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Testimonies for the Church Volume 2
not hesitate to reach out and advantage yourself, although you knew
it would greatly disadvantage your neighbor. You look to your own
selfish interest, and say: “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
You are not laying up treasure in heaven and becoming rich
toward God. Self and selfish interests are eating out true godliness
from your soul. You are bowing to the God of this world. Your
heart is alienated from God. An inspired writer says: “The path of
the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the
perfect day.” The steps of a Christian may at times appear feeble and
faltering, yet in his conscious weakness he leans upon the Mighty
One for support. He is sustained, and makes sure progress onward
and upward toward perfection. He gains new victories daily, and
comes nearer and nearer to the standard of perfect holiness. His eye
is not downward to the earth, but upward, ever keeping in view the
heavenly Pattern.
Brother D, the glitter and tinsel of the corruptible things of earth
have eclipsed the charms of heaven, and made eternal life of but
little value to you. As a servant of Christ, I entreat you to awake
that you may see yourself as you are. The profits you will obtain
in the course you are now pursuing will be eternal loss. You will
find at last that you have made a terrible mistake which can never be
remedied.
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You can now face rightabout, heed the call of mercy, and live.
Rejoice that your probation has not ended, that you may now, by
patient continuance in well-doing, seek for glory, honor, immortality,
and eternal life. Rejoice that she who has been your faithful com-
panion for years shall rise again, that mortality will be swallowed
up of life. Look forward to the morning of the resurrection, when
she who shared your joys and sorrows for more than a score of years
will come forth from her prison house. Will you have her look for
you, her companion, in vain? Will you be missing then, as her voice
is raised in triumph and victory: “O death, where is thy sting? O
grave, where is thy victory?” Oh, that day will bring honor to the
saints! No shame, no reproach, no suffering then; but peace, joy, and
immortal praise upon every redeemed tongue! Oh, that God would
speak to your heart and impress you with the value of eternal life.
And may you be led, my brother, to ever possess a spirit of noble
generosity, that you may discharge the duties of your stewardship