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Spiritual Gifts, Volume 4b
loud cry of the third angel. But as they failed to see the powerful work
accomplished in a short time, many lost the effect of the message. I
saw that this message would not accomplish its work in a few short
months. It was designed to arouse the people of God, to discover to
them their backslidings, and to lead to zealous repentance, that they
might be favored with the presence of Jesus, and be fitted for the loud
cry of the third angel. As this message affected the heart, it led to deep
humility before God. Angels were sent in every direction to prepare
unbelieving hearts for the truth. The cause of God began to rise, and
his people were acquainted with their position. If the counsel of the
true Witness had been fully heeded, God would have wrought for his
people in greater power.
The efforts made since the message has been given, have been
blessed of God, and many souls have been brought from error and
darkness to rejoice in the truth I saw that God would prove his people.
Patiently Jesus bears with them, and does not spue them out of his
mouth in a moment. Said the angel, “God is weighing his people.” If
the message had been of as short duration as many of us supposed,
there would have been no time for God’s people to develop character.
Many moved from feeling, not from principle and faith, and this
solemn, fearful message stirred them. It wrought upon their feelings,
excited their fears, but did not accomplish the work God designed that
it should. God reads the heart. Lest his people should be deceived in
regard to themselves, he gives them time for the excitement to wear
off, and he proves them to see if they will obey the counsel of the true
Witness.
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God Tests His People
God leads his people on step by step. He brings them up to different
points which are calculated to manifest what is in the heart. Some
endure at one point, but fall off at the next. At every advanced point
the heart is tested, and tried a little closer. If the professed people of
God find their hearts opposed to the straight work of God, it should
convince them that they have a work to do to overcome, or be spued
out of the mouth of the Lord. Said the angel, “God will bring his work
closer and closer to test them, and prove every one of his people.”
Some are willing to receive one point, but when God brings them