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Mind, Character, and Personality Volume 2
Praise and commendation are now freely expressed; but they fall upon
ears that hear not, hearts that feel not.... How many, as they stand awed
and silent beside the dead, recall with shame and sorrow the words
and acts that brought sadness to the heart now forever still!
Let us now bring all the beauty, love, and kindness we can into
our life. Let us be thoughtful, grateful, patient, and forbearing in our
intercourse with one another. Let the thoughts and feelings which find
expression around the dying and the dead be brought into the daily
association with our brethren and sisters in life.—
Testimonies for the
Church 5:490
(1889).
No Strife in Heaven—Let no one feel, even though he may theo-
retically be established in the present truth, that he makes no mistakes.
But if mistakes are made, let there be a readiness to correct them. And
let us avoid everything that is likely to create dissension and strife;
for there is a heaven before us, and among its inhabitants there will
be no strife.—
The Review and Herald, August 8, 1907
. (
Counsels on
Health, 244
.)
[504]
More Love, Less Criticism Needed—Differences of opinion will
always exist, for every mind is not constituted to run in the same
channel. Hereditary and cultivated tendencies have to be guarded,
lest they create controversies over minor matters. Christ’s workers
must draw together in tender sympathy and love. Let not anyone think
it a virtue to maintain his own notions and suppose he is the only
one to whom the Lord has given discernment and intuition. Christian
charity covers a multitude of things which one may regard as defects
in another. There is need of much love and far less criticism. When
the Holy Spirit is manifestly working in the hearts of ministers and
helpers, they will reveal the tenderness and love of Christ.—Lt 183,
1899.
Not to Attack Individuals—By some of our brethren many things
have been spoken and written that are interpreted as expressing an-
tagonism to government and law. It is a mistake thus to lay ourselves
open to misunderstanding. It is not wise to find fault continually with
what is done by the rulers of government. It is not our work to attack
individuals or institutions. We should exercise great care lest we be
understood as putting ourselves in opposition to the civil authorities. It
is true that our warfare is aggressive, but our weapons are to be those
found in a plain “Thus saith the Lord.” Our work is to prepare a people