To Those of Little Experience
Some, I saw, had not a realizing sense of the importance of the
truth, or its effects, and often moved from the impulse of the moment,
or from excitement, following their feelings, and disregarding church
order, thinking that religion consists chiefly in making a noise. 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 have felt its sanctifying power, and have suffered
for the truth’s sake. Those who are so puffed up by the enemy will
have to feel the sanctifying influence of the truth, and will have to have
a realizing sense of where the truth found them, and how; that they
were “wretched, 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 before they have learned its first
principles, think they know it all, and 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 of the truth, and
know none of its effects; for if they knew any of its sanctifying power,
they would 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
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the earth. Stupidity, like the 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. They are, many of them, dwelling
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