- The Times of Volume Three
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- Chapter 1—An Appeal for Burden Bearers
- Chapter 2—Unsanctified Ability
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- Chapter 4—Intimate Friendship With Worldlings
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- Chapter 6—Experience Not Reliable
- Chapter 7—Faithfulness in Home Duties
- Chapter 8—Pride and Vain Thoughts
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- Chapter 12—To Wealthy Parents
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- Chapter 14—The Health Reform
- Chapter 15—The Health Institute
- Chapter 16—Danger of Applause
- Chapter 17—Labor for the Erring
- Chapter 18—The Sabbath School
- Chapter 19—Laborers in the Office
- Chapter 20—Love and Duty
- Chapter 21—The Battle Creek Church
- Chapter 22—Missionary Work
- Chapter 23—Effect of Discussions
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- Chapter 25—Self-Caring Ministers
- Chapter 26—Inordinate Love of Gain
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- Chapter 38—Importance of the Work
- Chapter 39—The State of the World
- Chapter 40—The State of the Church
- Chapter 41—Love of the World
- Chapter 42—Presumption
- Chapter 43—Power of Appetite
- Chapter 44—Leadership
- Chapter 45—Calls for Means
- Chapter 46—Duty to the Unfortunate
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- Chapter 48—The Sin of Covetousness
- Chapter 49—Industry in the Ministry
- Chapter 50—Parents as Reformers
- Chapter 51—“Cannot Come Down”
The Lost Silver
The lost piece of silver is designed to represent the erring, straying sinner. The carefulness of the woman to find the lost silver is to teach the followers of Christ a lesson in regard to their duty to the erring ones who are straying from the path of right. The woman lighted the candle to increase her light, and then swept the house, and sought diligently till she found it.3T 99.3
Here is clearly defined the duty of Christians toward those who need help because of their straying from God. The erring ones are not to be left in darkness and error, but every available means is to be used to bring them again to the light. The candle is lighted; and, with earnest prayer for heavenly light to meet the cases of those enshrouded in darkness and unbelief, the word of God is searched for clear points of truth, that Christians may be so fortified with arguments from the word of God, with its reproofs, threatenings, and encouragements, that the erring ones may be reached. Indifference or neglect will meet the frown of God.3T 99.4
When the woman found the silver, she called her friends and her neighbors together, saying: “Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” If the angels of God rejoice over the erring who see and confess their wrongs and return to the fellowship of their brethren, how much more should the followers of Christ, who are themselves erring, and who every day need the forgiveness of God and of their brethren, feel joy over the return of a brother or a sister who has been deceived by the sophistry of Satan and has taken a wrong course and suffered because of it.3T 100.1
Instead of holding the erring off, their brethren should meet them where they are. Instead of finding fault with them because they are in the dark, they should light their own lamp by obtaining more divine grace and a clearer knowledge of the Scriptures, that they may dispel the darkness of those in error by the light that they bring to them. And when they succeed, and the erring feel their error and submit to follow the light, they should be received gladly, and not with a spirit of murmuring or an effort to impress upon them their exceeding sinfulness, which had called forth extra exertion, anxiety, and wearisome labor. If the pure angels of God hail the event with joy, how much more should their brethren rejoice, who have themselves needed sympathy, love, and help when they have erred and in their darkness have not known how to help themselves.3T 100.2