Chapter 6—Slackness Reproved
The Lord has again visited me in mercy, in a time of bereavement
and great affliction. December 23, 1860, I was taken off in vision, and
was shown the wrongs of individuals which have affected the cause,
and I dare not withhold the testimony from the church to spare the
feelings of individuals.
I was shown the low state of God’s people; that God had not
departed from them; but that they had departed from God, and become
lukewarm. They possess the theory of the truth, but lack its saving
power. As we near the close of time, Satan comes down with great
power knowing his time is short. Especially upon the remnant will his
power be exercised. He will war against them, he will seek to divide
and scatter them, that they may grow weak and be overthrown. The
people of God should move understandingly; their efforts should be
united. They should be of the same mind, of the same judgment; then
their efforts will not be scattered, but will be of force, and tell in the
upbuilding of the cause of present truth. Order must be observed, and
there must be union in regard to order, or Satan will take advantage of
them.
I was shown that the enemy would come in every way possible
to dishearten the people of God, and perplex and trouble them, and
that they should move understandingly and prepare themselves for the
attacks of Satan. The matters of the church should not be left in an
unsettled condition. Steps should be taken to secure church property
for the cause of God, that the work may not be retarded in its progress,
and that the means which persons wish to dedicate to God’s cause,
may not slip into the enemy’s ranks. I saw that God’s people should
act wisely, and leave nothing undone on their part to place matters of
the church in a secure state. Then after all is done that they can do,
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they should trust the Lord to overrule these things for them, that Satan
take no advantage of God’s remnant people. It is Satan’s time to work,
and a stormy future is before us, and the church should be awake to
make an advance move that they may stand securely against Satan’s
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