Entire Consecration
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You have had objects in view in your life, and how steadily and
perseveringly have you labored to attain those objects! You have
calculated and planned until your anticipations were realized. There is
an object before you now worthy of a persevering, untiring, lifelong
effort. It is the salvation of your soul—everlasting life. And this
demands self-denial, sacrifice, and close study. You must be purified
and refined. You lack the saving influence of the Spirit of God. You
mingle with your associates and forget that you have named the name
of Christ. You act and dress like them.
Sister K, I saw that you have a work to do. You must die to pride
and let your whole interest be in the truth. Your eternal interest depends
upon the course you now pursue. If you obtain eternal life, you must
live for it and deny self. Come out from the world, and be separate.
Your life must be marked with sobriety, watchfulness, and prayer.
Angels are watching the development of character and weighing moral
worth. All our words and acts are passing in review before God. It
is a fearful, solemn time. The hope of eternal life is not to be taken
up upon slight grounds; it must be settled between God and your own
soul. Some will lean upon others’ judgment and experience rather than
be at the trouble of a close examination of their own hearts, and will
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pass along for months and years with no witness of the Spirit of God,
or evidence of their acceptance. They deceive themselves. They have
a supposed hope, but lack the essential qualifications of a Christian.
First there must be a thorough heart work, then their manners will take
that elevated, noble character which marks the true followers of Christ.
It requires effort and moral courage to live out our faith.
God’s people are peculiar. Their spirit cannot mingle with the
spirit and influence of the world. You do not wish to bear the Christian
name and yet be unworthy of it. You do not desire to meet Jesus with
a profession only. You do not wish to be deceived in so important a
matter. Thoroughly examine the grounds of your hope. Deal truly
with your own soul. A supposed hope will never save you. Have you
counted the cost? I fear not. Now decide whether you will follow
Christ, cost what it will. You cannot do this and yet enjoy the society
of those who pay no heed to divine things. Your spirits cannot mingle
any more than oil and water.
It is a great thing to be a child of God, and a joint-heir with Christ.
If this is your privilege, you will know the fellowship of Christ’s