To a Young Minister and His Wife
285
jealousies would be revealed, and your weaknesses exposed, that you
might see them and understand yourselves, if you would.
I saw you listening to the conversation of men and women, and saw
that you were only too pleased to gather up their views and impressions
that were detrimental to our labors. Some found fault with one thing,
and some with another, as did the murmurers among the children of
Israel when Moses was their leader. Some were censuring our course,
saying that we were not as conservative as we ought to be; we did
not seek to please the people as we might; we talked too plainly; we
reproved too sharply. Some were talking in regard to Sister White’s
dress, picking at straws. Others were expressing dissatisfaction with
the course that Brother White pursued, and remarks were passing from
one to another, questioning their course and finding fault. An angel
stood before these persons, unseen by them, busily writing their words
in the book which is to be opened to the view of God and angels.
Some are eagerly watching for something to condemn in Brother
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and Sister White, who have grown gray in their service in the cause
of God. Some express their views that the testimony of Sister White
cannot be reliable. This is all that many unconsecrated ones want. The
testimonies of reproof have checked their vanity and pride; but if they
dared, they would go to almost any length in fashion and pride. God
will give all such an opportunity to prove themselves and to develop
their true characters.
Some years ago I saw that we would yet have to meet the same
spirit which rose at Paris, Maine, and which has never been thoroughly
cured. It has slumbered, but it is not dead. From time to time this spirit
of determined murmuring and rebellion has cropped out in different
individuals who have at some time been leavened with this wicked
spirit which has followed us for years. Sister A, this spirit has been
cherished by you to some extent, and has had an influence to mold
your views and feelings. Sanctimonious infidelity has been gradually
growing in the mind of C, and it is not now easy, even for her, to get rid
of it. This same determined spirit which held D and others in Maine
in a fanatical delusion so long, against every influence to lead them
to the truth, has had a powerful, deceptive influence over E’s mind
in-----, and the same influence has affected you. You were of that calm,
determined, unyielding temperament that the enemy could affect, and