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Testimonies for the Church Volume 1
to draw a certain per cent, where is the decrease, or the consuming
sacrifice? And how are the dangers of those Sabbathkeepers who
are accumulating property decreased by the present plan of holding
stock in the Institute? Their dangers are only increased. And here
is an additional excuse for their covetousness. In investing in stock
in the Institute, held as a matter of sale and purchase like any other
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property, they do not sacrifice. As a large per cent is held out as an
inducement, the spirit of gain, not sacrifice, leads them to invest so
largely in the stock of the Institute that they have but little if anything
to give to sustain other and still more important branches of the work.
God requires of these close, covetous, worldly persons a sacrifice for
suffering humanity. He calls on them to let their worldly possessions
decrease for the sake of the afflicted ones who believe in Jesus and
the present truth. They should have a chance to act in full view of the
decisions of the final judgment, as described in the following burning
words of the King of kings:
Matthew 25:34-46
: “Then shall the King say unto them on His right
hand, Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared
for you from the foundation of the world: for I was an hungered, and
ye gave Me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink: I was a stranger,
and ye took Me in: naked, and ye clothed Me: I was sick, and ye
visited Me: I was in prison, and ye came unto Me. Then shall the
righteous answer Him, saying, Lord, when saw we Thee an hungered,
and fed Thee? or thirsty, and gave Thee drink? When saw we Thee
a stranger, and took Thee in? or naked, and clothed Thee? Or when
saw we Thee sick, or in prison, and came unto Thee? And the King
shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye
have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done
it unto Me.
“Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from
Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his
angels: for I was an hungered, and ye gave Me no meat: I was thirsty,
and ye gave Me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took Me not in:
naked, and ye clothed Me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited
Me not. Then shall they also answer Him, saying, Lord, when saw
we Thee anhungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in
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prison, and did not minister unto Thee? Then shall He answer them,
saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of