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HOW TO TEACH

To these who would go forth to use either much or little of their time, we would say: It is a matter of great importance not only to teach the right thing but to present truth in a proper manner and order. This may be observed as a rule of life, pertaining to everything we undertake: if we would reap good fruit we must not only plant good seed, but it must be planted at a proper time, in a soil previously made ready, and it must be cared for until it becomes possessed of strength. So, too, must the seed be carefully, prayerfully and wisely sown, and the words of our Master are: “Be ye wise as serpents but harmless as doves.”

Present first the Restitution and the beauties of God’s unfolding plan; then show that all this awaits and is dependent on the King and kingdom coming. Then, when your hearer or reader has come to love the King and to long for his kingdom, may be quite soon enough to present the manner of His coming—that it is not Jesus the man but Jesus a spiritual being, who comes, unseen, except to the Bride’s eye of faith, enlightened by the golden candlestick—the word of truth.

And lastly present “the time, that now we are “in the days of the Son of Man,” “the day of the Lord”—if they scoff and say, “where is the promise of His coming—(parousia—presence) while all things continue as they were?” (2 Pet. 3:4.) Point them to Matt. 24:37 and Luke 17. But let time be the last part of the “good news,” and tell no one of the time and presence, except they show that they have “an ear to hear,” and “him that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches,” not unto the world.

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— April, 1881 —