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Testimonies for the Church Volume 1
the truth in its solemnity and importance, and if this finds its way to
the heart it will accomplish that for the receiver which nothing else
can. But if the truth spoken in the demonstration of the Spirit does
not cut away the idols, it will be of no avail to denounce and bear
down upon the individual. It may appear that some are joined to their
idols, yet I saw that we should be very reluctant to give up the poor,
deceived ones. We should ever bear in mind that we are all erring
mortals, and that Christ exercises much pity for our weakness, and
loves us although we err. If God should deal with us as we often deal
with one another, we should be consumed. While ministers preach the
plain, cutting truth, they must let the truth do the cutting and hewing,
not do it themselves. They should lay the ax, the truths of God’s word,
at the root of the tree, and something will be accomplished. Pour out
the testimony just as straight as it is found in the word of God, with
a heart full of the warming, quickening influence of His Spirit, all in
tenderness, yearning for souls, and the work among God’s people will
be effectual. The reason why there is so little of the Spirit of God
manifested is that ministers learn to do without it. They lack the grace
of God, lack forbearance and patience, lack a spirit of consecration
and sacrifice; and this is the only reason why some are doubting the
evidences of God’s word. The trouble is not at all in the word of God,
but in themselves. They lack the grace of God, lack devotion, personal
piety, and holiness. This leads them to be unstable, and throws them
often on Satan’s battlefield. I saw that however strongly men may have
advocated the truth, however pious they may appear to be, when they
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begin to talk unbelief in regard to some scriptures, claiming that they
cause them to doubt the inspiration of the Bible, we should be afraid
of them, for God is at a great distance from them.
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