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Testimonies for the Church Volume 1
of worth to them.” They find enough to engross the mind, and have no
time to prepare for heaven. Satan is ever ready to plunge them deeper
and deeper into difficulty; as soon as one perplexity and trouble is
off the mind, he begets within them an unholy desire for more of the
things of earth; and thus their time passes, and, when it is too late, they
see that they have gained nothing substantial. They have grasped at
shadows and lost eternal life. Such will have no excuse.
Many dress like the world, to have an influence. But here they
make a sad and fatal mistake. If they would have a true and saving
influence, let them live out their profession, show their faith by their
righteous works, and make the distinction great between the Christian
and the world. I saw that the words, the dress, and actions should
tell for God. Then a holy influence will be shed upon all, and all will
take knowledge of them that they have been with Jesus. Unbelievers
will see that the truth we profess has a holy influence and that faith
in Christ’s coming affects the character of the man or woman. If any
wish to have their influence tell in favor of the truth, let them live it
out and thus imitate the humble Pattern.
I saw that God hates pride, and that all the proud and all that do
wickedly shall be stubble, and the day that cometh shall burn them
up. I saw that the third angel’s message must yet work like leaven
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upon many hearts that profess to believe it, and purge away their pride,
selfishness, covetousness, and love of the world.
Jesus is coming; and will He find a people conformed to the world?
and will He acknowledge these as His people that He has purified unto
Himself? Oh, no. None but the pure and holy will He acknowledge as
His. Those who have been purified and made white through suffering,
and have kept themselves separate, unspotted from the world, He will
own as His.
As I saw the dreadful fact that God’s people were conformed to
the world, with no distinction, except in name, between many of the
professed disciples of the meek and lowly Jesus and unbelievers, my
soul felt deep anguish. I saw that Jesus was wounded and put to an
open shame. Said the angel, as with sorrow he saw the professed
people of God loving the world, partaking of its spirit, and following
its fashions: “Cut loose! Cut loose! lest He appoint you your portion
with hypocrites and unbelievers outside the city. Your profession will