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Neglect of Hannah More
131
The Lord offered to His people talented help; but they were rich and
increased with goods, and had need of nothing. They turned from
and rejected a most precious blessing of which they will yet feel the
need. Had Elder E stood in the clear light of God and been imbued
with His Spirit when this servant of Jesus, lonely, homeless, and
thirsting for a work to do for her Master, was brought to his notice,
spirit would have answered to spirit, as face answereth to face in
a mirror; his heart would have been drawn out after this disciple
of Christ, and he would have understood her. Thus also with the
church. They had been in such spiritual blindness they had lost the
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sound of the voice of the True Shepherd and were following the
voice of a stranger, who was leading them from the fold of Christ.
Many look upon the great work to be accomplished for God’s
people, and their prayers go up to Him for help in the great harvest.
But, if help does not come in just the manner they expect, they will
not receive it, but turn from it as the Jewish nation turned from Christ
because disappointed in the manner of His appearing. Too much
poverty and humility marked His advent, and in their pride they
refused Him who came to give them life. In this God would have
the church humble their hearts and see the great need of correcting
their ways before Him, lest He visit them in judgment. Many who
profess godliness make the external adorning far more important
than the inward adorning. Had the church all humbled themselves
before the Lord and corrected their past errors so fully as to meet His
mind, they would not be so deficient in estimating moral excellence
of character.
The light of Sister Hannah More has gone out, whereas it might
now be burning brightly to illuminate the pathway of many who are
walking in the dark paths of error and rebellion. God calls upon
the church to arouse from their slumber and with deep earnestness
inquire into the cause of this self-deception among professors whose
names are on the church book. Satan is deluding and cheating them
in the great concern of salvation. Nothing is more treacherous than
the deceitfulness of sin. It is the God of this world that deludes,
and blinds, and leads to destruction. Satan does not enter with his
array of temptations at once. He disguises these temptations with
a semblance of good; he mingles some little improvement with the
folly and amusements, and deceived souls urge as an excuse for