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Testimonies for the Church Volume 1
God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body;
and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all
wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns
and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And
whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
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giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.”
To the Ephesians he writes: “See then that ye walk circumspectly,
not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are
evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will
of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but
be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns
and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the
Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
God is glorified by songs of praise from a pure heart filled with
love and devotion to Him. When consecrated believers assemble, their
conversation will not be upon the imperfections of others or savor of
murmuring or complaint; charity, or love, the bond of perfectness, will
encircle them. Love to God and their fellow men flows out naturally
in words of affection, sympathy, and esteem for their brethren. The
peace of God rules in their hearts; their words are not vain, empty,
and frivolous, but to the comfort and edification of one another. If
Christians will obey the instructions given to them by Christ and His
inspired apostles, they will adorn the religion of the Bible and save
themselves severe trials and much perplexity which they attribute to
their afflictions in consequence of believing unpopular truth. This is a
sad mistake. Very many of their trials are of their own creating because
they depart from the word of God. They yield to the world, place
themselves upon the enemy’s battlefield, and tempt the devil to tempt
them. Those who adhere strictly to the admonitions and instructions
of God’s word, prayerfully seeking to know and do His righteous will,
feel not the petty grievances daily occurring. The gratitude which they
feel, and the peace of God ruling within, cause them to make melody
in their hearts unto the Lord and by words to make mention of the
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debt of love and thankfulness due the dear Saviour, who so loved them
as to die that they might have life. No one who has an indwelling
Saviour will dishonor Him before others by producing strains from a