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Testimonies for the Church Volume 1
wrong, because they were not left to feel the extent of their wrong,
and humble themselves before God, and let Him build them up. False
sympathizers have worked in direct opposition to the mind of Christ
and ministering angels.
Ministers of Christ should arise and engage in the work of God
with all their energies. God’s servants are not excused if they shun
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pointed testimony. They should reprove and rebuke wrong, and not
suffer sin upon a brother. I must here introduce a portion of a letter
addressed to Brother C:
“I was shown some things in regard to you. I saw that the living,
pointed testimony had been crushed in the church. You have not been
in harmony with the straight testimony. You have shunned to lay your
hand decidedly upon wrong, and you have been tried with those who
felt compelled to do so. Disaffected ones have had your sympathy.
This has had a tendency to make you a weak man. You have not been
in union with pointed, cutting testimony which has been sent home to
the individual.
“God’s servants are not excused if they shun pointed testimony.
They must reprove and rebuke wrong, and not suffer sin upon a brother.
You have often stretched out your hands to shield persons from the cen-
sure which they deserved, and the correction which the Lord designed
they should have. If these persons fail to reform, their lack is set to
your account. Instead of watching for their danger, and warning them
of it, you have cast your influence against those who have followed
the convictions of duty, and reproved and warned the erring.
“These are perilous times for the church of God, and the greatest
danger now is that of self-deception. Individuals professing to believe
the truth are blind to their own danger and wrongs. They reach the
standard of piety which has been set up by their friends and themselves,
they are fellowshiped by their brethren, and are satisfied, while they
entirely fail to reach the gospel standard set up by our divine Lord. If
they regard iniquity in their hearts, the Lord will not hear them. But
with many it is not only regarded in the heart, but openly carried out
in the life; yet in many cases the wrongdoers receive no rebuke.
“I was pointed back to-----. Your feelings were wrong there. You
should have stood side by side with Elder D and made straight work,
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taken hold of and reproved individual wrongs. The burden you cast
upon Elder D you deserved yourself, for your lack of moral courage