Chapter 36—Appeal to Ministers
Clean Hands and Pure Hearts—We are nearing the judgment,
and those who bear the message of warning to the world must have
clean hands and pure hearts. They must have a living connection with
God. The thoughts must be pure and holy, the soul untainted, the body,
soul, and spirit be a pure, clean offering to God, or He will not accept
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The youth, for misdemeanors of a comparatively light character,
are treated with much severity. But when men and women of large
experience, who have been considered patterns of piety, are revealed in
their true character—unsanctified, unholy, impure in thought, debased
in conduct—then it is time for such to be dealt with in a decided
manner. The greater forbearance that is exercised toward them has
only had, as far as my knowledge extends, the influence to cause them
to regard their fornication and adultery as a very light matter; and all
their pretense has proved to be like morning dew when the sun shines
upon it.
False Shepherds of the Flock—No sooner are they placed in
temptation than they reveal their moral defects—that they are not
partakers of the divine nature, neither have they escaped the corruption
that is in the world through lust, but that they are earthly, sensual,
devilish. Satan finds in them something that he can work up into
marked iniquity, and he improves his opportunity. And the result is
[that] those who claim to be shepherds of the flock are carnally minded,
leading the sheep of their care, whose purity, modesty, and virtue they
should strictly guard, into licentiousness and lewdness.
Accursed Thing in the Camp—Angels of heaven are looking
on with shame and grief and disgust. How can the pure angels of
heaven minister unto this class? How can they bring heavenly light
into the assemblies where such ministers are advocating the law of
God, but breaking that law whenever a favorable opportunity presents
itself, living a lie, pursuing an underhanded course, working in secret,
nursing their polluted thoughts and inflaming their passions, and then
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