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Testimonies for the Church Volume 2
that the truth fails to have a transforming influence upon the life
and character. The love of the world has closed their hearts to
compassion and to a consideration of the wants of others; its spirit
has separated them from God. Brother and sister, you have a work
to do to get from beneath the rubbish of the world; you need to make
earnest efforts to overcome your love of the world, your selfishness,
and your penuriousness. These are sins which are cursing God’s
people. I was pointed back to the community in which you lived
previous to your moving to-----. You were close and exacting in deal
there, taking advantage every time that you could well do so. I tried
to find in your lives acts of noble self-sacrifice and benevolence, but
could not, they were so rare. Your light has shone before others in
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such a manner that they have felt disgusted with you and your faith.
The truth has been reproached by your closeness and overreaching
in deal. May God help you to see all, and to have that hatred for
this evil that He has. Let your light so shine that others by seeing
your good works may be led to glorify your Father who is in heaven.
God has been displeased with your course, for it has been marked by
self-interest. He is still displeased with it, and will deal with you in
judgment, unless you rid yourself of this spirit of littleness, and seek
to be sanctified through the truth. Faith without works is dead, being
alone. Faith will never save you unless it is justified by works. God
requires of you to be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing
to communicate, laying up in store for yourselves a good foundation
against the time to come, that you may lay hold on eternal life.
I was shown that you have oppressed hirelings in their wages.
You have taken advantage of circumstances and secured your help
at the lowest figure. This has not been pleasing to God. You should
have paid your help liberally, all that they earned. God sees and
knows. The Searcher of hearts is acquainted with the thoughts, the
intents and purposes of the heart. Every dollar that has been gained
by you in this way, if retained, will be scattered through adversity
and affliction. The world, the world, the world, has been the order of
the day with you. The salvation of the soul has become secondary.
Oh, that you could see, in the light of eternity, just how God views
these things. You would be alarmed and would not rest until you
had made restitution.