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Mind, Character, and Personality Volume 2
congregation, because there are many present, than to go to the erring
and, face-to-face with them, openly, frankly, plainly state their wrong
course.
But bringing into the house of God strong feelings against indi-
viduals and making all the innocent as well as the guilty suffer is a
manner of labor which God does not sanction and which does harm
rather than good. It has too often been the case that criticizing and
denunciatory discourses have been given before a congregation. These
do not encourage a spirit of love in the brethren. They do not tend to
make them spiritually minded and lead them to holiness and heaven,
but a spirit of bitterness is aroused in hearts. These very strong ser-
mons that cut a man all to pieces are sometimes positively necessary
to arouse, alarm, and convict. But unless they bear the especial marks
of being dictated by the Spirit of God they do far more injury than they
can do good.—
Testimonies for the Church 3:507, 508
(1880).
Reason Dethroned by Anger—I hope you will go over the
ground carefully and consider your first temptation to depart from the
rules of the college. Study critically the character of the government
of our school. The rules which were enforced were none too strict.
But anger was cherished; for the time being reason was dethroned
and the heart was made a prey to ungovernable passion. Before you
were aware, you had taken a step which a few hours previous you
would not have taken under any pressure of temptation. Impulse had
overcome reason, and you could not recall the injury done to yourself
nor to an institution of God. Our only safety under all circumstances
[522]
is in being always master of ourselves in the strength of Jesus our
Redeemer.—
Testimonies for the Church 4:431
(1880).
Retaliation Brings Only Evil—Far better would it be for us to
suffer under false accusation than to inflict upon ourselves the torture
of retaliation upon our enemies. The spirit of hatred and revenge
originated with Satan and can bring only evil to him who cherishes
it. Lowliness of heart, that meekness which is the fruit of abiding in
Christ, is the true secret of blessing. “He will beautify the meek with
salvation” (
Psalm 149:4
).—
Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing,
17
(1896).
When Irritated, Refuse to Speak—Let those who are easily ir-
ritated refuse to retaliate when words that vex them are spoken. Let
them seek the Lord in prayer, asking Him to show them how to work