Ms 81a, 1901

Talk/The Work in England

Battle Creek, Michigan

April 19, 1901

This manuscript is published in entirety in GCB Extra 04/22/1901.

The Work in England. Talk by Mrs. E. G. White at Gen. Conference. Printed in G.C. Bulletin, Vol. 4, Extra, 17.

It seems to me that the necessity of the work in England is a very important question to us in this country. We talk about China and other countries. Let us not forget the English-speaking countries where, if the truth were presented, many would receive and practice it. 16LtMs, Ms 81a, 1901, par. 1

Why is it that more work has not been done in England? What has been the matter? The workers could not get means. Does not this speak to us of the necessity of economy in every line? Does it not speak to us of the necessity of guarding against wasting the money which the Lord has placed in our hands to help forward His cause? 16LtMs, Ms 81a, 1901, par. 2

London has been presented to me again and again as a place in which a great work is to be done, and I have tried to present this before our people. I spent two years in Europe, going over the field three times. And each time I went I saw improvement in the work, and the last time a decided improvement was manifest. And oh, what a burning desire filled my heart to see this great field, London especially, worked as it should be! Why have not workers been sent there, men and women who could have planned for the advancement of the work? I have wondered why our people, those who are not ordained ministers, but who have a connection with God, who understand the Scriptures, do not open the Word to others. If they would engage in this work, great blessing would come to their own souls. God wants His people to work. To every man—and this means every woman, also—He has given his work, and this work each one is to perform according to his several ability. 16LtMs, Ms 81a, 1901, par. 3

Let no one suppose that the work in London can be carried forward by one or two. This is not the right plan. While there must be those who can oversee the work, there is to be an army of workers striving to reach the different classes of people. 16LtMs, Ms 81a, 1901, par. 4

House-to-house work must be done. This work we have done in Australia, and we have seen the salvation of God as this work has been carried forward. 16LtMs, Ms 81a, 1901, par. 5

Those who have means are to help the work with the money the Lord has entrusted to them. And God wants men and women who are willing to give themselves entirely to Him, even as Elisha did when, as he was ploughing, Elijah came to him and bade him follow him. Elisha obeyed, and we read that his first work was to pour water on the hands of the prophet. He willingly took up the work of ministering to him, and thus he became acquainted with the work in which he was afterward to have a leading part. 16LtMs, Ms 81a, 1901, par. 6

Elisha’s work was not the same as Elijah’s, yet they were both working for the Lord. Let no one, when asking for help for a place, say what help they want and what help they do not want. God knows what they need. No human being can know just what help is needed for any field, but God knows. It is not God’s plan for us to establish ourselves in a certain place, and then specify the kind of help we are willing to accept. This is not the right way. Say, “Lord, we need help. Send us those who will best advance the work.” Let not those who are managing the work in the different parts of the field say, “I cannot accept this man. I am afraid something will come in that will throw the work into perplexity.” God knows what is best for His people, and He will help them when they fall into difficulty. We wish we had heaven here below, but we have not. The church militant is not the church triumphant. The church militant must wrestle and toil. She must strive against temptations and fight severe battles, because Satan is not dead. His agencies are much more active in his work than are the agencies of God in the work of their Leader. 16LtMs, Ms 81a, 1901, par. 7

God calls upon His people to awake. There is much work to do, and no one is to say, “We do not want this one. He will stand in our way. He will hinder us.” Cannot God take care of that? Are there not those in this congregation who will settle in London to work for the Master? Are there not those who will go to that great city as self-supporting missionaries? But while missionaries are to do all they can to be self-supporting, let those who remain here, who Sabbath after Sabbath come to the Tabernacle to hear the Word of God, who have every convenience and advantage, let them beware how they say to those they send to foreign fields, destitute of every facility and advantage, “You must be self-supporting.” 16LtMs, Ms 81a, 1901, par. 8

Those who go to foreign fields will always find themselves placed in awkward positions at first. They will find that they have many things to correct in their manner of work. But if they persevere, they will gain the ability to take up the work and carry it forward successfully. 16LtMs, Ms 81a, 1901, par. 9

God wants His workers to stand together in perfect unity. One worker is not to measure another worker, trying to find out how high or how broad he is spiritually. If you think your fellow worker is not all he ought to be, try to show him where he is lacking. Those who are in a new field cannot expect to possess the experience of those who have been in the field for years. They are to be trained and educated, learning lesson after lesson, [in] how to do the work. 16LtMs, Ms 81a, 1901, par. 10

To those in America who all their lives have indulged themselves, God says, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up the cross, and follow me.” [Matthew 16:24.] The one we are told to follow is the Majesty of heaven, the King of glory, who, in His great love for the human race, laid aside His royal robe and kingly crown, and came to this earth to show men how to live Christian lives. He tells us that self-denial is the evidence of discipleship. 16LtMs, Ms 81a, 1901, par. 11

Could the curtain be rolled back, you would today see that the angels of heaven are looking with sadness upon our terrible neglect. All heaven is waiting to give God’s sufficiency to those who will consecrate themselves unreservedly to the Master’s service. Let us remember the words, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” [Zechariah 4:6.] 16LtMs, Ms 81a, 1901, par. 12

God wants His people to come into working order. He calls upon them to stand in such a position that He can work through them. What is the work of the right hand? It is to open doors for the entrance of the body. This is the work the medical missionary work is to do for the message. God wants every one of us to be His helping hand. The medical missionary work is to be carried forward in every field. 16LtMs, Ms 81a, 1901, par. 13

The Lord wants His people to die to self and live in Him. Are we willing to do this? Are we willing to say, I will give myself to the work, not to require the highest wages, but to do the best I can for God? 16LtMs, Ms 81a, 1901, par. 14

We need now to open the door to the work in London. This door has long been closed, but it must now be opened. Brother Prescott is fully capable of organizing the work in that field, but means must be provided. Think of how little help England has had. How do we stand before God as regards the work there? Job said that the things he knew not he searched out. God wants you to search out the things you do not know. He wants you to set the work in England in operation in such a way that He can co-operate with you for its advancement. 16LtMs, Ms 81a, 1901, par. 15

The European field must receive the attention it needs. And we are not to forget the needy fields close at hand. Look at New York! What representation for truth is there in that city? How much help has been sent there? Our education and health work must be established there, and this work must be given financial aid till it is self-supporting. 16LtMs, Ms 81a, 1901, par. 16

In Europe there are outsiders who have money. Let men who have tact go to these people and tell them what is being done to help the people of all denominations. Tell them that you are desirous of establishing a sanitarium, where people of all classes can be helped; that you want to establish a school where the Bible will be used as the basis of all the work, where the youth can be educated in Bible lines. There are those who, if approached in the right way, will give of their means to help in this work. 16LtMs, Ms 81a, 1901, par. 17

The Lord wants every one who goes to London to stand where he can say, We are brethren. I am willing to learn every day, that I may be so educated that it may be said of me, “Ye are complete in Christ.” [See Colossians 2:10.] God wants those at the heart of the work to practice self-denial and self-sacrifice. Do not look over to London and say, “Be ye warmed and be ye clothed and be ye fed,” while neglecting to do those things which will relieve their necessities. [See James 2:16.] 16LtMs, Ms 81a, 1901, par. 18

God does not want you to measure men, to cherish your peculiar impressions of what men should be in order to be accepted by God. 16LtMs, Ms 81a, 1901, par. 19

There is a work to be done in London. I have been given light that this work can be done, and that help will come from outside. Those who have money will give of their means. You need not be delicate about asking them for money. Whose money is it—the Lord’s? All is His. Then cannot you ask men to give Him a little of their means, and thus lay up for themselves a treasure in the heavens? Cannot you do it? When I was collecting money to establish the work in San Francisco, I was appealing to men whom I knew had means; but when I asked for pledges, they did not stir. A man arose and said, “Do you milk the goats over the fence? Because here is some money I wish to give, though I am not a Seventh-day Adventist.” 16LtMs, Ms 81a, 1901, par. 20

God wants His work to go forward in New York. There ought to be thousands of Sabbath-keepers in that place, and there would be if the work were carried on as it should be. But prejudices spring up. Men want the work to go in their lines, and they refuse to accept the plans of others. Thus opportunities are lost. In New York there should be several small companies established, and workers should be sent out. It does not follow that because a man is not ordained as a preacher, he cannot work for God. Let such ones as these be taught how to work, and then let them go out to labor. On returning, let them tell what they have done. Let them praise the Lord for His blessing, and then go out again. And encourage them. A few words of encouragement will be an inspiration to them. 16LtMs, Ms 81a, 1901, par. 21

If you see things to find fault with, remember that Christ said to His disciples, “Come ye apart ... and rest a while.” [Mark 6:31.] And in this place of retirement they told Him all about their labor, and Christ instructed them how to work. They said, “Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and we forbade him; because he followeth not us.” And Jesus said to them, “Forbid him not; for he that is not against us is for us.” [Luke 9:49, 50.] 16LtMs, Ms 81a, 1901, par. 22

We need to come in closer touch with humanity. We need to put away our wrong, preconceived opinions. Among those that are standing at the head of the work there is too much prejudice. The feeling is too prevalent, “I am perfect. I do not need any simmering down at all.” If Christ should come, as represented in Malachi, the fuller’s soap might make us a good deal less than we are. 16LtMs, Ms 81a, 1901, par. 23

What we need is to hear the Lord’s call to work. Instruct men in every line. You have a whole corps of workers in this place. It is time that you stopped taking the measurement of every man who comes in here. It is God who is to measure the men, and place them where they can be learning from those who have had experience. He does not send them forth without educating them, without training them to do His work. But you must take inexperienced men and work with them. When you see them working and speaking, and they do not say just what you would say, do not groan as though they were spoiling the whole work. Sit still; be quiet; and tell them afterward how they can improve in their manner of work. Never discourage them. God desires us to come into working order and to stand in that position where we will heed counsel. Every one of the young men is to heed counsel. They are not to set up their own opinions as though there were no way but theirs. 16LtMs, Ms 81a, 1901, par. 24

The field in New York is ripe unto the harvest, and if Elder Haskell and his wife feel that it is their duty to go there and work for the people, I believe that God will greatly bless them, enabling them to bring from the Lord’s treasure house things new and old. And He will bless Brother Prescott and Brother Waggoner, as they take up the work in England, where they have labored so hard. The Lord desires that men and women strong in the faith be sent there to work by their side. Men are needed there who can take financial management of the work. Help is needed in every line, and as workers go forth to labor in this line, God will strengthen them. Angels from heaven will stand beside them as they strive to teach others the truth for this time. Let this work be taken hold of in earnest. Let plans be made for its advancement, and a different report will be brought in at the next General Conference, if time lasts long enough for us to hold [one]. 16LtMs, Ms 81a, 1901, par. 25

Let those who have money help the work in England with their means. The work there has had very little help in this line. God forgive and pardon us for not making plants all over Europe and in the great city of London and its suburbs. God grant that men and women will go there who are willing to sacrifice for Him, who in their homes will exert an influence that will tell in favor of the truth, who will hold Bible readings with their neighbors, bringing the third angel’s message to their personal attention. We cannot hide ourselves away from the multitude and expect them to hunt us up. God wants us to make ourselves known. The third angel’s message is to go with a loud cry. 16LtMs, Ms 81a, 1901, par. 26

Brother Conradi has carried a very heavy burden of work in Europe. Brother Conradi, the Lord wants you to have laborers to stand with you, and He wants you to give them all the encouragement you can. He wants the work you are doing to go with strength and with power. You have been doing the work of several men, and God has greatly blessed your labors. The angels of God have done this work, not Brother Conradi. He has opened doors for the angels, and they have entered. And if you will all open doors for the angels and give God an opportunity to work, let me tell you that He will set in operation that which will carry forward the work with a strength you do not dream of. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” [Hebrews 11:1.] God wants us to work by faith. Put away all criticism, all unbelief, all desire to measure your fellow worker, who perhaps has not had one-hundredth part of the opportunity you have had. The Lord desires you to work and pray in all simplicity. He told Nicodemus that unless he were born again, he could not see the kingdom of heaven. We must be born again. We must leave behind all our inherited and cultivated tendencies to wrong. We must talk and walk and work with Jesus, taking Him with us every where we go. What we need is heart-religion. We need to sit low at the feet of Jesus Christ, where we can learn the precious lessons He is waiting to teach us. 16LtMs, Ms 81a, 1901, par. 27

The power of God means everything to us. God will make the impression on hearts if self is taken out of the way. Let the [A]ngel of God place [H]is stamp on the message you bear. God help us to work in Christ’s lines as we seek to give to the world the last message of warning. 16LtMs, Ms 81a, 1901, par. 28

Let the name of the Lord be magnified. We want the truth to triumph, and it is going to triumph in every respect. Let every one pray in faith. Let every one talk in faith. Let every one inspire the next one. Do not begin to pull each other down, or speak disparagingly of one another. Let all fix their eyes upon Christ, not upon man. Let us educate men who are under the influence of the Spirit of God and we shall see that one can chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight. The powers of darkness cannot withstand God nor the angels who do His will. Let us work intelligently, in solid lines, and we shall see the salvation of God. 16LtMs, Ms 81a, 1901, par. 29