtained a letter to the keeper of the king’s forest in the mountains of Lebanon, directing him to furnish such timber as would be needed for the wall of Jerusalem and the buildings that were to be erected. And the means which he lacked he solicited from those who were able to bestow.

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In writing on this subject in years past, I have said:-

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» The Lord still moves upon the hearts of kings and rulers in behalf of His people. Those who are laboring for Him are to avail themselves of the help that He prompts men to give for the advancement of His cause. The agents through whom these gifts come, may open ways by which the light of truth shall be given to many benighted lands. These men may have no sympathy with God’s work, no faith in Christ, no acquaintance with His word; but their gifts are not on this account to be refused.

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«The Lord has placed His goods in the hands of unbelievers as well as believers; all may return to Him His own, for the doing of the work that must be done for a fallen world. As long as we are in this world, as long as the Spirit of God strives with the children of men, so long are we to receive favors as well as to impart them. We are to give to the world the light of truth, as revealed in the Scriptures; and we are to receive from the world that which God moves upon them to give in behalf of His cause.

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«The Lord’s work might receive far greater favors than it is now receiving if we would approach men in wisdom, acquainting them with the work, and giving them an opportunity of doing that which it is our privilege to induce them to do for its advancement. If we, as God’s servants, would take a wise and prudent course, His good hand would prosper us in our efforts.

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«Some may question the propriety of receiving gifts from unbelievers. Let such ask themselves: ‘Who is the real owner of our world? To whom belong its houses and lands, and its treasures of gold and silver?’ God has an abundance in our world, and He has placed His goods in the hands of all, both the obedient and the disobedient. He is ready to move upon the hearts of worldly men, even idolaters, to give of their abundance for the support of His work; and He will do this as soon as His people learn to approach these men wisely and to call their attention to that which it is their privilege to do. If the needs of the Lord’s work were set forth in a proper light before those who have means and influence, these men might do much to advance the cause of present truth. God’s people have lost many privileges of which they could have taken advantage, had they not chosen to stand independent of the world.

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«In the providence of God, we are daily brought into connection with the unconverted. By His own right hand, God is preparing the way before us, in order that His work may progress rapidly. As co-laborers with Him, we have a sacred work to do. We are to have travail of soul for those who are in high places; we are to extend to them the gracious invitation to come to the marriage feast.

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«Although now almost wholly in the possession of wicked men, all the world, with its riches and treasures, belongs to God. ‘The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.’ ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, saith the Lord of hosts.’ ‘Every beast of the forest is Mine, and all the birds of the mountains; and the wild beasts of the field are Mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee; for the world is Mine, and the fulness thereof.’ O that Christians might realize more and still more fully that it is their privilege and their duty, while cherishing right principles, to take advantage of every heaven-sent opportunity for advancing God’s kingdom in this world!» Ellen G. White.