Basic HTML Version
Chapter 25—Combativeness Reproved
Dear Brother M,
When we met you at-----, we were anxious to help you, and
we feared you would not receive the help there which you needed.
I proposed your coming to our place and associating with us, and
others of God’s dear children, that you might be learning the lessons
so important for you to learn before you could be strong to endure
the temptations and perils of these last days. I recollected your
countenance as that of one whom the Lord had shown me had been
struggling for the mastery over powerful evil habits, which were
leading not only to the destruction of your body but to your eternal
destruction hereafter. You have gained victories, but you have still
great victories to gain; you have battles to fight with internal foes
which, unless overcome, will greatly mar your own happiness and
that of all who associate with you.
The evil traits in your character must be overcome. You must
take hold of the work with earnest, humble prayer to God, feeling
your helplessness without His special grace. The belief of the truth
has already wrought a reformation in your life, yet this reform is not
as thorough as it must be in order for you to meet the measurement
of God. You love the truth, but it must take a deeper hold of your
life and influence your words and all your deportment. You have
a great lesson to learn, and should lose no time in learning it. You
have not educated yourself to self-control. Here is a special victory
for you to gain. In your organization are more of the elements of
war than of peace. You need to cultivate courtesy and true Christian
politeness. “In honor preferring one another.” “Let nothing be done
through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem
other better than themselves.”
[163]
Your combativeness is large, and you stand braced, prepared
to rebut everything where you have a chance. You do not labor to
see how near you can make your ideas and views harmonize with
those of others, but you stand all ready to differ if there is a possible
149