Chapter 35—Individual Independence
Dear Brother A,
My mind is exercised in regard to your case. I have written you
some things which have been shown me in regard to your past, present,
and future course. I feel anxious for you because I have seen your
dangers. Your former experience in spiritualism exposes you to temp-
tations and severe conflicts. When once the mind has been yielded to
the direct control of the enemy through evil angels, that person should
be very distrustful of impressions and feelings which would lead him
on an independent track, away from the church of Christ. The first
step that such a one would take independently of the church should
be regarded as a device of the enemy to deceive and destroy. God has
made His church a channel of light, and through it He communicates
His purposes and His will. He does not give one an experience inde-
pendent of the church. He does not give one man a knowledge of His
will for the entire church, while the church, Christ’s body, is left in
darkness.
Brother A, you need to watch with the greatest care how you build.
There is a storm coming which will test your hope to the utmost. You
should dig deep and lay your foundation sure. “Therefore whosoever
heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a
wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended,
and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house;
and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.” Steadily the builder
places one stone upon another until the structure rises stone upon stone.
The gospel builder frequently carries on his work in tears and amid
trials, storms of persecution, bitter opposition, and unjust reproach; but
he feels deeply in earnest, for he is building for eternity. Be careful,
Brother A, that your foundation is solid rock, that you are riveted to it,
Christ being that Rock.
You have a strong, set will, a very independent spirit, which you
feel that you must preserve at all hazards. And you have carried this
same spirit into your religious experience and life. You have not
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