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Testimonies for the Church Volume 1
This is the work of a cunning devil. Those who are troubled
with doubts, and have difficulties which they cannot solve, should not
throw other weak minds into the same perplexity. Some have hinted
or talked their unbelief and have passed on, little dreaming of the
effect produced. In some instances the seeds of unbelief have taken
immediate effect, while in others they have lain buried quite a length
of time, until the individual has taken a wrong course and given place
to the enemy, and the light of God has been withdrawn from him, and
he has fallen under the powerful temptations of Satan. Then the seeds
of infidelity which were sown so long ago spring up. Satan nourishes
them, and they bear fruit. Anything coming from ministers who should
stand in the light has a powerful influence. And when they have not
stood in the clear light of God, Satan has used them as agents and has
through them transmitted his fiery darts to minds not prepared to resist
what has come from their ministers.
I saw that ministers, as well as people, have a warfare before
them to resist Satan. The professed minister of Christ is in a fearful
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position when serving the purposes of the tempter, by listening to his
whisperings, and letting him captivate the mind and guide the thoughts.
The minister’s most grievous sin in the sight of God is talking out
his unbelief and drawing other minds into the same dark channel,
thus suffering Satan to carry out a twofold purpose in tempting him.
He unsettles the mind of the one whose course has encouraged his
temptations and then leads that one to unsettle the minds of many.
It is time that the watchmen upon the walls of Zion understood the
responsibility and sacredness of their mission. They should feel that
a woe is upon them if they do not perform the work which God has
committed to them. If they become unfaithful, they are endangering
the safety of the flock of God, endangering the cause of truth, and
exposing it to the ridicule of our enemies. Oh, what a work is this! It
will surely meet its reward. Some ministers, as well as people, need
converting. They need to be torn to pieces and made over new. Their
work among the churches is worse than lost, and in their present weak,
tottering condition, it would be more pleasing to God for them to cease
their efforts to help others, and labor with their hands until they are
converted. Then they could strengthen their brethren.
Ministers must arouse. They profess to be generals in the army
of the great King, and at the same time are sympathizers with the