Selections from the Testimonies Setting forth Important Principles Relating to Our Work in General, the Publishing Work in Particular, and the Relatio

Extracts from Earlier Testimonies

In the year 1867, the following appeared in Testimony No. 13:— PH150 25.3

“Those engaged at the office should have no separate interest aside from the work. If that attention and care are given to the work in which they are engaged which it demands, they should not be further taxed. They have done all they should do. If trafficking which has no connection with the work of God engages the mind and occupies time, the work will not be done thoroughly and well. At the best, those employed in the work have no physical and mental energy to spare. They are to a greater or less degree enfeebled. Such a cause, such a sacred work, in which they are employed, should engage the powers of the mind; they should not work mechanically, but be sanctified to the work, and act as though the cause was a part of them, as though they had invested something in this great and solemn work. Unless they thus take hold of this matter with interest, their efforts will not be acceptable to God. PH150 25.4

“Satan is very artful, busy, and active. His special power is brought to bear upon those who are now engaged in the work of preaching and in the publication of present truth. All in connection with this work need to keep the whole armor on, for they are the special marks for Satan to attack. PH150 26.1

“I saw that there was a danger of becoming unguarded, and Satan obtaining an entrance, and imperceptibly diverting the mind from the great work. I saw that there was danger of those connected with the work at the office, who fill responsible positions there, getting above the work, and losing humbleness of mind, and the simplicity of the work which has hitherto characterized it. PH150 26.2

“Satan designs to obtain a foothold in that office, and unless there is united effort and thorough watchfulness, he will accomplish his object. Some will get above the simplicity of the work, and will feel that they are sufficient when their strength is perfect weakness. God will be glorified in this great work. And unless there is deep and constant humility and a firm trust in God, there will be a trusting in self, a self-sufficiency, and one or more will drink the bitter cup of affliction. PH150 27.1

“As the work increases, the greater the necessity for thorough trust and dependence on God, and a thorough interest in, and devotion to, the work. Selfish interests should be laid aside. There should be much prayer, much meditation: for this is highly necessary for the success and prosperity of the work. A spirit of traffic should not be allowed in any one who is connected with the work in the office. If it is permitted, the work will be neglected and marred. Common things will be placed too much upon a level with sacred things. PH150 27.2

“There is great danger of some connected with the work laboring merely for wages. While they invest no special interest in the work, their heart is not in the work, and they have no special sense of its sacredness and exalted character. Another special danger would be of those at the head of the work becoming lifted up, exalted, and the work of God be marred, bearing the impress of man, of the human instead of the divine. Satan is wide awake, persevering, yet Jesus lives, and all who make Him their righteousness, their defense, will be specially sustained.”—Pages 23-26. PH150 27.3

The following, addressed especially to the young, was written in May, 1867:— PH150 28.1

“Dear Young Friends: ... A burden is resting upon me in regard to you. I have been repeatedly shown that all who are in connection with the work of God in publishing the present truth, which is to be scattered to every part of the field, should be Christians, not only in name, but in deed and truth. Their object should not be merely to work for wages, but all engaged in this great and solemn work should feel that their interest is in the work, and that it is a part of them. Their motives and influence in connecting themselves with this great and solemn work, must bear the test of the judgment. None should be allowed to become connected with the office of publication who manifest selfishness and pride. PH150 28.2

“I was shown that lightness and folly, joking and laughing, should not be indulged by those engaged in the work in the office. Those engaged in the solemn work of preparing truth to go to every part of the field, should realize that their deportment has its influence. If they are, while reading and preparing solemn truth for publication, jesting, joking, laughing, and careless, their hearts are not in the work, or sanctified through the truth. They do not discern sacred things, but handle truth that is to test character, truth which is of heavenly origin, as a common tale, as a story, merely to come before minds and be readily effaced.... PH150 28.3

“None in that office are sufficient of themselves for the important work of discreetly managing matters connected with the publication of the truth. Angels must be near them to guide, to counsel, to restrain, or the wisdom and folly of human agencies will be apparent. PH150 29.1

“I saw that frequently angels were in the office, in the folding-room, in the room where the type is being set. I was made to hear the laughing, the jesting, the idle, foolish talking. Again, the vanity, the pride and selfishness exhibited. Angels looked sad, and turned away grieved. The words I had heard, the vanity, the pride and selfishness exhibited, caused me to groan with anguish of spirit, as angels left the room in disgust. Said an angel, ‘The heavenly messengers came to bless, that the truth carried by the voiceless preachers might have a sanctifying, holy power to attend its mission; but those engaged in its work were distant from God, possessing so little of the divine, and were so conformed to the spirit of the world, that the powers of darkness controlled them, and they could not be made susceptible of divine impressions.’ At the same time these young were deceived and thought they were rich and increased in goods and had need of nothing, and knew not that they were poor and miserable, blind and naked. PH150 29.2

“I saw that those who handle precious truth as they would sand, know not how many times their heartless indifference to eternal things, their vanity, self-love, and pride, their laughing and senseless chatting, have driven holy messengers of heaven away from the office. PH150 29.3

“The deportment, words, and acts of all in that office should be reserved, modest, humble, and disinterested, as was their Pattern, Jesus, the dear Saviour. They should seek God and obtain righteousness. The office is not the place for sport, for visiting, for idlers, for laughing, or useless words. All should feel that they are doing a work for their Master. These truths which they read, that they act their part to arrange to get before the people, are invitations of mercy, are reproofs, are threatenings, warnings, or encouragements. They are doing their work. They are savors of life unto life, or of death unto death. If rejected, the judgment must decide the matter. The prayer of all in the office should be, ‘O God, make these truths which are of such vital importance, clear to the comprehension of the humblest minds! May angels accompany these silent preachers, and bless their influence, that souls may be saved by these humble means.’ PH150 30.1

“The heart should go out in fervent prayer while the hands are busy, and Satan will not find such ready access, and the soul, instead of being lifted up into vanity, will be constantly refreshed, will be like a watered garden. Angels will delight to be near these souls. Their presence will be continually encouraged by those engaged in the work. A power will attend the truths published. Divine rays of light from the heavenly sanctuary will attend the precious truths sent forth; those who read will be refreshed and strengthened, and souls who are opposed to truth will be convicted and compelled to say. ‘These things are so, they can not be gainsaid.’ PH150 30.2

“All, I saw, should feel that the office is a holy place, as sacred as the house of God. But God has been dishonored by the frivolity and lightness that have been indulged in by some connected with the work. Strangers from abroad, I saw, often went away from the office disappointed. They had associated it with everything sacred; but when they saw the youth, or any one connected with the office, possessing but little gravity, and careless in words and acts, the impression they took away caused them to doubt, after all, if this is really the work of God to prepare a people for translation to heaven. May God bless this to all concerned.”—Pages 28-32. PH150 31.1

Below are given a couple of paragraphs from No. 21, first published in 1872:—“No selfish feelings should exist among those who labor in the office. It is the work of God in which they are engaged, and they are accountable to God for the motives and manner in which this branch of His work is performed. They are required to discipline their minds, and to bring their minds to task. Forgetfulness is sin. Many feel that no blame should be attached to forgetfulness. There is a great mistake here; and this leads to many blunders, and much disorder, and many wrongs. The minds must be tasked. Things that should be done should not be forgotten. The mind must be disciplined until it will remember. PH150 31.2

“Those who labor in the office should learn. They should study, and practise, and exercise their own brains. If the workmen make a failure, they should feel that it rests upon them to repair damages from their own purses, and not allow the office to suffer loss through their carelessness. They should not cease to bear responsibilities, but should try again, avoiding their former mistakes. In this way they would learn to take that care which the Word of God ever requires, and then they will do no more than their duty.”—Pages 8, 9. PH150 31.3

The following selections are from No. 22, published in 1872:—“The workers at the office should feel when they enter it that it is a sacred place where the work of God is being done in the publication of truth which will decide the destiny of souls. This is not felt or realized as it should be. There is conversation in the type-setting department, which diverts the mind from the work. The office is no place for visiting, for a courting spirit, or for amusement, or selfishness. All should feel that they are doing work for God. He who sifts all motives and reads all hearts, is proving, and trying, and sifting His people, especially those who have light and knowledge, and who are engaged in His sacred work. God is a searcher of hearts, and a trier of the reins, and will accept nothing less than entire devotion to the work, and consecration to Himself. All should have a spirit in that office to take up their daily duties as if in the presence of God. They should not be satisfied merely with doing just enough to pass along, and receive their wages; but all should work in any place where they can help the most. If all in the office who profess to be followers of Christ had been faithful in the performance of duty in the office, there would be a great change for the better. Young men and young women have been too much engrossed in each other's society, talking, jesting, and joking, and angels of God have been driven from the office.”—Pages 98, 99. PH150 32.1

“From what has been shown me, there should be a careful selection of help in that office. The young, and untried, and unconsecrated should not be placed there; for they are exposed to temptations, and have not fixed characters. Those who have formed characters, and have fixed principles, and the truth of God in the heart, will not be a constant source of anxiety and care, but rather helps and blessings. And the office of publication is amply able to make arrangements to secure good helpers, who have ability and principle. And the church in their turn should not seek to advantage themselves one penny from those who come to the office to labor and learn their trade. There are positions where some can earn more wages than those at the office, but they can never find a position more important, more honorable or exalted, than the work of God in the office. Those who labor faithfully and unselfishly will be rewarded. For them there is a crown of glory prepared, compared with which all earthly honors and pleasures are as the small dust of the balance. Especially will those be blessed who have been faithful to God in watching over the spiritual welfare of others in the office. Pecuniary and temporal interests, in comparison with this, sink into insignificance. In one scale is gold-dust, in the other a human soul of such value that honor, riches, and glory have been sacrificed by the Son of God to ransom it from the bondage of sin and hopeless despair. The soul is of infinite value, and demands the most attention. Every man who fears God in that office, should put away childish and vain things, and stand erect, with true moral courage, in the dignity of his manhood, shunning low familiarity, yet binding heart to heart in the bond of Christian interest and love. Hearts yearn for sympathy and love, and are as much refreshed and strengthened by them as flowers are by showers and sunshine. The Bible should be read every day.”—Pages 102, 103. PH150 33.1

The three following paragraphs are from No. 27, published in 1876:—“If there are young people connected with the office who do not respect the authority of parents, and are ungovernable at home, despising counsel and restraint, the curse of God will fall upon them, and not only upon them, but upon the office, should they retain their services, and give them further opportunity to pervert the young with whom they are brought in contact there. Those who occupy responsible positions in the office are accountable for the prevailing influence there. And if they are indifferent to the course of the insubordinate and impenitent in their employ, they become partakers of their sin. Those who profess the truth should guard, like sleepless sentinels, the interest of the cause at the office, and sacredly guard themselves and each other from spiritual contamination.”—Pages 93, 94. PH150 34.1

“The influence of our young people in the office is not what it should be. The young who heed not the warnings of the Word of God, and slight the testimonies of the Spirit of God, can only be a living curse to the office, and should be separated from it. PH150 35.1

“God abhors the sins that are fostered and concealed by the church, cherished in the office, and sheltered under the paternal roof. Let parents, and those in authority, earnestly take hold of the work and purge this evil from their midst.”—Pages 99, 100. PH150 35.2

From No. 29, published in 1880:—“The hands employed in the various departments of our offices of publication do not accomplish the amount of work which they would be required to perform in any other office of the kind. Much time is wasted in unnecessary conversation, in visiting away the precious hours, while the work is suffered to lag. In several of the departments, loss is occasioned to the office because of persons engaging in the work who have not exercised care and economy. Were these persons engaged in doing work for themselves, some would accomplish a third more work in a day than now. Others would do no more than they now perform. PH150 35.3

“Business hours should be faithfully employed. To be wasteful of time or of material is dishonesty before God. A few moments are squandered here and a few moments there, which amount in the course of a week to nearly or quite a day, sometimes even exceeding this. ‘Time is money,’ and a waste of time is a waste of money to the cause of God. When those who profess the faith are dilatory and reckless of time, showing that they have not a heart interest for the prosperity of the work, unbelievers employed will follow their example. If all would use their time to the best account, very much means would be saved to the cause of truth. When the heart is in the work, it will be done with earnestness, energy, and despatch. All should be awake to see what needs to be done, and apt and quick to execute, working as though under the direct supervision of the great Master, Jesus Christ. PH150 36.1

“Again, losses occur from lack of thoughtful care in the use of material and machinery. There is a failure to look after all the larger and smaller matters, that nothing be wasted or damaged through neglect. A little squandered here and there amounts to a large sum in the course of a year. Some have never learned to exercise their faculties to save the remnants, notwithstanding the injunction of Christ, ‘Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.’ Material should not be slashed into, to obtain a small piece. A little thoughtful care would lead to the gathering up and using of the little pieces that are now thrown aside and wasted. Attention should be given to saving even so trifling a matter as waste paper, for it can be turned into money. PH150 36.2

“By lack of personal interest, many things go to waste which a few moments’ thoughtful attention at the right time would save. ‘I forgot’ causes much loss to our offices. And some feel no interest in any work or in anything which does not come under their special branch of the work. This is all wrong. Selfishness would suggest the thought, ‘It does not belong to me to care for that;’ but faithfulness and duty would prompt every one to care for all that comes under his observation. PH150 37.1

“A principle should exist all through the office to economize. In order to save the dollars, dimes and pennies must be carefully treasured. Men who have been successful in business have always been economical, persevering, and energetic. Let all connected with the work of God begin now to educate themselves thoroughly as care-takers. Even though their work may not be appreciated on earth, they should never degrade themselves in their own eyes by unfaithfulness in anything they undertake. It takes time for a person to become so accustomed to a given course of life as to be happy in pursuing it. We shall be individually, for time and eternity, what our habits make us. The lives of those who form right habits, and are faithful in the performance of every duty, will be as shining lights, shedding bright beams upon the pathway of others; but if habits of unfaithfulness are indulged, if lax, indolent, neglectful habits are allowed to strengthen, a cloud darker than midnight will settle on the prospects in this life, and forever debar the individual from the future life.”—Pages 93-95. PH150 37.2

“All the hands in our offices should place themselves in the most favorable condition for the formation of good and correct habits. Several times each day, precious golden moments should be consecrated to prayer and the study of the Scriptures, if it is only to commit a text to memory, that spiritual life may exist in the soul. The varied interests of the cause furnish us with food for reflection and inspiration for our prayers. Communion with God is highly essential for spiritual health; and here only may be obtained that wisdom and correct judgment so necessary in the performance of every duty. PH150 38.1

“The strength acquired in prayer to God, united with individual effort in training the mind to thoughtfulness and care-taking, prepares the person for daily duties and keeps the spirit in peace under all circumstances, however trying. The temptations to which we are daily exposed make prayer a necessity. In order that we may be kept by the power of God through faith, the desires of the mind should be continually ascending in silent prayer for help, for light, for strength, for knowledge. But thought and prayer can not take the place of earnest, faithful improvement of the time. Work and prayer are both required in perfecting Christian character. PH150 38.2

“We must live a twofold 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.... PH150 38.3

“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 hindrance 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, and 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. PH150 39.1

“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. PH150 39.2