Dear Brethren: The Lord has shown me in
vision some things in regard to the East and the West which I
feel it my duty to set before you. I saw that God has been opening
the way for the spread of present truth in the West. It requires
much more power to move the people in the East than in the
West, and at present but very little can be
accomplished in the East. Special efforts should be made at the
present time where most good will result.
The people in the East have heard the proclamation
of the second coming of Christ, and have seen much of the display
of the power of God, and have fallen back into a state of indifference
and security where it is almost impossible to reach them at present.
After uncommon efforts are made in the East, with the best gifts,
but very little is accomplished.
I saw that the people in the West could
be moved much more easily than those in the East. They have not
had the light of the truth, and have not rejected it, and their
hearts are more tender and susceptible to the truth and the Spirit
of God. The hearts of many in the West are already prepared to
eagerly receive the truth; and as the servants of God go out
to labor for the salvation of precious souls, they have much
to encourage them in their arduous work. As the people are anxious
to hear, and many embrace the truth, the gift which God has given
His servants is called out and strengthened. They see that their
efforts are crowned with success.
I saw that tenfold more has been accomplished
in the West than in the East with the same effort, and that the
way is opening for still greater success. I have seen that much
can be done at present in Wisconsin, and still more in Illinois,
and that efforts to spread the truth must be made in Minnesota
and Iowa. It will take effect in many hearts there. There was
a large, very large, field of labor spread out before me in vision,
which has not yet been entered; but there is not self-sacrificing
help enough to fill half the places where the people are all
ready to hear the truth, and many to receive it.
New fields of labor, entirely new, must
be visited; many will have to go a warfare at their own charges,
enter such fields with the expectation of bearing their own expenses.
Here, I saw, is a good opportunity for the stewards of the Lord
to act their part and support those who carry the truth
to these places. It should be a great privilege
for these stewards to render to God that which belongs to Him.
By so doing they will discharge a Scriptural duty and free themselves
of a portion of their earthly treasure, which is now a burden
to many who have an abundance. It will also add to their treasure
in heaven.
I saw that the Eastern tent should not
be carried over and over the same ground. If need be, those who
accompany the tent should go a warfare at their own charges;
they should pitch the tent where the truth has not been presented,
and the tent when thus pitched should be well supplied with laborers.
I saw that there had been a failure in
going over the same old ground, year after year, with almost
exactly the same gifts. If possible, the most acceptable gifts
should be obtained. It would be better, and accomplish more good,
if there were fewer tent meetings, and a stronger force, or company,
with different gifts to labor. Then there should be a longer
tarry in a place where an interest is awakened. There has been
too much haste in taking down the tent. Some begin to be favorably
impressed, and there is need that persevering efforts be put
forth till their minds become settled and they commit themselves
on the truth. In many places where the tent has been pitched,
the ministers stay till the prejudice begins to wear away, and
some would then listen with minds free from prejudice; but just
then the tent is taken down and sent on its way to another place.
The rounds are gone over, time and means spent, and the servants
of God can see but very little accomplished through the tent
season. But few are brought to acknowledge the truth, and God's
servants, having seen but very little to cheer and encourage
them, and call out the gift within them, lose instead of gaining
in strength, spirituality, and power.
I saw that special efforts should be made
in the West with tents; for the angels of God are preparing minds
there to
receive the truth. This is why God has moved
on some in the East to move to the West. Their gifts can accomplish
more in the West than in the East. The burden of the work is
in the West, and it is of the greatest importance that the servants
of God should move in His opening providence.
I saw that when the message shall increase
greatly in power, then the providence of God will open and prepare
the way in the East for much more to be accomplished than can
be at the present time. God will then send some of His servants
in power to visit places where little or nothing can now be done,
and some who are now indifferent will be aroused and will take
hold of the truth. [THE REMAINDER OF THIS ARTICLE IS FROM A VISION
GIVEN AT ROUND GROVE, ILLINOIS, DECEMBER 9, 1856.]
I saw that God has warned those who have
moved from the East to the West. He has shown them their duty,
that it must not be their object to get rich, but to do good
to souls, to live out their faith, and tell those around them
that this world is not their home.
The warning was sufficient, if it had been
heeded; but many failed to consider what God had shown. They
rushed on and on, and became drunk with the spirit of the world.
"Look back," said the angel, "and weigh all that
God has shown in regard to those moving from the East to the
West." Have you obeyed it? I saw that you had gone entirely
contrary to God's teachings, purchased largely, and instead of
your works saying to those around you that you are seeking a
better country, they have plainly declared that your home and
treasure were here. Your works have denied your faith.
Nor is this all. The love that should exist
between brethren has been lacking. "Am I my brother's keeper?"
has been manifest; a selfish, covetous spirit has been in the
hearts of the brethren. Instead of looking out for the interests
of the brethren and caring for them, there has been manifested
in deal a close, selfish spirit that God despises. Those who
make so high a profession, and
who number themselves among the peculiar people of God, saying
by their profession that they are zealous of good works, should
be noble and generous, and should ever manifest a disposition
to favor their brethren instead of themselves, and should give
their brethren the best chance. Generosity begets generosity.
Selfishness begets selfishness.
I saw that through the past summer the
prevailing spirit has been to grasp as much of this world as
possible. The commandments of God have not been kept. With the
mind we serve the law of God; but the minds of many have been
serving the world. And while their minds were all occupied with
things of earth and serving themselves, they could not serve
the law of God. The Sabbath has not been kept. By some the work
of six days has been carried into the seventh. One hour, and
even more, has often been taken from the commencement and close
of the Sabbath.
Some of the Sabbathkeepers who say to the
world that they are looking for Jesus' coming, and that they
believe we are having the last message of mercy, give way to
their natural feelings, and barter, and trade, and are a proverb
among unbelievers for their keenness in trade, for being sharp,
and always getting the best end of a bargain. Such would better
lose a little and exert a better influence in the world, and
a happier influence among brethren, and show that this world
is not their God.
I saw that brethren should feel interested
for one another. Especially should those who are blessed with
health have a kind regard and care for those who have not good
health. They should favor them. They should remember the lesson
taught by Jesus of the good Samaritan.
Said Jesus: "Love one another, as
I have loved you." How much? His love cannot be told. He
left the glory that He had with the Father before the world was.
"He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace
was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed." He patiently
bore every indignity and scorn. Behold His agony in the garden,
when He prayed that the cup might pass from Him! Behold His sufferings
on Calvary! All this for guilty, lost man. And Jesus says: "Love
one another, as I have loved you." How much? Well enough
to give your life for a brother. But has it come to this, that
self must be gratified, and the word of God neglected? The world
is their God. They serve it, they love it, and the love of God
has departed. If ye love the world, the love of the Father is
not in you.
The word of God has been neglected. In
that are the warnings to God's people which point out their dangers.
But they have had so many cares and perplexities that they hardly
allow themselves time to pray. There has been a mere empty form
without the power. Jesus prayed, and, oh, how earnest were His
prayers! And yet He was the beloved Son of God!
If Jesus manifested so much earnestness,
so much energy and agony, how much more need for those whom He
has called to be heirs of salvation, dependent upon God for all
their strength, to have their whole souls stirred to wrestle
with God and say: "I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless
me." But I saw that hearts have been overcharged with the
cares of this life, and that God and His word have been neglected.
I saw that it is easier for a camel to
go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter
the kingdom. "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth,
where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through
and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where
neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not
break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will
your heart be also."
I saw that when the truth is presented,
it should be in the power and Spirit. Bring the people to the
point to decide. Show them the importance of the truth--it is
life or death. With becoming zeal, pull souls out of the fire.
But, oh, the blighting influence that has been cast by men professing
to be waiting for their Lord, and yet possessing large and attractive
lands! The farms have preached louder, yes, much louder, than
words can, that this world is their home. The evil day is put
off. Peace and safety reign. Oh, the withering, blighting influence!
God hates such worldly-mindedness. "Cut loose, cut loose,"
were the words of the angel.
I was shown that all should have an eye
single to the glory of God. Those who have possessions have been
too willing to excuse themselves on account of wife and children.
But I saw that God would not be trifled with. When He speaks,
He must be obeyed. If wife or children stand in the way and hold
back, they should say as Jesus said to Peter: "Get thee
behind Me, Satan." Why tempt ye me to withhold from God
what justly belongs to Him, and ruin my own soul? Have an eye
single to the glory of God.
I saw that many would have to learn what
it is to be a Christian--that it is not in name; but it is having
the mind of Christ, submitting to the will of God in all things.
Especially will the young who have never known what privations
or hardships are, who have a set will, and do not bend that will
to the glory of God, have a great work to do. They go along very
smoothly until their will is crossed, and then they have no control
over themselves. They have not the will of God before them. They
do not study how they can best glorify God, or advance His cause,
or do good to others. But it is self, self, how can it be gratified?
Such religion is not worth a straw. Those who possess it will
be weighed in the balance and found wanting.
The true Christian will love to wait and
watch for the teachings of God and the leadings of His Spirit.
But with
many, religion is merely a form. Vital godliness
is lacking. Many dare to say, I will do this, or that, or I will
not do this; and the fear of offending God is scarcely thought
of. Those thus described, I saw, could not enter heaven as they
are. They may flatter themselves that they will be saved, but
God has no pleasure in them. Their lives do not please Him. Their
prayers are an offense to Him.
Christ now calls them: "Be zealous
and repent." He kindly and faithfully admonishes them to
buy gold, white raiment, and eyesalve. They can choose either
to be zealous, and partake largely of salvation, or be spewed
out of the mouth of the Lord as disgusting, and be thrust from
Him. God will not bear always. He is of tender pity, yet His
Spirit will be grieved away for the last time. Mercy's sweet
voice will be no more heard. Its last precious notes will have
died away, and those described will be left to their own ways,
to be filled with their own doings.
I saw that those who profess to be looking
for the coming of the Lord should not have a close, penurious
spirit. Some of those who have been called to talk the truth,
and to watch for souls as they that must give an account, have
wasted much precious time for the sake of saving a little, when
their time was worth a great deal more than that which they gained.
This displeases God. It is right that economy should be used,
but it has by some been stretched into meanness with no other
object than to add to their treasures, which will shortly eat
their flesh like fire, unless they as faithful stewards make
a right disposal of their Lord's goods.