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Stirring Up Opposition
387
near right as you are. You make yourself enemies when you might
have friends. You are ardent and positive in your temperament, and
when you see points of truth, you carry matters to extremes. You
thus repulse persons, instead of winning and binding them to your
heart. You look upon the objectionable features in the character
of those with whom you associate, and dwell upon their seeming
inconsistencies and wrongs, overlooking their redeeming traits. I
was referred to this scripture: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things
are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just,
whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever
things are of good report, if there be
any
virtue, and if there be any
praise, think on
these
things.” Here, dear sister, you may meditate
and speculate with profit. Dwell upon the good qualities of those
with whom you associate, and see as little as possible of their errors
and failings. You possess too much of a spirit of war, and throw
things into confusion and strife. You must change your life and
character if you are ever classed with those who hear the words:
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children
of God.” Let nothing but kind, loving words fall from your lips
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concerning the members of your family or of the church.
You need to open your heart to love, to that love which dwelt
in the bosom of Jesus. Should your Saviour deal with you as you
would deal with those with whom you differ, you would certainly
be in a distressed condition. Your case would be nearly hopeless.
But I thank the Lord that we have a merciful high priest who can be
touched with the feeling of our infirmities. You have been tried with
others, and have pursued a course toward them that Heaven does not
approve. You have a work to do to let the softening influence of the
grace of God into your heart; seek meekness, seek righteousness.
You are zealous for the truth. You love it and wish to invest
something in it. This is all right, but be careful that the precepts
you give to others are backed up with example. You must seek for
peace. You can do this and not sacrifice one principle of truth. You
have stormed and fought your way through, and now you need to
soften your influence, to sweeten, to soothe, instead of stirring up
opposition. You have possessed a large share of self-confidence
and self-esteem, and have been self-exalted. Now you need to exalt