Chapter 47—Man’s Duty to His Fellow Men
I have been shown some things in regard to Brother I’s family
which have pressed upon my mind so strongly since I have been in this
place that I venture to write them out. I have been shown, Brother I,
that there exists in your family an element of selfishness which clings
to you like the leprosy. This selfishness must be seen and overcome,
for it is a grievous sin in the sight of God. As a family you have so long
consulted your own wishes, your own pleasure and convenience, that
you do not feel that others have claims upon you. Your thoughts, plans,
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and efforts are for yourselves. You live for self; you do not cultivate
disinterested benevolence, which, if exercised, would increase and
strengthen until it would be your delight to live for others’ good. You
would feel that you had an object in life, a purpose that would bring
you returns of greater value than money. You need to have a more
special interest for humanity, and in so doing you would bring your
souls into closer connection with Christ and would be so imbued with
His Spirit and would cleave to Him with so firm a tenacity that nothing
could separate you from His love.
Christ is the living Vine and if you are branches of that Vine, the
life nourishment which flows through it will nourish you, that you will
not be barren or unfruitful. You have, as a family and as individuals,
professedly connected yourselves with the service of Christ; and yet
you are weighed in the balances of the sanctuary and found wanting.
All of you need to have an entire transformation before you can do
those things which unselfish, devoted Christians should do. Nothing
but a thorough conversion can give you a correct sense of your defects
of character. You all have the spirit and love of the world to a great
extent. Says the apostle John: “If any man love the world, the love of
the Father is not in him.” Your selfish spirit narrows and dwarfs your
minds to your own interests. You need pure and undefiled religion.
The simplicity of the truth will lead you to feel a sympathy for others’
woes. There are those who need your sympathy and love. To exercise
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