Chapter 1—Lack of Consecration
November 20, 1855, while in prayer, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly
and powerfully came upon me, and I was taken off in vision. I saw
that the Spirit of the Lord has been dying away from the church. The
servants of the Lord have trusted too much to the strength of argument,
and have not had that firm reliance upon God that they should have. I
saw that the mere argument of the truth will not move souls to take a
stand with the remnant, for the truth is unpopular. The servants of God
must have the truth in the soul. Said the angel “They must get it warm
from glory, carry it in their bosoms, and pour it out in the warmth and
earnestness of the soul to those that hear.” A few that are conscientious
are ready to decide from the weight of evidence, but it is impossible to
move many with a mere theory. There must be a power to attend the
truth; a living testimony to move them.
I saw that the enemy was busy to destroy souls. Exaltation has
come into the ranks, and there must be more humility. There is too
much of an independence of spirit indulged in among the messengers.
It must be laid aside, and there must be a drawing together of the
servants of God. There had been too much a spirit like this, “Am I
my brother’s keeper?” Said the angel, “Yea, thou art thy brother’s
keeper. Ye must have a watchful care for thy brother; be interested
for his welfare, and cherish a kind, loving spirit toward him. Press
together; press together.” God designed man should be open-hearted,
and honest, without affectation, humble, meek, with simplicity. This
is the principle of Heaven. God ordered it so. But poor, frail man has
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sought out something different—to follow his own way, and carefully
attend to his own self-interest.
I asked the angel why simplicity had been shut out from the church,
and pride and exaltation come in. I saw that this is the reason why we
have almost been delivered into the hand of the enemy. Said the angel,
“Look ye, and ye shall see that this feeling prevails, Am I my brother’s
keeper?” Again said the angel, “Thou art thy brother’s keeper.” Thy
profession, thy faith, requires thee to deny thyself and sacrifice to God,
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