522
Testimonies for the Church Volume 1
she needed something more than that which God had given for her
happiness, that the forbidden fruit would have a special exhilarating
influence upon her body and mind, and would exalt her even to be
equal with God in knowledge. But the knowledge and benefit she
thought to gain proved to her a terrible curse.
There are persons with a diseased imagination to whom religion
is a tyrant, ruling them as with a rod of iron. Such are constantly
mourning over their depravity and groaning over supposed evil. Love
does not exist in their hearts; a frown is ever upon their countenances.
They are chilled by the innocent laugh from the youth or from anyone.
They consider all recreation or amusement a sin and think that the
mind must be constantly wrought up to just such a stern, severe pitch.
This is one extreme. Others think that the mind must be ever on
the stretch to invent new amusements and diversions in order to gain
health. They learn to depend on excitement, and are uneasy without
it. Such are not true Christians. They go to another extreme. The true
principles of Christianity open before all a source of happiness, the
height and depth, the length and breadth of which are immeasurable.
It is Christ in us a well of water springing up into everlasting life. It is
a continual wellspring from which the Christian can drink at will and
[566]
never exhaust the fountain.
That which brings sickness of body and mind to nearly all is dis-
satisfied feelings and discontented repinings. They have not God, they
have not the hope which reaches to that within the veil, which is as
an anchor to the soul both sure and steadfast. All who possess this
hope will purify themselves even as He is pure. Such are free from
restless longings, repinings, and discontent; they are not continually
looking for evil and brooding over borrowed trouble. But we see many
who are having a time of trouble beforehand; anxiety is stamped upon
every feature; they seem to find no consolation, but have a continual
fearful looking for of some dreadful evil.
Such dishonor God, and bring the religion of Christ into disrepute.
They have not true love for God, nor for their companions and children.
Their affections have become morbid. But vain amusements will never
correct the minds of such. They need the transforming influence of
the Spirit of God in order to be happy. They need to be benefited by
the mediation of Christ, in order to realize consolation, divine and
substantial. “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him