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Testimonies for the Church Volume 1
little things, when your attention should be turned to your own soul’s
interest. God has not laid the burden of His flock upon you. You think
that the church is upon the background, because they cannot see things
as you do, and because they do not follow the same rigid course which
you think you are required to pursue. I saw that you are deceived in
regard to your own duty and the duty of others. Some have gone to
extremes in regard to diet. They have taken a rigid course, and lived
so very plain that their health has suffered, disease has strengthened in
the system, and the temple of God has been weakened.
I was referred back to our experience in Rochester, New York. I
saw that when we lived there we did not eat nourishing food as we
should, and disease nearly carried us to the grave. I saw that as God
gives His beloved sleep, He is willing to grant them suitable food to
nourish the strength. The motive we had was pure. It was to save
means, that the paper might be sustained. We were poor. I saw that the
fault then was in the church. Those who had means were covetous and
selfish. If these had done their part, the burden upon us would have
been lightened; but as some did not do their part, we were burdened
and others eased. I saw that God does not require anyone to take a
course of such rigid economy as to weaken or injure the temple of
God. There are duties and requirements in His word to humble the
church and cause them to afflict their souls, and there is no need of
making crosses and manufacturing duties to distress the body in order
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to cause humility. All this is outside of the word of God.
The time of trouble is just before us; and then stern necessity will
require the people of God to deny self, and to eat merely enough to
sustain life; but God will prepare us for that time. In that fearful hour
our necessity will be God’s opportunity to impart His strengthening
power, and to sustain His people. But now God requires them to labor
with their hands, the thing that is good, and lay by them in store as He
has prospered them, and do their part in sustaining the cause of truth.
This is a duty enjoined upon all who are not especially called to labor
in word and doctrine, to devote their time to proclaiming to others the
way of life and salvation.
Those who labor with their hands must nourish their strength to
perform his labor, and those also who labor in word and doctrine must
nourish their strength; for Satan and his evil angels are warring against
them to tear down their strength. They should seek rest of body and