Chapter 8—The Testing Process
Dear Brother G,
I feel very anxious that you should accept light and come out of
darkness. You have been greatly tempted of Satan; he has used you as
his instrument to hinder the work of God. He has thus far succeeded
with you; but it does not follow that you should continue in the path of
error. I look upon your case with great trembling. I know that God has
given you great light. In your sickness last fall the providence of God
was dealing with you that you might bear fruit to His glory.
Unbelief was taking possession of your soul, and the Lord afflicted
you that you might gain a needed experience. He blessed us in praying
for you, and He blessed you in answer to our prayers. The Lord
designed to unite our hearts in love and confidence. The Holy Spirit
witnessed with your spirit. The power of God in answer to prayer came
upon you; but Satan came with temptations, and you did not close the
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door upon him. He entered and has been very busy. It is the plan of
the evil one to work first upon the mind of one, and then, through him,
upon others. He has thus sought to hedge up our way and hinder our
labors in the very place where our influence should be most felt for
the prosperity of the cause.
The Lord brought you into connection with His work at-----for
a wise purpose; He designed that you should discover the defects in
your character and overcome them. You know how quickly your spirit
chafes when things do not move according to your mind. Would that
you could understand that all this impatience and irritability must be
overcome, or your life will prove an utter failure, you will lose heaven,
and it would have been better had you never been born.
Our cases are pending in the court of heaven. We are rendering
our accounts there day by day. Everyone will be rewarded according
to his works. Burnt offerings and sacrifices were not acceptable to
God in ancient times unless the spirit was right with which the gift
was offered. Samuel said: “Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt
offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold,
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