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persons can read these things. Appearance has something, yes, much
to do with the impressions made upon minds, but the appearance must
be after a godly sort. Let it be seen that the workers are bound up
with God and heaven. There should be no striving for recognition by
worldly men in order to give character and influence to the work in
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these last days. Consistency is a jewel. Our faith, our dress, and our
deportment must be in harmony with the character of our work, the
presentation of the most solemn message ever given to the world.
Our work is to win men to belief of the truth, win by preaching
and by example also, by living godly lives. The truth in all its bearings
is to be acted, showing the consistency of faith with practice. The
value of our faith will be shown by its fruit. The Lord can and will
impress men by our intense earnestness. Our dress, our deportment,
our conversation and the depth of a growing experience in spiritual
lines, all are to show that the great principles of truth we are handling
are a reality to us. Thus the truth is to be made impressive as a great
whole and command the intellect. Truth, Bible truth, is to become the
authority for the conscience and the love and life of the soul.—
Letter
121, 1900
.
Not Words, but Deeds—In regard to making known our faith no
decided effort should be made to conceal it, and no unwise efforts
put forth to make it prominent. Persons will come to the sanitarium
who are in a favorable condition to be impressed by the truth. If they
ask questions in regard to our faith, it would be proper to state what
we believe, in a clear, simple manner. Indwelling godliness imparts a
power to the conduct of the true believer that gives him an influence
for the right.
But in this matter we should act with discretion. There are con-
scientious persons who think it their duty to talk freely upon points
of faith on which there is a difference of opinion, in a manner which
arouses the combativeness of those with whom they converse. One
such premature, injudicious effort may close the ears of one who oth-
erwise would have heard patiently, but who will now influence others
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unfavorably. Thus spring up the roots of bitterness, whereby many are
defiled. Through the indiscretion of one, the ears and hearts of many
may be closed to the truth.
It is a fact that is known to all that the zealous religionists of the
different sects have cultivated and manifested very little candor in