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Testimonies for the Church Volume 1
this is actually necessary. He should follow up his public labors by
private efforts, laboring personally for souls whenever an opportunity
presents, conversing around the fireside, beseeching and entreating
souls in Christ’s stead to be reconciled to God. Our work here is soon
to close, “and every man shall receive his own reward according to his
own labor.”
I was shown the saints’ reward, the immortal inheritance. Then I
was shown how much God’s people had endured for the truth’s sake,
and that they would count heaven cheap enough. They reckoned that
the sufferings of this present time were not worthy to be compared
with the glory which should be revealed in them. The people of God
in these last days will be tried. But soon their last trial will come, and
then they will receive the gift of eternal life.
Brother Hull, you have suffered reproach for the truth’s sake. You
have felt the power of the truth and of an endless life. You have had
God’s Spirit witness with yours that you were owned and accepted
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of Him. I saw that if you gird on the armor anew, and stand at your
post, resisting the devil and fighting manfully the battles of the Lord,
you will be victorious, and will soon lay off your armor and wear a
conqueror’s crown. Oh, is not the inheritance rich enough? Did it not
cost a dear price, the agony and blood of the Son of God? I call upon
you in the name of the Lord to awake. Break away from the awful
deception which Satan has thrown over you. Lay hold on everlasting
life. Resist the devil. Evil angels are around you, whispering in your
ears, visiting you with lying dreams, and you listen to them and are
pleased. Oh, for the sake of Christ, for your own soul’s sake, tear away
from this dreadful influence before you grieve God’s Spirit entirely
from you.
* * * * *
Sabbath, June 6, 1863, I was shown some things in regard to the
work of God and the spread of the truth. Preachers and people have
too little faith, too little devotion and true godliness. The people
imitate the preacher, and thus he has a very great influence upon them.
Brother Hull, God wants you to come nearer to Him, where you can
take hold of His strength, and by living faith claim His salvation, and
be a strong man. If you were a devotional, godly man, in the pulpit