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Testimonies for the Church Volume 2
interest. The days of his probation are nearly ended. Oh, how little
time remains to devote to God! His energies are worn, his mind
broken, and at best his services must be weak; yet if given heartily
and fully, they are wholly acceptable. With your age, Brother T, has
come an increase of selfishness and a more firm, earnest love for the
treasures of this poor world.
Sister T loves this world. She is naturally selfish. She has
suffered much with bodily infirmities. God permitted this affliction
to come upon her, and yet would not permit Satan to take her life.
God designed through the furnace of affliction to loosen her grasp
upon earthly treasures. Through suffering alone could this be done.
She is one of those whose systems have been poisoned by drugs.
By taking these she has ignorantly made herself what she is; yet
God did not suffer her life to be taken, but lengthened her years of
probation and suffering that she might become sanctified through the
truth, be purified, made white and tried, and, through the furnace of
affliction, lose her dross, and become more precious than fine gold,
even than the golden wedge of Ophir. Love of the world has become
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so deeply rooted in the hearts of this brother and sister that it will
require a severe trial to remove it. Dear brother and sister, you lack
devotion to God. You are insane in regard to worldly things. The
world has power to conform your mind to it, while the spiritual and
heavenly do not bear with sufficient weight to transform the mind.
Men and women in-----who profess to be Christ’s followers, why
do you not follow Him? Why do you exhibit such insanity to acquire
an earthly treasure, which misfortune can so easily remove, and
neglect the riches of heaven, the immortal, imperishable treasure?
I was shown the case of Brother U’s wife. She has a desire to
do right, but has failings which cause herself and her friends much
trouble. She talks too much. She lacks experience in the things of
God, and unless she is converted and transformed by the renewing of
the mind, she will be unable to stand amid the perils of the last days.
Heart work is needed. Then the tongue will be sanctified. There
is much talking which is sinful and should be avoided. She should
set a strict watch before the door of her lips and keep her tongue as
with a bridle, that her words may not work wickedness. She should
cease talking of others’ faults, dwelling upon others’ peculiarities,
and discovering others’ infirmities. Such conversation is censurable