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experience in the fanaticism which has left desolation in the East, and
this leads him to look with suspicion upon everything which appears
like fanaticism. He has the past before him as a warning and has felt
like keeping aloof from, and speaking plainly with, those who had any
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degree of fanaticism, for he felt that both they and the cause of God
were in danger. He has looked upon things in about the right light.
There are many restless spirits who will not submit to discipline,
system, and order. They think that their liberties would be abridged
were they to lay aside their own judgment and submit to the judgment
of those of experience. The work of God will not progress unless there
is a disposition to submit to order and expel the reckless, disorderly
spirit of fanaticism from their meetings. Impressions and feelings are
no sure evidence that a person is led by the Lord. Satan will, if he is
unsuspected, give feelings and impressions. These are not safe guides.
All should thoroughly acquaint themselves with the evidences of our
faith, and the great study should be how they can adorn their profession
and bear fruit to the glory of God. None should take a course to make
themselves disgusting to unbelievers. We should be chaste, modest,
and elevated in conversation, and blameless in life. A trifling, joking,
reckless spirit should be rebuked. It is no evidence of the grace of God
upon the heart for persons to talk and pray with talent in meeting, and
then give up to a rough, careless manner of talking and acting when
out of meeting. Such are miserable representatives of our faith; they
are a reproach to the cause of God.
There is a strange mixture of views among professed Sabbath-
keepers in-----. Some are not in harmony with the body, and while
they continue to occupy the position they now do, they will be subject
to the temptations of Satan and will be affected with fanaticism and
the spirit of error. Some have fanciful views which blind their eyes
to important, vital points of truth, leading them to place their own
fanciful inferences upon a level with vital truth. The appearance of
such, and the spirit which attends them, makes the Sabbath which they
profess very objectionable to the sensible unbeliever. It would be far
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better for the progress and success of the third angel’s message if such
persons would leave the truth.
According to the light which God has given me, there will yet
be a large company raised up in the East to consistently obey the
truth. Those who follow in the distracted course they have chosen