Epistle Number Fourteen

Dear Bro. and Sr. ——: Your late visit and conversation with us have suggested many thoughts of which I cannot forbear placing a few upon paper. I was very sorry that had not carried himself correctly at all times; yet, when we consider, you cannot expect perfection in youth at his age. Children have faults, and need a great deal of patient instruction.T17 162.1

That he should have feelings not always correct is no more than can be expected of a boy of his age. You must remember he has no father or mother, nor anyone to whom he can confide his feelings, his sorrows, and his temptations. Every person feels that he must have some sympathizer. —— has been tossed about here and there, from pillar to post, and he may have many errors, careless ways, and a lack of reverence, with considerable independence. He is quite enterprising, and with right instruction, if treated with tenderness, I have the fullest confidence would not disappoint our hopes, nor cause us to decide the labor bestowed in vain, but would fully repay all the labor expended on him. I think —— is a very good boy considering his disadvantages.T17 162.2

When we intreated you to take him we did it because we fully believed it was your duty, and that in doing this you would be blessed. We did not expect that you would do this merely to be benefited by the help you would receive from the boy, but to benefit him, to do a duty to the orphan and fatherless. Duty which belongs to every true Christian to be seeking and watching for, and anxious to perform. A duty, a sacrificing duty, which we believed it would do you good to engage in, if you did it cheerfully, with the view to be the instrument in saving a soul from the snares of Satan, of saving a son whose father devoted his precious life to pointing souls to the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world.T17 162.3

From what was shown me, Sabbath-keeping Adventists have but a feeble sense of how large a place the world and selfishness hold in their hearts. If you have a desire to do good and glorify God, there are many ways in which you can do this. But you have not felt that this was the result of true religion. This is the fruit which every good tree will produce. To be interested in others, to make their cases your own, to manifest an unselfish interest for the very ones who stand most in need of help, you have not felt was required of you. You have not reached out to help the most needy, the most helpless. Had you children of your own, to call into exercise care, affection, and love, you would not be so much shut up to yourselves, and to your own interests. If those who have no children would expand their hearts to care for children who need love, care, and affection, and assistance with this world's goods, which God has made them stewards of, they would be far happier than they are today. So long as there are youth exposed to the corrupting influences of these last days, who have no father's pitying care, nor a mother's tender love, it is somebody's duty to supply the place of father and mother to some of these. Learn to give them love, affection, and sympathy. All who profess to have a Father in Heaven who they hope will care for them, and finally take them to the home he has prepared for them, will have to feel a solemn obligation resting upon them to be friends to the friendless, fathers to the orphans, to aid the widows, and be of some practical use in this world, to benefit humanity. Many have not viewed things in a right light. If they live merely for themselves they will have no greater strength than this calls for.T17 163.1

The youth, who are growing up among us, are not cared for as they should be. Someone has duties which they are not willing and ready to see and perform. The fear of inconvenience, or of a little trouble, is sufficient for many to excuse themselves. The day of God will reveal unfulfilled duties—souls lost because the selfish would not take pains to interest themselves in their behalf.T17 164.1

I was shown that should professed Christians cultivate more affection, and kind regard in caring for others, they would be repaid fourfold. God marks. He knows for what object we live, and whether our living is put to the very best account for poor, fallen humanity, or whether our eyes are eclipsed to everything but our own interest, and to every one but our own poor selves. I entreat you, in behalf of Christ, and in behalf of your own souls, and in behalf of the youth, not to think so lightly of this matter as many do. It is a grave and serious thing, and affects your interest in the kingdom of Christ, inasmuch as the salvation of precious souls is involved. Why is it not your duty, which God enjoins upon you who are able, to expend something for the benefit of the homeless, ignorant even though they may be, and undisciplined? Shall you study to labor only in the direction where you will receive the most selfish pleasure and profit? It is not meet for you to neglect the divine favor that Heaven offers you, to care for those who need your care, and thus let God knock in vain at your door. He stands at your door in the person of the poor, the homeless orphans, and afflicted widows, who need love, sympathy, affection and encouragement. If ye do it not unto one of these, ye would not do it unto Christ were he upon the earth. Call to mind your former wretchedness, your spiritual blindness, and the darkness which enshrouded you before Christ, a tender, loving Saviour, came to your aid, and reached you where you were. If you let these seasons pass without giving tangible proofs of your gratitude for this wonderful and amazing love a compassionate Saviour exercised toward you, who were aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, there is reason to fear that still greater darkness and misery will come upon you. Now is your sowing time. You will reap that which you have sown. Avail yourselves of every privilege of doing good while you may. They are as a passing shower, which will water and revive you. Lay hold of every opportunity within your reach of doing good. Idle hands will reap a small harvest. For what else do older persons live but to care for the young, and help the helpless. God has committed them to us who are older, and have experience, and he will call us to account if our duties in this direction are neglected. What though our labor may not be appreciated, and prove a failure many times, and a success but once. This once will outweigh all the discouragements previously borne.T17 164.2

But few have a true sense of what is comprised in the word Christian^{*The original publication had the spelling “Chrstian.”}. It is to be Christlike; to do others good; to be divested of all selfishness; and to have our lives marked with acts of disinterested benevolence. Our Redeemer throws souls into the arms of the church, for them unselfishly to care for, and train for Heaven, and thus be co-workers with him. But the church too often thrusts them away, upon the Devil's battlefield, saying, “It is not my duty,” and bring up some trifling excuse. “Well,” says another, “neither is it my duty,” and finally it is nobody's duty, and the soul is left uncared for, to perish. It is the duty of every Christian to engage in this self-denying, self-sacrificing enterprise. Cannot God return into their granaries, and increase their flocks, so that instead of loss there shall be increase? “There is that scattereth, and yet increased; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.” But every man's work is to be tested, and brought into judgment, and he be rewarded as his works have been. “Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of thine increase; so shall thy barns be filled with plenty.” “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?”T17 165.1

Read on, and notice the rich reward promised to those who do this. “Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily.”T17 166.1

Here is an abundantly precious promise for all who will interest themselves in the cases of those who need help. How can God come in and bless and prosper those who have no special care for any one only themselves, and who do not use that which he has intrusted to them, to glorify his name on the earth.T17 166.2

Sr. Hannah More is dead, and died a martyr to the close selfishness of God's people who profess to be seeking for glory, honor, immortality, and eternal life. Exiled from believers the past cold winter, because there were no hearts bountiful enough to receive this self-sacrificing missionary. I blame no one. I am not judge. But when the Judge of all the earth shall make investigation, somebody will be found to blame. We are all narrowed up and consumed in our own selfishness. May God tear away this cursed covering and give us bowels of mercy, hearts of flesh, tenderness and compassion, is my prayer, offered from an oppressed, anguished, burdened soul. I am sure that a work must be done for us or we shall be found wanting in the day of God.T17 167.1

In regard to ——, don't, I intreat of you, forget that” he is a child, with only a child's experience. Do not measure him, a poor, weak, feeble boy, with yourselves, and expect of him accordingly. I fully believe it is in your power to do the right thing by this orphan. You can present inducements to him so that he will not feel that his task is cheerless, unrelieved by a ray of encouragement. You, Bro. and Sr. ——, can enjoy yourselves in each other's confidence, you can sympathize with each other, interest and amuse each other, and tell your trials and burdens to each other. You have something to cheer you, while he is alone. He is a thinking boy, but has no one to confide in, or to give him an encouraging word amid his discouragements and severe trials which I know he has as well as those more advanced in years.T17 167.2

If you shut yourselves up to each other, it is selfish love, unattended with Heaven's blessing. I have strong hope that you will love the orphan for Christ's sake; that you will feel that your possessions are but worthless, unless employed to do good. Do good; be rich in good works, willing to distribute, ready to communicate, laying up in store for yourselves a good foundation against the time to come, that you may lay hold on eternal life. None will reap the reward of everlasting life but the self-sacrificing.T17 168.1

A dying father and mother left jewels to the care of the church, to be instructed in the things of God, and fitted for Heaven. When they shall look about for these jewels, and one is found missing, through neglect, what shall the church answer, for they are responsible in a great degree for the salvation of these orphan children.T17 168.2

In all probability you have failed, in not gaining the boy's confidence and affection by giving him more tangible proofs of your love by holding out some inducements. If you could not expend money, you could at least encourage in some way, by letting him know you were not indifferent to his case. That the love and affection is to be all on one side, is a mistake. How much affection have you educated yourselves to manifest? You are too much shut up to yourselves, and do not feel the necessity of surrounding yourselves with an atmosphere of tenderness and gentleness, which comes from true nobility of soul. Bro. and Sr. —— left their children to the care of the church. There were plenty of relatives who were wealthy, and wished for these children; but they were unbelievers, and if allowed to have the care, or become the guardians, of the children, would lead their hearts away from the truth into error, and endanger their salvation. This made their relatives dissatisfied, and they have done nothing for the children. The confidence of the parents in the church should be considered, and not be forgotten because of selfishness.T17 168.3

We have the deepest interest for these children. One has already developed a beautiful Christian character, is married to Eld. ——, and now, in return for the care and burdens borne for her, is a true burden-bearer in the church. She is sought unto for advice and counsel by the less experienced, and they seek not in vain. She possesses true Christian humility, with becoming dignity, which can but inspire respect and confidence in all who know her. These children are as near to me as my own. I shall not lose sight of them, nor cease my care for them. I love them sincerely, tenderly, and affectionately.T17 169.1

E. G. W.

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