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Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers
they may be doing it ignorantly. Satan is no less active now than
in Christ’s day, and those who lend themselves to do his work will
manifest his spirit.
“Floating rumors are often the destroyers of unity among
brethren. There are some who watch with open mind and ears
to catch flying scandal. They gather up little incidents which may
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be trifling in themselves, but which are repeated and exaggerated
until a man is made an offender for a word. Their motto seems
to be, ‘Report, and we will report it.’ These talebearers are doing
Satan’s work with surprising fidelity, little knowing how offensive
their course is to God.... The door of the mind should be closed
against ‘They say,’ or ‘I have heard.’ Why should we not, instead of
allowing jealousy or evil surmising to come into our hearts, go to our
brethren, and after frankly but kindly setting before them the things
we have heard detrimental to their character and influence, pray with
and for them? While we cannot fellowship with those who are the
bitter enemies of Christ, we should cultivate that spirit of meekness
and love that characterized our Master—a love that thinketh no evil,
and is not easily provoked....
“Let us diligently cultivate the pure principles of the gospel of
Christ—the religion, not of self-esteem, but of love, meekness, and
lowliness of heart. Then we shall love our brethren, and esteem
them better than ourselves. Our minds will not dwell on scandal and
flying reports. But ‘whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things
are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report;
if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise,’ we shall ‘think on
these things.’”
As a people, we have been reproved by God for doing so little.
How important, then, that we guard carefully against everything that
might dishearten or weaken the influence of one soul who is doing a
work that God would have done. There are victories to be gained if
we present a united front and individually seek the Lord for strength
and guidance.
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Pray for the Latter Rain
[The Review and Herald, March 2, 1897.]