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The Substance of Moral Character, August 2
Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men’s
labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall
be enlarged by you.
2 Corinthians 10:15
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You should keep off from Satan’s enchanted ground and not allow your
minds to be swayed from allegiance to God. Through Christ you may
and should be happy and should acquire habits of self-control. Even your
thoughts must be brought into subjection to the will of God and your feelings
under the control of reason and religion. Your imagination was not given
you to be allowed to run riot and have its own way without any effort at
restraint or discipline. If the thoughts are wrong the feelings will be wrong,
and the thoughts and feelings combined make up the moral character.... If
you yield to your impressions and allow your thoughts to run in a channel
of suspicion, doubt, and repining you will be among the most unhappy of
mortals....
Dear Sister F, you have a diseased imagination; and you dishonor God
by allowing your feelings to have complete control of your reason and
judgment. You have a determined will, which causes the mind to react upon
the body, unbalancing the circulation and producing congestion in certain
organs; and you are sacrificing health to your feelings.
You are making a mistake, which, if not corrected, will not end with
wrecking your own happiness merely. You are doing positive injury, not
only to yourself, but to the other members of your family.... You have ... let
your highly wrought imagination control reason.... Had you no power over
your feelings, this would not be sin; but it will not answer thus to yield to
the enemy. Your will needs to be sanctified and subdued instead of being
arrayed in opposition to that of God....
Man has been placed in a world of sorrow, care, and perplexity. He is
placed here to be tested and proved, as were Adam and Eve, that he may
develop a right character and bring harmony out of discord and confusion.
There is much for us to do that is essential.... And there is much for us
to enjoy. Through Christ we are brought into connection with God. His
mercies place us under continual obligation; feeling unworthy of His favors,
we are to appreciate even the least of them.
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