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and are called Christians. Their parents are so anxious for them that
they accept anything which appears favorable, and do not labor with
them, and teach them that the carnal mind must die. They encourage
them to come along and act a part; but they fail to lead them to search
their own hearts diligently, to examine themselves, and to count the
cost of what it is to be a Christian. The result is, the young profess to
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be Christians without sufficiently trying their motives.
Says the True Witness: “I would thou wert cold or hot. So then
because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee
out of My mouth.” Satan is willing that you should be Christians in
name, for you can suit his purpose better. If you have a form and
not true godliness, he can use you to decoy others into the same self-
deceived way. Some poor souls will look to you, instead of looking to
the Bible standard, and will come up no higher. They are as good as
you, and are satisfied.
The young are often urged to do duty, to speak or pray in meeting;
urged to die to pride. Every step they are urged. Such religion is
worth nothing. Let the carnal heart be changed, and it will not be such
drudgery, ye coldhearted professors, to serve God. All that love of
dress and pride of appearance will be gone. The time that you spend
standing before the glass preparing the hair to please the eye, should
be devoted to prayer and searching of heart. There will be no place for
outward adornment in the sanctified heart; but there will be an earnest,
anxious seeking for the inward adorning, the Christian graces—the
fruits of the Spirit of God.
Says the apostle: “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorn-
ing of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of
apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not
corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in
the sight of God of great price.”
Subdue the carnal mind, reform the life, and the poor mortal frame
will not be so idolized. If the heart is reformed, it will be seen in the
outward appearance. If Christ be in us the hope of glory, we shall
discover such matchless charms in Him that the soul will be enamored.
It will cleave to Him, choose to love Him, and in admiration of Him,
self will be forgotten. Jesus will be magnified and adored, and self
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abased and humbled. But a profession, without this deep love, is mere
talk, dry formality, and heavy drudgery. Many of you may retain a