Seite 467 - Testimonies for the Church Volume 1 (1868)

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Address to the Young
463
to forget that by their words they are to be justified or condemned.
All should take heed to the words of our Saviour: “A good man out
of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an
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evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say
unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give
account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt
be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” How little
regard is paid even to the instructions of the heavenly Teacher. Many
either do not study the word of God or do not heed its solemn truths,
and these plain truths will rise up in judgment and condemn them.
Words and acts testify plainly what is in the heart. If vanity and
pride, love of self and love of dress, fill the heart, the conversation will
be upon the fashions, the dress, and the appearance, but not on Christ
or the kingdom of heaven. If envious feelings dwell in the heart, they
will be manifested in words and acts. Those who measure themselves
by others, do as others do, and make no higher attainments, excusing
themselves because of the faults and wrongs of others, are feeding on
husks and will remain spiritual dwarfs as long as they gratify Satan
by thus indulging their own unconsecrated feelings. Some dwell upon
what they shall eat and drink, and wherewithal they shall be clothed.
These thoughts flow out from the abundance of the heart, as though
temporal things were the grand aim in life, the highest attainment.
These persons forget the words of Christ: “Seek ye first the kingdom
of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto
you.”
The youth have their hearts filled with the love of self. This is
manifested in their desire to see their faces daguerreotyped by the
artist; and they are not satisfied with being once represented, but sit
again and again for their picture, each time hoping that the last will
excel all their previous efforts and appear really more beautiful than
the original. Their Lord’s money is squandered in this way, and what is
gained? Merely their poor shadow upon paper. The hours that should
have been devoted to prayer are occupied upon their own poor selves;
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precious hours of probation are thus wasted.
Satan is gratified to have the attention of youth attracted by any-
thing to divert their minds from God so that the deceiver can steal a
march upon them and they, unprepared for his attacks, be ensnared.
They are not aware that the great heavenly Artist is taking cognizance