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Testimonies for the Church Volume 2
brethren. They linger around them, incline toward them, and seem
to choose their society. They are highly gratified with their attention.
From the light which the Lord has given me, our sisters should
pursue a very different course. They should be more reserved, mani-
fest less boldness, and encourage in themselves “shamefacedness
and sobriety.” Both brethren and sisters indulge in too much jovial
talk when in each other’s society. Women professing godliness in-
dulge in much jesting, joking, and laughing. This is unbecoming
and grieves the Spirit of God. These exhibitions reveal a lack of true
Christian refinement. They do not strengthen the soul in God, but
bring great darkness; they drive away the pure, refined, heavenly
angels and bring those who engage in these wrongs down to a low
level.
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Our sisters should encourage true meekness; they should not be
forward, talkative, and bold, but modest and unassuming, slow to
speak. They may cherish courteousness. To be kind, tender, pitiful,
forgiving, and humble, would be becoming and well pleasing to God.
If they occupy this position they will not be burdened with undue
attention from gentlemen in the church or out. All will feel that there
is a sacred circle of purity around these God-fearing women, which
shields them from any unwarrantable liberties.
With some women professing godliness, there is a careless,
coarse freedom of manner which leads to wrong and evil. But those
godly women whose minds and hearts are occupied in meditating
upon themes which strengthen purity of life, and which elevate
the soul to commune with God, will not be easily led astray from
the path of rectitude and virtue. Such will be fortified against the
sophistry of Satan; they will be prepared to withstand his seductive
arts.
Vainglory, the fashion of the world, the desire of the eye, and the
lust of the flesh are connected with the fall of the unfortunate. That
which is pleasing to the natural heart and carnal mind is cherished.
If the lust of the flesh had been rooted out of their hearts they would
not be so weak. If our sisters would feel the necessity of purifying
their thoughts, and never suffer in themselves a carelessness of
deportment which leads to improper acts, they need not in the least
stain their purity. If they viewed the matter as God has presented it
to me, they would have such an abhorrence of impure acts that they