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Testimonies for the Church Volume 2
flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, which have heretofore
been preferred before Christ, are now turned from, and Christ is the
charm of his life, the crown of his rejoicing. Heaven, which once
possessed no charms, is now viewed in its riches and glory; and he
contemplates it as his future home, where he shall see, love, and
praise the One who hath redeemed him by His precious blood.
The works of holiness, which appeared wearisome, are now his
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delight. The word of God, which was dull and uninteresting, is
now chosen as his study, the man of his counsel. It is as a letter
written to him from God, bearing the inscription of the Eternal.
His thoughts, his words, and his deeds are brought to this rule and
tested. He trembles at the commands and threatenings which it
contains, while he firmly grasps its promises and strengthens his
soul by appropriating them to himself. The society of the most godly
is now chosen by him, and the wicked, whose company he once
loved, he no longer delights in. He weeps over those sins in them at
which he once laughed. Self-love and vanity are renounced, and he
lives unto God, and is rich in good works. This is the sanctification
which God requires. Nothing short of this will He accept.
I beg of you, my brother, to search your heart diligently and
inquire: “What road am I traveling, and where will it end?” You
have reason to rejoice that your life has not been cut off while you
have no certain hope of eternal life. God forbid that you should
longer neglect this work, and so perish in your sins. Do not flatter
your soul with false hopes. You see no way to get hold again but
one so humble that you cannot consent to accept it. Christ presents
to you, even to you, my erring brother, a message of mercy: “Come;
for all things are now ready.” God is ready to accept you and to
pardon all your transgressions, if you will but come. Though you
have been a prodigal, and have separated from God and stayed away
from Him so long, He will meet you even now. Yes; the Majesty of
heaven invites you to come to Him, that you may have life. Christ is
ready to cleanse you from sin when you lay hold upon Him. What
profit have you found in serving sin? what profit in serving the flesh
and the devil? Is it not poor wages you receive? Oh! turn ye, turn
ye; for why will ye die?
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You have had many convictions, many pangs of conscience. You
have had so many purposes and made so many promises, and yet you