Basic HTML Version
To the Inexperienced
Some, I saw, have not a realizing sense of the importance of the
truth or of its effect, and moving from the impulse of the moment or
from excitement, often follow their feelings and disregard church
order. Such seem to think that religion consists chiefly in making a
noise. [
see appendix.
] Some who have but just received the truth of
the third angel’s message are ready to reprove and teach those who
have been established in the truth for years, and who have suffered
for its sake and felt its sanctifying power. Those who are so puffed
up by the enemy will have to feel the sanctifying influence of the
truth and obtain a realizing sense of how it found them—“wretched,
and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” When the truth
begins to purify them and purge away their dross and tin, as it surely
will when it is received in the love of it, the one who has this great
work done for him will not feel that he is rich and increased in goods
and has need of nothing.
Those who profess the truth and think they know it all before
they have learned its first principles, and who are forward to take
the place of teachers and reprove those who for years have stood
stiffly for the truth, plainly show that they have no understanding
[119]
of the truth, and know none of its effects; for if they knew any
of the sanctifying power, they should yield the peaceable fruits of
righteousness and be humbled under its sweet, powerful influence.
They would bear fruit to the glory of God, and understand what the
truth has done for them, and esteem others better than themselves.
I saw that the remnant were not prepared for what is coming upon
the earth. Stupidity, like lethargy, seemed to hang upon the minds
of most of those who profess to believe that we are having the last
message. My accompanying angel cried out with awful solemnity,
“Get ready! get ready! get ready! for the fierce anger of the Lord is
soon to come. His wrath is to be poured out, unmixed with mercy,
and ye are not ready. Rend the heart, and not the garment. A great
work must be done for the remnant. Many of them are dwelling
128